Pluralism Is India's Tremendous Social Strength, PM Narendra Modi Writes In the Economist
New Age Islam News Bureau
19
Nov 2015
Syed Muzamil Hasan Zaidi, co-founder, House of Lolz/
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India
• Pluralism Is India's Tremendous Social Strength, PM Narendra Modi Writes In the Economist
• India's Largest Muslim Organisation to Lead Protests Across the Country against ISIS
• Security Agencies Keep Watch on 150 Vulnerable Boys Leaning Towards IS
• ‘Hizb-ul-Mujahideen raised over Rs 80 crores in 8 years to fund terror in India’
• Terror funds: India freezes accounts of over 3 dozen suspects
• 26/11 attacks case: Mumbai court directs David Headley to appear via video-conference
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Pakistan
• Pakistani Comedians Have a Message for Paris: We Are Not Responsible For ISIS’ Actions
• Wafaq Ul Madaris Arabia Set To Counter Anti-Seminaries Propaganda
• Pakistani Police Abuse Afghans: HRW
• Move for lifting Iran sanctions welcomed by Pak President
• Growing Pak-China ties not against any country: Aziz
• Don’t take army’s statement on governance negatively: Imran
• Over 40 human smugglers arrested
• Speaker accepts Muttahida MPAs’ applications for withdrawal of resignations
• COAS discusses regional security issues with Kerry
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Africa
• Bomb Blast in Northeast Nigeria Kills 32, Injures 80
• Boko Haram Leaves IS Behind in Deaths, Collected Data Shows
• 82 civilians kidnapped in Tripoli in single day
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Arab World
• Hundreds of Hezbollah Fighters Join Syrian Army to Launch Palmyra Liberation Operation
• Vienna, Amman Cast Doubt on Speedy Syria Transition
• Militants Admit Large Casualties in Dara'a Clashes with Syrian Army
• Russian Bombers Strike ISIL-Controlled Oil Facilities
• Syria no breeding ground for IS: Assad
• ISIL Militants Fleeing Palmyra after Disclosure of Syrian-Hezbollah Forces' Imminent Operation
• ISIL Terrorists Fleeing Syria's Raqqa in Hundreds after Russia's Massive Airstrikes, Cruise Missile Raids
• ISIL Releases Photo of Bomb That Brought Down Russian Plane
• Military Source Strongly Denies Rumours about Fall of Deir Hanna in Syria's Lattakia
• Syria: ISIL Retreats from Hasakah to Raqqa And Then to Deir Ezzur
• Strategic Al-Rashwan Heights in Lattakia Now under Syrian Army's Control
• Southern Syria: Terrorist Commanders Convention in Dara'a Levelled Down
• Ceasefire talks ‘fail’ between Syrian regime and rebels on Ghouta
• Activist hackers battle Daesh in cyberspace
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Mideast
• Turkey Football Fans Boo Minute’s Silence for Paris Victims, Chant ‘Allahu Akbar’
• Dozen Killed In Clashes between Turkey Army, PKK
• Turkey Announces 'Plans' For Joint US Operation Against IS
• Basij Commander: Writing Israel's Name Instead of ISIL Decodes Dilemma of Paris Tragedy
• Iran stresses UN role in seeking Yemen political solution
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North America
• US Offers $5 mn Reward for ISIL Fighter Smuggler
• Trudeau Says Canada Will Stay in Fight against Islamic State
• Muslims Are On Alert for Misplaced Retaliation after Paris Attacks
• Muslim Congressman on Syrian Refugees: 'We Should Treat People the Same'
• US Muslims face backlash after Paris attacks
• New York City police 'aware' of new IS video threat
• Obama to veto bill halting Syrian refugees admission
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South Asia
• Badakhshan’s Yamgan District Falls to Taliban for Second Time in Six Months
• Muslim Students’ Association Hosts Vigil for Paris, Beirut, Bangladesh, Kenya Attack Victims
• Militants Launch Suicide Attack near Kandahar
• Germany to send 130 more soldiers to Afghanistan
• Germany announces to increase its troop numbers to 980 in Afghanistan
• Bangladesh vows crackdown on more northeast rebel camps
• Nine people wounded in Baghlan explosion
• Families meet Mojaheed, SQ Chy at Dhaka jail
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Southeast Asia
• Beijing Condemns ‘Savage Act’, Vows Justice after Islamic State Executes Chinese Captive
• Indonesia Not on Islamic State’s Radar, Says Minister
• Malaysians condemn terrorism, IS
• Malaysia's Islamic Mortgages Cool as Controls Cap Household Debt
• Indonesia to host Muslim scholars` intl conference
• After losing members in committees, PAS says become ‘unofficial’ opposition in Penang
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Europe
• Uber Driver Says Passenger Mistook Him For A Muslim, Threatened To Kill Him
• Worried Muslim Parents In France Want Their Kids To Dress Less Like Muslims
• Russia, France push UN resolutions on fighting IS
• British ‘terror sponsors’ held in Hungary
• Manhunt still on for Paris attacks ‘mastermind’
• Bulgarian professor converts to Islam
• Polish jet makes emergency landing in Bulgaria
• Fears over refugee scapegoating after Paris attacks
• UN urges Europe to respect refugees' rights
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/pluralism-india-tremendous-social-strength,/d/105333
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India
Pluralism is India's tremendous social strength, PM Narendra Modi writes in The Economist
Nov 19, 2015
NEW DELHI: Even as a heated debate on "rising intolerance" continues in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that one of India's "tremendous social strengths" is its pluralism.
"India has tremendous social strengths, including pluralism..." Modi writes in a column in an upcoming, special issue of The Economist magazine.
The cover story of the 30th edition issue of the magazine is titled "The World in 2016". The issue will include caricatures of world leaders including PM Modi. It will also include contributions from International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai.
Excerpts from the issue were tweeted by the magazine's Paris-based correspondent on Wednesday.
Modi has talked about India's diversity a few times lately, following scathing articles on his government that have appeared in both Indian and international publications. Critics continue to say that the BJP Prime Minister has failed to check "intolerant" comments about minorities that are being made by a section of people in his party and its affiliate organisations. Last week, during his three-day trip to the UK, Modi stressed India's diversity, calling it the country's "strength and pride".
In his column for the British magazine, PM Modi also addresses other developmental issues that are being faced by the country. He writes about the larger impact India's growth will have. "We are conscious that our growth...will have some environmental impact," he writes, ahead of the Climate Change summit in Paris.
The Prime Minister has referred to the "great expectations" from his government, which completes 18 months next week.
"Inevitably, some of these expectations run ahead of us," Modi writes.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pluralism-is-Indias-tremendous-social-strength-PM-Narendra-Modi-writes-in-The-Economist/articleshow/49841911.cms
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India's Largest Muslim Organisation To Lead Protests Across The Country Against ISIS
18/11/2015
India's largest Muslim organisation, the Jamiat-Ulama-i-Hind, will lead protests across the country to condemn the "mindless killings of innocent persons by the extremist forces" in Paris, according to reports.
Maulana Mahmood Madani, the general secretary of the Jamiat, told The Telegraph that the attacks were un-Islamic and there was no place for such acts in a civilised world.
Madani said it was wrong to link religion to terrorist violence because it was "antithetical to the true teachings of Islam".
"The mindless killings of innocent persons by the extremist forces have no place in a civilised world and needs unequivocal condemnation. It is completely un-Islamic and it has no relation with Islam and its teachings. We condemn those who are trying to demonise Islam by linking it with terror," Telegraph quoted him as saying.
With rise of groups like the Islamic State, Islam has come under severe scrutiny across the world. However critics have cautioned against linking religion to the violent propaganda of the IS, arguing that this is exactly what the terror group wants.
When protestors carrying banners 'Expel the Islamists' disrupted a tribute in Lille for the victims of the attacks, Jeff Guo wrote in the Washington Post: "This is precisely what ISIS was aiming for - to provoke communities to commit actions against Muslims," quoting Arie Kruglanski, a professor of psychology at the University of Maryland.
"Then ISIS will be able to say, ‘I told you so. These are your enemies, and the enemies of Islam'", Kruglanski said.
Home Ministry has issued an advisory saying that the "security arrangements for the diplomatic interests of France, U.S., U.K., Germany, Russia, Australia, Turkey and Israel may be reviewed and strengthened."
"Though the IS has not been able to establish any significant presence in India, its success in radicalising some youth, attracting certain sections of the local population or the Indian diaspora to physically participate in its activities, or the possibility of piggy-backing on terrorist groups operating in India, have opened up the possibility of IS-sponsored terrorist action on Indian territory,” the advisory said.
The terrorist group has also released an audio message in Bengali titled 'Caliphate is Back' exhorting young men to join jihad, reported the Hindu.
IS, which does not yet have a toe-hold in India, aims to radicalize Indian youths. An investigative report in the Indian Express found that the four Indians arrested so far with links to the terror group have allegedly confessed to investigators that they planned to cross over to Syria and launch attacks against India.
Salman Mohiuddin, a father of two, was was about to fly out to Dubai, and then to Syria via Turkey, when he was arrested from Hyderabad, the report said. Mohiuddin claimed he intended to "proceed to Syria to join the IS and later return to wage war against India".
While expressing his concerns about "language and expressions" being used by certain quarters, Madani said the Jamiat and other Muslim outfits will gather at the Jantar Mantar today to campaign for peace. He said despite the many problems -- poverty, illiteracy and communalism -- "India still remained the best country for Muslims" because of its culture of harmony.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday said that "ISIS-led attacks were possible in India".
"India is aware of the looming threat by the ISIS and is taking precautionary steps. The world needs to come together as one to combat ISIS," Singh said on the sidelines of the Asia Leaders’ Meeting and 2nd ISDR Asia Partnership Meeting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/11/18/paris-attacks-indias-larg_n_8587082.html
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Security agencies keep watch on 150 vulnerable boys leaning towards IS
Nov 19, 2015
The security establishment is keeping a watch on around 150 youths in the country for their alleged sympathy and leanings towards the terrorist group Islamic State (IS).
“Most of boys are regularly frequenting the IS online sites. Some of them are interacting with people who may be online recruiters of the terror outfit, therefore they have been kept under the watch,” said a government official requesting anonymity.
So far, a total of 23 Indians —resident and as well as non-residents — have gone to IS-held areas in Iraq-Syria to fight for the terrorist group. Of them six were reported to be killed while one returned home in Mumbai. Around 50 other Indians, radicalised by IS elements, were also prevented from travelling to the IS-held area along the Iraq and Syria border.
The home ministry officials say a policy to deal with IS recruitment is being implemented to check the danger.
“Involving elders and avoiding police action, counselling of misguided youth, making available counter-jehadi literature in Indian languages, keeping an eye on cyber traffic to check jehadi propaganda and working with educational institutions for counter-radicalisation measures are some of the key components of the policy to deal with the IS,” said a counter-terror official.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/security-agencies-keep-watch-on-150-vulnerable-boys-leaning-towards-is/story-ahSQr0pBLHJwjYlFZYh34I.html
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‘Hizb-ul-Mujahideen raised over Rs 80 crores in 8 years to fund terror in India’
Neeraj Chauhan
Nov 19, 2015
NEW DELHI: Indian investigators have told an international Task Force that the Pakistan-based Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) raised over Rs 80 crores over eight years, from several Pakistani sources, to fund terrorist acts in India.
"HM is claimed to be actively involved in furthering terrorist activities in India and has raised over INR 800 million within the past eight years," India's investigators told the Financial Action Task Force in Paris.
"Once the money reaches India, it is distributed through various conduits at various places to active terrorists and families of killed HM terrorists," says a report by the Task Force.
Money raised in other countries is also reportedly being transferred or diverted to trusts and front organizations of the outfit, the report adds.
India has repeatedly named Pakistan on international platforms for allowing terrorists to operate from its soil with the help of its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) was involved in the September 7, 2011 Delhi High Court blast, in which 17 people were killed and 76 were injured.
Days before the Paris attacks, the Task Force's member countries had discussions about how terrorist organizations are getting funded and how they can be stopped.
"The backing of groups like HM and LeT (Lashkar-e-Toiba), which was involved in (a) Paris-like attack in Mumbai in 2008, and revelations that the outfits are raising money freely for terror activities against India calls for international community and leaders to seek answers from Pakistan," a government official said.
The Task Force's October 2015 report, 'Emerging Terrorist Financing Risks', adds that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen's funds are mainly used to financially support members of active and killed militants of the organization, including family members. "HM allegedly incurs expenditure on mobile communication, medical treatment of militants, arms and ammunition, clothing and other military equipment," it said.
The report further says the banking sector is being extensively used for the transfer of funds to various accounts for Hizb-ul-Mujahideen's activities in India. Investigators also informed the Task Force in October that funds were also being moved "via money value transfer services."
The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, which is banned by India, the US and the European Union, has been fuelling unrest in Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India since 1989. Aside from links with Pakistan's intelligence agency, the banned group is also associated with LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami, SIMI, and the United Jihad Council.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Hizb-ul-Mujahideen-raised-over-Rs-80-crores-in-8-years-to-fund-terror-in-India/articleshow/49839132.cms
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Terror funds: India freezes accounts of over 3 dozen suspects
November 19, 2015
India has frozen assets worth Euro 3 lakh (over Rs 2.12 core) of over three dozen entities on charges of terrorist financing and money laundering of illicit funds, a latest report by global anti-financial terror body FATF has said. The body has conducted a mid-session review of various countries and economic powers of the world in the wake of the increased activities of dreaded terrorist group, ISIS, around the globe.
The banned group has also been held responsible for the recent terror attacks in Paris which killed 129 people. As part of India’s initiative against suspect funds and those related to terrorism, the FATF report said the country has frozen assets to the tune of Euro 3 lakh belonging to 37 entities till August 15 this year.
India is a full-member of this reputed global body, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), along with other nations like the US, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. “In light of the growing threat of ISIL (Islamic State of in Iraq and the Levant) and other terrorist groups, the FATF has taken a renewed focus on the global threat of terrorist financing and terrorism and conducted a fact-finding initiative to determine whether all jurisdictions in the global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing network have implemented key measures to cut off terrorism-related financial flows, in accordance with the FATF recommendations.
Full report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/terror-funds-india-freezes-accounts-of-over-3-dozen-suspects/
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26/11 attacks case: Mumbai court directs David Headley to appear via video-conference
November 19, 2015
A Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) court has made convicted American terrorist David Coleman Headley an accused in the trial of Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case.
“David Headley is accused number 2 and will be tried under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with the other accused,” Judge G A Sanap ruled Wednesday.
Judge Sanap instructed Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam to ensure that Headley, who is serving a 35-year jail sentence in the US on charges of terrorism, must attend the court on December 10, the next date of Ansari’s trial. On November 4, the court framed charges against Ansari, paving the way for the trial to proceed.
Ansari is charged with teaching Hindi and Marathi to the 26/11 terrorists and is alleged to have been present in the control room in Pakistan where the planners of the attack guided the terrorists and watched their progress.
Full report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/2611-attacks-case-mumbai-court-issues-summons-to-david-headley-directs-him-to-appear-via-video-conference/
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Pakistan
Pakistani comedians have a message for Paris: We are not responsible for ISIS’ actions
Nov 18, 2015
Muslims have often been at the receiving end of a lot of flak for the actions of the terror outfit ISIS (Islamic State of Syria). It is as a response to this stereotyping that four Pakistani Muslim comedians from the team called ‘House of Lolz’ have come together to tell the world, through a video, that they are just as shocked at the Paris attacks as everyone else around the world. “We can’t possibly be held responsible for the work of a few deranged individuals who somehow claim to be like us,” one of them says.
The video named “To Paris, From Pakistan” was posted on the ‘Pakistani Comedians’ Facebook page, which has garnered massive support from across the globe with over 90,000 shares and counting.
To Paris, From PakistanPlease share it as much as you can so it reaches the people in Europe!#PrayForParis #PrayForTheWorld This video was produced by the LolzStudios Team. You can view more of their work on: House of LolzFor More Like Pakistani Comedians Posted by Pakistani Comedians on Sunday, November 15, 2015
The message this group of childhood friends, who make videos for fun, want to send out is simple — stop blaming the Muslim community for ISIS’ actions because it’s like blaming “All Germans for the actions of Hitler”. In fact, Muslims are the biggest victims of terrorism, they go on to say.
Full report at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/viral-videos-trending/pakistani-comedians-have-a-message-for-paris-we-are-not-responsible-for-isis-actions/#sthash.9x4xfHps.dpuf
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Wafaq Ul Madaris Arabia Set To Counter Anti-Seminaries Propaganda
November 19, 2015
ISLAMABAD – Wafaq ul Madaris Arabia yesterday decided to launch a vigorous campaign not only to neutralise the negative propaganda against religious seminaries and pressure coming from various quarters, but also to project the services and role these institutions are playing in reforming the society.
Announcing the decision taken at an extraordinary session of the governing body of Wafaqul Madaris Arabia (WMA) attended by the members from all the four provinces and Azad Kashmir, Secretary General Maulana Hanif Jalandhari said it was agreed to hold 16 divisional conventions across the country as part of an image-building exercise of the umbrella organisation of religious seminaries belonging to different schools of thought, after which a grand public gathering would be arranged at Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore, on March 20 next year to spell out the future course of action.
He further said they were not averse to Madrasa reforms programme, adding Wafaqul Madaris was engaged in sprucing up the syllabus and arranging refresher courses for the teachers of seminaries across the country so that their students could compete with those of other institutions.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/19-Nov-2015/wma-set-to-counter-anti-seminaries-propaganda
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Pakistani police abuse Afghans: HRW
November 19, 2015
NEW YORK - Human Rughts Watch Wednesday urged Pakistan to take all necessary measures to end what it called was rampant police harassment, threats, and violence against Afghans living in Pakistan, saying such incidents have “skyrocketed” since the Pakistani Taliban attacked a school in Peshawar in December 2014.
In a new report, the New York-based international watchdog said the police actions were prompting many Afghans to return to war-torn Afghanistan and possibly seek asylum in Europe.
“The Pakistani police’s outrageous mistreatment of Afghans over the past year calls for an immediate government response,” Phelim Kine, HRW’s deputy Asia director said in a statement. “The Pakistani government should press the police to apprehend perpetrators of atrocities instead of scapegoating the entire Afghan community.”
The 37-page report, “‘What Are You Doing Here?’: Police Abuses against Afghans in Pakistan,” documents the alleged rights violations against Afghans in Pakistan since December 2014.
Human Rights Watch said it interviewed 50 Afghans who had returned to Afghanistan after living many years in Pakistan, and 46 Afghans living in Pakistan, as well as Pakistani and Afghan government officials, staff of nongovernmental and community-based organisations, United Nations refugee agency officials, diplomats, journalists, and other experts.
Pakistan is host to one of the largest displaced populations in the world. The 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees and one million undocumented Afghans that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates are living in Pakistan as of November 2015 include many who fled conflict and repression in Afghanistan during the late 1970s and early 1980s, and their descendants. Some arrived as children, grew up in Pakistan, married, and had children of their own who have never lived in Afghanistan. Others have arrived in the decades of turmoil in Afghanistan since, seeking security, employment, and a higher standard of living.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/19-Nov-2015/pakistani-police-abuse-afghans-hrw
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Move for lifting Iran sanctions welcomed by Pak President
Nov 19, 2015
ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has expressed the hope that lifting of international sanctions against Iran will benefit Pakistan and the two countries will enhance their economic and trade ties.
“Pakistan welcomes the framework agreement and Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iran nuclear deal and hopes that lifting of sanctions against Iran will open new avenues for expanding bilateral trade, investment and cooperation in the energy sector,” he told the outgoing Iranian Ambassador Alireza Haghighian, who called on him on Wednesday.
The president said that there was great potential to increase bilateral trade and the $5 billion target set by both countries would hopefully be achieved in three years.
Also read: Iran to invest in refineries abroad post-sanctions
“Pakistan’s priority is to address its energy deficit. Therefore, the country is committed to the Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline project.”
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220752/move-for-lifting-iran-sanctions-welcomed
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Growing Pak-China ties not against any country: Aziz
Nov 19, 2015
ISLAMABAD: Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on Wednesday that growing China-Pakistan ties were not against any other country and Pakistan was simultaneously promoting relations with all major regional and world powers.
“Cooperation between Pakistan and China is focused on economic development through connectivity and is not against any other country. Pakistan seeks to establish and sustain long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with global and regional players in Asia,” Mr Aziz said at a seminar.
Pakistan has been China’s longstanding strategic ally in the region. The two countries have recently made great strides in deepening this cooperation. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor launched in April this year during President Xi’s visit is being seen as the launching pad for the next phase of Sino-Pak relations.
India has been vocally opposing the CPEC project.
The new phase in relations with China has also brought its own challenges with respect to relations with other countries in East Asia, particularly South Korea, Japan and Asean states. China’s relations with South Korea and Japan have been marred by maritime territorial disputes and historical legacies from the World War II. China and Japan dispute the sovereignty of the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, while Japan and South Korea have their problems over Dokdo/Takeshima Islands. Meanwhile, the United States is reasserting it presence in the Asia-Pacific to counter China’s rise.
“Pakistan has the distinction of forging and maintaining Strategic Dialogue with both the US and China. We have vibrant and robust relations with another power in the region, i.e. Russia. From Pakistan’s perspective, China together with the United States and Russia, are important pillars in the newly emerging economic and security order of the region,” Mr Aziz said.
He regretted that “some countries” were trying to cause a distraction in the implementation of CPEC.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220751/growing-pak-china-ties-not-against-any-country-aziz
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Don’t take army’s statement on governance negatively: Imran
Nov 19, 2015
PESHAWAR: PTI chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday said the army’s statement regarding good governance should not be taken negatively.
“A democratic government should not consider itself a kingdom as it is answerable to the people,” he said while speaking at the Public Liaison Council inaugural function at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines Peshawar.
The PTI chief criticised the political parties’ reaction on the ISPR statement regarding good governance, saying good governance was the demand of every Pakistani.
He said MNAs and MPAs were the people’s representatives, who were answerable to the people at any level.
Imran said the ISPR statement was taken wrongly.
PTI chief says democratic government is answerable to the people
He alleged that the Punjab and Sindh governments were misusing the police for the upcoming local government elections and that was tantamount to the pre-poll rigging.
The PTI chief alleged that the Punjab government had involved the police in local body elections for rigging and that it even tried to transfer an honest district police officer of Mianwali for the purpose but the transfer was revoked after the PTI approached the Election Commission of Pakistan.
He said with depoliticising, the police would ensure peace in the province, adding the days were not far away when other provinces would also follow the working pattern of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.
Imran said the people of Karachi were happy at the Rangers’ operation, which had led to the significant decline in the crime incidence, while the police in other parts of the country were under extreme political pressure. He said the police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were free from political influence and instead, they took decisions independently.
The PTI chief said no FIR had been registered in the province against anyone on political pressure.
He said the police had registered cases against the PTI candidates in Sindh and Punjab, while 12 PTI workers were killed in the Punjab local body elections on political grounds.
Imran claimed the people from across the country appreciated the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.
He said it was part of the PTI manifesto to depoliticise the provincial police and that one could see changes and reforms made by them.
Highlighting the achievements of police in eliminating terrorism from the province, the PTI chief said the crime rate in the province had reduced by 60 per cent.
He claimed that the Peshawar corps commander had lauded the efforts of the provincial police in countering terrorism.
Imran paid tribute to the police and security forces for rendering matchless sacrifices for restoration and maintenance of peace.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220767/dont-take-armys-statement-on-governance-negatively-imran
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Over 40 human smugglers arrested
ZULQERNAIN TAHIR
Nov 19, 2015
LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency arrested over 40 ‘human smugglers’ from various areas of Punjab on Wednesday.
Sixty-one raids were carried out, mostly in Punjab, in a crackdown launched across the country on the instructions of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
The arrested people include owners of fake visa consultancy firms in Punjab, most wanted human smugglers and proclaimed offenders.
“We have arrested 43 agents and fake visa consultancy firms’ owners during raids in Lahore, Gujrat, Faisalabad and Multan. Some 300 passports, fake visa stamps and bank statements have been seized from them,” Lahore FIA Director Dr Usman Anwar told Dawn. He said it was illegal for the consultancy firms to keep the passports of clients.
The FIA director said the crackdown had been intensified to stop Pakistanis from illegally entering European and other countries. “The Pakistanis facing deportation in Europe for being illegal immigrants are earning a bad name for the country,” he said.
The FIA laid hands on the human smugglers and fake visa consultancy firms after the minister asked it to adopt a strategy of prevention, protection of victims, prosecution of criminals, pursuing proclaimed offenders and absconders and partnership at the local and international levels.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220748/over-40-human-smugglers-arrested
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Speaker accepts Muttahida MPAs’ applications for withdrawal of resignations
AZFAR-UL-ASHFAQUE
Nov 19, 2015
KARACHI: Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani on Wednesday accepted the applications of Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmakers seeking the withdrawal of their resignations.
On Aug 12, MQM lawmakers had resigned from the provincial and national assemblies and the Senate in protest over “illegal arrests, extrajudicial killings” during the Rangers-led targeted operation in Karachi.
However, after successful negotiations with the federal government and the formation of a grievance redressal committee, the party asked its lawmakers to withdraw their resignations.
The lawmakers then submitted their applications to the Sindh assembly speaker on Nov 6 for the withdrawal of their resignations. Mr Durrani handed over the applications to officials concerned, asking them to prepare a report in the light of the rules and submit it to him at the earliest.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220622/speaker-accepts-muttahida-mpas-applications-for-withdrawal-of-resignations
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COAS discusses regional security issues with Kerry
November 19, 2015
WASHINGTON: Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday underscored the need for resolution of the decades-old Kashmir dispute during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department on Thursday that focused on regional stability, according to the Pakistani military spokesman.
In a series of tweets, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, said General Raheel discussed with the top US diplomat regional security with respect to India and Afghanistan, and the need for regional stability. “COAS Highlighted the need for resolution of Kashmir,” he added. Pakistan army chief, , who is on a five-day official visit to the United States, underlined his country’s perspective on regional security, and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to strengthen and solidify Pak-US relations on the basis of mutual interest and respect, the military spokesman said.
Secretary Kerry acknowledged Pakistan’s contributions and sacrifices in the fight against terror, General Bajwa said. The army chief also discussed with the secretary of state the stalled Afghan reconciliation process, its challenges, and the way forward. Gen Raheel Sharif has already met with CIA Director John Brennan and US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter as well as Deputy Secretary of Defence Robert Work, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Gen Joseph Dunford, Army Chief of Staff Gen Mark Milley and Centcom (Central Command) chief Gen Lloyd Austin. During the meetings, Gen Raheel and American officials discussed defence cooperation between US and Pakistan and the need for enhanced defence coordination.
After spending five days in Washington, the army chief will go to Brazil on a three-day visit for talks on cooperation between the two militaries. From Brazil, he will go to Ivory Coast to spend a day with Pakistani troops who were serving there as part of the UN peace keeping force.
Briefing media about Gen Raheel Sharif’s meeting with the American defence chiefs, Pentagon Spokesman Peter Cook said Pakistan’s army chief also met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and Commander of US Central Command General Lloyd Austin, and discussed mutual security interests, including security cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. The ongoing military operation in the federally administered tribal areas of Pakistan and regional security dynamic also came under discussion.
Responding to a question, spokesman Cook said during the meetings the Pakistani and US military leaders talked about US-Pakistan relationship and the military relationship going forward. The two sides also discussed the relationship our two countries have and our shared interest in seeing regional security, and obviously dealing with the terrorism threat not only in Pakistan, but also in neighbouring Afghanistan, and why continued cooperation is so vital in that, he added.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/national/19-Nov-2015/coas-takes-up-regional-security-issues-with-kerry
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Africa
Bomb blast in northeast Nigeria kills 32, injures 80
18 November 2015
At least 32 people were killed and 80 others were injured in a suspected suicide blast in northeast Nigeria Tuesday night, a Nigerian emergency official said.
The blast took place at a truck station near a local market in Yobe, provincial capital of Adamawa State, an eyewitness, Ladi Usman, said.
National emergency management agency’s Saad Bello confirmed the casualty toll.
"We've completed the evacuation and rescue operation now. So far, 32 corpses were picked from the scene and deposited at hospital mortuary. A total of 80 persons were injured and receiving treatment," Bellow said.
Full report at:
http://www.worldbulletin.net/africa/166448/senegalese-authorities-ban-niqab
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Boko Haram leaves IS behind in deaths, collected data shows
Nov 19 2015
As world is focusing the horror of the Islamic State which killed more than 100 people killed in its latest wave of violence in Paris, another group has emerged as the world’s deadliest terrorist group.
The data, published in the third edition of the Global Terrorism Index shows Boko Haram leaving the Islamic State, Taliban and all other terrorist groups behind in deaths.
The data which has been produced by the Institute for Economic and Peace, and drawn from data collected by the Global Terrorism Database (GTD), collated by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism shows that deaths attributed to Boko Haram increased by 317 per cent in 2014 to 6,644 compared to 6,073 blamed on the Islamic State group.
Full report at:
http://www.khaama.com/boko-haram-leaves-is-behind-in-deaths-collected-data-shows-4239
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82 civilians kidnapped in Tripoli in single day
19 November 2015
At least 82 civilians from Libya’s Misrata were kidnapped in Tripoli on Tuesday, a senior Libyan official said Wednesday.
Misrata Governor Mohamed Shteewi said he headed to Tripoli to mediate the release of the civilians, who he said were kidnapped on the basis of their identity.
Shteewi said the civilians are from Misrata and were kidnapped by militias that belong to the Bo Selim group. The governor demanded their immediate release.
In response, militias in Tripoli demanded in a statement the withdrawal of other guerrillas that they claim do not belong to the city, indicating signs of a new security crisis in the region.
A security source told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that “security forces blitzed a militia base in southwestern Tripoli and freed six civilians who had been kidnapped a few months earlier.”
Among the freed was a Turkish worker named Sait Oglu. Five Libyans, including a human rights activist, were also freed.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/africa/166493/82-civilians-kidnapped-in-tripoli-in-single-day
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Arab World
Hundreds of Hezbollah Fighters Join Syrian Army to Launch Palmyra Liberation Operation
Nov 18, 2015
The source said that the Syrian Army, popular force, Hezbollah fighters and the Russian Air Force are coordinating to launch a joint massive operation to win back militant-held Palmyra city.
The experienced Hezbollah fighters, as one of the main allies of the Syrian government in its fight against terrorism, have won many battles across the country, including Zabadani in Damascus province, Aleppo countryside and Lattakia province.
Sources said on Tuesday that the Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) won key battles against ISIL terrorists in two key areas in the Western countryside of Palmyra (Tadmour) after killing at least 25 militants.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827000487
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Vienna, Amman cast doubt on speedy Syria transition
19 November 2015
Vienna and Amman believe it is too early to expect a speedy political transition in war-torn Syria, Austrian President Heinz Fischer said Wednesday after meeting King Abdullah II.
“I believe that neither I nor the king of Jordan would dare to entertain the hope that it would be a matter of just a few weeks,” Fischer told APA news agency after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that Syria could be weeks away from a “big transition”.
“We are on the right track, but it would be premature to make a statement about the time needed to solve the problems,” he added.
Fischer’s statement came after a working lunch with King Abdullah II in Vienna, who did not make any statements to the press.
In a visit to Paris on Tuesday, Kerry said an agreement reached at talks in Vienna between deeply divided countries such as Iran, Russia and Saudi Arabia on a path to elections in Syria was a “gigantic step”.
Full report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/11/19/Vienna-Amman-cast-doubt-on-speedy-Syria-transition.html
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Militants Admit Large Casualties in Dara'a Clashes with Syrian Army
Nov 18, 2015
The terrorist groups said a large number of terrorists were killed in Dara'a in a new setback to them as the Syrian forces, backed by the country's warplanes and Russian airstrikes, continue to advance against the militants in multiple fronts.
Several notorious terrorists, who have been standing high in the wanted list, have been identified among the terrorists' casualties in recent clashes with the Syrian army in the province, including Qassem Mohammed Mousa al-Masalma, Nour al-Radi and Ahmed Mohammed Jumaa al-Amor of the so-called "Islamic Muthanna Movement".
On Tuesday night, the Syrian army killed a number of ringleaders of the terrorist groups in military operations against their positions in Dara'a province.
The army destroyed vehicles and positions of senior terrorist commanders to the South of al-Arab'ain School in Daraa al-Balad area in the city of Dara'a on Tuesday night, a military source Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827001393
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Russian Bombers Strike ISIL-Contolled Oil Facilities
Nov 18, 2015
About 500 terrorists' fuel trucks that had been illegally transporting oil from Syria to Iraq were destroyed by Russian aviation in a few days, Col. Gen. Andrei Kartapolov, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, said.
"Just in the first few days, [Russian] aviation destroyed about 500 fuel tankers. This greatly hampered the militants' possibility to illegally export energy resources and, accordingly, their income from oil smuggling."
According to Kartapolov, Russian attack aircraft have started an "open season" on terrorists' fuel trucks carrying oil products.
"I would like to note that today a decision was made, according to which Russian combat aircraft launched a so-called free hunt on road tankers transporting oil products belonging to terrorists in areas controlled by ISIL."
Russia has widened the scope of intelligence gathering in the Middle East by all available means, including satellite reconnaissance, he said.
"In order to improve the efficiency and timeliness of detection of terrorist facilities and to ensure the precision of determining their coordinates, we have stepped up all methods of intelligence gathering in the Middle East, including satellite reconnaissance."
The Russian Aerospace Forces have carried out 59 sorties and hit 149 ISIL targets on Wednesday by 4 p.m. Moscow time (13:00 GMT), Kartapolov said.
Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers launched 12 cruise missiles on ISIL targets in Syria's provinces of Aleppo and Idlib and destroyed three terrorist command centers as well as two ammunition depots and a field camp.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827001565
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Syria no breeding ground for IS: Assad
Nov 19, 2015
ROME: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Wednesday his country was not a breeding ground for the self-styled Islamic State (IS) group, blaming the creation of the jihadist organisation on the West.
"I can tell you Daesh doesn't have the natural incubator, social incubator, within Syria," he said in a television interview with Italian national broadcaster Rai, using the Arabic acronym for the IS group.
Jihadists who trained in Syria for the Paris massacres and other attacks had done so due to "the support of the Turks and the Saudis and Qatari, and of course the Western policy that supported the terrorists in different ways," he insisted.
IS "didn't start in Syria, it started in Iraq, and it started before that in Afghanistan," he said, quoting former British prime minister Tony Blair as saying "the Iraqi war helped create ISIS".
Also read: Oman’s FM meets Assad in Damascus
Blair's "confession is the most important evidence," Assad added.
Last week's deadly Paris attacks, in which 129 people were killed in a wave of shootings and suicide bombings across the French capital claimed by IS, have galvanised international momentum for a diplomatic solution to Syria's civil war.
More than 250,000 people have died in the conflict and millions have fled, as IS has seized control of large swathes of territory across Syria and Iraq which it rules under its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law.
But Assad said there could be no transition schedule for elections while parts of the country were still rebel-controlled.
"This timetable starts after starting defeating terrorism. You cannot achieve anything politically while you have the terrorists taking over many areas in Syria," he said.
"If we talk after that, one year and a half to two years is enough for any transition." Assad's continued grip on power has seriously strained relations between the US and France — firm backers of Syria's uprising — and Russia, one of the regime's staunchest allies.
But after the Paris massacres and the downing of a Russian airliner in a bomb attack also claimed by IS, the countries have joined forces against the jihadists, diverting attention at least momentarily from the question of Assad's future.
In a fierce retaliation, Russian and French air strikes in Syria were reported to have left 33 IS fighters dead in 72 hours.
Also read: Russia's stance on Assad suggests divergence with Iran
A US-led air coalition has been waging an air war against IS for more than a year, with French strikes in Syria beginning in September. Moscow launched its own air strikes in Syria, in coordination with Assad, on September 30.
With Islamic State targeted, what happens to Syria's Assad?
The tide of global rage against the Islamic State group lends greater urgency to ending the jihadis' ability to operate at will from a base in war-torn Syria.
That momentum could also force a reevaluation of what to do about President Bashar Assad and puts a renewed focus on the position of his key patrons, Russia and Iran.
The Syrian leader has lost much of the country to IS and other groups in the four-year war; half the population has been displaced, many areas have been leveled, and masses of refugees are flooding Europe.
Along the way, Assad's brutal military response has made him persona non grata in most of the world.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220780/syria-no-breeding-ground-for-is-assad
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ISIL Militants Fleeing Palmyra after Disclosure of Syrian-Hezbollah Forces' Imminent Operation
Nov 18, 2015
The sources said that the ISIL militants, who have heard about dispatch of hundreds of Hezbollah fighters to Palmyra to join Syrian army, are leaving Palmyra and its nearby areas in groups to find safer location inside or outside of the country.
On Tuesday, the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) won key battles against ISIL terrorists in two key areas in the Western countryside of Palmyra after killing at least 25 militants.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827000648
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ISIL Terrorists Fleeing Syria's Raqqa in Hundreds after Russia's Massive Airstrikes, Cruise Missile Raids
Nov 18, 2015
The sources said that the Russian fighter jets have stormed the strongholds of the ISIL militants in Raqqa in recent days in numerous attacks.
Meanwhile, the Russian military launched airstrikes against the ISIL stronghold in Raqqa with cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea.
On Tuesday, the France’s Le Monde newspaper, citing a French official, said that the Russian military has launched airstrikes against the ISIL stronghold of Raqqa in Syria with cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea.
The information that Russia struck the ISIL positions in Raqqa was also reported by a senior French government source.
US officials also confirmed on Tuesday that Moscow conducted a significant number of strikes Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827001359
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ISIL Releases Photo of Bomb That Brought Down Russian Plane
Nov 18, 2015
ISIL's magazine posted a photo on Wednesday of what it said was the improvised bomb that brought down the Russian Airbus A321 over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula in October.
Takfiri terrorists claimed that they smuggled the bomb onto the Russian plane after finding security loophole.
The released photo shows a can of Schweppes Gold soft drink and what appears to be a detonator and switch on a blue background.
ISIL also published a photo of what it said were passports belonging to dead Russians "obtained by the mujahideen" (a high value word in Islam that has been hijacked by the Al-Qaeda, ISIL and other terrorist groups since long time ago).
The Kogalymavia A321 air crash took place over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt on October 31. All 224 people on board the plane were killed. The Russian airline Kogalymavia had said following the incident that it sees no grounds to blame human error for the Russian plane crash.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827001512
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Military Source Strongly Denies Rumors about Fall of Deir Hanna in Syria's Lattakia
Nov 18, 2015
The source said that the terrorist groups' attempts to infiltrate into the government forces' defense lines near the strategic village of Deir Hanna and its surrounding areas have been repelled by the Syrian army troops.
The source further added that the army is in full control of the village and the militants left behind many dead members and fled the fighting area in order to evade more death toll.
Sources said on Monday that the Syrian army and popular forces continued to push back the terrorist groups from the Northern parts of Lattakia and entered the strategic village of Deir Hanna.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827000564
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Syria: ISIL Retreats from Hasakah to Raqqa And Then to Deir Ezzur
Nov 18, 2015
According to the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television, ISIL terrorists are moving their families and heavy weaponries from the city of al-Shadadi in the Southern countryside of Hasakah to Deir Ezzur.
Hasakah is a region in Northeastern Syria mostly populated by the Kurds. The Kurdish and Arab fighters have recently pushed the terrorists out of the Northern parts of the region.
Following similar heavy strikes in the Southern parts of the province by the Syrian forces, the ISIL terrorists were forced to retreat furthern to Raqqa, the so-called capital of the ISIL terrorist group. But after the start of heavy airstrikes by the Russian and French air forces in the last few days, the ISIL is again on the move to retreat further to deploy its central command in Deir Ezzur.
Intelligence sources disclosed on Wednesday that ISIL militants are fleeing the city of Raqqa in hundreds to save their lives after sustaining heavy casualties in the Russian airstrikes and long-range cruse missile attacks form its Mediterranean fleet.
The sources said that the Russian fighter jets have stormed the strongholds of the ISIL militants in Raqqa in recent days in numerous attacks.
Meanwhile, the Russian military launched airstrikes against the ISIL stronghold in Raqqa with cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea.
On Tuesday, the France’s Le Monde newspaper, citing a French official, said that the Russian military has launched airstrikes against the ISIL stronghold of Raqqa in Syria with cruise missiles from the Mediterranean Sea.
The information that Russia struck the ISIL positions in Raqqa was also reported by a senior French government source.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827001419
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Strategic Al-Rashwan Heights in Lattakia Now under Syrian Army's Control
Nov 18, 2015
The important al-Rashwan heights is located in Job al-Ahmar area in the Northern parts of Lattakia and was freed by the Syrian army assisted by the Iraqi resistance forces and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) military advisors.
During the operations to take control of the strategic heights, tens of Jeish al-Fath terrorists were also killed.
Early Wednesday, the militants' defense lines near the hilltop village of Tal al-Rashwan in the prophet Jonah Mountains came under joint attack of the government forces whose heavy and rapid operation forced the terrorist groups to retreat their forces from the village and its surrounding.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827000786
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Southern Syria: Terrorist Commanders Convention in Dara'a Leveled Down
Nov 18, 2015
The army destroyed vehicles and positions of senior terrorist commanders to the South of al-Arab'ain School in Daraa al-Balad area in the city of Dara'a on Tuesday night, a military source said Wednesday.
The Syrian troops also destroyed terrorists' positions in al-Manshiyia neighborhood and to the South of Bosra Square in Daraa al-Balad area.
The Syrian Army, popular forces and Hezbollah fighters have reportedly broken through the defense lines of the militant groups at the entrance of Sheikh Meskeen and have now deployed their units in the town, field sources announced Wednesday.
The sources said that the pro-government forces' joint massive operation in the Northern part of Dara'a province, which was launched in the early hours of this morning, has thus far brought about significant victories against the militant groups in the strategic town of Sheikh Meskeen.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827001103
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Ceasefire talks ‘fail’ between Syrian regime and rebels on Ghouta
19 November 2015
A group monitoring the Syrian war said on Thursday negotiations had failed to produce a ceasefire between government forces and rebels in the Eastern Ghouta area near Damascus.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the reasons for the failure of the talks were unknown. The talks had been going on for a number of days and were mediated by "an Full report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/11/19/Ceasefire-talks-fail-between-Syrian-regime-and-rebels-on-Ghouta.html
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Activist hackers battle Daesh in cyberspace
19 November 2015
SAN FRANCISCO: Daesh sympathizers using social media to spread propaganda and recruit fighters are now drawing an increasing amount of return fire from activists who have been knocking some sites offline and infiltrating others.
The loose hacking collective Anonymous is the latest to draw attention to such campaigns, with members claiming credit this week for having thousands of pro-Daesh Twitter accounts disabled.
But others claim to have been doing more for longer. One group that feeds information to the US government says it has suppressed tens of thousands of Twitter accounts since January, and its members have posed as would-be recruits to gain information on so-called Dark Web operations supporting the Daesh.
“We’re playing more of an intelligence role,” said the executive director of Ghost Security Group, who declined to be named, citing security concerns.
The group is a volunteer organization that has been sending data to the FBI and other agencies via a Congressional terrorism adviser, Michael S. Smith II. Smith said the group’s infiltration efforts had given some actionable information to the government, and that coordinated complaints to Twitter had helped push Islamic State supporters elsewhere.
US agencies “appreciate the outside support. I have constant feedback to that,” Smith said. Retired Gen. David Petraeus recently told Foreign Policy he had reviewed Smith’s data and saw how it “would be of considerable value to those engaged in counter-terrorism initiatives.” The FBI declined to comment.
Smith, chief operating officer of defense contractor Kronos Advisory, said Ghost Security Group contacted him in June and provided screenshots of internal communications about an impending attack in Tunisia, which he said he passed along and which helped break up a militant cell in time. The Paris attacks on Friday have brought an increase in online activity against the militants, but freelance efforts to counter the group online remain fraught with hazards.
Full report at:
http://www.arabnews.com/science-technology/news/837626
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Mideast
Turkey Football Fans Boo Minute’s Silence for Paris Victims, Chant ‘Allahu Akbar’
Nov 18, 2015
Some Turkish football fans booed and shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) during the minute’s silence for the victims of the Paris attacks before their national team drew 0-0 with Greece in a friendly international soccer game on Tuesday.
The mark of respect was observed at matches across Europe, including at Wembley where France faced England, after Islamic State militants struck Paris on Friday killing 129 people.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras watched the game together, in a sign of reconciliation between the two neighbours, whose relationship has suffered from hostilities in the past.
The fans chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), booed the Greek team and also shouted slogans in favour of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul’s Basaksehir stadium, an AFP photographer said.
Turkish football fans regularly shout nationalist slogans at matches and it was not immediately clear if the behaviour was more aimed against historic rivals Greece than condoning the Paris attacks in any way.
Full report at:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/football/turkey-fans-boo-minute-s-silence-for-paris-victims-chant-allahu-akbar/story-wyRGbgv8o0F6TQoc9563IJ.html
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Dozen killed in clashes between Turkey army, PKK
Nov 19, 2015
At least a dozen people, including two civilians, have been killed in fresh clashes between Turkish security forces and members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Turkey’s southeastern province of Mardin.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the provincial governor’s office said 10 PKK militants were slain during an exchange of gunfire in the city of Nusaybin, situated 792 kilometers (492 miles) east of the capital, Ankara.
The statement added that two civilians also lost their lives in the shootout, while 13 others sustained injuries.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/11/19/438274/Turkey-PKK-Mardin-Nusaybin-Clashes-Suruc-
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Turkey announces 'plans' for joint US operation against IS
19 November 2015
ISTANBUL: Turkey's foreign minister on Wednesday said Ankara "has plans" for a joint operation with the United States (US) to end the presence of self-styled Islamic State (IS) militants along any part of its border with Syria.
Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu told the state-run news agency Anatolia that IS militants still had a presence along some of Turkey's border with northern Syria.
"We have certain plans to put an end to the control that IS is still exercising on a zone of our frontier," he said.
"These are plans for a joint operation with the US.When these plans are completed, our operations will continue with more and more intensity. You will see this in the days to come."
US Secretary of State John Kerry said in an interview with CNN late Tuesday that "we are entering an operation with the Turks" to shut off 98 kilometres of border still not secure from IS.
Their comments come amid growing momentum for coordinated international action against IS after the Paris attacks last week claimed by the extremist Islamist group which killed 129 and injured 350.
IS "is still present in a zone on our border. We will not tolerate it keeping a presence on our border," said Sinirlioglu.
Turkish security forces on Tuesday killed one suspected IS militant seeking to cross into Turkey from Syria, the army said Wednesday.
Twenty-one people, including nine children, who were part of the group trying to cross the border were detained.
Meanwhile, Turkish police said they detained eight suspected IS members at Istanbul's main airport who had travelled from Morocco, adding they were planning to sneak into Europe posing as refugees.
Suffocate and destroy
Sinirlioglu did not expand on what the operation would entail but the Hurriyet daily quoted security sources as saying is would involve clearing an area from Mare to Jarablus in northern Syria of IS militants.
It would be conducted by Turkish F-16s and US F-15s from the Turkish base of Incirlik, baacked up by US A-10s to destroy armoured vehicles belonging to IS.
Kerry's comments did not imply any ground operation but a unit of Syrian Turkmen forces linked to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) would cross the border once the air campaign was completed, Hurriyet added.
Turkey has for months been touting the idea of a safe zone for Syrian refugees inside Syria. But the plan has so far found just a lukewarm response from its Western allies and its implementation remains unclear.
Sinirlioglu had said on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting in Antalya that at the moment Turkey had "no intention" of using its ground troops to intervene in Syria.
"A ground intervention in Syria is not on the agenda of Turkey," said ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesman Omer Celik Wednesday.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220781/turkey-announces-plans-for-joint-us-operation-against-is
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Basij Commander: Writing Israel's Name Instead of ISIL Decodes Dilemma of Paris Tragedy
Nov 18, 2015
"If we write the word Israel instead of ISIL, the behind the scene of the recent events in France will come into light; the ISIL is the infantry unit of the US and the usurper Zionist regime since they don’t have fighters today anymore and have lost power to fight, and they have created the ISIL by making investment on the fools," Naqdi said on Wednesday.
"Such events should happen in Europe in order for the US and its hirelings to be able to justify their presence in the region and escape from criticisms," he added.
Naqdi also described Saudi Arabia as the dealer of the recent incidents, and said Riyadh has founded the ISIL stream and as long as the US is unable to fill the banking accounts of its arms companies with the Saudis' money, these wars and cruel massacres will continue.
He also warned that the western states seek to spread Islamophobia in Europe and the US by creating fear and horror among the European and American people.
In relevant remarks on Saturday, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazzayeri warned Washington and its European allies not to replay the September 11 theatre to pressure and attack Muslims by misusing the Friday night's terrorist events in Paris.
Jazzayeri made the remarks after a series of bombings and shootings in the French capital left over 150 people dead and scores of others injured following which certain western media attempted to blame all Muslims for the attacks.
"The French people paid the price for their government's support for the ISIL and the Takfiri terrorism," he said.
Jazzayeri warned the US and its allies against misusing the Paris events to attack and pressure the Muslim states like what they did against Afghanistan and Iraq after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and 2003, and said Iran had many times warned that certain European countries' support for the terrorists will backfire on their advocates one day.
He also referred to last Thursday terrorist attack in Beirut which killed over 40 people, and said, "The Paris and Beirut blasts are the two sides of the same coin and the international community expects the supporters of Takfiri terrorists, specially the US, France and other western governments, to give up their discriminatory approach and behavior and adopt a common and united position on these crimes."
Paris was rocked by a string of deadly attacks on Friday night, leaving at least 150 people dead in six locations around the city, in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II.
Full report at:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940827001112
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Iran stresses UN role in seeking Yemen political solution
Nov 19, 2015
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has stressed the importance of the United Nations’ role in seeking a political solution for the crisis in Yemen.
Zarif made the comments during a meeting with UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in Tehran on Wednesday.
Tehran supports all the measures by the UN to resolve the conflict in Yemen and calls on all the Yemenis to make every effort to smooth over the situation in the country, the Iranian foreign minister noted.
“Months of aggression and military approaches have led to nothing but the destruction of Yemen's infrastructure and the death and injury of the innocent people of the country,” Zarif added.
Following the meeting, the UN envoy maintained that the warring sides in Yemen have shown “very positive attitude” to discuss UN Security Council resolution 2216, which demands an end to the violence in Yemen.
Full report at:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/11/19/438258/Iran-Yemen-Zarif-UN-political-solution
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North America
US offers $5 mn reward for ISIL fighter smuggler
19 November 2015
The United States issued a $5 million reward Wednesday for information leading to the capture of a Saudi-born fighter accused of smuggling foreign fighters into Syria.
The State Department said that Tirad al-Jarba, known under the nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Shimali, is a senior member of the ISIL extremist group.
He had already been designated a terrorist by the United States and the UN Security Council, which has imposed a travel ban on him and ordered his assets frozen.
Full report at:
http://www.worldbulletin.net/america-canada/166482/us-offers-5-mn-reward-for-isil-fighter-smuggler
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Muslim Students’ Association hosts vigil for Paris, Beirut, Bangladesh, Kenya attack victims
November 18, 2015
Ayah Ali, president of the Muslim Students’ Association and junior in the College of Business Administration, read a Koran verse to start a Tuesday candlelight prayer vigil for victims of recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, Bangladesh and Kenya.
Ali said the MSA, who hosted the vigil, knew they wanted to do something as soon they heard about the attacks.
“We’re doing this not because we think we’re responsible for anything but because we should come together as a community,” she said. “It’s us stepping forward and telling people where we stand in that we condemn any act of violence.”
University President Michael Lovell, Campus Ministry members Gerry Fischer and Bernardo Avila-Borunda, the French Club and the Rev. Joseph Mueller prayed in French and English with around 100 attendees to reflect on the tragedy.
“We must have mercy for each other,” Lovell said. “In this vigil organized by our students, we are accepting the invitation to speak and interact with one another and I thank each and all of you for participating in this conversation.”
Hugo Givernaud, an exchange student from Paris, was one of six French club members that spoke at the vigil. Paris experienced multiple terrorist attacks from the Islamic State on Nov. 13.
Full report at:
http://marquettewire.org/3938155/tribune/tribune-news/muslim-students-association-hosts-vigil-for-paris-attack-victims/
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Muslims Are On Alert For Misplaced Retaliation After Paris Attacks
11/18/2015
LOS ANGELES -- At the Islamic Center of Southern California, a historic mosque near downtown LA that attracts more than 1,000 Muslims each week for prayers, worshippers can usually walk in with ease. But in the days after the Paris attacks, security -- existent but usually slim at the mosque known for its strong and peaceful relations with the local community -- has been amped up. All attendees at any time of day have been subject to bag checks. Keep an eye out, mosque administrators have told the imam.
While much of the world is on alert for attacks from the Islamic State, Muslims in Southern California -- and those across the U.S. -- are keeping watch for retaliation against their communities in reaction to last week's massacre of 129 people in Paris by Islamic State extremists.
Since Friday, mosques and Muslims in at least eight states have reported vandalism at their houses of worship and threats against individuals. The incidents include shots fired at a mosque in Meriden, Connecticut, and an Eiffel Tower spray-painted outside an Islamic center in Omaha, Nebraska. In Charlotte, North Carolina, an Uber driver said a rider hit him while he was driving over the weekend after assuming he was Muslim.
Omar Ricci, chairman of the Islamic Center of Southern California.
"Who knows when somebody will attack," said Omar Ricci, a reserve officer for the Los Angeles Police Department and chairman of the Islamic Center of Southern California, which held a prayer vigil after Friday's attacks. "We know there could be somebody out there for whom this just lights the fuse, and they are ready to come for us."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based civil rights group whose dozens of local offices track reports of hate crimes, said it has seen a spike in calls in recent days about anti-Muslim incidents.
No precise numbers are available for how many anti-Muslim acts in the U.S. have been reported to police since the Paris attacks, and many suspects in the crimes on mosques have not been caught. But Muslim organizations have raised the alarm in hopes that attention from law enforcement will help curb further violence. (An FBI report released this week found that the total number of hate crimes in the U.S. declined last year, and that most groups showed a decline in hate crimes against them except Muslims, who saw a 14 percent increase.)
"I tried to get a count on just the mosques today but never was able to due to the incoming wave of phone calls," said Corey Saylor, director of CAIR's Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia.
The Islamic Center of Southern California, Ricci said, had been lucky to not be vandalized or threatened, though a vulgar email was sent to its administration that blamed Islam for terrorism and asked the mosque to "clean up," he said. Still, he said, the mosque was preparing for the worst.
On Wednesday, two dozen organizations, including CAIR and other Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Arab groups, released a letter expressing "deep concern about recent rhetoric that exploits the tragic attacks in Paris to misrepresent Islam, call for more profiling of Muslims, and demonize Muslim refugees."
"The bigotry and hate we’ve witnessed in the last few days has sadly been reminiscent of the response to January’s terrorist attacks at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Media figures and public officials have taken to social media and the airwaves to claim Islam is inherently violent and conflate all of Islam with ISIS, disregarding hundreds of millions of Muslims who fight for the cause of freedom and democracy every day," said the letter. It also called out the many governors who have said this week that they oppose letting Syrian refugees be resettled in their states, and blamed the politicians for contributing to anti-Muslim crimes.
Maha Hilal, executive director of the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms
The backlash and fear hasn't only been felt among mosques. For Maha Hilal of Arlington, Virginia, it meant not leaving her home on Saturday.
"As a Muslim woman who wears hijab, I made a conscious decision to remain at home the day after the Paris attacks, so I could, as I told my friends, 'stay out of harm’s way,'" said Hilal, who is the executive director of the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms. "I haven't really consciously done this before. But for some reason, it felt like people were 'getting sick' of those Muslim terrorists this time and that this time it would hit harder."
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/american-muslims-attacks-paris_564d1d5de4b00b7997f939c0?section=india&adsSiteOverride=in
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Muslim Congressman On Syrian Refugees: 'We Should Treat People The Same'
11/18/2015
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) defended Syrian refugees Wednesday against lawmakers who say they shouldn't enter the U.S. in the wake of the Paris attacks.
When asked on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" how to help refugees while keeping Americans safe, Ellison said, "We should not alter who we are and what we do based on what Daesh is trying to do."
Daesh is another term for the Islamic State, or ISIS. The terrorist group claimed responsibility for the Friday assault in Paris, which left 129 dead.
"We should bolster our process, we should improve it as we go, but I don’t think we should signal to Daesh or anyone that we’re going to set up a whole new set of rules to vet people who are Muslim. We should treat people the same," Ellison said.
The legislator, who is Muslim, stressed the need to embrace those fleeing the same terrorism America continues to fight abroad. But many other elected officials do not share this sentiment.
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/keith-ellison-refugees_564c99f4e4b045bf3df1daa8?section=india&adsSiteOverride=in
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US Muslims face backlash after Paris attacks
November 18, 2015
Muslims around the US are facing backlash following the deadly attacks in Paris, including vandalism to mosques and Islamic centres, hate-filled phone and online messages and threats of violence. Advocacy leaders say they have come to expect some anti-Muslim sentiment following such attacks, but they now see a spike that seems notable, stirred by anti-Muslim sentiment in the media. “The picture is getting increasingly bleak,” said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Washington, DC-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. “There’s been an accumulation of anti-Islamic rhetoric in our lives and that I think has triggered these overt acts of violence and vandalism.”
He said the rise in the level of anti-Muslim sentiment is reflected by some GOP presidential candidates, governors and others speaking out in opposition to the US accepting more Syrian refugees. Hooper said the council is seeing an increase in anti-Muslim incidents since Friday’s attacks in Paris that killed 129 people and wounded more than 350. In Connecticut, the FBI and local police are investigating reports of multiple gunshots fired at the Baitul Aman mosque in Meriden hours after the attacks. Leaders of the mosque don’t know the motive of the shooter or shooters, said Salaam Bhatti, a spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in New York, to which the mosque belongs. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a movement within Islam. Bhatti said the shooting has not rattled mosque members. He said many are from Pakistan, where conditions for the Ahmadiyya movement are much worse. “It’s a teachable moment,” Bhatti said. “As we do raise awareness of attacks in mosques, we will see mosques do not respond in violence. Islam teaches us to teach peace.” At the University of Connecticut, authorities are investigating after the words “killed Paris” were discovered on Saturday written beneath an Egyptian student’s name on his dorm room door. Muslim leaders also have reported recent vandalism, threats and other hate crimes targeting mosques in Nebraska, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, New York and other states. After the Paris attacks, the Omaha Islamic Centre in Nebraska reported that someone spray-painted a rough outline of the Eiffel Tower on an outside wall. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for the FBI and local police to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime, and they’re doing just that, according to Nasir Husain, general secretary of the centre. Muslims in the central US city are afraid, he said.
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/us-muslims-face-backlash-after-paris-attacks/#sthash.vDcu5N1B.dpuf
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New York City police 'aware' of new IS video threat
19 November 2015
NEW YORK: New York police said Wednesday they were aware of a new self-styled Islamic State (IS) video targeting the city but stressed there was "no current or specific threat."
As the video emerged just days after the deadly terror attacks in Paris, Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed that "New York City will not be intimidated."
New York Police Department (NYPD) spokesman Stephen Davis said authorities were aware of a newly-released IS video that "mentions Times Square."
"While some of the video footage is not new, the video reaffirms the message that New York City remains a top terrorist target," Davis said in a statement.
"While there is no current or specific threat to the city at this time, we will remain at a heightened state of vigilance and will continue to work with the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the entire intelligence community to keep the City of New York safe."
De Blasio praised the NYPD as the most capable police force in the country, "with a robust counterterrorism operation that was just strengthened with an investment of 500 additional officers."
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220770/new-york-city-police-aware-of-new-is-video-threat
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Obama to veto bill halting Syrian refugees admission
19 November 2015
The White House on Wednesday threatened to veto a House bill that would suspend admission of Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the U.S. unless certified by security agencies as not a threat to the homeland.
"This legislation would introduce unnecessary and impractical requirements that would unacceptably hamper our efforts to assist some of the most vulnerable people in the world, many of whom are victims of terrorism, and would undermine our partners in the Middle East and Europe in addressing the Syrian refugee crisis," the White House said in a statement.
The bill, American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015, or American SAFE Act of 2015, is set to be voted on by the House later this week.
It charges the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and Director of National Intelligence with conducting enhanced investigations of Syrian refugees wishing to enter the U.S. and comes after more than half of U.S. governors announced they would not welcome Syrian refugees in their states after deadly attacks in Paris in which a Syrian passport was found near an alleged attacker.
Full report at:
http://www.worldbulletin.net/america-canada/166479/us-offers-5-mn-reward-for-isil-fighter-smuggler
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South Asia
Badakhshan’s Yamgan District falls to Taliban for second time in six months
Nov 19 2015
Taliban militants have captured Yamgan of Badakhshan province for second time in six months.
Militants armed with heavy and light weapons launched a coordinated attack on this district from several angles yesterday and ultimately captured the it.
Sakhi Dad Haidari, Deputy Police Chief of Badakhshan said due to bad weather conditions, reinforcement did not arrive to Yamgan on time.
The district was overrun by Taliban in June but after about two weeks they were pushed back and government forces retook control of the seized areas.
Sediq Sediqi, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said 120 insurgents, including six commanders among them a Tajikistan national, were killed in the operation.
Yamgan is bordering Wardouj and Dara-e-Khastak districts where reportedly Taliban have a strong presence and from there they plan attacks on other areas of Badakhshan.
http://www.khaama.com/badakhshans-yamgan-district-falls-to-taliban-for-second-time-in-six-months-4239
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Muslim Students’ Association Hosts Vigil for Paris, Beirut, Bangladesh, Kenya Attack Victims
November 18, 2015
Ayah Ali, president of the Muslim Students’ Association and junior in the College of Business Administration, read a Koran verse to start a Tuesday candlelight prayer vigil for victims of recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, Bangladesh and Kenya.
Ali said the MSA, who hosted the vigil, knew they wanted to do something as soon they heard about the attacks.
“We’re doing this not because we think we’re responsible for anything but because we should come together as a community,” she said. “It’s us stepping forward and telling people where we stand in that we condemn any act of violence.”
University President Michael Lovell, Campus Ministry members Gerry Fischer and Bernardo Avila-Borunda, the French Club and the Rev. Joseph Mueller prayed in French and English with around 100 attendees to reflect on the tragedy.
“We must have mercy for each other,” Lovell said. “In this vigil organized by our students, we are accepting the invitation to speak and interact with one another and I thank each and all of you for participating in this conversation.”
Hugo Givernaud, an exchange student from Paris, was one of six French club members that spoke at the vigil. Paris experienced multiple terrorist attacks from the Islamic State on Nov. 13.
“It just could have been me,” Givernaud said. “(The Islamic State) wanted to kill joy and happiness.”
Allison Driskill, a French Club member and senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said the event was a call to action for some of the attendees.
“It’s easy to see it on the news … but to actually come here through the rain and stand in solidarity with other people who feel the same way I think is a bigger step to make,” Driskill said.
Full report at:
http://marquettewire.org/3938155/tribune/tribune-news/muslim-students-association-hosts-vigil-for-paris-attack-victims/
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Militants launch suicide attack near Kandahar
Nov 19, 2015
KANDAHAR: Militants wearing Afghan army uniforms launched a suicide and gun attack on a police headquarters near Kandahar Thursday, killing one soldier before the attackers were shot dead, authorities said.
The attack came at dawn in the district of Arghandab, some 25 kilometres west of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan, a relatively quiet area unused to such attacks, which appear to be a sign of the Taliban's alarming new push into urban areas.
Six people — five assailants and one Afghan army soldier — were killed in the attack, police told AFP.
"First one attacker detonated his vehicle laden with explosives at the entrance of the Arghandab police headquarters, then four others tried to enter the compound," Zia Durrani, Kandahar police spokesman told AFP.
The attack lasted half an hour before the gunmen were killed by security forces, Durrani said.
Niaz Mohammad Mujahid, police chief for Arghandab district, said that one Afghan soldier was killed and three others were injured. A spokesman for the Kandahar governor confirmed the assault.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220785/militants-launch-suicide-attack-near-kandahar
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Germany to send 130 more soldiers to Afghanistan
November 19, 2015
BERLIN : Germany will send 130 more soldiers to Afghanistan, the government said on Wednesday after a cabinet meeting to discuss support for Afghan forces struggling to tackle an Islamist insurgency.
The Taliban’s surprise seizure of the northern city of Kunduz in September, the first time the militants had taken a provincial capital in 14 years, has prompted the U.
S.
-led military coalition to revise its strategy in Afghanistan.
Although NATO has withdrawn almost all of its combat troops, it still has soldiers stationed there to train local forces.
Up to about 850 German troops are in Afghanistan on this mission.
That number will now go up to 980, the government said.
German forces are stationed in the north of the country.
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said after the fall of Kunduz that she was open to delaying the withdrawal of German soldiers from Afghanistan beyond next year.
President Barack Obama announced last month that some 9,800 U.
S.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/19-Nov-2015/germany-to-send-130-more-soldiers-to-afghanistan
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Germany announces to increase its troop numbers to 980 in Afghanistan
Nov 19 2015
Germany currently has up to 850 troops assisting NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan but the country has announced increasing this number to 980.
Mainly after the seizure of a provincial capital by Taliban, which is unprecedented in last 14 years, NATO member countries argued that Afghan National Security and Defense Forces and the country’s security institutions still need assistance to combat terrorism and maintain security.
They started reviewing their strategies of withdrawing troops from Afghanistan.
Gen. John F. Campbell, the commander of the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission in Afghanistan said late September that he had sent five different recommendations to the Pentagon and to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) officials in Brussels regarding the withdrawal of the US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.
After Gen. Campbell’s recommendations, the United States and some other NATO counties changed their plans.
The original plan of US President Barack Obama was to draw-down his troop numbers from 9,800 to about 1,000 by the end of 2016 but he announced in October that the troops currently in Afghanistan would stay through most of 2016, and then be reduced to 5,500 troops stationed in Kabul, Bagram, Jalalabad and Kandahar.
Following President Obama’s announcement, the British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon also said that Britain will keep its current level of 450 troops on non-combat missions in Afghanistan through 2016.
Some other NATO members have also extended or plan to extend their mission in Afghanistan.
http://www.khaama.com/germany-announces-to-increase-its-troop-numbers-to-980-in-afghanistan-4238
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Bangladesh vows crackdown on more northeast rebel camps
Nov 19, 2015
NEW DELHI: Bangladesh, which has in the recent past helped India tackle northeast insurgents hiding in its territory, has assured further assistance in cracking down on the remaining insurgent camps, primarily in the Chittagong region.
At the Indo-Bangla home secretary level talks held in Dhaka on November 16 and 17, Bangladesh's senior secretary for home affairs Md Mozammel Haque Khan conveyed to Indian home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi his government's willingness to send back any Indian fugitive holed up on its soil and also assist in seizures of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) routed through Bangladesh.
"Bangladesh side assured full cooperation to address India's security concerns and reiterated that Bangladesh will not allow its soil to be used against the interest of any country including India. Both sides agreed to further expedite the process of handing over of other wanted criminals in either country," said a home ministry press release on the outcome of the home-secretary level talks.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bangladesh-vows-crackdown-on-more-northeast-rebel-camps/articleshow/49838837.cms
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Nine people wounded in Baghlan explosion
Nov 19 2015
Nine people have sustained injuries in an explosion in front of the police headquarters of Baghlan-i-Markazi District of northern Baghlan province.
Abdul Bashir, deputy police chief of Baghlan province said the blast took place around 10:00 am this morning.
He said the bomb was attached to a motorcycle parked in front of the police HQ. Six civilians and three security personnel sustained injuries in the explosion.
This was second attack on district police headquarters today. The first one took place in the southern part of the country in which five attackers were killed and a soldier of the Afghan National Army embraced martyrdom.
Full report at:
http://www.khaama.com/breaking-news-explosion-in-markazi-baghlan-district-of-baghlan-4237
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Families meet Mojaheed, SQ Chy at Dhaka jail
November 19, 2015
Death row war crimes convicts Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed met their families at Dhaka Central Jail today.
The meetings took place a day after the Supreme Court turned down their pleas for review against death penalty for war crimes during 1971 Liberation War.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has said it will soon release the full order on both war criminals (the verdict turning down their review petitions).
And, the “security measures” involving shutting down social networking website Facebook and online calling and messaging apps WhatsApp and Viber are still in place.
Presidential mercy is the only thing that can now save Salauddin Quader and Mojaheed. According to laws of the International Crimes Tribunal, they will be allowed “reasonable time” to seek clemency.
SQ CHY’S FAMILY AVOIDS MEDIA
- 22 family members go to Dhaka jail at Old Dhaka around 12:30pm, 15 allowed to enter.
- After about an hour’s meeting, they come out and refuses to talk to the media.
- Those who met SQ Chowdhury included his wife Farhad Quader Chowdhury, sons Fazlul Quader and Hummam Quader, daughter Farzin Quader and sisters Jubaida Monwar and Hasina Quader.
Full report at:
http://www.thedailystar.net/politics/family-dhaka-jail-meet-mojaheed-174829
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Southeast Asia
Beijing condemns ‘savage act’, vows justice after Islamic State executes Chinese captive
November 19, 2015
China vowed on Thursday to “bring to justice” those responsible for executing one of its citizens after Islamic State said it had killed a Chinese captive, the first and so far only known Chinese hostage held by the group.
Islamic State said it had killed a Norwegian and a Chinese captive, showing what appeared to be pictures of the dead men under a banner reading “Executed” in the latest edition of its English language magazine.
It did not give any details in the online Dabiq magazine, published on Wednesday, about how, when or where the men were killed.
In a brief statement, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the man’s identify for the first time, naming him as Fan Jinghui, saying he had been “cruelly murdered”. It said in September one of its citizens appeared to be in Islamic State captivity. After he was kidnapped, the Chinese government activated an emergency mechanism to try and “rescue” him, but he was still killed in a “cold-blooded way”, the ministry said. “The Chinese government strongly condemns this savage act devoid of humanity and will certainly bring the criminals to justice,” it added. “China will continue to strengthen anti-terrorism cooperation with the international community to maintain peace and tranquility in the world.” Chinese President Xi Jinping, visiting Manila for a regional summit, said he “strongly condemned” the killing, state news agency Xinhua said. The militant group had previously identified Fan as a 50-year-old freelance consultant from Beijing. The state-run Beijing News said Fan was probably a former advertising executive who lived in a western suburb of Beijing, but that his company shut down in 2003. It is not clear why he had gone to the Middle East. China has repeatedly denounced Islamist militants and urged the world to step up coordination in combating Islamic State, though it has been reluctant to get involved on the ground in Syria and Iraq where the group largely operates. Chinese officials, however, say the country faces a severe threat from Islamist separatists in its western Xinjiang region, where violence has left hundreds dead over the past three years. Rights groups and exiles say the violence stems more from the anger of the Muslim Uighur people who call Xinjiang home at Chinese controls on their religion and culture than any cohesive threat by any militant group. China strongly denies any rights abuses in Xinjiang. The Chinese government says that some Uighurs have gone to fight with radical groups in the Middle East.
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/beijing-condemns-savage-act-vows-justice-after-islamic-state-executes-chinese-captive/
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Indonesia not on Islamic State’s radar, says minister
NOVEMBER 19, 2015
JAKARTA — Despite the recent spate of terror attacks claimed by Islamic State, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for legal affairs assured the nation that the jihadist movement will not bring its terror campaign into the archipelago.
“We understand that no country is immune to the IS movement, but until now Indonesia is not their target,” Mr Luhut Panjaitan told reporters in Jakarta today (Nov 19).
Some 500 Indonesians are estimated to have fled the country to join IS in Syria, according to government data.
The radical Islamic group went on a terror rampage, killing hundreds in the past three weeks alone through attacks in Paris and Beirut, as well as a bomb blast on board a Russian passenger jet.
Full report at:
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/indonesia-not-islamic-states-radar-says-luhut
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Malaysians condemn terrorism, IS
Nov 18, 2015
PETALING JAYA: As a sign of solidarity with victims of the Paris terror attacks, Malaysians are speaking out against Islamophobia and saying that terrorism has no place in Islam.
An online campaign started by young British Muslims, with the hashtages #NotInMyMame and #IamMuslim, Muslims and others are telling the world that the Islamic State (IS) terror group is the real enemy of Islam.
They are pointing out that IS' messages of hate contradict the messages of peace which Islam promotes.
Malaysians have joined in the campaign.
Izaanibr posted a picture of herself holding a placard with the #notinmyname hashtag and the sentence "Islamic State does not represent Islam".
Twitter user Kkan83 posted: "I'm not a Muslim but grew up in predominantly Muslim country of Malaysia. They are not violent and evil. #NotInMyName".
Another user, Nicholas Ezekiel, said: "I am not a Muslim but I have lot of Muslim friends here in Malaysia. One thing I know about Muslim, #MuslimsAreNotTerrorist."
"Living in a place where most people are Muslims, ISIS is not the real Islam. Fight For The Truth. #NotInMyName #Malaysia," said Twitter user TommyLim5353.
Adnan Ali posted "All Muslims are not terrorists, as all white people (non-Muslims) are not racists #ParisAttacks #PrayForPeace #NotInMyName".
Syafiq Haikal said "I'm a Muslim from Malaysia. We Muslims condemn all acts of terrorism. It is against the teaching of Islam. #NotInMyName".
Fazz Rahman added that "Islam does not condone such senseless killing #NotInMyName".
In condemning IS as an extremist group, Fila Magnus said "stop insulting me and my faith! #NotInMyName #Malaysia".
KazAslam786 said: "Before calling Muslims "terrorists" please look up for the definition of the word #TerrorismHasNoReligion".
Other social media users have chosen to overlay the colours of the French flag on their Facebook profile pictures as a sign of support for the victims.
Additional reporting by Firdaous Fadzil, Rahimy Rahim, Jastin Ahmad Tarmizi, Joash Ee De Silva and Nadirah H Rodzi.
http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/malaysians-condemn-terrorism
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Malaysia's Islamic Mortgages Cool as Controls Cap Household Debt
November 19, 2015
Malaysia’s slowing economy and stricter lending rules are cooling demand for Islamic mortgages, helping cap Southeast Asia’s highest level of household debt.
Shariah-compliant home loans increased 17 percent in the first nine months of 2015, after rising an average 29 percent annually in the past five years, according to central bank data issued in October. Malaysia has raised property gains taxes, cut the maximum tenor on lending and placed limits on foreign ownership to check speculation in the market.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Chua Hak Bin forecasts growth in Islamic mortgages will ease to below 10 percent in 2016, which is bad news for Malaysians seeking to get on the property ladder but a healthy development as the government seeks to reduce leverage. Fitch Ratings warned in June that consumer liabilities need to be managed to avoid derailing economic activity and building up disproportionate financial risk.
“Property projects have started to slow and stricter macro-prudential requirements have tightened bank lending as the risk of property prices sliding increases,” said Singapore-based Chua. “My sense is that mortgages, including Islamic mortgages, will slow to single digits in 2016.”
Full report at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-18/malaysia-s-islamic-mortgages-cool-as-controls-cap-household-debt
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Indonesia to host muslim scholars` intl conference
18 November 2015
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will host the 4th International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) on November 23-25, 2015 at the State Islamic University of Maulana Malik Ibrahim in Malang, East Java province.
"The conference comes in response to the conditions prevailing in the Islamic world which is still overshadowed by radicalism, terrorism, internal conflicts and the multidimensional crisis that affects the global world order," Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esti Andayani, said here on Wednesday.
According to Esti, Indonesia has invited 65 influential religious leaders and scholars from 34 countries, including Spain and the United States, 500 Indonesian scholars, academics as well as ambassadors.
"In addition, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah are scheduled to deliver keynote speeches," she noted.
The Muslim scholars conference will also promote the values of Islam, which teaches the believers to respect other religions, among the international community.
As of 2010, over 1.6 billion or about 23.4 percent of the world population comprises Muslims.
About 24.8 percent of the total population in Asia-Oceania considers itself Muslim, 91.2 percent in the Middle East-North Africa does so, 29.6 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa, around six percent in Europe, and 0.6 percent in the Americas considers itself Muslim.
Indonesia has the worlds largest Muslim population (205 million). Roughly 88 percent of Indonesias population is Muslim, and the nation is home to about 13 percent of the worlds Muslims.(*)
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/101539/indonesia-to-host-muslim-scholars-intl-conference
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After losing members in committees, PAS says become ‘unofficial’ opposition in Penang
BY YAP TZU GING
November 19, 2015
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — From being seen as friends, PAS has become an “unofficial” opposition party in DAP-led Penang, the Islamist party’s secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said today.
He added that PAS had no choice but to oppose its one-time political ally after the state government fired 300 of its members in the village security and development committee last month.
Full report at:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/after-losing-members-in-committees-pas-says-become-unofficial-opposition-in
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Europe
Uber Driver Says Passenger Mistook Him For A Muslim, Threatened To Kill Him
11/18/2015
Samson Woldemichael is a Christian. But the 40-year-old Ethiopian immigrant and father of two, who works as an Uber driver in North Carolina, says he was the victim of Islamophobia this weekend when a passenger threatened his life before violently attacking him during a late-night fare.
Woldemichael says he picked up his assailant, a white man in his 30s, a little before 2 a.m. Sunday outside an Irish pub in Charlotte. The ride started out normally enough, with the two men making small talk. But Woldemichael says when he arrived at what the passenger gave as his home address, the man started to threaten him.
"He told me he was going to shoot me right in face or strangle me," Woldemichael told The Huffington Post. "He used a lot of bad words... really dirty words, and said I was a Muslim."
Woldemichael says that even after he told the man he wasn't a Muslim, the man continued to threaten him. "He was telling me he was going to kill me right there, next to his residence."
At that point, Woldemichael says, he asked the passenger to get out of the car. The passenger, in turn, asked Woldemichael to get out. Woldemichael says the two stared into each other's eyes for a few tense seconds, and then he decided to start driving again.
"I started driving because I didn't feel safe anymore to park there," he told WBTV this week.
Woldemichael says he drove halfway around the block before the passenger "hit me so hard on the forehead with his bare hand."
"He then choked me with one arm," Woldemichael added, "and started hitting me with the other one. I couldn't move. The only thing I could do was step on the brake, and then I was honking on the horn continuously."
Woldemichael told WBTV the man then got out of the car, ran a short distance away and then turned around and launched into another tirade, this time keeping his hand behind his back as though he were armed.
That's when Woldemichael says he drove away and called 911. The cops, he said, arrived within a few minutes, but by that point his assailant had disappeared into the night.
Woldemichael says he suffered two bruises to his head.
The Charlotte-Meckleburg Police Department didn't respond to multiple requests from comment, but it told WBTV Tuesday that police are investigating the case and that no arrests have been made.
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/uber-driver-muslim_564b8d85e4b08cda348b337f?section=india&adsSiteOverride=in
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Worried Muslim Parents In France Want Their Kids To Dress Less Like Muslims
11/18/2015
PARIS -- Some Muslim parents in Paris who are worried about discrimination have started asking their daughters to remove their religious headscarves in the wake of the deadly attacks on the French capital on Friday.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks that took place at a stadium, concert hall and eateries throughout Paris and left 129 people dead. French President Francois Hollande described the attacks as “an act of war.”
In the aftermath, some Muslims are feeling uneasy in France, fearing retaliation. According to the Collective Against Islamophobia in France, in the six months following the terrorist attack against satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January, cases of physical assault against Muslims in France rose by 500 percent.
A silent solidarity vigil held in Lille on Saturday was stormed by far-right protesters carrying an Islamophobic banner. Graffiti calling for “death to Muslims” has popped up on a wall in Normandy, in northern France, while the words “France, wake up!” were spray-painted on a mosque in southern France.
This emerging anxiety has moved some Muslim families to revisit their Islamic traditions and rituals, and to avoid the risks they might face as a result of looking like Muslims.
Seham, a student at the Sorbonne University in Paris, is currently under pressure from her parents and relatives to remove her headscarf, she tells HuffPost Arabi. Her mom told her she’ll be angry with her if she refuses to take it off.
Refusing to remove her headscarf, and burdened with her family’s concerns, Seham has been spending most of her time at home since Friday. “All the calls I receive are from people asking if I have given up my veil yet.”
Other Muslim parents in France have instructed their sons and daughters to dress in black or dark colors and to light candles to mourn the victims.
An Algerian graduate student, Hussein, says his mom has ordered him to refrain from “speaking about religion” with any of his friends or colleagues. She worries about him every time he steps out of the house, he says.
Hussein says advice of this kind annoys him -- he thinks it’s over the top. Still, he understands his mom’s concerns in light of the recent attacks. He said he stands in “solidarity with victims across the world,” but that he doesn’t feel obligated to constantly prove his innocence “just for being a Muslim.”
Full report at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/worried-muslim-parents-france_564ccbbfe4b08c74b733c9a6?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592§ion=india&adsSiteOverride=in
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Russia, France push UN resolutions on fighting IS
19 November 2015
UNITED NATIONS: Russia submitted a revised draft UN resolution Wednesday on fighting the self-styled Islamic State (IS) group that France said could be partially included in its own Security Council measure following the Paris attacks.
Agreement from the 15-member council on a single draft resolution that lays out the international approach to defeating IS extremists would mark a significant step after months of disagreements between the West and Russia
The Russian draft text was first presented to the Security Council in late September but was rejected by the United States, Britain and France over a provision that calls for battling the IS extremists with the consent of the Syrian regime — a Moscow ally.
The new draft resolution still contains that provision, said Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, but he downplayed disagreements.
"We are calling for closer cooperation than we currently have now among all those fighting in Syria and Iraq," Churkin told reporters following a closed-door meeting of the council.
"One thing which was heard loud and clear in our discussions in the council is that there should be unity of the council. I don't see it as a huge gap."
French President Francois Hollande has called on the Security Council to quickly adopt a resolution to strengthen the fight against IS militants in the wake of the Paris attacks.
Hollande is due to meet President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on November 26, two days after talks in Washington with President Barack Obama aimed at stepping up the campaign against the extremists.
French Ambassador Francois Delattre said he was working "to prepare a text that will be short, strong and focused on the fight against our common enemy, Daesh (IS)."
That measure is expected to be presented to the council soon and Delattre said he would "carefully stud" the Russian draft text to see how parts of it could be added to the French draft resolution.
Churkin insisted that Syria must have a role in confronting the IS group, saying that "to ignore the Syrian government... is something that is definitely weakening the possibility of our joint fight."
Following a phone call between Hollande and Putin this week, the Kremlin said Russia and French military and security services would work together to confront "terrorist groups" in Syria.
Full report at:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1220786/russia-france-push-un-resolutions-on-fighting-is
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British ‘terror sponsors’ held in Hungary
November 19, 2015
BUDAPEST - Two British nationals banned from travelling abroad after serving jail terms for financing terrorism have been apprehended in Hungary on a train heading for Romania, Hungarian police said Wednesday.
Hungarian daily Blikk named one of them as Trevor Brooks, also known as Abu Izzadeen, a Muslim activist jailed in Britain in 2008 for fundraising for terrorists and inciting terrorism abroad.
The 44-year-old and the other man, named by Hungarian authorities as Simon Jonathan K.
, 40, were intercepted on Saturday on an international train at Lokoshaza, a crossing point on the Romanian border.
According to a Hungarian police statement, the pair each served two jail terms totalling five years in Britain.
After their release in 2009, both were barred from leaving Britain without permission.
The two men were taken into custody by Hungarian police because they did not have legal documents entitling them to stay in the EU member state.
One of them presented a British driving licence and the other just a Koran.
Only after their detention did it emerge that both were subject to a European arrest warrant, police spokeswoman Viktoria Csiszer-Kovacs told AFP.
“The men will appear shortly at a court in Budapest to decide on the extradition,” Csiszer-Kovacs said.
She added that it was unclear what their intended final destination had been, although it was possible they were on their way to Syria via Bulgaria and Turkey.
There was no suggestion that the men were implicated in Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris.
Izzadeen was born to a Christian Jamaican family in London and worked as an electrician.
He won notoriety in 2006 for heckling Britain’s then-home secretary John Reid live on television.
He came to prominence for refusing to condemn the July 2005 bombings in London and describing then-prime minister Tony Blair and US President George W.
Bush as the “real terrorists” for invading Iraq and Afghanistan.
Moreover, Britain’s Nigel Farage, head of the anti-EU UK Independence Party, on Wednesday linked Europe’s refugee crisis to the attacks in Paris, telling AFP that the problem risked getting worse.
“It’s perfectly clear that (French President Francois) Hollande and (European Commission President Jean-Claude) Juncker have learnt nothing from the abominations last Friday,” Farage told AFP.
Full report at:
http://nation.com.pk/international/19-Nov-2015/british-terror-sponsors-held-in-hungary
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Manhunt still on for Paris attacks ‘mastermind’
19 November 2015
The hunt for the mastermind of last week’s attacks continued on Thursday after a police raid on Wednesday at a Paris suburb left at least two people dead and eight arrested. The fate of the alleged ringleader was unclear, with authorities saying he was not taken alive and they were still trying to determine if he died in the raid.
Police launched the operation in Saint-Denis after receiving information from tapped phone calls, surveillance and tipoffs suggesting that 27-year-old Abdelhamid Abaaoud was holed up in an apartment in Paris’ Saint-Denis neighborhood.
Terrified residents awoke to gunfire and explosions as a SWAT team swooped in and “neutralized” what Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins called a “new team of terrorists” that appeared ready for a new attack.
Soufiane Belaribi, a young man of Algerian origin who lives in the suburb, said he had heard explosions while on his way to work in the morning.
“I never imagined they would be hiding here. I didn’t see any suspicious movement in this neighborhood. I have been living here for 12 years,” Belaribi told Al Arabiya News.
French authorities declared a state of emergency after the attacks last Friday, and security forces have conducted 414 raids, making 60 arrests and seizing 75 weapons, including 11 military-style firearms, the Interior Ministry said.
Parliament is expected to vote by the end of the week to extend the state of emergency for three months.
Full report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2015/11/19/Manhunt-still-on-for-Paris-attacks-mastermind-.html
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Bulgarian professor converts to Islam
19 November 2015
A Classical Arabic Studies lecturer has converted to Islam after studying and translating the Holy Quran to the Bulgarian language.
Prof. Dr Svetan Teofanov, works in the Department of Classic Arabic Literature at the Sofia University, giving lectures in Koran and Quranic exegesis. He has until now several published books as well as publishing as a Quran interpretation. Prof. Teofanov has finished his specialisation doctorate at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies as well as second doctorate at the Moscow Oriental Studies Institute.
As part of the specialisation work, Dr Teofanov said, "Many yeears ago, on the request of the state-owned publishing house, I began to translate the Holy Koran. This was the socialist period. Rather it being service to the Muslims, this was more concerned with assimilation policies in regards to Turkey. Shortly after the work began there was the democratic transition in 1989, the state publishing house went bankrupt, the Bulgarian translation of the Holy Quran was not published in that year. However, I continued to work on the translation of the Holy Koran and this is where my life changed. I began to better understand our exalted book and wanted it from my heart. "
Converting to Islam opens doors
Dr Teofanov who has continued to teach focusing on the Arabic language at the university has said that it has led to many doors opening for him. Regarding this, he said, "Trofanov on advancing the interest of the Arabic language in academic life once it has opened many other doors. In point-related Teofanov told the following: "When I started working I was looking through the eyes as if it was an ordinary book. Over time time I began to understand the Qur'an and with a deeper meaning from texts. In college I read the Koran interpretation and meaning, but felt their sincerity, while I was completing the actual translation. My journey defying the Quran took too long but at the end of the road and I have accepted Islam and I am now a Muslim. "
Full report at:
http://www.worldbulletin.net/europe/166490/bulgarian-professor-converts-to-islam
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Polish jet makes emergency landing in Bulgaria
19 November 2015
A plane flying from Warsaw to the Egyptian resort of Hurghada has made an emergency landing in Bulgaria after a bomb threat, according to officials.
According to Bulgarian news wire Novinite, the plane was forced to land at the Burgas airport in the Black Sea after a passenger on board claimed a bomb had been planted on the aircraft.
The plane has been evacuated and the airplane is currently being searched.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/europe/166485/russia-bans-food-imports-from-ukraine
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Fears over refugee scapegoating after Paris attacks
19 November 2015
Europe should be wary of tarnishing refugees seeking sheltered in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, rights groups said.
The links between the killers of 129 people in the French capital and Syria, where some of the attackers visited, has raised fears that terrorism could affect the willingness of EU nations to accept refugees.
A Syrian passport was found near the remains of one suicide bomber with evidence that the carrier had passed through Greece last month. However, the document is still to be verified.
It was later reported that Serbian police had arrested a man carrying a passport with the same details as the one found near the body, raising the likelihood of it being a forgery.
Joel Millman, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, voiced concern at attitudes among European politicians following the attacks.
“The latest statements made by some European countries regarding the closing the borders to the refugees are really worrisome,” he said. “Thousands of refugees, including women and children could face xenophobia besides the freezing cold.”
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees also warned against scapegoating refugees.
“We are deeply disturbed by language that demonizes refugees as a group,” spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said on Tuesday. “This is dangerous as it will contribute to xenophobia and fear.”
She added: “Refugees should not be turned into scapegoats and must not become the secondary victims of these most tragic events.”
Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Estonia and Latvia are among EU countries that have expressed reservations at accepting large numbers of asylum seekers.
Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, those who had suffered most at the hands of ISIL were Syrian and Iraqi Muslims.
“If this attack is allowed to feed discrimination and prejudice it will be playing straight into the hands of ISIL,” he said. “Are we going to play their game for them?”
More than 4 million Syrians have fled the country since civil war erupted in 2011.
So far this year, more than 819,000 refugees have arrived in Europe by crossing the Mediterranean, according to UN figures.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/europe/166481/russia-bans-food-imports-from-ukraine
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UN urges Europe to respect refugees' rights
19 November 2015
The United Nations Secretary-General on Wednesday called for humane treatment of refugees by European countries in the wake of deadly attacks in Paris.
In a phone call with French President Francois Hollande, Ban Ki-moon reiterated his condemnation of Friday's terrorist attacks and extended condolences to the families of the 129 victims killed in the massacre, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
"He underlined that many refugees were themselves fleeing extremism and terrorism and stressed the importance for France and Europe to continue to treat refugees and migrants with compassion and to respect their rights," Dujarric said referring to Ban.
Ban's call came as the attacks in Paris -- in which a militant posing as a refugee has been implicated -- prompted some far-right parties and newspapers in Europe to claim the deaths are a result of allowing so many refugees to enter the continent.
So far this year, more than 819,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe by making perilous journeys across the Mediterranean, according to UN figures, with more than 3,400 people having lost their lives or reported missing as they seek to reach the continent.
Approximately 400,000 arrivals by sea are Syrians fleeing a civil war that has claimed more than 250,000 lives and made the country the world's single-largest source of refugees and displaced people, according to the UN.
On Tuesday, the UN chief expressed concern that the Paris attacks could prompt "reprisals or further discrimination against Muslims, in particular Muslim refugees and migrants".
"This would just exacerbate the alienation on which terrorists feed," Ban told a UN Security Concil meeting on root causes of conflict.
He stressed "the need for our response to uphold the rule of law, and to avoid being ruled by fear and inflaming tensions further still".
http://www.worldbulletin.net/europe/166480/un-urges-europe-to-respect-refugees-rights
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/pluralism-india-tremendous-social-strength,/d/105333