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Israel bars UN investigator from entering Gaza

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It was the second time Makarim Wibisono, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, had been barred entry by Israel. (AFP/Fabrice Coffrini)

It was the second time Makarim Wibisono, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, had been barred entry by Israel. (AFP/Fabrice Coffrini)

by Press TV

As the prospect of a UN report on Israel’s 2014 bloodletting in Gaza draws nearer, the world body’s point man on human rights situation in the occupied territories is kept outside the Palestinian territory by Israel.

Tel Aviv once again prevented Makarim Wibisono from visiting the coastal enclave last week, with Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon saying outright on Monday, “We didn’t allow this visit.”

“Israel cooperates with all the international commissions and all (UN) rapporteurs, except when the mandate handed to them is anti-Israeli and Israel has no chance to make itself heard,” the official said, despite the age-old and unflinching US-led support for Israel on the international arena, most visibly at the United Nations.

Wibisono reports to the UN Human Rights Council. The council has been investigating the war and whose relevant report is expected to be published in the coming days.

Israel had also barred Wibisono from entering last year for a similar visit.

Nearly 2,200 Palestinians lost their lives and some 11,000 were injured in the July-August 2014 assaults. Gaza Health officials say the victims included 578 children and nearly 260 women with more than 3,100 children injured in the offensive.

The UN has said Israel was responsible for the deadly bombing of several UN institutions, including schools, in which displaced Palestinian civilians were sheltering.

In a report released Sunday, Israel defended its conduct in the war, calling it both “lawful” and “legitimate.”

Israel has been invariably justifying its incessant attacks on the impoverished sliver by alleging it has a duty to defend itself against the rockets fired from Gaza. The projectiles are seldom known to have caused injury or damage.

Libya says former al-Qaeda leader killed in US strike

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Tobruk-based government says Mokhtar Belmokhtar linked to 2013 Algeria gas attack killed in coordinated attack with US.

Belmokhtar was a leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb [EPA]

Belmokhtar was a leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb [EPA]

by Al Jazeera

Libya’s recognised government says that the leader of an al-Qaeda-linked group in Algeria, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, has been killed in a coordinated attack with the US.

Earlier on Sunday, the US Department of Defence said the US military conducted a counterterrorism strike against an al-Qaeda-associated target in Libya on Saturday night, but were assessing results before providing more details.

“The Libyan government in the east of Libya confirms that the US fighter jets conducted air strikes last night in a mission which resulted in the death of the terrorist Belmokhtar,” the internationally recognised government based in Tobruk said.

Al Jazeera’s Daniel Lak, reporting from Washington, said: “They are not saying a great deal in terms of details here in Washington. On the record the defence department has said that an air strike was carried out on an al-Qaeda-affiliated group described interestingly as a mid-level target.”

“More details have come from the Libyan government. The strike apparently took place in the east of the country near Tobruk, and according to Libyan news websites it was aimed at Ansar al-Sharia group where several commanders of the group were meeting.

“What we await is word here in Washington that indeed is the case.”

‘Mr Marlboro’

Belmokhtar was a leader of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, but later split from the group in 2012 to form his own militia, called Those Who Sign With Blood, that later became al-Mourabitoun.

He has been involved in cigarette smuggling and one of his nom de guerre is “Mr Marlboro”. He has also been associated with various groups involved in attacks on governments in the region including, Mali.

“Belmokhtar has a long resume of involvement in violence in the region. He came out of the Algerian civil war and struggled in 1990s and early 2000,” Al Jazeera’s Lak said.

“He has been involved in abduction of tourists and UN officials. He looms large over the Maghreb region and the Sahara desert,” he said.

Five million dollar bounty

The death of Belmokhtar has been declared at least on four occasions in recent years. In 2013, Chad’s military claimed to have killed Belmokhtar, who was behind a bloody mass hostage-taking at an Algerian gas plant the same year.

“If this is confirmed it will be a very significant development,” the Al Jazeera correspondent said.

The Americans have charged him with terrorism and related offences in connection with the attack in 2013 on the Algerian gas refinery. At least 35 hostages, including three Americans were killed.

The US had offered a $5m reward for information on his whereabouts.

It’s the first publicised operation by the US forces in Libya since 2011, when long-time Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was unseated from power in a NATO-backed revolt.

Libya has rival governments and parliaments, and powerful militias are battling for influence and a share of its oil wealth.

Congress protests outside Sushma Swaraj's residence; demands resignation

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Sushma Swaraj Lalit Modi

New Delhi: Scores of Congress workers today protested outside residence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj demanding her resignation for “extending help” to scam-tainted former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi in procuring travel documents in the UK.

Shouting slogans and holding placards, the Congress workers demanded action against Swaraj and said she must quit or Prime Minister Narendra Modi should sack her immediately from the Union Cabinet. The protesters also burnt effigies of Swaraj.

Congress has been attacking Swaraj since yesterday after reports surfaced that she had written to British lawmaker Keith Vaz to allegedly recommend travel documents for Lalit Modi for visiting Portugal.

Swaraj has said she had written to Vaz on “humanitarian grounds” after Lalit Modi said his wife was ill.

Modi is wanted in India and has made London his home since 2010 to avoid a probe in the alleged betting and misappropriation of funds in the T20 cricket tournament.

Some of the Congress protesters also broke barricades outside Swaraj’s Safdarjung residence in posh Lutyens Bungalow Zone in central Delhi. Around 100 protesters were detained by the police and were later released.

Earlier in the day, Congress sharpened attack on Swaraj alleging there was “quid pro quo” involved in her “assistance” to Modi and demanded that the former IPL Commissioner be brought back and tried in India.

“There are circumstances which establish contact between Sushma Swaraj and Lalit Modi. As a quid pro quo, Sushma Swaraj has done favour to a tainted person who is accused of Rs 700 crore money laundering, tax evasion and several other charges,” said Congress national spokesperson P L Punia.

(PTI)

Indian Army's importance diminished due to lack of wars, says Manohar Parrikar

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Manohar Parrikar (Photo credit: HT)

Manohar Parrikar (Photo credit: HT)

Jaipur: Kicking up a storm, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday said that the Indian Army’s importance has diminished because the country hasn’t gone to war in the past 40-50 years.

“Soldiers were facing immense difficulties because people’s respect for the army has reduced during peacetime,” he said at a seminar in Jaipur.

However, he clarified his statement saying that he doesn’t endorse wars.

“I have written to many chief ministers (over defence matters). Some have acted on it and at many places it (response) has ended. The primary reason for this is that we have not been to war for 40-50 years. I don’t mean to say that we should go to war. I mean to say that without war the army’s importance has diminished,” he added.

He also said that two generations of officers have retired without seeing a war.

“A country that fails to protect its Army cannot progress.”

(PTI)

Caliph Umar’s governance impressed me; will try to follow him: Arvind Kejriwal

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Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Stating that he was deeply impressed by the governance of Hazrat Umar bin Khattab, Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, said that he would try to emulate the second Caliph of the Muslims for the betterment of the people.

Mr Kejriwal was addressing a personality development workshop conducted by the India Islamic International Centre in collaboration with Nobel Education Foundation, here.

“I am extremely impressed by the governance of Caliph Umar and will try to follow his model of governance for the betterment of people,” Mr Kejriwal said.

His comments were in response to Aateqa Siddiqui, a girl student, who presented a book on the governance of Caliph Umar.

Mr Kejriwal reiterated that he would study the whole book and try to implement the model of Caliph Umar.

FTII students to step up stir against Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as chairman

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Gajendra Chauhan

Pune: The FTII students today vowed to continue their protest against the appointment of television actor Gajendra Chauhan as the new chairman of its governing council by boycotting classes and shutting down administrative offices on the campus.

About 150 students pursuing various courses at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) went on a flash strike yesterday.

Asserting that they would continue their protest till the demand is met, the students body alleged that it was purely out of consideration of his affiliation with BJP that Chauhan was chosen for the key post.

“A person who has an official affiliation with the ruling BJP and who lacks the vision and stature of the past chairpersons in film-making, has put a question mark on the process of selection for the post earlier held by eminent people like Girish Karnad, Shyam Benegal and Adoor Gopalkrishnan,” Harikrishnan Nachimuthu, who heads the FTII students’ association, told PTI.

Chauhan, who played the role of ‘Yudhishthira’ in television serial “Mahabharata”, has been a member of the BJP over two decades, the student leaders said.

At the gate of FTII, a billboard was put up by the protesting students asking “Gajendra resign and leave”.

FTII director D Narayanan told PTI that the institute authorities have opened the channels for dialogue with the students.

“We are having a dialogue with the students to find a way out amicably”.

A final year student pursuing course in film direction said Chauhan lacked the “experience and stature and quality” of his predecessors to merit his new posting, which is “politically coloured”.

Meanwhile, the students’ association has decided to send their representation on the issue objecting to Chauhan’s appointment to Information & Broadcasting ministry.

“We will re-look the current protest only after getting a positive response to our demand by the authorities,” Nachiputhu said.

(PTI)

Indian spinners make it count but rain rules supreme

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harbhajan

Fatullah: The one-off cricket Test between India and Bangladesh seems to be meandering towards a tame draw after incessant rain halted the visiting spinners, who reduced the hosts to 111/3 in the only session of play that was possible on the fourth day here.

Only 30.1 overs could be squeezed in the opening session when bad light stopped play with Imrul Kayes (59 batting) and Shakib Al Hasan (0 batting) at the crease.

Earlier, India declared their first innings on the overnight total of 462/6. Bangladesh still trail by 351 runs but look set to sneak away with a draw thanks to weather gods.

With more than 200 overs lost due to frequent rain interruptions in the previous three days, the Virat Kohli-led visitors came out all guns blazing and picked up the first opposition wicket quite early only to see a bit of resistance from the second-wicket batting pair.

Facing the pace-spin combination of Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin (2-30), opener Tamim Iqbal (19) became Bangladesh’s highest Test run-getter but soon fell to the guile of the wily off-spinner.

Surpassing former batsman Habibul Bashar (3026 in 50 Tests) to manage 3039 runs in 40 matches, Tamim was stumped while trying to counter Ashwin’s spin. The left-hander’s toe was on the line and the third umpire pushed the red button to send him back to the pavillion.

Mominul (30) joined Kayes (59 not out) at the crease and the duo steadied the Bangladeshi batting with an 81-run stand.

Kayes though was dropped on 10 when Shikhar Dhawan failed to latch on to the flying cherry on his left side as a dejected Umesh Yadav looked on.

Even a brief rain interruption in the 13th over did not spoil the concentration of the left-handed duo as Virat Kohli continued to juggle his regular bowling options.

(PTI)

'No Justice': Israel clears itself for 2014 killing of children on Gaza beach

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Families and witnesses respond with outrage and calls for ‘international community to act’

This print memorializes the children killed by Israel's July 2014 attack on Gaza City beach: Mohammad Ramiz Bakr (11), Ahed Atef Bakr (10), Zakariya Ahed Bakr (10), and Ismail Mahmoud Bakr (9). (Image by Nicole Manganelli/emprints)

This print memorializes the children killed by Israel’s July 2014 attack on Gaza City beach: Mohammad Ramiz Bakr (11), Ahed Atef Bakr (10), Zakariya Ahed Bakr (10), and Ismail Mahmoud Bakr (9). (Image by Nicole Manganelli/emprints)

by Sarah Lazare, Common Dreams

The Israeli military announced Thursday it has exonerated itself for killing four children on a beach in Gaza during last summer’s seven-week military assault on the besieged strip, prompting expressions of outrage and demands for justice from family members and international journalists who witnessed the attack.

“There is no justice in the internal investigation,” declared Mohammed Bakr, father of 11-year-old Mohammad Ramiz Bakr, who was slain in the bombing along with his cousins Ahed Atef Bakr (10), Zakariya Ahed Bakr (10), and Ismail Mahmoud Bakr (9).

“We are counting on the [International Criminal Court] and human rights,” added the bereaved father. “We are not afraid and we are confident we will win because the world is with us.”

On July 16 of last year, the children were struck and killed by Israeli explosives while they played soccer on Gaza City’s beach. In addition to the four who were slain, three people aged 11 to 21 were severely wounded.

Tragically, the attack was not unique. The Israeli air war and ground invasion, politically and financially backed by the United States, was waged against one of the most densely-populated areas in the world, where roughly half of residents are children and Palestinians are not able to leave due to a military blockade and siege. At least 2,145 Palestinians were killed in 50 days, the vast majority of them civilians and at least 578 of them children.

However, because the beach attack was waged in plain view of a hotel patronized by international journalists, it was thrust into the global media spotlight, with many prominent reporters serving as direct eye-witnesses and some even aiding the wounded.

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times photographer Tyler Hicks was one of the witnesses. “There is no safe place in Gaza right now,” he wrote soon after the attack. “Bombs can land at any time, anywhere.”

“Children, maybe four feet tall, dressed in summer clothes, running from an explosion, don’t fit the description of Hamas fighters,” he added.

However, after the subsequent internal investigation of the killing, the Israeli military cleared itself of wrongdoing, declaring the killings an accident. In a statement released Thursday, Israeli Army spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner said that “the Military Advocate General found that the attack process in question accorded with Israeli domestic law and international law requirements.”

The statement went on to claim that the attacks were justified because Israeli forces had reason to believe the children were Hamas “militants.” However, investigators admitted that the probe only included testimony from Israeli soldiers and officers.

The military’s version of events were quickly called into question by witnesses, including The Guardian’s Peter Beaumont, who pointed out the following discrepancies:

  • Beaumont was never contacted for a statement despite being a willing witness.
  • The numerous journalists in the area found no evidence of Hamas combatants near the site at the time of the attack.
  • The bombing occurred at a crowded civilian beach often frequented by workers as well as sunbathers and swimmers.
  • It is not clear from the investigation how the military failed to recognize that the victims were clearly children.

Moreover, the military’s proclamation of its innocence contradicts the recent testimony of its own soldiers. Last month, 60 Israeli officers and soldiers who took part in the war said that the “massive and unprecedented harm” inflicted on the population of Gaza stemmed from the top of the chain of command, which gave orders to shoot indiscriminately at civilians.

Josh Ruebner, policy director for the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, toldCommon Dreams, “The killing that occurred on the beach that day was magnified a hundred fold [during last summer’s war]. Yet there have been no cases in which Israel has held itself accountable for any of these horrific war crimes in Gaza, either from last summer or Operation Cast Lead in 2009. The U.S. is complicit.”

The results of Israel’s inquiry were announced just days after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon removed the Israeli military from an official list of groups that violate children’s rights, following heavy pressure from the United States and Israel. Israel, backed by the U.S., has vigorously opposed UN investigations into war crimes.

“Israel behaves as if it’s a country above international law,” declared Zakariya Bakr, the uncle of the killed Bakr cousins, on Friday. “We urge the international community to act seriously to stop this farce.”

This is the first ever film I have danced in: Shraddha Kapoor talks about promoting 'ABCD 2'

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Shraddha Kapoor

Bengaluru: The ‘ABCD 2’ team which is on a promotional spree across the country, was in city today.

Shraddha Kapoor, who made a lukewarm debut with Amitabh Bachchan starrer “Teen Patti” in 2010 but who got fame two years back with her stint as a budding singer in Aashiqui 2, said that ABCD 2, is her first ever film in which she will be seen dancing.

“I love dancing, however, I never got an opportunity to do it, in any of my films. This is the first ever film I have danced in,”  Shraddha told Nasheman.in.

When asked, if this was her best film, Shraddha told that every film is a new experience, and she takes each and every one of them as her best.

Calling co-stars Prabhu Deva and Varun Dhawan as her best pair, the actress said the sequel to 2013’s ABCD is not about her or Varun but the dancers in the film and their journey.

Post ABCD 2, which releases on June 19, Shraddha will gear up for the sequel to musical drama Rock On!! and Baaghi, opposite Tiger Shroff.

Movie Review: The Duff is a enjoyably funny

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The Duff

Producer: Susan Cartsonis McG and Mary Viola
Director: Ari Sandel
Star Cast: Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Bianca Santos, Skyler Samels, Romany Malco, Ken Jeong, Allison Jenny, Chris Wylde, Mahaley Manning, Nick Eversman, Seth Mariwether, Gabriella Fraille, Danielle Lyn, David Gridley and Brian Dewar McNamara
Genre: Romantic Teen Comedy
Verdict: Good

Debutante director Ari Sandel’s, known more for his short film West Bank Story and a docu drama on Wild West Show named 30 Days & 30 Nights, ‘The Duff’ is a hilarious albeit a thought provoking tale of a girl nicknamed as DUFF which stands for a “designated ugly fat friend” which is bound to get lapped up by a teenie bopper crowd.

Plot: Bianca (Mae Whitman) is a content high school senior whose world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as ‘The DUFF’ (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends (Skyler Samuels & Bianca Santos). Now, despite the words of caution from her favourite teacher (Ken Jeong), she puts aside the potential distraction of her crush, Toby (Nick Eversman), and enlists Wesley (Robbie Amell), a slick but charming jock, to help reinvent herself. To save her senior year from turning into a total disaster, Bianca must find the confidence to overthrow the school’s ruthless label maker Madison (Bella Thorne) and remind everyone that no matter what people look or act like, we are all someone’s DUFF.

Aces: It depicts a truest picture of high school students intertwined with their romantic interludes and of course the most outstanding performances by its principal cast, aided and abetted by a cavalcade of some fresh talents.

Minuses: Sometimes the chemistry between the actors is missing and the movie tends to go overboard with ‘The Duff’ business.
Last Word: Missing ‘The Duff’ will be like missing a heart warming movie. Period!

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