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Archives for February 2017

US admits civilians ‘likely’ killed in Yemen raid

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US military says civilians likely “caught up” in gunfire in Bayda province, but stays mum on death of American girl.

A think-tank warned strikes like the one in Bayda could increase hostility towards the US [Al Jazeera TV Screen Grab]

A think-tank warned strikes like the one in Bayda could increase hostility towards the US [Al Jazeera TV Screen Grab]

by Al Jazeera

Civilians were “likely” killed in a US commando raid in Yemen over the weekend and children may have been among the dead, the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

“A team designated by the operational task force commander has concluded regrettably that civilian non-combatants were likely killed in the midst of a firefight during a raid in Yemen January 29. Casualties may include children,” CENTCOM said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Yemeni officials had previously said 16 civilians – eight women and eight children – were killed in the raid in the southern province of al-Bayda, but CENTCOM did not provide any numbers.

The civilian deaths appear to have occurred when US aircraft were called to help the commandos as they conducted the dawn raid that US officials said killed 14 members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

“The known possible civilian casualties appear to have been potentially caught up in aerial gunfire that was called in to assist US forces in contact against a determined enemy that included armed women firing from prepared fighting positions, and US special operations members receiving fire from all sides to include houses and other buildings,” the statement added.

Officials were conducting an ongoing “credibility assessment” to see if there may have been additional civilian casualties in the intense firefight, it said.

Since the January 29 raid, Washington has faced questions as to whether an eight-year-old American girl was killed during the firefight.

Local sources have said the girl was the daughter of senior al-Qaeda cleric and US citizen Anwar al-Awlaqi, killed in a 2011 US drone strike.

CENTCOM was mum about the girl’s death.

In a report released shortly after the attack, the International Crisis Group said that al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen could benefit from the deadly raid and is “stronger than it ever has been”.

“The first military actions by the Trump administration in Yemen bode poorly for the prospect of smartly and effectively countering AQAP,” the report said.

The think-tank warned strikes like the January 29 raid on Bayda province could increase fear of or even hostility towards the US among civilians, providing fertile ground for recruitment by AQAP.

“The use of US soldiers, high civilian casualties and disregard for local tribal and political dynamics… plays into AQAP’s narrative of defending Muslims against the West and could increase anti-US sentiment and with it AQAP’s pool of recruits,” said the Brussels-based ICG.

The January 29 raid against AQAP initially garnered attention because a Navy SEAL was also killed and several more wounded in what marked the first operation of its kind authorized by President Donald Trump.

Leggie Chahal’s 6/25 derails England in third T20I

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Indian team celebrates their victory against England during the third T20 cricket match between India and England at the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium in Bangalore on February 1, 2017. England is chasing a target of 203 runs scored by India. / AFP PHOTO / Manjunath KIRAN /

Indian team celebrates their victory against England during the third T20 cricket match between India and England at the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium in Bangalore on February 1, 2017.
England is chasing a target of 203 runs scored by India. / AFP PHOTO / Manjunath KIRAN /

Bengaluru: Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s maiden five-wicket haul turned things around for India as the hosts beat England by 75 runs in the third and final Twenty20 International to clinch the series 2-1 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Wednesday.

Chasing a mammoth 203, England were on track till the 13th over, scoring 119/2 before Chahal’s magical spell (6/25) put the visitors on the backfoot as they surrendered meekly to lose their last eight wickets for just eight runs and end on 127.

England started well with opener Jason Roy (32) and Joe Root (42) putting on 47 runs for the second wicket before Root combined with skipper Eoin Morgan (40) and added 64 runs for the third wicket to put them in a commanding position.

But thereafter it was Chahal all the way, who triggered a collapse by sending back Morgan and Root off consecutive deliveries before pacer Jasprit Bumrah (3/14) added to their woes by striking in the very next over to dismiss wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler (0).

England’s batsmen were in such a hurry that it hardly took Chahal another over to take three more wickets of Ben Stokes (6), Moeen Ali (2) and Chris Jordan (0) and dash any hopes of a recovery.

Tottering at 127/9, Bumrah packed back tailender Tymal Mills (0) to seal the deal in favour of India.

As many as six English batsmen were dismissed for a duck while only three managed to reach double figures.

Earlier, seasoned campaigners Suresh Raina and Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck brilliant half centuries to help India post a mammoth 202/6 after being sent into bat.

Raina’s 45-ball 63 helped the hosts set the tone for the massive total before southpaw Yuvraj Singh (27) and former skipper Dhoni (56) finished things off in style as India recovered from the early loss of captain Virat Kohli (2).

India were off to a dismal start losing Kohli to a silly run-out in the second over of the match before one-down Suresh Raina joined opener Lokesh Rahul (22) in the middle and the right-left duo added 61 runs for the second wicket in no time.

Raina, especially was the more aggressive of the two, as he dispatched pacer Chris Jordan for two sixes in the last over of the mandatory field restrictions.

Just when the hosts looked set for a huge total, all-rounder Ben Stokes cleaned up Rahul with a length ball after the right-hander hit two fours and a six in his 18-ball knock.

The fall of Rahul brought in Dhoni, who played a few deliveries to get used to the wicket with Raina, at the other end, taking full advantage of the dropped chance off leg-spinner Adil Rashid to bring up his career’s fourth half-century with a brilliant six off the leggie.

Raina and Dhoni continued to torment the English bowlers as India crossed the three-figure mark in the 13th over before pacer Liam Plunkett returned for a second spell to end the left-hander’s 45-ball knock, laced with two boundaries and five huge hits over the fence.

With India comfortably placed at 120/3, the stage was set for new man Yuvraj Singh (27) and Dhoni to step on the gas for a good total.

The Ranchi stumper took the mantle of the scoring, bringing up his career’s maiden T20I half-century off 32 deliveries before the Punjab southpaw showed his class to dispatch Jordan for a four and three sixes in the 18th over to take India to 177/3.

Yuvraj’s breezy innings, however, ended on the first ball of the 19th over when he misjudged a slower delivery from Mills to be caught behind by stumper Jos Buttler. His 10-ball cameo included one four and three sixes.

Yuvraj’s wicket brought in 19-year-old debutant Rishabh Pant (6 not out), who played second fiddle to Dhoni, as Jordan ended the 35-year-old’s brilliant effort on the second ball of the last over of the innings.

Dhoni, who consumed 36 deliveries for his knock, laced with five fours and two sixes, got a top edge to be caught by Rashid at short fine leg.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya (11) then added 11 runs with Pant to take India past the 200-run mark.

For the visitors, all the pacers — Mills, Jordan, Plunkett and Stokes — took one wicket apiece.

Chahal, who hails from Haryana, bagged both the Man-of-the-match as well as the Man-of-the-series awards.

(IANS)

Inder Sekhri, 5 other Congressmen expelled from party

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Congress

Batala: Punjab Congress today expelled Inder Sekhri, who is contesting assembly polls against party’s official candidate, and his five supporters from primary membership for their alleged anti-party activities.

In a letter, PPCC president Amarinder Singh said Inder Sekhri, who is contesting election from Batala assembly constituency against party’s nominated candidate Ashwani Sekhri, and his five supporters were expelled permanently from primary membership.

Inder Sekhri is brother of Ashwani Sekhri.

The other leaders expelled were Manjit Singh Hanspal, vice president of party’s OBC cell Punjab, Ramesh Verma, district vice president, Amrik Singh Mika, district chairman of Congress sewa dal, Jatinder Mana advocate, district president of legal cell and Chander Mohan Vij.

Meanwhile, when contacted Inder Sekhri said he had brought a number of “anti-party activities” of Ashwani into the notice of PPCC and AICC but no action was taken against him.

(Agencies)

Boy deprived of help dies after mishap, bystanders click pics

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Koppal Boy dies

Koppal: In yet another incident of public apathy, an 18-year-old boy succumbed to injuries following a road accident here as onlookers clicked pictures of the bleeding victim.

In the incident caught on camera, the boy lay bleeding with an agonising pain for about 25 minutes before he was rushed to a hospital nearby by.

The video footage that has now gone viral shows the victim lying in a pool of blood crying for help, while some one gives him water.

The incident happened yesterday morning when Anwar Ali was cycling to the market where he worked, police said today.

He was hit and run over by a state transport bus going to Hubballi from Hosapete.

They said Ali who was rushed to the hospital by an ambulance succumbed to his injuries around 1:30 pm, Ali’s brother Riaz said

“.. no one came to his help, they were making video and clicking pictures.If someone had cared, my brother could have been saved.More then 15 to 20 minutes were wasted there.”

Police have registered a case in this connection.

A person who claims to be an eyewitness to the accident said, “People at the spot were shocked and did not know how to help him as the victim was severely injured and was bleeding profusely.”

Locals complain that the spot where the incident took place is an accident prone area and authorities have not taken action despite repeated incidents there.

Recently, in a similar incident, a 38-year-old police officer deprived of timely medical help by onlookers succumbed to injuries following an accident in Mysuru.

Karnataka has Good Samaritan law to protect those who provide aid to accident victims.

(Agencies)

Sadhvi Pragya, 7 others acquitted in Sunil Joshi murder case

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Sadhvi Pragya Thakur

Dewas: Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur was Wednesday acquitted along with seven others by a local court in the murder case of RSS parcharak Sunil Joshi for lack of evidence.

First Additional District and Sessions Judge Rajiv M Apte acquitted Pragya, Harsh Solanki, Vasudev Parmar, Ramcharan Patel, Anandraj Kataria, Lokesh Sharma, Rajendra Choudhary and Jitendra Sharma, saying there was not enough evidence against the accused to nail them in the murder.

Joshi was shot dead here on December 29, 2007.

Initially, the probe had hit a dead-end, but later arrest of a person in Rajasthan led the district police to name Pragya and others as accused in the case.

The trial from the district court was shifted to the Special NIA Court in Bhopal a few years ago. However, the matter was shifted back to the district court on the ground it was a murder case and doesn’t come under the ambit of NIA, which is an anti-terror agency.

Joshi was once a close aide of Pragya, but they fell out later.

Pragya is in judicial custody in connection with terror cases. She was not present in the court here when the verdict was announced.

Hearing the not guilty verdict, Anandraj and Vasudev, who were present in the court along with relatives and supporters, broke down.

(PTI)

Hurriyat Conference leader Geelani hospitalised after complaining of chest pain

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Syed Ali Shah Geelani

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital here after he complained of chest pain late last night, a close aide of the separatist leader said Thursday.

The 87-year-old complained of uneasiness and chest pain and was admitted to SKIMS Hospital for treatment, he said.

Doctors at the hospital said Geelani has been admitted to the ICU and his condition is stable.

The separatist leader stayed back in Kashmir this season and did not follow his annual practice of shifting to Delhi during winter to escape the cold-related health complications.

(PTI)

Cash donation to parties capped at Rs 2,000, poll bonds proposed

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new-notes-india

New Delhi: In order to cleanse the political funding system and check black money, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today proposed to restrict cash donations to political parties from individuals to Rs 2,000 and introduced an ‘electoral bonds’ scheme.

The electoral bonds, which will be issued by notified banks, can be redeemed by recognised political parties within a prescribed time limit. “In accordance with the suggestion made by the Election Commission, the maximum amount of cash donation that a political party can receive will be Rs 2,000 from one person. Political parties will be entitled to receive donations by cheque or digital mode from their donors,” Jaitley said in his Union Budget for 2017-18.

Besides, the Budget proposed an amendment to the Reserve Bank of India Act to enable the issuance of electoral bonds in accordance with a scheme that the government would frame in this regard. “Under the scheme, a donor could purchase bonds from authorised banks against cheque and digital payments only. They shall be redeemable only in the designated account of a registered political party. These bonds will be redeemable within the prescribed time limit from issuance of bond,” Jaitley said.

Also, political parties have to file returns. Political parties would know who has given the money and they will disclose in returns how much bonds they have got.

“Bonds will be bought through cheque and bonds will be encashed with banks. It will be clean money and … transparent, as the buyer is known,” Jaitley said.

Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas Partner Amit Singhania said the Budget proposes to provide that the income of political parties will be exempt only if no donation more than Rs 2000 is received in cash and the political party files an income tax return.

“This is a welcome step in ensuring transparency in political party funding as it curbs not only the cash donation but also mandates compulsory filing of tax returns,” Singhania said.

(PTI)

Political parties must file returns by Dec or lose tax exemption: Govt

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Hasmukh Adhia

New Delhi: Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia on Thursday said that political parties will have to file audited returns by December every year or risk losing tax exemptions.

Donations to political parties via electoral bonds will be confidential, donor’s identity not to be disclosed, Adhia said.

“They (political parties) will lose the exemption status if they do not file ITR by December-end. We will give a notice and cancel their exemption status. Through this, strictest discipline will come. Our experience is, for last two years, more than 50 per cent parties are not filing ITR on time. These are smaller parties which do not bother to file returns,” Adhia said in an interview.

“Right now, many political parties file their tax returns very late after 2-3 years. Because there is a provision in the law that you can file late returns but you won’t get expenditure allowances if you file late. Now, we are saying whatever is the time limit, within that time limit they have to file I-T returns,” he said.

“And the time limit for trusts and political parties is December of the assessment year. Once the financial year is over within 9 months, you will have to file audited ITR,” Adhia added.

“Finance Bill will amend Representation of People Act to keep identity of donors using electoral bonds confidential,” he added.

Announcing the Union Budget yesterday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that political parties will be entitled to receive donations by cheque or digital mode from their donors.

Henceforth, political parties can receive only up to Rs 2000 in cash donations per source as part of a major move to cleanse the electoral system of black money.

As of now, the limit to accept political donations in cash is Rs 20,000.

“As an additional step, an amendment is being proposed to the Reserve Bank of India Act to enable the issuance of electoral bonds in accordance with a scheme that the government would frame in this regard,” he said in the Lok Saha.

Under the scheme, a donor could purchase bonds from authorised banks against cheque and digital payments only. They will be redeemable only in the designated account of a registered political party. These bonds will be redeemable within the prescribed time limit from issuance of bond.

The proposal said every political party would have to file its return within the time prescribed in accordance with the provision of the Income Tax Act.

(Agencies)

Rupak Kumar Dutta appointed Karnataka DGP

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Rupak Kumar Dutta

Bengaluru: Rupak Kumar Dutta, who was on a central posting as Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been appointed as the new Karnataka Police Chief.

Dutta on repatriation from Central Deputation, is posted as Director General and Inspector General of Police, Karnataka, in place of Om Prakash retiring from service on superannuation, state government said in a notification on Monday.

Dutta, who will retire in October this year, was in the race for the post of Director, Central Bureau of Investigation recently.

He had also served as ADGP, Karnataka Lokayukta Police.

Neelamani Raju, DGP (internal security), DGP (CID) H C Kishore Chandra and DGP (Fire and Emergency services) M N Reddi were the other senior police officers who were in the race for the post.

The Supreme Court had recently quashed a case against him.

He was charged of creating fake college attendance documents for the law degree course he persued when he was the ADGP, Lokayukta Police.

(Agencies)

Israel authorises 3,000 more settler homes in West Bank

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Netanyahu’s government announces fourth batch of construction since Trump’s inauguration.

More than half-a-million Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem [EPA]

More than half-a-million Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem [EPA]

by Al Jazeera

Israel has announced the construction of 3,000 settlement homes in the occupied West Bank, the fourth such announcement in the less than two weeks since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

“Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have decided to authorise the construction of 3,000 new housing units in Judea-Samaria,” the defence ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, using the term Israel uses for the West Bank, a Palestinian territory it has occupied since 1967.

Since the January 20 inauguration of Trump, Israel has approved the construction of 566 housing units in three settlement areas of occupied East Jerusalem and announced the building of 2,502 more in the West Bank.

On Thursday last week, Israeli officials gave final approval for 153 settler homes in East Jerusalem.

The plans had been frozen under pressure from the previous US administration of President Barack Obama, which had warned that settlements could derail hopes of a negotiated two-state solution.

Trump, however, has pledged strong support for Israel, and Netanyahu’s government has moved quickly to take advantage.

“We are building and we will continue building,” Netanyahu said last week, referring to settlement approvals.

The prime minister has said he sees the Trump presidency as offering “significant opportunities” after facing “huge pressures” from Obama on Iran and settlements.

The announcements have deeply concerned those seeking to salvage a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

All Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. The international community views them as a major obstacle to peace as they are built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state.

More than a half million Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to the Israeli rights group B’Tselem.

In a telling break with the Obama administration, Trump’s White House has not condemned Israel’s settlement expansion.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli army issued an eviction notice to residents of Amona as it prepared to demolish their homes.

The order posted at the site on Tuesday gave the residents – some 40 families, including more than 200 children – 48 hours to leave their homes, according to media reports.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from the Palestinian village of Taibeh which overlooks the Amona, said the settlement outpost “was built illegally on privately owned Palestinian land”.

“There are only about 40 houses there, so this is very small outpost … but it means a lot to the Jewish community. They say that if that settlement is evacuated and demolished, it sets a precedent for other settlements to also be removed.”

And while the announcement Tuesday that an additional 3,000 settler homes would be built in the occupied West Bank “is likely to alleviate some of the concerns of the settlers”, Khan said, the settlement movement in Israel feels it has been given a “green light” from the incoming Trump administration in the US and that “it shouldn’t be getting rid of any settlements”.

Israel’s top court had ruled in 2014 that Amona, built on land belonging to Palestinians from surrounding West Bank towns, must be vacated by February 8.

Although all settlements are considered illegal under international law, there are more than 100 outposts that were built without authorisation and are considered illegal by even the Israeli government.

In practice, Israel has confiscated Palestinian land since its military occupation of the West Bank – including Jerusalem – and the Gaza Strip started as a result of the 1967 Middle East war.

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