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Clear stand on conversions: Kejriwal to government

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Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government should clear its stand on religious conversions in the country, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal said here Saturday.

“First of all, the government should clear its stand. The prime minister should clear his stand on it,” Kejriwal said in response to his party’s stand on the issue.

He was speaking to reporters on the sideline of a programme at St. Stephen’s college.

“This party came to power on the promise of development but there has been none in the past six months,” he said.

“They talk about love jihad, religious conversion, and in Delhi, where there have been no riots in the past 35 years, they initiate one,” Kejriwal said.

“Had they told people that they would indulge in all this, people would have voted accordingly,” he said.

(IANS)

Pakistan executes convicts Dr Usman, Arshad Mehmood in Faisalabad after Peshwar attack

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hanging

by Mateen Haider, Dawn

Faisalabad: Aqeel alias Dr Usman and Arshad Mehmood have been executed in Faisalabad on Friday night, in the first capital punishment carried out in the country since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted the moratorium on the death penalty, sources said.

Usman a former soldier of the army’s medical corps, was executed in relation to an attack on the headquarters of the Pakistan Army in 2009 in Rawalpindi. Arshad Mehmood, was executed for an assassination attempt on former military ruler, General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf.

“Aqeel alias Usman and Arshad were hanged in Faisalabad Jail at 9:00 pm,” a Punjab govt source told Reuters.

Security had been tightened at Faisalabad’s central and district prisons ahead of the executions.

The black warrant for Dr Usman was signed by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif late on Thursday night.

The prime minister had lifted the moratorium a day after terrorists attacked Peshawar’s Army Public School, killing 141 people, most of them children.

Earlier on Friday, the UN human rights office had made an appeal to refrain from resuming executions, saying this would not stop terrorism and might even feed a “cycle of revenge”.

“To its great credit, Pakistan has maintained a de facto moratorium on the death penalty since 2008, and we urge the government not to succumb to widespread calls for revenge, not least because those at most risk of execution in the coming days are people convicted of different crimes, and can have had nothing to do with Wednesday’s premeditated slaughter,” UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said.

Eleven soldiers had lost their lives in the Oct 10, 2009 attack when 10 heavily armed militants wearing suicide vests stormed the army’s General Headquarter (GHQ) holding off commandos for hours.

Dr Usman, who was caught injured during the Oct 10 raid on the army headquarters by militants, was sentenced to death in 2011 by a military court which had awarded prison terms to others in the GHQ attack case.

A retired soldier, Imran Siddiq, was awarded life imprisonment in the case at the time whereas three civilians — Khaliqur Rehman, Mohammad Usman and Wajid Mehmood — were given life terms while two others, Mohammad Adnan and Tahir Shafiq (both civilians), were given eight and seven years jail sentence respectively.

Apart from Dr Usman, who was caught during the attack, other serviceman and five civilians were found guilty of abetment.

Their trial by the military court, which was headed by a brigadier, had lasted over five months and had taken place at an undisclosed location.

Mehmood, who was a trooper, was among the five sentenced to be hanged for their role in an Al Qaeda-inspired assassination attempt on Musharraf’s life in late 2003.

Musharraf, who was in power at the time, narrowly escaped the bid when two suicide car bombers rammed his motorcade on Dec 25, 2003, in Rawalpindi. Fifteen people were killed in that attack.

It was the second attempt on Musharraf’s life that month, and several soldiers, air force personnel and militants were arrested after the two attacks.

Mehmood and civilians Zubair Ahmed, Rashid Bhatti, Rashid Qureshi, Ghulam Sarwar and Akhlaque Ahmed were convicted in the case.

The Potential Adverse Health Effects of Sitting Too Much

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Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown of AsapSCIENCE thoroughly explain why sitting for extended periods of time—at a desk at work, for example—can be harmful to one’s health. Possible adverse effects include decreased bone mass, muscle weakening, increased LDL cholesterol, and even a shortened lifespan.

The good news is that they have created another video describing ways to solve the sitting problem.

Karnataka withdraws anti-cow and cattle slaughter Bills

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Photo: The Hindu

Photo: The Hindu

Belagavi: The Karnataka Assembly today was adjourned sine die without transacting any business as BJP members staged a dharna demanding resignation of “tainted” ministers and rapping Congress government for withdrawing the stringent Cow Slaughter Prevention Bill.

As proceedings of the last day of the 10-day session began, BJP members staged dharna in the well shouting slogans against the government, accusing it of protecting “tainted” ministers and demanded their resignation for their alleged involvement in corruption.

BJP members led by Jagadish Shettar wanted discussion on corruption charges against Ministers Qamarul Islam, H S Mahadeva Prasad, and Dinesh Gundu Rao, under adjournment motion.

Speaker Kagodu Thimappa, who yesterday had rejected BJP’s demand saying the matter was in courts, did not pay heed to the protesting members and went about the business of the day.

BJP also slammed the Congress government for withdrawing the Cow Slaughter Prevention Bill, passed during its rule.

The Congress government last August had reversed the previous BJP government’s decision that had made the cow slaughter law stringent.

The government had decided to restore the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964, that governs the slaughter of cattle in the state.

A Bill passed by both the Houses of the Legislature during BJP rule had widened the definition of cattle, made punishment harsher and increased the age of animal to be slaughtered but it did not receive the Presidential assent.

Congress, which was in the opposition then with Siddaramaiah as its leader, had opposed the legislation, saying it would affect beef-eaters and persons engaged in cattle transportation.

Countering BJP’s protest, Congress members raised slogans against them, saying the party was anti-North Karnataka and they were least interested in discussing problems pertaining to the region.

Despite the din, the Speaker proceeded with further business like tabling Lake Conservation and Development and Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) bills.

As the ruckus continued, Thimappa adjourned the House sine die.

(PTI)

Leaked emails: Obama exerted influence over “The Interview”

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the interview

by Robert Barsocchini

Antiwar.com’s Dan Sanchez has just reported on leaked emails that reveal that the Obama regime exerted influence over the movieThe Interview “to encourage assassination and regime change in North Korea”.

Regarding the threats of bombings of theaters if the film was shown, Obama has been personally encouraging people to “go the movies” anyway, while hardliners like Mitt Romney have specifically encouraged people to go see The Interview.

This is not the first time strongman Obama has been closely involved with promoting or influencing Hollywood movies spouting negative propaganda about countries Obama and the US want to invade and conquer. Michelle Obama personally presented the Academy award for “best picture” for the filmArgo.

Argo whitewashed the history of US aggression and genocide against Iran. Since 1953, the US has been an accomplice in the torture and killing of over a million Iranian citizens, thousands with chemical weapons.

The Interview almost certainly whitewashes the history of US genocide against Korea, and apparently depicts US forces causing the North Korean leader’s head to explode.

In its aggressive attacks against North Korea in the early 1950s, the US intentionally targeted civilians and flattened entire villages and cities, including Pyongyang. The attacks killed up to 4 million people, mostly civilians, most of whom were killed by the US, many through direct and intentional targeting, such as the machine-gunning of women and children by US soldiers at No Gun Ri.

Scholar Chalmers Johnson finds the North Korea of today a proud, struggling nation that, unlike the US public, is very aware of what was done to it by the US, and sees the aggressive, threatening stance the US has since maintained towards that country.

Johnson also notes that the worst act committed against Koreans by a “Korean” government was the bayoneting of thousands of students by the US-backed South Korean dictatorship in the late ’80s.

The Interview would almost certainly be another exercise in genocide denial for the US, a country that has gotten away with all of the crimes, including multiple genocides, it has thus far committed.

However, though we may be happy when Holocaust deniers and the like decide to hold their tongues, it is extremely unfortunate that Sony’s decision not to release such a film was brought about not by free will but threats of violence from unknown sources, which are to be condemned as threats against speech itself.

According to the leaked emails, Sony was hesitant about depicting the assassination of the North Korean leader, but was “encouraged” by the Obama regime to go forward with it.

It may be useful to imagine how we would feel about the reverse: a slapstick buddy comedy about the infiltration of the country considered the most dangerous in the world – the USA, not North Korea – and the “comedic” assassination of Obama by having his head catch on fire and explode.

It is also relevant to note that North Korea’s official complaint about the film, that it incites terrorism against North Korea (which is what the Obama regime apparently intended), is the same reason the US government has given countless times over the course of its existence to justify brutally crushing free speech and protest – facts all but fully ignored or suppressed in dominant US discourse.

And, as Antiwar.com and Wired report, “North Korea almost certainly did not hack Sony”.

Robert Barsocchini focuses on global force dynamics and writes professionally for the film industry. He is a regular contributor to Washington’s Blog, and is published in Counter Currents, Global Research, State of Globe, Blacklisted News, LewRockwell.com, DanSanchez.me, Information Clearing House, Press TV, and other outlets. Also see: Hillary Clinton’s Record of Support for War and other Depravities. Follow Robert and UK-based colleague, Dean Robinson, on Twitter.

WHO: one million people wounded in Syria as diseases continue to spread

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A medic stitches the head of a wounded Syrian boy at a makeshift clinic after a mortar reportedly fell in the besieged rebel town of Douma, 13 kilometers (eight miles) northeast of Damascus, on November 11, 2014. AFP/ Abd Doumany

A medic stitches the head of a wounded Syrian boy at a makeshift clinic after a mortar reportedly fell in the besieged rebel town of Douma, 13 kilometers (eight miles) northeast of Damascus, on November 11, 2014. AFP/ Abd Doumany

One million people have been wounded during the nearly four-year old Syrian war, and diseases are spreading as regular supplies of medicine fail to reach patients, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Syria representative said.

A plunge in vaccination rates from 90 percent before the war to 52 percent this year and contaminated water has added to the woes, allowing typhoid and hepatitis to spread, Elizabeth Hoff said in an interview late on Thursday.

More than 200,000 people have been killed in Syria’s conflict, which began in March 2011 with popular protests against President Bashar al-Assad and spiraled into a war.

“In Syria, they have a million people injured as a direct result of the war. You can see it in the country when you travel around. You see a lot of amputees,” said Hoff. “This is the biggest problem.”

She said a collapsed health system, where over half of public hospitals are out of service, has meant that treatments for diseases and injuries are irregular.

“What has been a problem is the regularity of supply,” she said. “The (government) approvals are sporadic.”

Hoff said that Assad’s government – which demands to sign off on aid convoys – is still blocking surgical supplies, such as bandages and syringes, from entering rebel-held areas, arguing that the equipment would be used to help insurgents.

Syrian officials could not be reached for comment on Thursday or Friday.

More than 6,500 cases of typhoid were reported this year across Syria and 4,200 cases of measles, the deadliest disease for Syrian children, Hoff said.

There was just one reported case of polio, which can paralyze children within hours, in 2014 following a vaccination drive. However, other new diseases appeared, including myiasis, a tropical disease spread by flies which is also known as screw-worm, with 10 cases seen in the outskirts of Damascus.

Syrian activists in the Eastern Ghouta district of Damascus said that tuberculosis was also spreading due to poor sanitary conditions and a government siege on the area, blocking aid.

The United Nations called on Thursday for more than $8.4 billion to help nearly 18 million people in need in Syria and across the region in 2015.

Hoff said that the WHO delivered more than 13.5 million treatments of life-saving medicines and medical supplies in 2014, up nearly threefold from the year before.

However, Hoff added that “the needs are not possible to believe,” saying that the problems were growing at an even faster pace with poor water access and deepening poverty worsening the health crisis.

A UN refugee agency (UNHCR) report published in mid-November shows that about 7.2 million people have been displaced within Syria, many without food or shelter as winter has started.

The report also estimates that some 3.3 million Syrian refugees live abroad, most of them living in squalid informal camps, exposed to the heat of summer and cold of winter.

(Reuters, Al-Akhbar)

Colombian guerrillas declare indefinite cease-fire

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A Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia negotiator, Pablo Catatumbo, speaks to the media, flanked by fellow FARC members, in Havana, Nov. 18, 2014. Photo: Reuters

A Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia negotiator, Pablo Catatumbo, speaks to the media, flanked by fellow FARC members, in Havana, Nov. 18, 2014. Photo: Reuters

by teleSUR

The cease-fire will begin Dec. 20, but will need to be verified by international organizations.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have declared an indefinite cease-fire, saying that the unilateral move should turn into an armistice for the 50-year conflict.

“This unilateral cease-fire, that we want to last in time, will be terminated only if it appears that our guerrilla structures have been targeted by the security forces,”said the rebel group.

The cessation of hostilities will come into effect on Dec. 20, however it would need to be verified by UNASUR, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Broad Front for Peace.

It remains unclear whether the Colombian government will join in the cease-fire.

The rebel group launched peace talks with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos in Cuba in 2012, hoping to bring an end to a half-century of armed conflict – the longest running conflict in the hemisphere.

The rebel group and government representatives have so far signed off on partial agreements on rural reform, political participation of FARC members, and the group’s abandonment of drug trafficking.

More than 220,000 people have been killed and over 5.7 million people have been internally displaced due to the conflict.

Dump the dollar, says Ecuadorian president

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Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has long opposed the use of the dollar. Photo: Reuters

Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa has long opposed the use of the dollar. Photo: Reuters

by teleSUR

President Rafael Correa says the U.S. dollar is the “exact opposite” of what Ecuador needs.

Ecuador’s use of the U.S. dollar is hurting the country’s economic growth, President Rafael Correa warned Monday.

“Dollarization was a bad decision,” Correa said.

The president said that in the face of low oil prices, Ecuador would benefit from control of its own currency.

Ecuador is the smallest member of OPEC. Under Correa, the Ecuadorean government has increasingly invested oil revenues in social services and economic development.

However, with oil prices slumping, Correa says Ecuador needs a flexible currency now more than ever. He argued that by using the dollar, Ecuador is “doing exactly the opposite of what (it) must do to address the looming scenario.”

“In these difficult times we will see just how important it is to have a national currency,” he added.

Ecuador adopted the U.S. dollar in 2000 after the value of its former currency nosedived in 1999.

Correa has long warned the continued use of the dollar is holding back the economy, once describing it as a “straight jacket.”

In July, Ecuadorean legislators approved a law paving the way for the use of a parallel electronic currency for domestic use.

Australia beat India by four wickets to win second Test

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Chris Rogers celebrates his fifty. © AFP

Chris Rogers celebrates his fifty. © AFP

Brisbane: Australia beat India by four wickets on the fourth day to win the second cricket Test at the Gabba here Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.

Australia took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series with a four-wicket win over India on the fourth day of the second Test at the Gabba here Saturday.

Chasing 128 for victory, the hosts were made to sweat but ultimately got over the finishing line, scoring 130 for six, leaving India rueing the opportunities they missed in the match. Things could have panned out very different had the visitors got rid of Australia’s tail in the first innings swiftly.

India’s dismal collapse on the morning of the fourth day also played a huge hand in the defeat.

But India still managed to make a match out of it, taking six Australian wickets and casting doubts in the opposition dressing room.

But a 63-run partnership for the third wicket between opener Chris Rogers (55) and captain Steven Smith (28) was enough to thwart the visitors.

But the poor form of middle-order batsman Shaun Marsh (17) and Brad Haddin (1), who threw their wickets away, would worry the Australian camp, as their untimely dismissal gave a window of hope to India for a dramatic late victory.

Pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav bowled in the right areas in the second innings and were rewarded with three and two wickets respectively. Ishant was the pick of the bowlers, picking up two early wickets to put Australia in a spot of bother at tea.

But the damage was done earlier in the morning, when Australian bowlers, bowled with considerable venom to rattle the Indians.

Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan (81) fought valiantly, even stringing together a 60-run partnership with Umesh Yadav (30) for the eighth wicket but it came too late in the day as the visitors slumped from a comfortable 71 for one to a dismal 157 for seven, leading by just 60 runs, at lunch.

They lost four wickets inside the first seven overs managing to score just 16 runs in the process and were never able to recover from that early disaster.

Their day began on the wrong note even before the slump, when overnight batsman Dhawan got injured on the wrist while batting at the nets and didn’t come out to bat.

Virat Kohli (1) joined overnight batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (43) in the mmiddle.

Kohli never seemed prepared for the big task and was very tentative, ultimately getting castled by Mitchell Johnson in his brief stay at the wicket.

Johnson was all over India after that; bowling with pace and menace on a pitch that was beginning to get a little difficult to bat on.

Inida produced several short partnerships after that, Pujara involved in each one of them, but never failed to consolidate on the initial start.

India lost wickets at regular intervals and on key moments of the contest to surrender the fate of the match.

Johnson was ably supported by other pacers – Shane Watson, the usually wayward Mitchell Starc and the first innings five-wicket hero debutant pacer Josh Hazlewood.

But India’s hopes of a late fightback through Ravichandran Ashwin (19) vapourised after the spinner was victim of another umpiring howler, given out caught for a presumed inside edge when the ball only managed to flick his pad on to wicketkeeper Bard Haddin’s gloves.

(IANS)

Karnataka: Renowned writer Siddalingaiah to chair Sahitya Sammelan

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Dr Siddalingaiah. Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash, The Hindu

Dr Siddalingaiah. Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash, The Hindu

Bengaluru: Renowned writer Siddalingaiah will chair the three-day 81st Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan at Shravanabelagola from February 1, 2015. It is the first time that a Dalit writer will chair the sammelan.

President of Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP), Pundalika Halambi announced the name of the Siddalingaiah at a press conference held in the city on Friday. His name was suggested by the KSP Executive members at the meeting held on Friday.

“Prof. Siddalingaiah was chosen not only because he is prominent Dalit writer, but also because he is a writer par excellence in Kannada literature,” Mr. Halambi said.

Prof. Siddalingaiah is a leading Kannada poet and intellectual. He is one of the founders of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti along with Devenur Mahadeva and B. Krishnappa. He played a significant role in the Dalit movement in Karnataka in the 1970s and 1980s.

His prominent works are Hole Madigara Haadu, Saviraru Nadigalu, Kappu Kadina Haadu, Meravanige (complete works), Panchama and Nelasama (plays), Grama Devathegalu (Ph.D. thesis). Ooru Keri , his autobiography, created a sensation in Kannada literature. Besides being a member of Legislative Council, he also headed the Kannada Development Authority and the Kannada Book Authority.

Meanwhile, Pundalika Halambi said the Parishat will not hold Sahitya Sammelana from now on in case the state government fails to impart primary education in Kannada medium mandatorily within the deadline of one year given by KSP.

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