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US-backed forces ‘capture’ Tabqa airbase from ISIL

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SDF take military airport from ISIL in northern Syria, close to country’s largest dam that may be in danger of collapse.

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces forces are now within 10km of Raqqa from the north [Reuters]

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces forces are now within 10km of Raqqa from the north [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

A US-backed alliance of Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighters has captured a strategic airbase from ISIL in northern Syria in the first major victory for the group since the US airlifted the forces behind enemy lines last week.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Sunday that they captured the Tabqa airbase, 45km west of Raqqa, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group’s de facto capital in Syria.

SDF forces were also battling for the nearby Tabqa dam, held by ISIL, which was forced out of service on Sunday after its power station was damaged.

Earlier this week, US forces airlifted SDF fighters behind ISIL lines to allow them to launch the Tabqa assault, and on Friday the alliance reached one of the dam’s entrances.

SDF forces were within 10km of Raqqa from the north, and aimed to effectively surround the city before launching an assault.

Tabqa airbase was captured by ISIL fighters from the Syrian government in August 2014.

Shortly afterwards, the group announced it had killed about 200 government soldiers at the base, in a mass killing recorded and distributed on video over social media.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group also reported the SDF advance.

Meanwhile there were conflicting reports over whether civilians had begun evacuating Raqqa due to concerns over the stability of the nearby Tabqa Dam.

ISIL fighters said US-led coalition air strikes had locked up the dam’s gates, causing the water level behind it to rise.

The activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported that ISIL had ordered Raqqa residents to evacuate the city.

Fear of collapse

The director of the Syrian government’s General Authority of Euphrates Dam that formerly operated the huge project blamed US air raids for disrupting internal control systems and putting the dam out of service, and warned of growing risks that could lead to flooding and future collapses.

“Before the latest strikes by the Americans, the dam was working. Two days ago, the dam was functioning normally,” Nejm Saleh told Reuters news agency.

“God forbid … there could be collapses or big failures that could lead to flooding,” Saleh said.

An SDF spokesman denied that coalition strikes hit the dam structure and said the airdrop landing last week was conducted to prevent any damage to the main structure by engaging the rebels away from the dam.

“The capture of the dam is being conducted slowly and carefully and this is why the liberation of the dam needs more time,” Talal Silo said, adding that ISIL fighters had dug inside the dam knowing they would not be hit for fear of damaging the dam.

The Syrian Observatory said it had also learned from its own sources that the dam had stopped functioning, but that ISIL remained in control of its main operational buildings and turbines.

US-backed Kurdish forces were in control of a spillway north of the dam “which can be used to alleviate pressure on the dam if need be,” the coalition said in a letter to AP news agency.

The coalition said the dam had not been structurally damaged, to its knowledge, and that it has not targeted the dam.

The SDF announced that it would “suspend its operations” in the vicinity of the dam on Monday for four hours so that engineers could access it and carry out much needed repairs.

The UN warned this year of the risk of catastrophic flooding from the dam.

The Syrian Observatory and the activist-run Raqqa 24 media centre reported that as of Sunday there were no evacuations in Raqqa.

The reports from Raqqa came as a leading Syrian opposition group called on the US-led coalition to stop targeting residential areas in and around the city.

The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) said in a statement that it was “increasingly concerned” about civilian casualties in the campaign against the group. The exiled opposition coalition is taking part in UN-mediated talks in Geneva.

The SNC said it believed coalition forces were behind an air strike that killed at least 30 civilians sheltering in a school in the countryside outside Raqqa on March 21. The coalition has said it is investigating.

The Syrian Observatory said coalition air strikes had killed 89 civilians in Raqqa province in the past week.

India 87 runs short of Test series-win against Australia

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india_reuters

Dharamsala: India scored 19/0 and needed another 87 runs to win the final Test and the four-match series against Australia at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium here on Monday, the third day of the ongoing encounter.

Openers Murali Vijay (6) and Lokesh Rahul (13) were at the crease when the day’s play was called off.

Earlier, India bundled out Australia for 137 runs in their second innings to set a 106-run target for clinching the final cricket Test match.

The Indian bowlers rampaged through the Australian batting lineup with pacer Umesh Yadav and the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja scalpng three wickets each while medium-pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar took one wicket.

Earlier, India ended their first innings at 332 — taking a 32-run lead — in reply to the visitors’ first innings outing score of 300.

(IANS)

Woman set on fire in Rajasthan

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Woman fire

Jodhpur: A 27-year-old woman was allegedly set ablaze by a group of villagers led by the sarpanch after she objected to the widening of a road adjoining her agricultural field in Borunda near here.

Police said the incident took place Saturday evening and the woman died at a hospital yesterday, after which her brother filed a complaint with police against the sarpanch of the village and nine others.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Jodhpur Rural) Narpat Singh Rathore said the villagers told police that when the road widening work was going on, the woman appeared with a can of kerosene, spread it on herself and set herself ablaze.

“We are investigating the matter,” he said.

On Saturday, the work on widening of the road in her area was taking place in the presence of officials and villagers.

The woman objected to felling of trees and widening of the road.

Her brother was also present at the spot.

She was rushed to a hospital from where she was referred to the government hospital in Jodhpur.

She succumbed to her burn injuries in Jodhpur yesterday.

“Considering the sensitivity of the matter, we have registered the complaint and have initiated an investigation,” Rathore said.

(Agencies)

Aadhaar cannot be made compulsory for welfare benefits: SC

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Aadhaar

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today made it clear that Aadhaar cards cannot be made mandatory by the government and its agencies for extending benefits of social welfare schemes.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, however, said that government and its agencies cannot be stopped from seeking Aadhaar cards for non-welfare schemes like opening of bank accounts.

The bench also said that a seven-judge bench needed to be constituted for authoritatively deciding a batch of petitions challenging the Aadhaar scheme on grounds including that it infringes on the Right to Privacy of citizens.

It, however, expressed inability in setting up of the seven-judge bench saying it would be decided at a later stage. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for one of the petitioners, alleged that the Central government is not following the various orders passed by the apex court that the usage of Aadhaar would be voluntary and not mandatory.

The apex court on August 11, 2015 had said that Aadhaar card will not be mandatory for availing benefits of government’s welfare schemes and barred the authorities from sharing personal biometric data collected for enrolment under the scheme.

However, on October 15, 2015 it had lifted its earlier restriction and permitted the voluntary use of Aadhaar cards in welfare schemes that also included MGNREGA, all pension schemes and the provident fund besides ambitious flagship programmes like ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna’ of the NDA government.A five-judge bench headed by the then Chief Justice H L Dattu had also put a caveat in its interim order for the Centre and said, “We also make it clear that Aadhaar card scheme is purely voluntary and not mandatory till the matter is finally decided by this court, this way or the other way.”

The bench, while including the four other schemes along with LPG and PDS where Aadhaar may be used, had said, “The Union of India to follow all other orders passed by this court since September 23, 2013.”

The bench had also said that a larger bench was required to be set up for final disposal of the petitions that also include the question as to whether the right to privacy is fundamental right.

Divan, representing one of the petitioners who has challenged the Aadhaar card scheme, had claimed that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which runs the programme, is neither backed by any law nor by any notification and is getting biometric details through private agencies.

The lawyers for the petitioners had contended that the scheme is “all pervasive” and is not full proof either and hence, cannot be used for other programmes.

On October 14, 2015, the apex court took note of Centre’s plea that Aadhaar cards be allowed to be used “voluntarily” for welfare programmes other than PDS and LPG schemes and asked whether it can assure that nobody would be at a “disadvantageous” position for want of Aadhaar.

(PTI)

Pakistan victim’s family pardons Indians convicted for murder

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Mohammad Farhan

Dubai/Islamabad: Mohammad Riaz, the father of Mohammad Farhan, appeared in the Al Ain appeals court on March 22 and submitted a letter of consent to pardon the accused Indians, a senior Indian Embassy official told Gulf News yesterday. Image for representation

Ten Indian youths in the UAE may escape the noose for murdering a Pakistani man in 2015 after the victim’s family accepted bloodmoney amounting to 200,000 dirhams and agreed to pardon the convicts, according to media reports.

Mohammad Riaz, the father of Mohammad Farhan, appeared in the Al Ain appeals court on March 22 and submitted a letter of consent to pardon the accused Indians, a senior Indian Embassy official told Gulf News yesterday.

“It was unfortunate that I lost my son. I appeal the young generation not to indulge in such fights. I have forgiven these 10 individuals. In fact, Allah has saved their lives. Lives of at least 10 people, including a wife and children, hinge [financially] on one person [who comes to work in the UAE],” Riaz said.

On behalf of the accused, an Indian charity organisation deposited the blood money in the court and the case has been adjourned for further hearing on April 12, said Dinesh Kumar, Counsellor, Community Affairs at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

“It is expected that the court may commute the death sentence,” Kumar said. On December 8, 2016, the murder allegedly occurred during a brawl over bootlegging in Al Ain in December 2015. Eleven men from Punjab were convicted in the case but one was spared the death sentence.
S P S Oberoi, Chairman of Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust that donated blood money for the accused men, said it was a tough task to obtain pardon from the Pakistani family.

Oberoi, a Dubai-based businessman, said Riaz had been invited from Pakistan three days ago, with all arrangements, including a visa and accommodation being made by his trust.

“We somehow made him agree…and as per the Sharia law, have submitted Dhs 200,000 as blood money in the court,” Oberoi said. He said his Pakistani manager traveled to Peshawar and talked to the family and their relatives to secure the pardon.

All the convicted young Indian men are from poor families and worked in Al Ain as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and masons. Most of them in their twenties had paid huge sums to recruitment agents in India to secure a visa to reach the UAE.

(PTI)

Meat sellers in UP go on indefinite strike against slaughterhouse action

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tunday kababi

Lucknow/New Delhi: Meat sellers across Uttar Pradesh go on an indefinite strike from today against the crackdown on illegal and mechanised slaughterhouses.

Fish vendors were also claimed to have resolved to join the stir which has seen non-vegetarian delicacies go off the menu in several parts of the state.

“We have decided to intensify our strike. All shops will remain closed. Fish sellers too have joined us and are extending support to us,” Lucknow Bakra Gosht Vypar Mandal office bearer Mubeen Qureshi said.

He said, in the wake of the crackdown, there was no question of the strike being called off anytime soon. “It will go on indefinitely,” he said.

Due to the strike, non-vegetarian food outlets, including the famous Tunday and Rahim’s have shifted to mutton and chicken dishes after buffalo meat became scarce. “The meat sellers are piqued over the crackdown on slaughter houses which has adversely hit the livelihood of lakhs of people,” Qureshi said.

After coming to power, the Yogi Adityanath government has ordered closure of illegal slaughterhouses and strict enforcement of the ban on cow smuggling to fulfil a key electoral promise.

As the mouth-watering kebabs went off the platter, the owner of another famous eatery said the situation might force the hoteliers to get mutton from Delhi. “But there will be no compromise on the quality of the food,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

At the same time, he supported the closure of illegal and mechanised slaughter houses in the state, saying it was difficult for a common man to pass through a locality where the slaughter houses were operating almost openly.

He also alleged that the illegal abattoirs even indulged in slaughtering dogs.

Replying to a question, he said, “This is not a religious issue. In fact, it is directly linked to the health of people, who have the right to good quality of meat and fish.”

Meanwhile, BJP national spokesman Sambit Patra said in Delhi that the government was only following a court order as illegal abattoirs were contributing to UP’s ill health by getting ground water polluted.

He claimed those running meat outlets legally and in accordance with norms were not being victimised. “There has been a court order about illegal abattoirs which was not implemented by the previous government. The state’s Chief Secretary has constituted committees in each district headed by the Collector and comprising ten people each. The committee is visiting every slaughterhouse to see if they are being run legally and submitting a report every day,” he said.

About loss of livelihood and lack of meat in the market, Patra said,” If there is large-scale disruption, the state government will look at it and resolve the issue.

Senior UP Congress leader Akhilesh Pratap Singh said only small meat vendors were being targeted during the drive.

“How is it that the small shops are getting closed and meat exports are going up. The government should have made people aware of the laws and rules before launching the drive,” he said.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said abattoirs operating legally will not be touched but action will be taken against those run illegally.

“The government will not touch those (abattoirs) which are operating as per the provisions of law and have a valid licence. But those that are violating the orders of the NGT and playing with the health of the public would not be spared…,” he had said.

(PTI)

Aadhaar verification for all mobile phone users soon; may cost Rs 1K-cr

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Aadhaar

New Delhi: Now, mobile phone users in the country will have to take up a verification process which will require them to produce their Aadhaar card number. With the government instructing telecom operators to initiate the process in this regard, existing subscribers will also have to go through mandatory Aadhaar-based verification to continue using the service. “All licensees (telecom operators) shall re-verify all exiting mobile subscribers (prepaid and postpaid) through Aadhaar-based eKYC process (a paperless Know Your Customer process),” according to a Department of Telecom notification.

But it still remains to be seen how much this task would cost the operators.

The Cellular Operators Association of India has backed the move and aims to complete the exercise within one year. “The issue of fake subscribers will go away. We will try our best to cover the entire base within the stipulated timeframe of one year but in case we cannot, we may ask DoT for an extension,” COAI Director General Rajan Mathews said.

Members of COAI expect modalities of rolling out the verification process for over a billion users to cost the operators nearly Rs. 1,000 crore for infrastructure and training. Licensees will have to inform existing subscribers – through advertisements in print and electronic media and SMS – about the Supreme Court order for the re-verification.

The Supreme Court had in an order in February observed that “an effective process has been evolved to ensure the identity verification, as well as, the addresses of all mobile phone subscribers for the new subscribers”.

The telecom operators have also been asked to upload the details of the Aadhaar exercise on their website. The Department of Telecom has said they will use and share a common device ecosystem through mutual agreements. The operators will also work out mechanisms to avoid public inconvenience and long queues, it added.

For re-verification through an Aadhaar-based eKYC process, operators will send a verification code to subscribers on their mobiles. Prior to starting the eKYC process, the operator will verify this code from the subscriber so as to confirm the SIM card of the mobile connection is physically available with the user. “After the completion of the eKYC process, before updating or overwriting the old subscriber detail in database with the data received through eKYC process, the licensee will seek confirmation from the subscriber about the re-verification of his/her mobile number after 24 hours through SMS,” the notification said.

Verification of a subscriber would not be required in case of conversions – pre-paid to postpaid connections or vice versa – it added.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday said Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory for availing benefits under social welfare schemes. The government also said recently that Aadhaar cards will be made mandatory for filing tax returns and applying for driving licences.

(Agencies)

Debutant Kuldeep helps India dismiss Australia for 300

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India's Kuldeep Yadav (L) celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell with teammate Umesh Yadav during the fourth and last Test cricket match between India and Australia at The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on March 25, 2017. ----IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE----- / GETTYOUT---- / AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH /

India’s Kuldeep Yadav (L) celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Glenn Maxwell with teammate Umesh Yadav during the fourth and last Test cricket match between India and Australia at The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on March 25, 2017. —-IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE—– / GETTYOUT—- / AFP PHOTO / PRAKASH SINGH /

Dharamsala: Debutant left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav’s four wickets helped India skittle out Australia for 300 in their first innings on the opening day of the fourth and final cricket Test here on Saturday.

India batted for an over and are still to open their scoring with both the openers Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay intact.

Electing to bat after winning the toss at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium here, skipper Steve Smith (111) and David Warner (56) set the tone for a massive Australian total, before chinaman Kuldeep triggered a batting collapse to bring India back into the game, with figures of 4/68.

Pacer Umesh Yadav complimented the rookie spinner well to pick 2/69 while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin took a wicket apiece.

(IANS)

UN to probe alleged crimes against Rohingya in Myanmar

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UN mission will investigate allegations of killings, rape and torture by security forces against Rohingya in Myanmar.

Rohingya refugee women sit inside their home at a refugee camp in Bangladesh [Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters]

Rohingya refugee women sit inside their home at a refugee camp in Bangladesh [Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

The leading United Nations rights body has agreed to send a fact-finding mission to Myanmar to investigate alleged abuses by security forces against Rohingya Muslims.

Tens of thousands of people have fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state since the military began a security operation last October in response to what it says was an attack by Rohingya armed men on border posts, in which nine police officers were killed.

A February UN report said the operation targeting the Rohingya involved mass rapes and killings, possibly amounting to crimes against humanity.

The independent, international mission should be dispatched “urgently” to establish the facts of the alleged atrocities, the UN Human Rights Council decided in Geneva on Friday, in a resolution adopted by consensus.

The investigation would be launched “with a view to ensuring full accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims,” the resolution said.

The investigators must provide an oral update in September and a full report by this time next year, said the resolution backed by the European Union. Some countries, including China, India and Cuba, dissociated themselves from the resolution.

But the council stopped short of calling for a Commission of Inquiry – the world body’s highest level investigation – into the violence, despite a call by Yanghee Lee, the UN’s special rapporteur on rights in Myanmar.

Earlier this month, Lee told reporters that European leaders wanted to give Myanmar’s new civilian government led by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi more time before launching a top-level inquiry.

Myanmar has been staunchly opposed to a Commission of Inquiry. The country’s rights council ambassador, Htin Lynn, also called the move to send a lower level investigation “unacceptable”.

Myanmar has launched its own domestic inquiry into possible crimes in Rahkine and appointed former UN chief Kofi Annan to head a commission responsible for healing long-simmering divisions between Buddhists and Muslims.

“Let the Myanmar people choose the best and the most effective course of action to address the challenges in Myanmar,” Lynn said, referring to Friday’s resolution.

“We will be doing what needs to be done and we will do it with great prudence and probity,” he added.

Activists welcomed what they called a “landmark decision” by the 47-member forum, while regretting that it was not a full international commission of inquiry, and called on the government to cooperate.

“It is unfortunate that the government of Burma/Myanmar has chosen to disassociate itself from this resolution,” John Samuel, executive director of FORUM-ASIA, said in a statement.

Anger as laptop ban on flights comes into force

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Passengers decry US, UK ban on laptops and tablets in hand luggage on some flights from Middle East and North Africa.

US, UK ban prohibits electronic devices larger than smart phones in cabins for flights coming from the Middle East and North Africa [EPA]

US, UK ban prohibits electronic devices larger than smart phones in cabins for flights coming from the Middle East and North Africa [EPA]

by Al Jazeera

The US and British ban on laptops and tablets in carry-on luggage on some flights from the Middle East and North Africa has come into force, immediately drawing complaints from passengers at several airports.

The ban requires that personal devices larger than a mobile phone – such as tablets, laptops and cameras – be placed in checked baggage for US and Britain-bound flights.

The US restrictions apply to flights originating from 10 airports in countries including Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The British restrictions do not include the UAE or Qatar but do affect Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

The affected airports had until Saturday to implement the new rules.

The ban s have already led to discontent and complaints from passengers at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, which is one of those listed.

“This airport is so secured. The security level is so high compared to other airports in the rest of this part of the world. So why doing that from here?” Haggai Mazursky, a traveller, told Reuters news agency.

Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul, said the airlines were trying to limit passengers’ frustrations while holding talks with the US to lift the ban.

“They [Turkish airlines] believe that if the comfort of passenger is affected, it will impact the industry as a whole and the company as well,” she said.

“In efforts to make it easier for the passengers, they [Turkish Airlines] are offering free wifi during flights and will also launch a special mobile application in April.”

US and British officials said the decision to implement the security measures was a result of intelligence showing an increased risk for “terrorist activity” involving commercial aviation.

However, many observers in the Middle East and North Africa said the ban amounted to discrimination, while others questioned the basis for the electronics ban, saying they were a ploy to undermine the aviation industry of the countries affected.

“If you say it like this, you are saying everybody can be a terrorist. It’s not respectful. I think it’s not good,” said one passenger at Ataturk International Airport.

Geoffrey Thomas, the editor-in-chief of A irlineratings.com, said the UK joining the ban gave it some credibility that there might be an evolving threat, “but at the same time UK has not banned UAE and Qatar, which raises a lot of concern as to what this is all about”.

“Some suggest that the ban on UAE and Qatar has more to do with the Trump administration’s desire to curb the power of Middle East carriers, because one of the crazy parts about this ban is that Emirates from Dubai to Athens, and on to the US, is not included in the measures.

“And then you have cities that actually have security challenges, such as Lagos and Islamabad, which are also not included in the ban. So, there are questions about this that leave a lot of experts perplexed,” Thomas said.

Turkey’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that talks were underway to try to persuade the US and Britain to exclude Turkish Airlines and Istanbul airport from the ban s.

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