Sri Lankan government denies using state resources to skew poll

A man cycles past St. James Church and a poster of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa which reads ''May you live a long life'' in Jaffna June 6, 2014.

BY SHIHAR ANEEZ AND RANGA SIRILAL-COLOMBO Fri Dec 12, 2014

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka's government has denied allegations made by a group of independent monitors that it is using state resources to give an unfair advantage to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is running for an unprecedented third term in next month's election.

The seven observer groups, some of which are funded by foreign non-governmental organizations, on Thursday raised concerns that the ruling party was exploiting public services and employees and that the police were ignoring complaints.

"These are wild accusations. If there is a basis for those allegations, they should take action," government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Police spokesman Ajith Rohana rejected charges that police were biased towards any candidate, adding: "There can be delays, but we totally deny inaction and the allegations."

Rajapaksa, president of the Indian Ocean island state since 2005, had been expected to win re-election easily until the emergence last month of his former health minister, Mithripala Sirisena, as the opposition's common candidate to challenge him.

The International Crisis Group, an independent conflict-prevention organization, said in a report this week that the unexpectedly strong challenge had raised the "likelihood of election-related violence and fraud in an increasingly authoritarian political context, where all state institutions are under the tight control" of Rajapaksa.

S. Ranugge, executive director of Transparency International Sri Lanka, one of the monitor groups, told reporters that the ruling party had been using state schools, offices, vehicles and public transport to gather crowds for campaign meetings.

"There is an unprecedented abuse of state resources and employees for the election by the ruling party," said Keerthi Tennakoon, executive director of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), another of the groups.

The observers said that police had not acted on complaints brought by opposition supporters of election-related violence despite video evidence and had been over-zealous in dealing with complaints from Rajapaksa supporters.

The Lawyers Collective, a rights group made up of lawyers, said separately in a statement it was shocked by poll violations that included using the defense establishment and bribery.

Large cut-outs of Rajapaksa have been erected across the country, in contravention of the election law, and state-run television provided live coverage for his first election campaign but not that of his challenger.

"There are election rules and regulations. If they believe there are violations, they can go to the relevant authority, which in this case is the election commissioner," Rajapaksa's spokesman, Mohan Samaranayaka, said.

The Election Commission declined to comment, but a senior official at the commission who asked not to be named said: "Aggrieved parties can go to the courts."

(Writing by John Chalmers; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Criketers Forced; Death Threats to Politicians; Avenues Blocked; Goodies Distributed

[Solangaarcchchi facing death threats]-12/12/2014

Election violence against the common opposition taking place around the country at an alarming rate according to SLB sources within Sri Lanka.

But most of these violations are not being reported to the election monitors or to the police.

In Kurunagala pro Rajapaksa gangs have visited number of houses where small discussions  supporting Maithripala Sirisena were going to take place under the network Peoples’ Democratic Forum.

In Kandy number of pubic meetings of network ‘Ugulen Galawemu’ (lets escape from the trap),  civil society network  had to be cancelled after owners of the halls booked express their reservations. A hotel, where a meeting with former President Kumarathunga was held in Katugastota, Kandy was attacked few days ago and now hotel owners are afraid to provide halls for opposition gatherings.

In Anuradhapura monks were forced to participate in Rajapaksa’s meeting held on 12th. In temples white cloths to wear in religious occasions are being distributed by Govt. politicians.

In Wellawatta, a Colombo  all Samurdhi receipients have received  Rs. 2,500 and another 7,500 to be distributed at the end of the month.

In Colombo Cricketers have been forced to appear in  Rajapaksa political advertisements.

Popular local politician form Kolonnwa, Mr. SolangaArchchi, who crossed over to the opposition recently has been threatened by state intelligence officers.

Another popular female politician, who too crossed over  to the common opposition reported to be be gone abroad, after death threats.

Mr. Solangaarchchi has made a public statement that If  he is  killed, the Defence Minister or Defence Secretary have to take responsibility . He told media that there is a plan to plant weapons in his house, or to take him  away to reveal weapons and then to kill him

Is this democracy? I am ready to die. But if I am killed, that responsibility will have to be taken by the Defence Minister or the Defence Secretary”, he has said reported Asian Mirror.

Why Hakeem Should Switch Sides

Hakeem

By Aman Faris -

Not long ago Hakeem went to the riot torn areas in Aluthgama, Beruwala and cried tears when he saw the plight of Muslims who were caught up in a frenzy of violence not seen since 1983. Homes and commercial enterprises belonging to them were destroyed by a mob let loose by the Bodu Bala Sena.

Three Muslims and a Tamil, working as a ‘watcher’, at a Muslim owned poultry farm were slain for no reason other than the fact they belonged to what in Sri Lankan ‘democratic’ politics is called ‘minorities’.

Millions wort of properties was destroyed. Some Sinhalese also suffered heavy losses. A lawyer family friend of mine had her house set on fire. She had built this house with her life savings. Mercifully the government had built it for her again and she told us it is now better than what it was. I am happy for her and her family.

Mosques were attacked and copies of the Qur’an were burned just for the heck of it.

The homes and shops of Muslims have also been rebuilt from what we hear. But the dead will not return and the scars will take a long time to heal. Maybe it will take a generation. Rauf Hakeem must remember that. He must bear in mind all this carnage could have been prevented hadMahinda Rajapaksa’s regime acted to protect the Muslims from the mobs. It is now clear the arson attacks and the killing took place during curfew hours. Muslims were forced to stay inside the mosque while their homes and business enterprises were set on fire under the very noses of the security forces. It is now clear they encouraged the rioters. The blame for this lies at Mahinda Rajapaksa’s feet and the feet of his brother, defense secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the script of this dastardly deed was written by them to teach the ‘thambiya’ a lesson.

The riots came on the heels of the attacks at the Dambulla mosque. The mosque there was damaged and copies of the Qur’an were set on fire along with other Islamic literature. Not long after that incident, the mosque at Grandpass came under attack. Area Muslims had decided to protect the mosque even at the cost of their lives. We had another July ’83 in the making and I think it was divine intervention that prevented a bloodbath.

Bear in mind, Rauf, the attack on the shrine at Balangoda. The wanton destruction took place under the aegis of no lesser person than the defence secretary himself.

Rauf Hakeem and his SLMC must remember the words of President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he described the hartal in the east to protest and condemn the Aluthgama/Beruwala incident as a ‘too big a protest for too small an incident’.

They must also remember the fact that to this day not a single culprit has been apprehended, though the whole world knows who they were. Pictures on TV clearly show a large segment of the rioters and looters going about their foul deed like nobody’s business and yet the ‘police are investigating’ from what we hear.

Four Muslim youths were remanded for months on end for simply sending supposedly inappropriate political messages damaging the reputation of the defence secretary. But  not a single culprit who attacked mosques and churches (at least one pastor was assaulted) have been produced in court much less apprehended.

And to add insult to injury the defence secretary in a sudden bout of piety visited a mosque in Berwuwala to get himself blessed. Isn’t this a joke, Rauf? And a sick one at that.

These reasons and more, you are privy to should prompt you to support the common candidate. He’s promising a new political culture that the country as a whole sorely needs. If you don’t, you will be on the wrong side of history and in the bad books of your constituency in the east who held the ‘hartal’.  Besides history will describe your genuine expression of grief at Aluthgama was crocodile tears. Don’t let that happen to you.

கடனை அடைக்கவே உதயகம்மன்பில அரசாங்கத்தில் இணைந்துள்ளார்?

[ வெள்ளிக்கிழமை, 12 டிசெம்பர் 2014, 12:21.30 PM GMT ]

800 கோடி ரூபா கடனை அடைப்பதற்காகவே ஜாதிக லெ உறுமயவின் மேல் மாகாண சபை உறுப்பினர் உதயகம்மன்பில மீண்டும் அரசாங்கத்தில் இணைந்து கொண்டுள்ளதாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

கம்மன்பில தனது வர்த்தக நடவடிக்கை ஒன்றுக்காக அரச வங்கி ஒன்றில் 800 கோடி ரூபாவை கடனாக பெற்றிருந்தார்.

அரசாங்கத்தில் மீண்டும் இணைந்தால், அந்த கடனை இரத்துச் செய்ய முடியும் என அரசாங்க தரப்பினரால் கம்மன்பிலவிடம் வாக்குறுதியளிக்கப்பட்டதாக பேசப்படுகிறது.

பொது வேட்பாளருடன் கையெழுத்திடப்பட்ட உடன்படிக்கையை கம்மன்பிலவே தயாரித்தார்: ஓமல்பே சோபித தேரர்

[ வெள்ளிக்கிழமை, 12 டிசெம்பர் 2014, 07:46.07 AM GMT ]

ஜாதிக ஹெல உறுமய கட்சிக்கும் எதிர்க்கட்சிகளின் பொது வேட்பாளருக்கும் இடையில் கையெழுத்திடப்பட்ட உடன்படிக்கையின் சகல ஷரத்துக்களையும் தயாரித்தவர் உதய கம்மன்பில என அந்த கட்சியின் தலைவர் ஓமல்பே சோபித தேரர் கூறியுள்ளார்.

உடன்படிக்கை கைச்சாத்திடப்படும் வேளையில் கம்மன்பில அதற்கு எதிர்ப்பை வெளியிட்டிருந்தால், அதனை முன்னெடுக்க சந்தர்ப்பத்தை வழங்கியிருக்க போவதில்லை எனவும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

கட்சியினரின் 100 வீதமான ஒப்புதலுடனேயே பொது வேட்பாளருடனான உடன்படிக்கையில் உள்ளடக்கப்பட்ட விடயங்கள் தீர்மானிக்கப்பட்டன.

எவ்வாறாயினும் உதய கம்மன்பில எடுத்துள்ள தீர்மானம் தொடர்பில் ஜாதிக ஹெல உறுமயவிற்கு எந்த பிரச்சினையும் இல்லை எனவும் ஓமல்பே சோபித தேரர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

SB should apologize from all Sri Lankan 

I will quit UPFA if BBS backs Rajapaksa - Faiszer

December 12, 2014 

Deputy Minister of Investment Promotion, Faiszer Musthapha, says that he will not remain in the United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) if the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Organisation decides to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming Presidential Election.

Responding to a question from a journalist at a press conference in Colombo today, the deputy minister stated that the ultra-nationalist Buddhist group has still not made a statement, directly or indirectly, regarding supporting President Rajapaksa.

“That aside, if Bodu Bala Sena is supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa, I will not be in the alliance today,” Musthapha said.

Minister of Transport, Kumara Welgama, addressing the press briefing, stated that he would not leave the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) until he dies and that he has given his son the same advice.

The reason for this, Welgama said, is since his son received votes because of him.

Asked about Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses being used to transport supporters for UPFA rallies, the minister stated that they would even give Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader R. Sampanthan buses if he pays the money.

Meanwhile SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadarshana Yapa stated that there are allegations against Kotikawatta Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Solangaarachchi, who recently pledged support to the Common Opposition Candidate, regarding the misuse of local council property.  

SB should apologize from all Sri Lankan women – Rosy

December 12, 2014

UNP MP Rosy Senanayake says that the controversial statement made by Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake regarding former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is the biggest crime of insult committed against the women of the country.

She pointed out that the minister had said Chandrika should be “put down in the ground, trampled, stripped naked and made to run along the streets.” She stated that this act falls under the crime of harassment in the Penal Code.

Senanayake inquired that if this is the way the Higher Education Minister of the country is talking about a former President of Sri Lanka, “what is the place given to the average woman in this country?”

She stated that an inquiry should be convened against Minister S.B. Dissanayake immediately and that he should apologize to all Sri Lankan women in general.

Rajapaksas angry with Duminda, Rayynor!

Friday, 12 December 2014
Kolonnawa organizer of the government R. Duminda Silva has now earned the wrath of the Rajapaksas, say sources close to him.

The defence secretary had summoned Duminda and rebuked him for not being present at a meeting attended by the president in Kolonnawa. Even the president is very much critical of Duminda’s conduct. After his meeting with the defence secretary, Duminda left the country without informing anyone. After hearing that he was overseas, the Rajapaksas ordered him to return immediately.

Accordingly, he came back on December 08. Former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, after coming to know that Duminda and his brother Rayynor Silva, owner of Hiru TV, have become totally dejected with the Rajapaksas and are holding talks to join the UNP, acted promptly and got Hirunika to support common candidate Maithripala Sirisena before them.

அச்சுறுத்தல் காரணமாக ஹிருணிக்கா வெளிநாட்டுக்கு தப்பியோட்டம்

[ வெள்ளிக்கிழமை, 12 டிசெம்பர் 2014, 06:27.21 AM GMT ]

மேல்மாகணசபை உறுப்பிணர் ஹிருனிகா பிரேமசந்திர, தனது தாயுடன் வெளிநாடொன்றுக்குப் பயணமாகியுள்ளதாக தகவல்கள் வெளியாகியுள்ளன.

இந்த தகவலை முல்லேரியா பிரதேச சபைத் தலைவர் சோலங்க ஆராச்சி வெளியிட்டுள்ளார்.

 எனது தங்கை ஹிருனிகா எதிர்க் கட்சியில் இணைந்துகொண்டதால், அவருக்கு அரசாங்க தரப்பிலிருந்து பல இன்னல்களும் கஷ்டங்களும் ஏற்படுத்தப்படுகின்றன.

இதனால் அவர் உடன் வெளிநாடு சென்றுள்ளார். ஆனால், அவர் சில நாட்களின் பின் நாடு திரும்பி, மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேனவின் தேர்தல் பிரசாரத்தில் கலந்து கொள்வார் எனவும் அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.

ஹிருணிக்கா கடந்த சில தினங்களுக்கு முன்னர் ஆளுங்கட்சியிலிருந்து விலகி, எதிரணியில் இணைந்து கொண்டார். பொதுவேட்பாளர் மைத்திரிபால சிறிசேனவை ஆதரிப்பதாக பகிரங்கமாக தெரிவித்தார் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

Israeli family attacked with acid in West Bank

Police say family stopped to pick up hitchhiker who began throwing corrosive liquid before he was shot by bystander

Soldiers and medics at the scene of the chemical attack in the West Bank. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Peter Beaumont in Jerusalem-Friday 12 December 2014 

Five members of an Israeli family have suffered chemical burns after a substance believed to be acid was thrown over them reportedly by a Palestinian man in the West Bank.

Police said the victims included four girls who were sprayed with a corrosive substance by a man who was then shot in the leg by a bystander. The incident took place close to a checkpoint near Beitar Illit, in the southern West Bank.

Paramedics who treated the family – including three children aged between about eight and 10 – said the wounds appeared to be acid burns affecting their limbs.

The Israeli Defence Forces said the family had stopped to pick up the man, who was hitchhiking. He got into their car and began throwing liquid on the family before attempting to attack the father with a small screwdriver.

As he fled the scene he reportedly attempted to attack other people with the screwdriver while being chased by an armed civilian before he was shot. Police said the attacker had “poured an unknown substance suspected to be acid on a Jewish family”.

Media reports later identified the man as a Palestinian from the village of Nahalin, near Bethlehem.

Separately, police are investigating an incident in which a Palestinian driver crashed into concrete barriers at a hitchhiking post where a number of soldiers were standing. It was unclear whether it was an attempted attack or an accident.

Tensions are high following the death of a Palestinian minister, Ziad Abu Ein, on Wednesday during a confrontation with Israeli security forces at a demonstration near a village outside Ramallah. The Israeli military and police have stepped up their presence in Jerusalem and elsewhere due to fears of more violence.

Palestinian and Israeli pathologists gave different accounts of the cause of Abu Ein’s death. Following a joint autopsy, the Palestinian doctor concluded that he died as a result of a blow to his body, not of natural causes. The Israeli doctor said the 55-year-old’s death was caused by the blockage of a coronary artery.

Friday also saw large clashes between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators – with some reports claiming they numbered 600 – and Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Hebron.

Over the past four months, 10 Israelis and a foreign visitor have been killed by Palestinians in knife or car-based attacks, while at least a dozen Palestinians have also been killed, including most of those who carried out the killings.

"I Can't Breathe": Eric Garner's Plea Becomes Rallying Cry for Justice

Following latest high-profile non-indictment of police officer, protests explode and New York City and beyond
Protesters hold placards as they demand justice for the death of Eric Garner, while marching past Radio City Music Hall in the Manhattan borough of New York December 3, 2014. Thousands of protesters shouted at police and clogged streets of Manhattan on Wednesday, angered by a New York City grand jury's decision not to charge white police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of the unarmed black man. Garner, a 43-year-old father of six, was accused of illegally selling cigarettes on a sidewalk when Pantaleo put him in a chokehold from behind and tackled him with the help of other officers. (Photo: Reuters/Adrees Latif)

byJon Queally, staff writer-

Thursday, December 04, 2014

by

Common Dreams

Though a coroner classified his death a "homicide" and a video captured police surrounding the man while one officer, Daniel Pantaleo, placed the chokehold on Eric Garner that would end his life, a grand jury's decision on Wednesday not to return an indictment in the case spurred outrage nationwide and a night of street protests across New York City and other communities.

The anger and demand for true justice was echoed in the streets throughout the night and captured on Twitter under the hashtag #EricGarner:

Video captured protests across New York City.

Die-in protest at Grand Central Station:

Later, in Times Square:

Mid-town Manhattan, New York City:

VICE News released three hours of raw footage from their night of coverage:

I Can't Breathe Eric Garner's Plea Becomes Rallying Cry for Justice by Thavam Ratna

Unmasked: the man behind top Islamic State Twitter account

THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER 2014
The most influential pro-Islamic State Twitter account to be followed by foreign jihadis - Shami Witness - is shut down after a Channel 4 News investigation uncovers the identity of the man behind it

He spent his mornings, afternoons and evenings sending thousands of tweets of propaganda about the Islamic State militant group, acting as the leading conduit of information between jihadis, supporters, and recruits.

His tweets, written under the name Shami Witness, were seen two million times each month, making him perhaps the most influential Islamic State Twitter account, with over 17,700 followers.

Two thirds of all foreign fighters on Twitter followed him. When a fighter's Twitter account is suspended, he often promoted the new one and urged people to follow it.

He spoke to British jihadis regularly, before they leave to join the Islamic State, after they arrived, and if they died he praised them as martyrs.

He has until now been able to remain anonymous, avoiding questions about his motives and his central role in the Islamic State's propaganda war, but a Channel 4 News investigation can today reveal that the man operating the account is called Mehdi and he is an executive in Bangalore working for an Indian conglomerate.

Channel 4 News has chosen not to reveal his full name as he says his life would be in danger if his true identity was made public.

Mehdi said he would have gone to join Islamic State himself, but his family were financially dependent on him: "If I had a chance to leave everything and join them I might have.. my family needs me here."

On his Facebook pages he regularly shares jokes, funny images and talks about superhero movies, posting pictures of pizza dinners with friends, and Hawaiian parties at work.

Elsewhere on Facebook there are indications of his Islamist ideology, in conversations about Libya and Egyptian uprisings.

After being contacted by Channel 4 News, Mehdi shut down the Shami Witness account.

Social media conflict 

A recent report by the Brookings Institute found social media to be one of the key organizational strengths of the Islamic State, finding that it uses such channels "to spread and legitimise IS's ideology, activities, and objectives, and to recruit and acquire international support."

The man behind Shami Witness posted thousands of updates to the @ShamiWitness Twitter account every month, usually from his mobile phone.

Using the @ShamiWitness account he five times tweeted the video of the execution of US aid workerPeter Kassig, and dozens of Syrian soldiers within minutes of it being uploaded to the internet.

"May allah guide, protect, strengthen and expand the Islamic State ... Islamic State brought peace, autonomy, zero corruption, low crime-rate", he wrote on Twitter in November.

Mehdi said of Iftikhar Jaman, one of the British jihadists from Portsmouth killed fighting for Islamic State, that: "you bros [brothers] talked the talk, walked the walk".

And he said to British fighter Mehdi Hassan "May Allah give you brothers decisive victory there".Hassan later died fighting in Kobane.

To another British fighter he said: "may Allah reward you" and quoted one British fighter's suggested that the rebel Islamic Front poses a greater risk to the Islamic State than the secularist rebels of the Free Syrian Army.

ShamiWitness seemed to express glee at the deaths and rapes of Kurdish fighters on Twitter, but later said that this comment was taken out of context.

He had written and later deleted the tweet where he said: "@ArjDnn I should thank PKK for recruiting female fighters, specially the ones caught alive by rebels. lol".

But in his real life, he had spoken out against rape on Facebook.

#Breaking Major operations by Islamic State army,led by special forces, in several regions in Salahuddin province. #Iraq

— Shami Witness (@ShamiWitness) December 10, 2014

Pakistan Arrests Suspected Al Qaeda Commander; Indian Citizen Allegedly Behind ISIS Twitter Handle; School Bombing in Kabul

The South Asia Daily Brief for Friday, December 12, 2014.

Pakistan
Pakistan arrests suspected al Qaeda commander
Pakistani authorities arrested Shahid Usman, a suspected commander in al Qaeda’s South Asian wing late Thursday night (Reuters, Dawn). Police arrested Usman, who they say was actively planning attacks, along with four others in Karachi. They also seized weapons and 22 pounds of explosives. Police said Usman lived in the wealthy neighborhood of Defense and owned a car-parts dealership in one of the most expensive commercial areas of Karachi. Al Qaeda announced the formation of the South Asian wing on Sept. 4 and the group attempted to hijack a Pakistani navy ship shortly thereafter.

Khan attempt to shut down Karachi

Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party’s chairman, began his attempt to shut down Karachi on Friday (ET, Dawn). Supporters of Khan staged sit-ins at ten different locations across the city to protest alleged vote rigging in the 2013 general elections. Khan is calling for a judicial commission to be formed to investigate his allegations that the election was fraudulent, saying: “If the government sets up a judicial commission within the next 48 hours, I will call off my protest.” The protests have not been violent so far, although numerous roads were closed to traffic throughout the day.

India

Indian citizen allegedly operated ISIS’ Twitter handle

Mehdi, an Indian citizen based in the southern city of Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore, allegedly operated the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’s (ISIS’s) propaganda Twitter handle @ShamiWitness, according to Britain’s Channel 4 News on Friday (Post, Indian Express). An executive working for an Indian conglomerate, Mehdi’s ISIS Twitter handle had over 17,700 followers, which included jihadist fighters and Middle East analysts. Mehdi, through @ShamiWitness, supported people thinking to join ISIS and defended the Sunni militant group from detractors. Channel 4 reported that unlike his Twitter handle, Mehdi’s Facebook page was ​quite different with routine updates about dinners and work parties.

It was also reported that Mehdi believed in beheadings, and would have liked to join ISIS. The report quoted Mehdi saying: “If I had a chance to leave everything and join them [ISIS] I might have… my family needs me here” (Economic Times).

The Twitter handle was shut down after these reports became public, and Indian officials are investigating the matter. Bengaluru Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said: “I have seen the report as you have. We are investigating the matter. We have always been alert and we will try to get more details. I cannot deny or confirm this news because it doesn’t show any more. If you are talking of threat perception then we are ready as a city to face this. But our team is on the job and we will investigate” (IBNLive).

U.S. ‘troubled’ with Crimean leader’s visit to India

The United States said it was “troubled” that Sergiy Aksyonov, the leader of Crimea — a former Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia — visited India this week as a member of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual summit delegation, according to news reports on Friday (Reuters, Indian Express). U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said at her daily news conference: “We are troubled by reports that the delegation accompanying Putin may have included Sergiy Aksyonov… We understand that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs have said they were not officially aware of his visit or his participation in the delegation. We are seeking further clarification on that” (NDTV). Putin held talks with Indian​ Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday, where they announced agreements in energy and defense, including Russia’s assistance in building at least 12 nuclear reactors in India.
Indian Army toughens social media rules

The Indian Army cautioned both serving personnel and veterans using social media to be more responsible with the image of the armed forces, and posted guidelines on their Facebook page, according to news reports on Thursday (Times of India, Indian Express). The guidelines were published in response to recent messages attacking the Indian Army’s leadership. Also, several unsigned messages critical of Modi’s recent election speech in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir were circulated. The Army posted: “There has been a concerted attempt by inimical elements to tarnish the image of the Army by posting malicious and damaging content based on half truths… personnel are prohibited from circulating chain mails, messages, posts etc on aspects of Armed Forces” (NDTV).

Afghanistan

Suicide bomber attacks school

A young suicide bomber attacked a French-run school in Kabul on Thursday, killing at least one person and injuring dozens of others (BBC). The attack occurred during a performance of a play called “Heartbeat: Silence After the Explosion,” a theatrical condemnation of suicide attacks. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a statement that there were no French victims; Afghan officials said a German citizen was killed (AP). The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that the performance was immoral.

Afghanistan asks donors for money to pay salaries

Afghan Treasury Chief Alhaj Mohammad Aqa told Reuters on Thursday that Afghanistan does not have enough money to pay salaries this month and has asked aid donors for a bailout (Reuters). In September, Afghanistan asked for a $537 million bailout, but donors provided only $170 million. Aqa said the remainder of that is needed to pay the salaries of teachers, government workers, and doctors. Afghan officials met with representatives of the United Nations and 25 other donors this week to request additional funding.

– Emily Schneider and Neeli Shah

Edited by Peter Bergen