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17 CHENNAI FRIDAY 04 11 2016

KARACHI SEOUL RABAT TOKYO LAHORE ISLAMABAD ISLAMABAD

21 killed, 50 injured as
trains collide in Pakistan
At least 21 people were killed and
50 others injured Thursday after a
passenger train rammed into a
stationary train in Pakistans
southern port city of Karachi, in
the countrys second major rail
collision in as many months. The
accident occurred in Gaddafi Town
in Landhi area here at 7:18 am
when Zakaria Express crashed into
the Fareed Express.
Scandal-hit S Korean prez
picks new chief of staff
South Koreas embattled
President Park Geun-Hye picked a
new chief of staff Thursday as
part of a reshuffle of top aides
aimed at quashing public
discontent over a spiralling
political scandal. Han Gwang-Ok
was named chief of staff, an
appointment the presidential
Blue House said would help get
the rattled Centre back on track.
Morocco to try teen girls
over homosexuality
Authorities in Morocco have
pressed charges of homosexuality
against two teenaged girls
allegedly caught kissing and will
put them on trial this week, a
human rights group said today.
Police detained the pair, only
identified as 16-year-old Sanaa
and 17-year-old Hajar, in
Marrakesh last Thursday, said
Omar Arbib, a rights activist.
US naval base in Japan
shut briefly over gunshots
A US naval base in southern
Japan went into a brief lockdown
on Thursday following reports of
gunshots, but declared all clear
after finding no evidence that
shots were fired. On November 3,
security received a report of
gunshots. The building was
evacuated, Commander Fleet
Activities Sasebo Japan said in a
Facebook post.
Womans eyes gouged
out by her brothers in Pak
In a horrific incident, a womans
eyes were gouged out and her
limb cut off by her brothers in
Pakistans Punjab province after
they suspected her of kidnapping
one of their daughters. The
incident took place Wednesday in
Muzaffarghar, 400 km from here,
when the two suspects abducted
their sister. The womans
condition is said to be critical.
SC ultimatum to Sharifs
family in Panamagate
Expressing displeasure over the
failure of Sharif familys counsel
to submit a reply on behalf of
Maryam, Hussain and Hassan (all
children of the Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif), a bench of the
apex court headed by Chief
Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali gave
an ultimatum to Sharifs children
to respond to the notices served
regarding the investigation.
Nat Geo Afghan Girl
hospitalised in Pakistan
An Afghan woman, who gained
fame in 1984 after a photograph
of her as a refugee girl was
published on the cover of
National Geographic, has been
hospitalised after falling ill while
in custody for holding a fake
identity card. While Sharbat Gula
has denied the charges, a
Pakistani court dismissed her bail
plea on Wednesday.

American Muslims wield the Trump card

Donald Trumps anti-Islamic rhetoric has led to Muslims in the US urging the community to get out and vote against him. With the rise
in hate crimes, the November 8 presidential election has been termed the most important landmark for the community

NEW YORK
Americans sick of
GET out your vote. This is the
election, want to crucial message American Mus-
lims are receiving on their phones
David Greene, lawyer for Deir dos
Santos, a claimant in the case, reads a
end it already! and in their emails from Council
on American Islamic Relations
statement outside the Court | AFP

Americans have just about had it

with this years White House race.
As the clock ticks down to
Election Day many are counting
the minutes until the end of what
often seemed like a bad political
reality show, headlined by two
deeply unpopular stars, Donald
Trump and Hillary Clinton. Its
torture, were traumatized, said
Moira Hahn, a lawyer. Every day,
its worse, more vulgar, more
violent, more divisive. Maryland
schoolteacher Nancy Murphy calls
the entire campaign an
embarrassment. When we teach,
we like to bring up the election, to
teach the children about the
democratic process. But we dont
bring it up this time, she said.
After Brexit,
punters bet on
Trump victory
In the final countdown to the US
election, Americans and
foreigners alike are jostling to bet
on a shock Donald Trump victory,
buoyed by tightening polls and
memories of Brexit. Since the
news of the FBI reopening the
investigation, were seeing five
Trump bets for every Hillary
(Clinton) one, says Pat Morrow,
head oddsmaker at offshore
betting site Bovada.lv. Gambling
on any election is banned in the
United States but Americans can
partake via a plethora of offshore,
online sites such as Bovada,
Betfair or Betonline. Around
2,300 players have invested a
total of $314,000, says Joyce
Berg, Iowa Markets director.
(CAIR). As Americas largest
Muslim civil liberties and advo-
cacy organization, CAIR has in-
tensified efforts to engage the
American Muslim voter in what
is being termed the most impor-
tant election for the Muslim
American community.
The message gains credence
with Republican nominee Donald
Trumps poll numbers looking up
following the recent FBI directive
saying it would reopen investiga-
tions into Democratic nominee
Hillary Clintons email scandal.
These developments have made
the American Muslims very nerv-
ous. In an unprecedented and
striking move CAIR has sent out
calls to members of the Ameri-
can Muslim community remind-
ing them to register and get out
the vote. If the words Do not
vote Trump are missing, it is be-
cause that would be stating the
obvious.
As election day nears, the bat-
tle lines between Trump and the
American Muslims have been
drawn clearly. Trump hopes to
ride the wave of Islamophobia to
an election victory. Clinton on the
other hand, in a first of its kind
Presidential campaign move, has
appointed Outreach coordinators
to woo the Muslim vote-bank the
Democrats estimate will play a
key role in the swing states.
We account for only 1% of the
total US population, says politi-
cal science student and Ameri-
can Muslim activist Zainab Al-
Abedany. Which is why we are
pressing Muslim voters for a high
turnout in swing states with size-
able Muslim representation like
Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Vir-
ginia. The American Muslims
know this is a battle they cannot
afford to sit out. CAIR, for its part
PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
Clinton sympathetic to
Pakistan, attacks
Republican Hindu body
A Republican Hindu organisation
is running anti-Hillary Clinton
advertisement on Indian-
American television channels,
attacking the Democratic
presidential candidate as
sympathetic towards Pakistan
and her longtime aide for her
Pakistani origin. The 29-second
commercial begins with a
photograph of PM Narendra Modi
and has a map of Pakistan, which
includes disputed Pakistan-
occupied Kashmir as its territory.
The ad also attacks Bill Clinton
and her aide Huma Abedin.
has intiated Robocalls, email out-
reach, website launch and other
focused attempts at Muslim voter
empowerment. A recent CAIR
poll estimates that over 72% of
Muslim Americans plan to vote
for Clinton. Trumps anti-Islamic
rhetoric has hit home with Islam-
ophobia and hate crimes rising at
rates not seen since the immedi-
ate aftermath of 9/11. So, its mes-
sage to the American Muslims is
simple: Get out your vote.
Farwa Imam Ali is a journal-
ist, columnist and Digital Media
story teller based in the US.
Court ruling
throws govts
Brexit plans
into doubt
LONDON
THE High Court struck a blow
Thursday to the British govern-
ments plans for leaving the EU,
ruling it must seek parliaments
Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dressed up in Allentown, Pennsylvania on Wednesday | AFP
approval before starting exit
talks in a landmark judgement
The FBI will have some things in there that I can just imagine are going to be unbelievable. Hillarys likely that could delay Brexit.
to be under investigation for many years. Probably concluding in a criminal trial Three senior judges said Prime
Donald Trump, Republican presidential nominee Minister Theresa Mays govern-
ment does not have the power on
Black votes may not be solid enough for a Clinton victory, worries POTUS
its own to trigger Article 50 of the
European Unions Lisbon Treaty,
President Barack Obama twice generated a historic wave of African-American support on
his way to the White House, but worries now the black vote is not as solid as it needs to
the formal notification of Brit-
ains intention to leave the bloc.
May had promised to begin the
be for Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, arson was blamed on Wednesday for a blaze that
process by the end of March but
destroyed an African-American church in Mississippi where a slogan for Donald Trump
the ruling raises the prospect of
had been spray-painted on the exterior.
a protracted parliamentary de-
bate before then, in a chamber
which overwhelmingly opposed
We dont operate on US Prez race tightens, Brexit and may seek to soften the
innuendo: Obama Clinton still ahead break with the EU.
The British government said it
US President Barack Obama The battle for the White House will appeal shock High Court rul-
implicitly criticized FBI director tightened Thursday, with a fresh ing. We will appeal this judg-
James Comey Wednesday, poll showing Clintons lead ment, said a statement from
insisting US investigations ebbing and Trump winning over Prime Minister Theresa Mays of-
should not operate based on once wary Republican voters fice. The country voted to leave
innuendo or incomplete days before the vote. The New the European Union in a referen-
information. Obamas remarks York Times/CBS News poll dum approved by Act of Parlia-
in an interview with website showed Clinton with 45 per cent ment. The pound which has
NowThisNews were his first to Trumps 42 per cent. The tumbled to multi-year low points
public comments since Comeys A monkey kisses the cardboard cutout same poll had given Clinton a against its main rivals in recent
announcement that the FBI had of Donald Trump during a selection comfortable nine-point just a weeks as markets weigh the eco-
discovered a new set of emails. intended to predict the result | AFP couple of weeks ago. nomic risks of Britain potential-
ly leaving the European single
market soared against the dol-
lar and euro Thursday, jumping
above $1.24. Bank of England gov-

ISIS chief Baghdadi urges Mosul jihadists to fight till the end
GOGJALI, IRAQ
THE reclusive leader of the
Islamic State group broke a
nearly year-long silence as Iraqi
forces closed in on Mosul Thurs-
day, urging his jihadists to hold
their ground.
It was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadis
first statement since Iraqi forces
launched a massive offensive on
October 17 to retake Mosul, where
the IS chief declared the groups
caliphate two years ago. Do
not retreat, Baghdadi said in a
purported message released by
an IS-affiliated outlet. Holding
your ground with honour is a
thousand times easier than re-
treating in shame.
In June 2014, days after jihadist
fighters swept across swathes of
Iraq, he made a rare public ap-
pearance in Mosul and an-
nounced the creation of an Islam-
ic state straddling Iraq and
Syria. The caliphate has been
shrinking steadily since last year
and Iraqi forces earlier this week
reached the outskirts of Mosul,
the jihadists last major strong-
hold in Iraq. If authentic, the re-
cording entitled This is what
God and his messenger have
promised us, would be Baghda-
dis first since December 2015 and
ernor Mark Carney, responding
during a separately scheduled
press conference, said the ruling
was an example of the uncer-
tainty that will characterise this
a rare sign of life. Rumours have process.
swirled about the Iraqi jihadist The case challenged the gov-
leaders health and movements ernments right to use historic
but his whereabouts are unclear. Do not retreat... Holding your prerogative powers to trigger
IS has fallen back when mas- ground with honour is a Article 50, which begins a two-
sively outnumbered in recent bat- thousand times easier than year countdown to exiting the
tles, giving up some of its em- retreating in shame EU. Leaders of the bloc have been
blematic bastions such as pressing for a swift divorce, and
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,
Fallujah in Iraq and Dabiq in Syr- May has arranged a phone call
ISIS leader
ia without following its own with European Commission
apocalyptic ideology of fighting chief Jean-Claude Juncker on
to the bitter end. AFP Friday. Agencies

WEIRD, WHACKY AND WOW

Australia says no to its
dirtiest power plant
SYDNEY: One of Australias dirtiest
power plants will be shuttered, its
owner said Thursday, in a move
hailed by environmentalists. After
decades of belching pollution, the
Hazelwood brown coal-fired power
station in Latrobe Valley will close
after French energy giant Engie
decided it was no longer viable.
Google allows users to use
phones as Potter wands
LOS ANGELES: Potterheads,
rejoice! You can now step into the
world of Harry Potter and try your
hand at magic using just your
smartphone, thanks to new
features by Google. Saying Ok
Google followed by Lumos or
Nox can turn your phones
flashlight on and off.
Brexit beats Trumpism Boy with Trump hat
as the word of the year a hit on Halloween
LONDON: Brexit was Thursday KANSAS: A Kansas boy has
named word the year by Collins realized internet fame after he
dictionary citing unprecedented wore a politically inspired Donald
surge in its use, beating tough Trump costume for Halloween.
competition from Trumpism. Gage DeVader avoided a clichd
Britains referendum in favour of moment by choosing to go for
Man steals cop car, an exit from the European Union trick-or-treating as Trumps most
(EU) was not only the most recognizable physical feature
livestreams joyride important political development instead of Trump look-a-like.
OKLAHOMA: Live footage has but also resulted in the word
emerged on Facebook of a Brexit becoming one of the most
convicted felon stealing an used terms of the year, according
unlocked police cruiser from to Collins dictionary. The publisher
outside a coffee shop in Oklahoma said that Brexit saw its first
and taking it for a 40 minute recorded usage in 2013 but has
joyride to his parents house. RT since increased in use by more
reported John Pinney is alleged to than 3,400% this year as the
have taken the car on Halloween. referendum approached in June.