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Police deploy 6,000 specially trained officers  

Rioters spouting anti-immigrant slogans have attacked mosques and hotels housing asylum-seekers, with reports emerging of violent counterattacks in some communities…reports Asian Lite News

British police are gearing up for another night of violence amid concerns that far-right groups plan to target as many as 30 locations around the United Kingdom on Wednesday following a week of rioting and disorder.

Authorities are mobilizing about 6,000 specially trained officers this week to respond to disorder throughout the UK, and London’s Metropolitan Police Service said it would do “everything in our power” to protect the capital.

“We know about the events planned by hateful and divisive groups across the capital,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine of the Met said late Tuesday. “They’ve made their intention to cause disruption and division very clear … We will not tolerate this on our streets.”

UK cities and towns across have been wracked by violence for the past week as angry mobs egged on by far-right extremists have clashed with police and counterdemonstrators sparked by the spread of misinformation about the identity of the suspect in a stabbing rampage that killed three young girls in the seaside community of Southport. The suspect was falsely identified as an immigrant and a Muslim.

Rioters spouting anti-immigrant slogans have attacked mosques and hotels housing asylum-seekers, with reports emerging of violent counterattacks in some communities.

Internet chat groups have shared a list of law firms specializing in immigration and advice agencies as possible targets for gatherings Wednesday. The messages have invited people to “mask up” if attending.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a second consecutive meeting of the government’s COBRA emergency response committee on Tuesday to coordinate the response to the crisis, which he has described as “far-right thuggery.”

Police have already made more than 400 arrests around the country, and the government has pledged to prosecute and jail those responsible for the disorder.

The prosecutions of those who have admitted taking part in the unrest are already underway, as authorities warned severe sentences would be handed out for causing trouble. Among the first to be sentenced was Derek Drummond, 58, who was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to violent disorder and punching a police officer in the face in Southport on July 30.

He was one of three men to be jailed in cases heard at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday.

“The three men sentenced today are the tip of the iceberg, and just the start of what will be a very painful process for many who foolishly chose to involve themselves in violent unrest,’’ senior district crown prosecutor Jonathan Egan said. “Many of those involved will be sent to prison for a long time.”

The government has also announced new measures to protect mosques. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a post on X that the police, city hall and community leaders are working to protect targeted buildings and places of worship.

“I know the shocking scenes have left many Muslims and minority ethnic communities scared and fearful, so I ask my fellow Londoners to check on their friends and neighbors and show them that care and compassion is what Londoners are all about,” he said. “In London, we have zero-tolerance for racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism or any form of hate.”

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Pak military says 139 soldiers killed in anti-terror ops in 2024

Sharif emphasised the relentless efforts of the Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies, police, and other LEA…reports Asian Lite News

The Pakistani military said that 139 soldiers, including officers, lost their lives in the ongoing fight against terrorists during the first seven months of 2024.

Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan Army, Ahmed Sharif briefed journalists on the security situation, highlighting the extensive counter-terrorism efforts and professional activities of the military and law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

“Security forces and LEAs conducted 23,622 intelligence-based operations across the country,” said the director general, adding, “Of the total, 2,045 operations were carried out in the last 15 days alone.”

Sharif emphasised the relentless efforts of the Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies, police, and other LEAs, saying that 24 terrorists were eliminated during the last 15 days, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the statement.

The official added that the government has officially labelled the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as Fitna al-Khawarij (Insurgency of Outside) and all associated terrorists as khariji (outcasts).

“It is a mischief-making group. It is neither an ideology nor has anything to do with religion or Pakistan,” said the director general.

Honouring the sacrifices of the security forces, the official said, “The entire nation pays tribute to the brave martyrs and their families. This commitment underscores the unwavering focus of Pakistani security forces, LEAs, and intelligence agencies on ensuring the country’s internal and border security.”

He reaffirmed the nation’s resolve to continue the fight against terrorism until the last terrorist is eliminated, ensuring lasting peace and stability for Pakistan.

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Crime India News Politics

Delhi HC says no malice in Kejriwal’s arrest

CM Kejriwal is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam….reports Asian Lite News

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday wrote to Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena, informing him that Education Minister Atishi Marlena will hoist the flag in his place on August 15. 

CM Kejriwal is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with corruption and money laundering cases linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

“Minister Atishi will hoist the flag on August 15 in my place,” he wrote in the letter to L-G Saxena.

The Delhi government’s annual Independence Day programme at Chhatrasal Stadium traditionally sees the Chief Minister hoisting the Tricolour. However, due to CM Kejriwal’s current incarceration, he has authorised his cabinet minister, Atishi, to undertake this role.

The context of CM Kejriwal’s imprisonment stems from his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the excise policy case.

Recently, the Delhi High Court reserved its verdict on a bail plea filed by the AAP supremo in connection with the CBI case. The CBI also filed its charge sheet before a special court in Delhi against the AAP supremo and other accused.

The Delhi High Court recently upheld his arrest, noting that there was no malice in the CBI’s actions and highlighting concerns about CM Kejriwal potentially influencing witnesses.

The ED had already filed its prosecution complaint in the money laundering case, naming the AAP and its national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, as accused.

On July 12, the Supreme Court ordered CM Kejriwal to be released on interim bail in connection with the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). However, he was not able to walk out of jail since he was arrested by the CBI.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court here extended the judicial custody of CM Kejriwal till August 9 in the CBI case and till August 13 in the money laundering case.

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Crime India News Tech Lite

TRAI targets spam calls, demands telecom action

Instances of headers and content templates being misused without the knowledge of the legitimate entities were highlighted…reports Asian Lite News

In response to increasing consumer complaints about unsolicited commercial calls, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) convened a meeting with Access Service Providers and their Delivery Telemarketers on August 6. The agenda focused on addressing the pervasive issue of spammers and implementing effective measures to curb this nuisance.

Instances of headers and content templates being misused without the knowledge of the legitimate entities were highlighted. This misuse has led to a surge in unsolicited messages, undermining consumer trust and violating regulatory norms.

The steps taken by Access Service Providers and Delivery Telemarketers to identify and trace the entities responsible for sending such messages were scrutinized. Emphasis was placed on the need for corrective measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

The control and regulation of promotional calls, including robotic calls, auto-dialler calls, and pre-recorded calls, were thoroughly examined. Discussions centered on the migration of all enterprise business customers to the Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform for sending bulk communications in compliance with TRAI regulations.

TRAI called for proactive action from all stakeholders, especially Access Service Providers and their Delivery Telemarketers, to implement technical solutions for traceability and to prevent bulk calling by enterprise customers using 10-digit numbers through Primary Rate Interface (PRI) or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

The regulator conveyed a strong message to service providers and their telemarketers, urging them to take immediate and effective measures to curb bulk communications using voice calls. This includes implementing robust technical solutions and stricter oversight to ensure compliance with regulatory standards. (ANI)

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Fresh Rioting Across Cities

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the riots as “far-right thuggery” and vowed to “ramp up” the law to deal with the violence…reports Asian Lite News

The wave of violent unrest and across parts of the UK continued as police came under attack in Belfast, Darlington and Plymouth. Police believe the riots and unrest in towns and cities across the UK were fuelled by false rumours that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the riots as “far-right thuggery” and on Monday he vowed to “ramp up” the law to deal with the violence. Despite his calls for calm, the violence spread to Plymouth.

In Birmingham, there were disturbances after hundreds of people gathered in the Bordesley Green area of the city following false reports that a far-right march had been planned there. Palestinian flags were waved and anti-English Defence League chants were heard.

A group of youths later broke away from the gathering and attacked several vehicles and a pub. West Midlands Police released a statement late on Monday which said officers were investigating reports of an assault and damage to a pub.

The force said no arrests had been made “at this stage but there were sporadic incidents and we are investigating reports of an assault” as well as incidents of criminal damage.

Assistant Chief Constable Richie Allen said: “What we have been dealing with tonight in Darlington has been sporadic pockets of violent disorder involving groups of people intent on causing serious harm to our communities and their property. We deployed a number of officers to the scene who worked throughout the night to disperse those involved.”

A total of 378 arrests have so far been made nationally since the rioting began on Tuesday, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council. Police said they are working “around the clock” to identify and arrest more people.

After chairing an emergency Cobra meeting of ministers and senior police chiefs, Starmer announced a “standing army” of specialist officers to tackle the disorder. A Downing Street spokesperson said later there were no plans for the military to be involved. The government was working with social media companies to ensure misinformation and disinformation is removed, the spokesperson said.

But, the prime minister rejected calls for Parliament to be recalled from its summer recess in the face of the riots. The Northern Ireland Assembly has been recalled to Stormont early following violent protests in Belfast last weekend.

Starmer said: “My focus is on making sure that we stop this disorder, that the criminal sanctions are swift and be seen to be followed.”

Downing Street also criticised X owner Elon Musk for claiming “civil war is inevitable” in the UK, with officials suggesting online misinformation fuelling disorder on Britain’s streets might be amplified by foreign state actors. Starmer posted a video on X saying the unrest “is not protest, it is pure violence”. He added: “We will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities.” Musk replied: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?”

Meanwhile, home secretary pointed to Islamophobia for the first time as a motivation for far-right violence in several cities that has seen widespread damage and nearly 400 arrests.

Yvette Cooper was appearing on ITV’s morning television show “This Morning” and was asked why the Labour government had not used the term when talking about the violence, which broke out on Tuesday following a stabbing in which three children were killed.

“You’re right that there has been a range of different things driving this, including far-right extremism,” Cooper told the program.

“We have certainly seen some targeted attacks on mosques, and that clearly reflects Islamophobia, and people shouldn’t be targeted for their faith or for the color of their skin. We’ve also seen some looting, some response of local criminals just getting involved at the periphery on streets as well. None of these people speak for Britain,” she added.

Cooper’s department, the Home Office, said over the weekend it would deploy extra police and security for mosques under new emergency measures, The Telegraph reported. A suspended Labour MP, Zarah Sultana, also appeared on “This Morning” and pushed the government to do more to call out hatred against Muslims.

“This question about naming it as Islamophobia is really important, because that allows us to shape our response,” she said.

“If we’re not identifying what is happening, the language that is being used and what this is about, we’re not going to be able to address this fundamentally,” she added.

Also on Monday, the head of Amnesty International UK said the government must get serious about tackling the “root cause of racism that plagues” British society.

“The widespread violence and hate crimes we’ve witnessed over the last few days are utterly unacceptable,” Sacha Deshmukh said.

ALSO READ-Renewed rioting sweeps cities

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UK PM Denounces Far-Right Chaos

The Prime Minister said he would not “shy away from calling it what it is” and called the violence “far-right thuggery.”…reports Asian Lite News

The United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned “far-right thuggery” in his televised address as riots continue across the country following the deadly knife attack in Southport.

“I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder, either directly or those whipping up this disorder online,” Starmer said on Sunday.

Three children died, and multiple others were injured after the attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in Southport last Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

A 17-year-old boy named Axel Rudakubana, born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents has been charged with murder.

However, disinformation spreading online about the nationality of the boy and his religious affiliation has fueled hatred towards Muslims and the immigrant population in general, leading to violent clashes between far-right protesters and police officers across the UK. The protests reached a climax during the weekend.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for public order, BJ Harrington, said on Sunday that since Saturday night, there have been 147 arrests connected to violence. He said he expected that the number would rise in the coming days.

“Disinformation is a huge driver of this appalling violence, and we know a lot of those attending these so-called protests are doing so in direct response to what they’ve read online,” Harrington said.

Following violent protests in major cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham, Sunderland and Belfast on Saturday, riots were seen in places such as Middlesbrough, where burning wheelie bins were thrown at police, and Rotherham, where at least one police officer was injured as rioters hurled missiles and stormed a Holiday Inn Express thought to have housed migrants. In Bolton, police have been given extra powers to calm violence after bottles and missiles were thrown at them.

Referring to the violent attack on the Rotherham hotel, Starmer said: “There is no justification for taking this action.”

The Prime Minister said he would not “shy away from calling it what it is” and called the violence “far-right thuggery.”

In a press conference on Friday, Starmer urged big social media companies to take responsibility for combatting misinformation and disinformation.

Former UK Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Conservative Party, Rishi Sunak said the unrest across the country is “violent, criminal behaviour that has no place in our society.”

“The shocking scenes we’re seeing on the streets of Britain have nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport,” Sunak said on X, adding that the police have “our full support to deal with these criminals swiftly.”

Humza Yousaf, former first minister of Scotland, said on X that the police “clearly do not have a handle on this situation” and called for military intervention.

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Musk faces criticism over deepfake Harris video

Elon Musk.(photo:IANS/Twitter)

The video was originally posted by an X account linked to the conservative podcaster Chris Kohls and labeled a “parody.”…reports Asian Lite News

Billionaire X owner Elon Musk was facing criticism Monday for sharing a deepfake video featuring US Vice President Kamala Harris, which tech campaigners said violated the platform’s own policies.

Musk reposted a manipulated Harris campaign video in which a voiceover mimicking her calls President Joe Biden senile, and declares that she does not “know the first thing about running the country,” adding that as a woman and a person of color, she is the “ultimate diversity hire.

The video was originally posted by an X account linked to the conservative podcaster Chris Kohls and labeled a “parody.”

But Musk’s repost on Friday made no such disclosure, stating only: “This is amazing,” along with a laughing emoji.

Musk’s repost garnered more than 130 million views and comes amid growing alarm over AI-enabled political disinformation ahead of the US presidential election in November.

“We believe the American people want the real freedom, opportunity, and security Vice President Harris is offering; not the fake, manipulated lies of Elon Musk and Donald Trump,” Harris’s presidential campaign said in a statement.

With nearly 192 million followers, Musk is a highly influential voice on the platform, previously called Twitter, which he purchased in 2022 in a $44 billion deal.

Earlier this month, Musk endorsed Trump in a post on X shortly after the Republican narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, posted on X that the manipulated Harris video “should be illegal” and that he would soon sign a bill banning such media.

A defiant Musk responded to his post, saying “parody is legal in America,” while including the original video below it.

Musk’s repost appeared to violate X’s policies, which prohibit sharing “synthetic, manipulated or out-of-context media that may deceive or confuse people and lead to harm.”

“Ignoring the rules of the road (because) he bought the road,” Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at the watchdog Free Press, wrote on X, referring to Musk’s apparent violation of the site’s policies.

Disinformation researchers are fearful of rampant misuse of AI technology in a major election year, thanks to proliferating online tools that are cheap and easy to use while lacking sufficient guardrails.

AI-generated content — particularly audio, which experts say is difficult to identify — sparked national alarm in January when a fake robocall posing as Biden urged New Hampshire residents not to vote in the state’s primary. “Platforms play an outsized role in election cycles,” Benavidez wrote. “They must do better.”

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Crime India News Politics

‘No systemic breach’: SC refuses to conduct retest of NEET exam

The bench said that directing a fresh NEET-UG exam for the present year would be replete with serious consequences for over 23 lakh students who appeared in this exam…reports Asian Lite News

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to cancel the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Under Graduate (NEET-UG) 2024 examination held on May 5, holding that there was no systemic breach in the exam.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said that at the present stage, there is an absence of material on record to lead to the conclusion that the result of the exam is vitiated or that there is any systematic breach.

It said the data on record is not indicative of a systemic leak of the NEET-UG question paper, which would indicate a disruption of the sanctity of the exam.

However, it acknowledged the fact that the leak of the NEET-UG paper took place at Hazaribagh and Patna and said that it is “not in dispute”.

The apex court also said that the report submitted by the government shows probe is on and the central agency indicates that material shows 155 students drawn from the exam centres at Hazaribagh and Patna appeared to be the beneficiaries of the fraud.

“The probe by the CBI, however, has not attained finality,” it added.

The bench also said that directing a fresh NEET-UG exam for the present year would be replete with serious consequences for over 23 lakh students who appeared in this exam.

“Ordering a re-exam will lead to disruption of the academic schedule, causing a cascading effect in the coming years,” the bench stated in its order.

As the bench started dictating order, it said there is an urgent need to provide certainty and finality to the dispute which has occurred and affected the careers of over 2 million students.

The order of the apex court came on a batch of pleas seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held.

Aspirants had approached the top court and raised the issue of leakage of the question paper, awarding compensatory marks and anomaly in the NEET-UG.

NEET-UG examination, conducted by NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country.

The NEET-UG, 2024 was held across 4,750 centres on May 5 and around 24 lakh candidates appeared in it. (ANI)

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14 Indians Rescued from Cambodian Scams

The Embassy said that it has been “actively rescuing” Indian nationals and has, in close cooperation with the Cambodian authorities…reports Asian Lite News

As many as 14 Indian nationals have been rescued from fraudulent job offers in Cambodia that lured them into cybercrime operations, the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh revealed on Saturday.

The Embassy said that it has been “actively rescuing” Indian nationals and has, in close cooperation with the Cambodian authorities, facilitated the rescue and repatriation of over 650 Indian citizens who had fallen victim to these scams.

“Most recently, the Embassy provided specific leads to the Cambodian Police, leading to the rescue of 14 additional Indian victims. These individuals are currently being cared for by an NGO working in coordination with Cambodia’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation,” it stated.

The Indian Embassy further said that it is in ongoing communication with the Cambodian officials, urgently requesting the expedited completion of necessary formalities to ensure the safe and timely repatriation of the 14 rescued Indian nationals back to India.

The Embassy added that it continues to closely monitor the situation and remains committed to protecting the welfare of Indian citizens in Cambodia.

“Indian nationals are advised to exercise extreme caution regarding any job offers in the country and to immediately report any suspicious activities to the Embassy in Phnom Penh,” the statement mentioned.

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Crime India News Uttar Pradesh

2 killed as 12 coaches of passenger train derails in UP

ANI_20240718168

The incident happened between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway station under the jurisdiction of North Eastern Railway at about 2:37 pm….reports Asian Lite News

After the Kanchenjunga train mishap this year, which claimed 10 lives, another train accident happened on Tuesday when the Dibrugarh Express derailed near Jhilahi Railway Station in Gonda, where two people were killed and at least twenty sustained injuries.

The incident happened between Motiganj and Jhilahi railway station under the jurisdiction of North Eastern Railway at about 2:37 pm.

As many as 4-5 coaches of the train from the front got derailed. After getting the information, the medical team, along with senior officials from the Lucknow division of NER immediately rushed to the site.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that the injured have been taken to hospital and will be given proper treatment.

The UP CM stated that rescue and relief operations are underway. He also directed the officials to reach the spot immediately and expedite the relief work.

“The train accident in Gonda district is extremely sad. District administration officials have been directed to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing and to take the injured to the hospital on top priority and provide them with proper treatment. I pray to Lord Shri Ram for the speedy recovery of the injured,” UP CM Yogi Adityanath wrote in a post on X.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre over the derailment of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express in Uttar Pradesh, saying that it shows how rail safety has been compromised under the Modi government.

“Our single demand — The Kavach anti-collision system should be installed expeditiously on all routes across India to ensure enhanced safety measures and prevent accidents,” he said in a post on X.

“The derailment of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express in UP is yet another instance of how Modi government has systematically jeopardised Rail safety. Our deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, and our thoughts and prayers are with the injured,” he added.

The Congress President also recalled the Kanchenjunga tragedy and said that the Railway Minister should take responsibility for the accidents.

“A month ago, 11 people lost their lives when a goods train collided with the Sealdah-Agartala Kanchanjunga Express. The Commissioner of Railway Safety has said that the accident was “waiting to happen” ! Failure of automatic signal, lapses at multiple levels in managing operations, and non-availability of critical safety equipment such as walkie-talkie with the loco pilot and train manager are some of the reasons cited for collision in the probe report,” he added in the post.

“PM @narendramodi and his Railway Minister, who leave no opportunity for self-publicity, must take direct responsibility of the massive lapses that have plagued the Indian Railways,” Kharge further said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday questioned the Central government over the safety and security of passengers after the Dibrugarh Express train derailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda. (ANI)

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