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US envoy to anti-IS coalition quits over Trump's Syria move
Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State group, has resigned in protest over President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, joining Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in an administration exodus of experienced national security figures. Mr. McGurk described Mr. Trump’s decision as a “shock”. Only 11 days ago, Mr. McGurk had said it would be “reckless” to consider IS defeated and therefore would be unwise to bring American forces home. Mr. McGurk decided to speed up his original plan to leave his post in mid-February. “The recent decision by the president came as a shock and was a complete reversal of policy,” he said in an email to his staff. “It left our coalition partners confused and our fighting partners bewildered with no plan in place or even considered thought as to consequences.” Mr. Trump’s announcement of the withdrawal “left our coalition partners confused and our fighting partners bewildered with no plan in place or even considered thought as to consequences,” the email went on. ###pThe resignation letter to Mr. Pompeo was submitted Friday and described to the AP on Saturday by an official familiar with its contents. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly before the letter was released and spoke on condition of anonymity. Mr. Trump played down the development, tweeting on Saturday night that “I do not know” the envoy and it’s a “nothing event”. He noted Mr. McGurk planned to leave soon anyway and added- “Grandstander?” ###a class="TweetAuthor-avatar Identity-avatar u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)">###a class="TweetAuthor-link Identity u-linkBlend" data-scribe="element:user_link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" aria-label="Donald J. Trump (screen name: realDonaldTrump)"###Donald J. Trump ✔@realDonaldTrump ###/a### ###a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076138140795064320" data-scribe="element:logo"### ###/a### I’ve done more damage to ISIS than all recent presidents....not even close!###a class="TweetInfo-heart" title="Like" href="https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1076138140795064320" data-scribe="component:actions"### 111K###/a### 9:01 PM - Dec 21, 2018 Twitter Ads info and privacy ###a class="CallToAction" title="View the conversation on Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076138140795064320" data-scribe="section:cta component:news"### 76.2K people are talking about this ###/a###Twitter Ads info and privacy Shortly after news of Mr. McGurk’s resignation broke, Mr. Trump again defended his decision to pull all of the roughly 2,000 U.S. forces from Syria in the coming weeks. “We were originally going to be there for three months, and that was seven years ago - we never left,” Trump tweeted. “When I became President, ISIS was going wild. Now ISIS is largely defeated and other local countries, including Turkey, should be able to easily take care of whatever remains. We’re coming home!” Although the civil war in Syria has gone on since 2011, the U.S. did not begin launching airstrikes against IS until September 2014, and American troops did not go into Syria until 2015. Planned to quit mid-February Mr. McGurk, whose resignation is effective Dec. 31, was planning to leave the job in mid-February after a U.S.-hosted meeting of foreign ministers from the coalition countries, but he felt he could continue no longer after Mr. Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria and Mattis’ resignation. In his email to his staff, Mr. McGurk said- “I worked this week to help manage some of the fallout, but as many of you heard in my many meetings and phone calls I ultimately concluded that I could not carry out these new instructions and maintain my integrity at the same time.” Mr. Trump’s declaration of a victory over IS has been roundly contradicted by his own experts’ assessments, and his decision to pull troops out was widely denounced by members of Congress, who called his action rash. Mr. Mattis, perhaps the most respected foreign policy official in the administration, announced on Thursday that he will leave by the end of February. He told Trump in a letter that he was departing because “you have a right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours.” The withdrawal decision will fulfill Mr. Trump’s goal of bringing troops home from Syria, but military leaders have pushed back for months, arguing that the IS group remains a threat and could regroup in Syria’s long-running civil war. U.S. policy has been to keep troops in place until the extremists are eradicated. Among officials’ key concerns is that a U.S. pullout will leave U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces vulnerable to attacks by Turkey, the Syrian government and remaining IS fighters. The SDF, a Kurdish-led force, is America’s only military partner in Syria Mr. McGurk said at a State Department briefing on Dec. 11 that “it would be reckless if we were just to say, ‘Well, the physical caliphate is defeated, so we can just leave now.’” Lt. Gen. Terry Wolff to take over Mr. McGurk, 45, previously served as a deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq and Iran. During the negotiations for the Iran nuclear deal by the Obama administration, he led secret side talks with Tehran on the release of Americans imprisoned there. Mr. McGurk was briefly considered for the post of ambassador to Iraq after having served as a senior official covering Iraq and Afghanistan during President George W. Bush’s administration. A former Supreme Court law clerk to the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Mr. McGurk worked as a lawyer for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and joined Bush’s National Security Council staff, where in 2007 and 2008, he was the lead U.S. negotiator on security agreements with Iraq. Taking over for now for Mr. McGurk will be his deputy, retired Lt. Gen. Terry Wolff, who served three tours of active duty in Iraq. IS militants still hold a string of villages and towns along the Euphrates River in eastern Syria, where they have resisted weeks of attacks by the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces to drive them out. The pocket is home to about 15,000 people, among them 2,000 IS fighters, according to U.S. military estimates. But that figure could be as high as 8,000 militants, if fighters hiding out in the deserts south of the Euphrates River are also counted, according to according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict through networks of local informants.
Volcano-triggered tsunami toll climbs to 222 in Indonesia
A tsunami killed at least 222 people and injured hundreds on the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra following an underwater landslide believed caused by the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano, officials and media said on Sunday. Hundreds of homes and other buildings were “heavily damaged” when the tsunami struck, almost without warning, along the rim of the Sunda Strait late on Saturday, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the disaster mitigation agency, said. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate to higher ground. By 10.40 a.m. GMT, the disaster agency had raised the death toll to 222 from 168, with 843 injured and 28 missing. Watch: Tsunami caused by volcanic sources This animation video by Geoscience Australia shows a tsunami generated following a volcanic eruption. TV images showed the seconds when the tsunami hit the beach and residential areas in Pandeglang on Java island, dragging with it victims, debris, and large chunks of wood and metal. Coastal residents reported not seeing or feeling any warning signs, such as receding water or an earthquake, before waves of 2-3 metres (6-10 feet) washed ashore, according to media. Authorities said a warning siren went off in some areas. ALSO READ###a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indonesia-regularly-hit-by-quakes-and-tsunamis/article25811746.ece"### Indonesia regularly hit by quakes and tsunamis ###/a### The timing of the tsunami, over the Christmas holiday season, evoked memories of the Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake on Dec. 26 in 2004, which killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. Ŋystein Lund Andersen, a Norwegian holidaymaker, was in Anyer town with his family when Saturday's tsunami struck. “I had to run, as the wave passed the beach and landed 15-20 metres inland. Next wave entered the hotel area where I was staying and downed cars on the road behind it,” he said on Facebook. “Managed to evacuate with my family to higher ground through forest paths and villages, where we are taken care of by the locals.” ALSO READ###a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/in-pictures-aftermath-of-volcano-triggered-tsunami-in-indonesia/article25812699.ece"### In pictures: aftermath of volcano-triggered tsunami in Indonesia ###/a### Evacuation warning Authorities warned residents and tourists in coastal areas around the Sunda Strait to stay away from beaches and a high-tide warning remained in place through until Dec. 25. “Those who have evacuated, please do not return yet,” said Rahmat Triyono, an official at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). President Joko Widodo, who is running for re-election in April, said on Twitter that he had “ordered all relevant government agencies to immediately take emergency response steps, find victims and care for the injured”. Vice President Jusuf Kalla told a news conference the death toll would “likely increase”. Saturday's tsunami was the latest in a series of tragedies that have struck Indonesia, a vast archipelago, this year. Successive earthquakes flattened parts of the tourist island of Lombok, and a double quake-and-tsunami killed thousands on Sulawesi island. Nearly 200 people died when a Lion Air passenger plane crashed into the Java Sea in October. Rescue workers and ambulances were finding it difficult to reach affected areas because some roads were blocked by debris from damaged houses, overturned cars and fallen trees. The western coast of Banten province in Java was the worst-hit area, Nugroho told reporters in Yogyakarta. He said at least 35 people were reported dead in Lampung in southern Sumatra. ALSO READ###a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indonesias-angry-child-of-krakatoa-rumbles-on/article25812985.ece"### Indonesia’s angry ‘Child of Krakatoa’ rumbles on ###/a### The waves washed away an outdoor stage where a local rock band was performing in Tanjung Lesung in Banten province, a popular tourist getaway not far from the capital, Jakarta, killing at least one musician. Others were missing. ###pi="" made="" suprateka="" told="" reuters.="" at="" least="" seven="" people="" were="" killed,="" and="" around="" 89="" are="" missing,="" he="" said.<="" p=""> Dramatic TV footage showed the seconds when the tsunami hit a concert at the event and washed away the stage where the band, Seventeen, was performing. "Washed away" “The water washed away the stage which was located very close to the sea,” the band said in a statement. “The water rose and dragged away everyone at the location. We have lost loved ones, including our bassist and manager ... and others are missing.” Police officers rescued a young boy who was trapped in a car buried under fallen trees and rubble, according to a video of his rescue posted on Twitter by the Indonesian National Police, who did not give any information as to the boys identity. Officials were trying to determine the exact cause of the disaster. Anak Krakatau, an active volcano roughly halfway between Java and Sumatra, has been spewing ash and lava for months. It erupted again just after 9 p.m. on Saturday and the tsunami struck at around 9.30 p.m., according to BMKG. The tsunami was caused by “an undersea landslide resulting from volcanic activity on Anak Krakatau” and was exacerbated by abnormally high tide because of the full moon, Nugroho said. Ben van der Pluijm, an earthquake geologist and a professor in the University of Michigan, said the tsunami may have been caused by a “partial collapse” of Anak Krakatau. “Instability of the slope of an active volcano can create a rock slide that moves a large volume of water, creating local tsunami waves that can be very powerful. This is like suddenly dropping a bag of sand in a tub filled with water,” he said. The eruption of Krakatau, previously known as Krakatoa, in 1883 killed more than 36,000 people in a series of tsunamis. Anak Krakatau is the island that emerged from the area once occupied by Krakatau, which was destroyed in 1883. It first appeared in 1927 and has been growing ever since. Neighbouring Malaysia and Australia both said they were ready to provide assistance if needed. ###a href="Volcano-triggered" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://www.thehindu.com/multi... tsunami in Indonesia Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands and home to 260 million people, lies along the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. Roads and infrastructure are poor in many areas of the disaster-prone country, making access difficult in the best of conditions. In September, more than 2,500 people were killed by an earthquake and tsunami that hit the city of Palu on the island of Sulawesi, east of Borneo. Saturday’s tsunami also rekindled memories of the massive magnitude 9.1 earthquake that hit Indonesia on Dec. 26, 2004. It spawned a giant tsunami off Sumatra island, killing more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries the majority in Indonesia.
Nawaz Sharif sentenced to 7 years in jail in Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was on Monday sentenced to seven years in jail by an anti-corruption court in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case. It, however, acquitted him in the Flagship Investments corruption case in the high-profile Panama Papers scandal. Accountability Court II Judge Muhammad Arshad Malik announced the verdict in the two remaining corruption cases against the Sharif family, after reserving the decision last week. Judge Malik said there was concrete evidence against the 68-year-old former Premier in the Al-Azizia reference, and that he was unable to provide a money trail in the case, Geo TV reported. Mr. Sharif was present in the court when the verdict was announced. The Supreme Court set the deadline for Monday to wrap up the remaining two corruption cases against the three-time former Prime Minister. Three cases — the Avenfield properties case, the Flagship Investment case and the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case — were launched by the National Accountability Bureau on September 8, 2017, following a judgment by the apex court that disqualified Mr. Sharif. Mr. Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case in July, 2017. In July 2018 Mr. Sharif; his daughter, Maryam; and his son-in-law, Captain (retd.) Mohammad Safdar, were sentenced to 11 years, eight years and one year respectively in prison in the Avenfield properties case related to their purchase of four luxury flats in London through corrupt practices. However, the three were bailed out by the Islamabad High Court in September.
Seven women among eight killed in Haryana pile-up caused by heavy fog
Eight people, including seven women, were killed and several injured in a pile-up caused by heavy fog in Haryana’s Jhajjar on Monday. Two of the injured are said to be in a critical condition and were referred to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak. The rest are under treatment at Jhjjar’s civil hospital. Inspector Seema, Station House Officer for City Jhajjar, told The Hindu that a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) carrying two dozen people, on their way to Najafgarh in Delhi, hit a trailer truck from behind near the Badli flyover on the Rohtak-Rewari highway at 9 a.m. due to poor visibility. Another trailer truck coming at the back hit the SUV, crushing the vehicle. It triggered a pile-up involving more than a dozen vehicles, including a school bus. Victims travelled in SUV “The deceased were all travelling in the SUV. They belonged to Kirdot village in Jhajjar and were going to the condole to death of a relative,” said Ms. Seema. The two critically injured were also travelling in the SUV. The accident led to a two-km long traffic jam on the road mostly frequented by the trucks.
GST Council meeting witnesses heated exchanges
The effect of BJP’s loss in three States in the Hindi heartland was visible at the GST Council meeting held on Saturday in New Delhi, with the famous accord of the Council across party lines disrupted by a heated exchange among members. This was contradictory to the political stance taken by the Congress party which has batted for rates to be capped at 18%. Two-hour debate There was a nearly two-hour debate on the issue with other State governments led by Opposition parties supporting this view. Union Financ Minister Arun Jaitley has time and again remarked that the strength of the decisions taken by the GST Council over its numerous meetings was that none of the items came to a vote and that all were agreed to unanimously. At one point on Saturday, according to sources, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra also pointed out that ###a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/working-to-bring-99-items-in-sub-18-gst-slab-narendra-modi/article25772774.ece" title="">Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent declaration at an event that most goods and services would be removed from the 28% bracket to 18%, and that 99% of the items would be placed at 18% or lower, was unseemly and that Mr. Modi had no locus standi to make such an announcement without the Council’s concurrence. Call to order At this, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma intervened and said that in such a scenario it would be better if the remarks were minuted and members be allowed to brief the press fully. This ended the discussion and both sides backed off. Finally, the GST Council decided to cut rates on 17 items and six services. This left only one common use item, cement, in the 28% category. Mr. Jaitley said the revenue impact of cutting the tax rate on cement was such that the Council decided to take a call on it only once revenues showed stronger growth.
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Imran Khan should learn from India on inclusive politics, says AIMIM leader Owaisi
Member of Parliament and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan over the latter’s remark that he would show the Narendra Modi government “how to treat minorities”. In a tweet on Sunday, Mr. Owaisi said Mr. Khan should instead take a lesson from India’s inclusive politics and minority right. “According to the Pakistani Constitution, only a Muslim is qualified to be President. India has seen multiple Presidents from oppressed communities. It’s high time Khan sahab learns something from us about inclusive politics & minority rights,” the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said. Addressing an event in Lahore on Saturday, Mr. Khan had referred to actor Naseeruddin Shah’s remarks on mob violence in India and said, “We will show the Modi government how to treat minorities. Even in India, people are saying that minorities are not being treated as equal citizens.”
Mylapore’s beloved bookseller no more
R.K. Alwar, the man who has been selling old books on Luz platform in Mylapore for several decades, is no more. He died on Friday after being bed-ridden for years. Hailing from Villupuram district, he came to the city when he was 15 and set up the shop, that also served as his home for a long time. Marvellous collection Though not literate, he would recall and reel out names of authors and books book aficionados wanted. “It was only a shack and books would be stacked haphazardly. But the old man with the beard, as we knew him, had a marvellous collection of books,” recalled R. Nethra, who used to buy books from him. P. Nandakumar, his son-in-law, said he and his wife Ammu were taking care of Mr. Alwar. “His bookshop was his home and only when his daughters were married off, did he and his wife move to a rented house,” he said. Alwar used to buy books that came his way and re-sell them. “There wasn’t much money. But he loved the books,” recalled Mr. Nandakumar, whose wife and three sisters now run the shop. Years ago, the bookseller had a tiff with the Corporation, when officials tried to shift his shop. After his customers protested, he was allowed to continue.
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