Pakistan’s visa policy: The Foreign Office on Sunday rejected reports that Pakistan’s visa policy for residents of India-occupied Kashmir had been changed. “Media reports, which appeared in a section of media, about changes in Pakistani visa for residents of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, are completely baseless and incorrect,” read a statement issued by FO spokesperson Aisha Farooqui.
PM-CAA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said in a meeting at Delhi Ram Lila Maidan that Muslims in India have nothing to fear from either the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or a National Register of Citizens (NRC). He further said that there were no detention centres in the country, he accused the Opposition of fanning fears and spreading rumours.
National Mathematics Day: December 22, is celebrated as National Mathematics Day in memory of India’s famed mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. In his memory, the prestigious Royal Society, of which Ramanujan became a Fellow in 1918, tweeted on Sunday: “Srinivasa Ramanujan FRS, the Indian mathematician, was born #OnThisDay in 1887. Though he passed away aged just 32, his talent and research left an indelible mark on mathematics”
Junaid Hafeez: On Saturday, a court in Pakistan sentenced Junaid Hafeez, a former university lecturer, to death on blasphemy charges. Hafeez (33) was a visiting lecturer at Multan’s Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) until 2013, when he was arrested by police after being accused of blasphemy. On a separate charge “Defiling, etc., of the Holy Qur’an”, Hafeez was sentenced to life imprisonment with 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 1 lakh Pakistani rupees.
FATF: Global watchdog The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has sought more clarifications and data from Pakistan on actions taken by it against madrassas belonging to the banned outfits, weeks after Islamabad submitted a report to the Paris-based body detailing steps taken by the country to curb terrorism and money laundering. Pakistan submitted a report comprising answers to 22 questions to the FATF on December 6.
Cuba: Cuba’s first prime minister Manuel Marrero took office Saturday as the country resurrected a post last held by Fidel Castro. The appointment of Marrero, 56, as head of government is part of a process of decentralization and generational change from the revolutionary old guard that is aimed at extending and protecting Communist Party rule. “This proposal was duly approved by the political bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba,” President Miguel Diaz-Canel said, presenting it to the country’s National Assembly, which unanimously signed off.
Karachi Bar Association: The Karachi Bar Association (KBA) has lashed out at the government for “defending and protecting a convicted criminal”, following the Centre’s decision to appeal a special court’s verdict in the treason case against former army chief retired Gen Pervez Musharraf. “The KBA is shocked that the government is solely concerned about defending and protecting a convicted criminal rather than doing its lawful duty to prosecute and punish him,” said a press release by the body, dated December 21.
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