W O R L D

Israeli former President begins jail term for rape
Jerusalem, December 7
Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav began serving a seven-year prison term for rape on Wednesday, professing his innocence and saying he was being "buried alive".

Israeli former President Moshe Katsav being taken to prison from the city of Kiryat Malachi on Wednesday. — AFP

Roadside blast kills 19 in Afghanistan
Kandahar, December 7
A minibus struck a roadside bomb while driving in southern Afghanistan today, triggering an explosion that killed 19 Afghan civilians, officials said.

A relative cries near the grave of a victim of Tuesday's bomb attack against Shi'ite Muslims during a funeral ceremony in Kabul on Wednesday. — Reuters

Fai pleads guilty for being ISI agent
Washington, December 7
US-based Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, accused of being an ISI agent and trying to influence American policy on Kashmir, today pleaded guilty on federal charges of spying for the Pakistani spy agency.

                                                                            Ghulam Nabi Fai

Rape bid: NRI medical student kills TV executive
London, December 7
In a case that has seen unattractive and raw human emotions at work, an NRI medical student ordered two "gangster friends" to kill a "besotted" Sikh television executive in revenge after he tried to rape her.

Obama invokes India, China to launch populist agenda
Washington, December 7
Portraying himself as a champion of the middle class, US President Barack Obama invoked the threat of outsourcing to India and China to launch the populist themes of his 2012 re-election campaign.
                                                                            Barack Obama

Egypt’s cabinet sworn-in
Cairo, December 7
Egypt’s new cabinet was sworn-in before the head of the ruling army council today, state television reported, after successive delays as Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri struggled to form a competent team with enough public support.

Special to The Tribune
Goalposts being shifted, complains India
In the second week of the climate change negotiations in Durban, developed and developing nations remain deeply divided over key issues like the future of the Kyoto Protocol, which is the only treaty that puts 37 developed countries under obligation to reduce their CO2 emissions that warm up the atmosphere.

9 Indian diamond traders jailed in China
Beijing, December 7
Nine Indian traders were today sentenced by a Chinese court with varied jail terms and fines for smuggling diamonds worth $7.3 million to the country even as 13 others got a reprieve as they were ordered to be deported in what was regarded a politically sensitive case.

 

 

Israeli former President begins jail term for rape

Jerusalem, December 7
Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav began serving a seven-year prison term for rape on Wednesday, professing his innocence and saying he was being "buried alive".

The case has captivated the country for more than five years and marked the first time a former Israeli head of state has been jailed. Officials say it proves no one is above the law.

Katsav (66) was President from 2000 to 2007. He was convicted last year of twice raping an aide when he was a cabinet minister in the late 1990s and sexually assaulting two other women who worked for him while he was the President.

"The day will come when the truth will come out," he said, a pained expression on his face as he pushed through a crowd of friends and reporters outside his home before being driven off to prison.

"The conscience of those who committed this injustice will certainly awaken and you will see that you buried a man alive," he said.

Katsav was sentenced in March to seven years in prison. He has consistently denied any wrong-doing, but three Supreme Court Justices ruled unanimously against his appeal last month. He has asked the court for another hearing with an expanded panel.

"Today a bloody, unrelenting five-and-a-half-year struggle is ending in frustration and rage. I know, and all who know me know, that the accusations are false," Katsav said before entering the Maasiyahu prison, where his cellmate is expected to be a former health minister jailed for taking bribes.

Katsav's ascent to the presidency, an institution traditionally above Israel's rough-and-tumble political scene, was almost as dramatic as his downfall. — Reuters

Roadside blast kills 19 in Afghanistan

Kandahar, December 7
A minibus struck a roadside bomb while driving in southern Afghanistan today, triggering an explosion that killed 19 Afghan civilians, officials said.

The vehicle was driving on a road in Helmand province's volatile Sangin district -- a Taliban stronghold -- when it hit the bomb, said Daoud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Helmand government.

At least five children were among the dead, he said. Another six persons were wounded and all were being treated at a NATO base.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, a common situation when bombs kill civilians.

The blast comes a day after twin bombings on Shiite Muslims celebrating the holiday of Ashoura left 60 dead and sparked fears that attacks in Afghanistan might be taking on a sectarian dimension for the first time.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai cut short a European trip because of yesterday's attacks and returned to Kabul today to visit the scores of wounded and the bereaved families of those killed in the capital.

A suicide bomber slaughtered 56 Shiite worshippers and wounded more than 160 others yesterday outside a shrine where hundreds had gathered to worship.

The blast, coupled with another smaller explosion in a northern city that killed four people in a holiday vehicle procession, marked the first major assault on a Muslim sect in Afghanistan in recent memory. — AP

Fai pleads guilty for being ISI agent

Washington, December 7
US-based Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, accused of being an ISI agent and trying to influence American policy on Kashmir, today pleaded guilty on federal charges of spying for the Pakistani spy agency.

Fai also acknowledged receiving money from the Pakistani spy agency through clandestine routes and causing revenue losses.

Pleading before the US Eastern District Court of Virginia, Fai pleaded guilty and agreed to the charges of federal prosecutors that he received at least $3.5 million from the ISI between 1990 and 2011. This resulted in a revenue loss of $200,000 to $400,000 to the US government.

His sentencing is scheduled for March 9. Fai agreed before the court that he was in direct contact with the ISI officials, including the head of its security directorate.

He conceded receiving talking points from the ISI regarding what to say and write.

He agreed that he received directions from the ISI with regard to which specific individuals to invite for KAC conferences.

Fai (62) has consented to forfeit all four bank accounts in his name or in the name of KAC totalling over $140,000. — PTI

Rape bid: NRI medical student kills TV executive

London, December 7
In a case that has seen unattractive and raw human emotions at work, an NRI medical student ordered two "gangster friends" to kill a "besotted" Sikh television executive in revenge after he tried to rape her.

Mundill Mahil (20) lured millionaire Gagandip Singh to her house, where he was beaten unconscious then bundled into the boot of a car and burned alive, a jury was told in a court yesterday.

She allegedly told friends she wanted Singh dead and, the court heard, persuaded another man who was infatuated with her to murder him.

Singh (21) was killed in February, after the "intelligent and attractive young woman" convinced him, through a series of text messages, to come to her student digs in Brighton at 11 pm, prosecutors told the court.

But when he walked into her bedroom, carrying a teddy bear and flowers, he found Harvinder Shoker - who was also in love with Mahil - and "hired muscle" Darren Peters waiting for him, the court heard.

Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee told the jury that the attack was carried out to "exact revenge and retribution" on Singh. — PTI

Obama invokes India, China to launch populist agenda

Washington, December 7
Portraying himself as a champion of the middle class, US President Barack Obama invoked the threat of outsourcing to India and China to launch the populist themes of his 2012 re-election campaign.

"Today, even higher-skilled jobs, like accountants and middle management can be outsourced to countries like China or India," he said in Osawatomie, Kansas, on Tuesday as he delivered a wide-ranging indictment of the growing economic disparity in America taking up some themes of the Ocuupy Wall Street movement.

"And if you're somebody whose job can be done cheaper by a computer or someone in another country, you don't have a lot of leverage with your employer when it comes to asking for better wages or better benefits, especially since fewer Americans today are part of a union," Obama said.

Invoking Theodore Roosevelt's progressive agenda, he said: "This isn't just another political debate. This is the defining issue of our time. This is a make or break moment for the middle class, and all those who are fighting to get into the middle class."

At stake, Obama said, is the fundamental American principle "that this is the place where you can make it if you try".

Obama spoke in the same small town where Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States and a leader of the Progressive movement, outlined his vision for a "New Nationalism" over a century ago. — IANS

Egypt’s cabinet sworn-in

Cairo, December 7
Egypt’s new cabinet was sworn-in before the head of the ruling army council today, state television reported, after successive delays as Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri struggled to form a competent team with enough public support.

The country's military rulers brought veteran politician Ganzouri out of retirement to lead a new interim government nearly two weeks ago. Its predecessor resigned during clashes between police and protesters demanding the army quit power.

He named an interior minister today, rounding off the key appointments to the new cabinet. — Reuters

Special to The Tribune
Goalposts being shifted, complains India
Betwa Sharma in Durban

In the second week of the climate change negotiations in Durban, developed and developing nations remain deeply divided over key issues like the future of the Kyoto Protocol, which is the only treaty that puts 37 developed countries under obligation to reduce their CO2 emissions that warm up the atmosphere.

The US withdrew from the treaty citing it was unfair because it left out large emitters like China. Over the past decade, rapid growth in China, India, Brazil and South Africa has led to a call for these “emerging economies” to also commit to a steep reduction in carbon emissions. Japan, Russia, Australia and Canada have also refused to take on more CO2 cuts under the Kyoto Protocol after its first term expires in 2012.

These countries say that without China, India and the US, the treaty would cover only 26% of the total CO2 in the atmosphere-so signing up for a second round of cuts is useless. The European Union, however, is ready to sign up to more commitments if emerging economies also agree to reduce CO2 under an international treaty in the future.

“What we’re seeing here is shifting of the goalposts by developed countries. This is a fraud going on,” said Meena Raman of the Third World Network, a global network of organisations concerned about the environment.

The emerging economies are resisting this proposal on the ground that they need to use fossil fuels to grow because their top priority remains poverty eradication.

Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan has now joined the Indian delegation here. “We must also not forget that for a very large number of the poor in the developing world, the world has not changed,” she said. “They continue to struggle with the challenge of eking out their livelihoods and meeting their basic needs.”

China has indicated that it is willing to sign up for a treaty after 2020 if developed countries effectively reduce carbon emissions in this decade. Natarajan has said New Delhi will also consider signing up for a legally binding treaty if the developed world fulfils “fundamental imperatives” on reducing carbon emissions as well as providing the required finance and technology to developing countries.

“Nobody in the South is saying that they are against an agreement post-2020 but they are all saying that they first need to see action from developed countries and they need to see the current commitments fulfilled,” said Sunita Narain, head of the Centre for Science and Environment.

“On the other hand, we see pages and pages on the monitoring, verification and international consultations for the pledges of the developing countries,” she said. “So we are left with no Kyoto, a weakened regime and shifting of the burden to the developing world. This is outrageous.”

9 Indian diamond traders jailed in China

Beijing, December 7
Nine Indian traders were today sentenced by a Chinese court with varied jail terms and fines for smuggling diamonds worth $7.3 million to the country even as 13 others got a reprieve as they were ordered to be deported in what was regarded a politically sensitive case.

The case had become an irritant in bilateral ties and was taken up at various levels by the Indian leadership with their Chinese counterparts.

The Shenzen Intermediate People's Court in south China sentenced Raj Kumar Jain for six years, while Bavishi Raju Kumar Babubhai, Soni Amit Kumar and Arun Kumar were sentenced for five years each.

In addition, Arun Kumar has been fined 3 lakh yuan, ($48,000). Rishit Manish Kumar Shah was sentenced to three years and six months.

Four others, Dharm Veer Patel was fined 5 lakh yuan ($80,000) Dhaval Vikul Kumar Patel, Mitul Kumar Mafatlal Chhunchcha and Shah Nishith Garishbhai, Patel Vipul Kumar Manubhai were sentenced to three years imprisonment each.

Jigar Praful Chandra Mehta was fined 1 million Yuan ($1.59 lakh) while 12 merchants were ordered to be deported.

Samir Arvindlal Shah, who was sentenced to one year and 11 months, is entitled to be deported as he has completed the term of his sentence.

Mehta could also be deported provided he pays the hefty $1.59 lakh fine.

The 22 traders hailing from Gujarat were arrested at Shenzhen and charged with smuggling diamonds worth 50 million yuan ($7.3 million). They were accused of sourcing at least 14,000 carats of diamonds illegally from Hong Kong, for sale in the Chinese market.

They were accused of controlling a smuggling ring and working with "henchmen from Hong Kong", according to a reports published earlier in the local media. — PTI