W O R L D

Immigrants in thousands protest in US
Chicago, May 2
From the streets of New York to the lettuce fields of California, hundreds of thousands of immigrants left their jobs, shunned business as usual and marched in a powerful bid to legitimize millions of workers now in the United States illegally.





Thousands of demonstrators in support of immigration reform march along Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles on Monday. — Reuters photo

Immigration for docs to UK gets tougher
London, May 2
Fears over new immigration rules targeting overseas doctors, may lead to many medical practitioners quitting the UK and could have “serious implications” for Scotland.

Indo-US nuclear deal in summer likely
New York, May 2
The Indo-US nuclear deal, which has taken a “symbolic importance” and enjoys the broad support of the Congress, is expected to be passed this summer.

Teheran continues uranium enrichment, IAEA tells UN
United Nations, May 2
A month after the Security Council urged Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, the IAEA has reported that the work continues and it can make no further progress in determining whether the country is carrying out illicit nuclear activities in absence of the cooperation from the government.

Pakistan condemns Doda massacre
Islamabad, May 2
Pakistan today condemned the massacre of Hindus in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir as a “terrorist act” and said it would not have any impact on the ongoing peace process.

Koirala forms Cabinet
Kathmandu, May 2
Two days after taking over as Prime Minister, Mr Girija Prasad Koirala today formed a seven-member Cabinet in which CPN (UML) leader K P Sharma Oli was made Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister.

Indian hanged in Kuwait
Dubai, May 2
An Indian national was today hanged to death in Kuwait for killing his employer in 2003. Shakrullah Ansari, in his early 20s and hails from Uttar Pradesh, was hanged after his mercy petition was rejected by the ruler of Kuwait.

Immigrants in thousands protest in US

Chicago, May 2
From the streets of New York to the lettuce fields of California, hundreds of thousands of immigrants left their jobs, shunned business as usual and marched in a powerful bid to legitimize millions of workers now in the United States illegally.

In what may have been the largest outpouring the land has seen on the divisive issue, hundreds of restaurants, factories and other shops closed, construction projects were disrupted, day labour jobs went begging, children stayed home from school and massive waves of humanity poured through city streets.

''If these people are good enough to pay taxes, they're good enough to be citizens,'' said Chris Delgado, a tax preparer from Skokie, Illinois, who came to a Chicago rally.

Los Angeles prepared for two rallies where more than a million were expected. In Chicago, more than 300,000 marched for miles, waving flags and pushing baby strollers. Major demonstrations unfolded in Denver, Houston, San Francisco and many other cities.

The common bond was a bid to win from the US Congress rights for an estimated 11.5 million to 12 million illegal immigrants, and to scuttle a proposal that would criminalize them and anyone who tries to help them. Thousands also marched in Mexico in solidarity with their compatriots who make up the bulk of the undocumented immigrants.

It was not clear what the economic impact of the boycott work day would be. Some fast food operators had expressed concern since they rely heavily on immigrant labour.

Illegal immigrants, who flood across the Mexican border at a rate of half a million a year, work mostly at low-paid jobs in agriculture, construction, restaurants, as janitors, meat packers, maids and gardeners and many other occupations.

At the headquarters of American Apparel in Los Angeles, sewing machines at the largest garment factory in the United States fell silent when managers shut down to allow all 3,000 workers a chance to join the protests.

In Florida, about half of farm workers stayed away from the fields, according to the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, and up to 75 percent of workers abandoned some construction sites in south Florida, according the contracting officials.

In New York City, demonstrators formed ''human chains'' at several points around the city. Hundreds, including school children, lined up in Queens, stretching for three blocks on both sides of the street waving US and Latin American flags and banners saying, ''We are Americans'' and ''Full Rights for All Immigrants.'' The demonstrations drew citizens as well as those who would be. ''They're going to degrade my citizenship for helping somebody out, or just riding in a car with them?'' said Wences Maertinez, 30, born in Chicago of illegal immigrants.

Across the country, several major meat-packing plants were closed but operators had tried to prepare for the shutdown by stepping up production over the weekend and said there would be no economic impact.

In California's Salinas Valley, known as America's salad Bowl, fields were empty and rows of produce unattended as workers heeded calls to stay home. ''This will hopefully give us the opportunity to get legal status,'' said Ray Martinez, a 26-year-old Mexican who does back-breaking labour on an organic farm for under $7 an hour. ''We pay taxes and do important jobs that others don't want to do,'' he said. About a quarter of those living in California, the country's most populous state, are foreign-born. — Reuters

Immigration for docs to UK gets tougher

London, May 2
Fears over new immigration rules targeting overseas doctors, may lead to many medical practitioners quitting the UK and could have “serious implications” for Scotland.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) raised its fears after learning that 13 per cent of the country’s medical workforce had qualified outside Britain. It is estimated that up to 15,000 doctors, mostly from the Indian subcontinent, are being trained in British hospitals to become specialists.

The British Medical Association (BMA) also has concerns over new rules which would give priority to UK and EU applicants. But the Scottish executive said there would not be a shortfall of doctors. The new rules, announced by the UK Government last month, would require every doctor from outside the EU to have a work permit.

They will be entitled to a permit only if a hospital could prove that no applicant from the UK or the EU could fill the vacancy. — UNI

Indo-US nuclear deal in summer likely

New York, May 2
The Indo-US nuclear deal, which has taken a “symbolic importance” and enjoys the broad support of the Congress, is expected to be passed this summer.

Stating this at a roundtable meeting with the visiting Indian Parliamentary delegation, Mr Richard Haas, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, however, cautioned that “in the long run, India’s approach to Iran (nuclear) issue could cause problem between the two nations.”

Mr Haas said he was optimistic that a significant majority in both Houses would vote for the deal, which had assured “symbolic importance” and enjoyed broad support of the US Congress.

“The deal will be passed soon and it will pave way for a foundation of stronger Indo-US relationship, which will be a turning point and challenging few years for the two countries,” said Mr Haas, who has also served as Director, Policy Planning, State Department.

However, Mr Haas said India’s approach to the Iran issue could cause “problem” between the two countries in the long run. “India’s reason to take different approach is definitely understandable due to demographic relationship with Iran, oil and also because of its largest Shia population,” he said. — PTI

Teheran continues uranium enrichment, IAEA tells UN

United Nations, May 2
A month after the Security Council urged Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, the IAEA has reported that the work continues and it can make no further progress in determining whether the country is carrying out illicit nuclear activities in absence of the cooperation from the government.

‘’After more than three years of agency efforts to seek clarity about all aspects of Iran’s nuclear programme, the existing gaps in knowledge continue to be a matter of concern,’’ IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei told the Security Council in a report released yesterday.

The report said ‘’any progress in that regard required full transparency and active cooperation by Iran — transparency that goes beyond the measures prescribed in the Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol — if the agency is to be able to understand fully the twenty years of undeclared nuclear activities by Iran’’.

According to the report, Iran’s uranium conversion campaign ‘’is still ongoing’’. Iran has continued to feed UF6 gas, used for uranium enrichment into large-scale machinery built for that purpose in March. Today’s report recalls that until February, Iran had agreed to some transparency measures requested by the Agency, including access to certain military sites.

However, it says, additional measures, including access to documentation, dual use equipment and relevant individuals, are still needed for the agency to be able to verify the scope and nature of Iran’s enrichment programme, the purpose and use of the dual use equipment and materials and alleged studies which could have a military nuclear dimension. — UNI

Pakistan condemns Doda massacre

Islamabad, May 2
Pakistan today condemned the massacre of Hindus in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir as a “terrorist act” and said it would not have any impact on the ongoing peace process.

“The killing of 34 Hindus in Doda district is unfortunate. It is a terrorist act and we condemn it. It will not have any impact on the peace process,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told the media here.

Mr Aslam also welcomed the decision by the Hurriyat faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow to discuss the Kashmir issue. — PTI

Koirala forms Cabinet

Kathmandu, May 2
Two days after taking over as Prime Minister, Mr Girija Prasad Koirala today formed a seven-member Cabinet in which CPN (UML) leader K P Sharma Oli was made Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister.

Nepali Congress’ Krishna Sitaula will be the Home Minister, while the Finance portfolio will go to Ram Sharan Mahat of the same party.

Mr Koirala will hold charge of the Defence Ministry, state-run Radio Nepal said.

Mr Gopal Man Shreshtha of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) will be the Housing and Physical Planning Minister, while Mahanta Thakur of NC has got the Agriculture and Cooperative portfolio.

United Left Front leader Prabhunarayan Chaudhary has got the Land Reforms and Management Ministry.

The remaining portfolios will be looked after by Mr Koirala himself.

The Prime Minister will administer the oath of office to the newly appointed Cabinet members at his office in Singhdurbar, breaking the tradition of taking oath at the Royal Palace in the presence of the king, a senior leader of CPN-UML said.

Out of seven parties in the alliance that launched the agitation for restoration of democracy, four parties have been represented in the ministry. However, party sources said that the Cabinet will be expanded soon to induct up to 21 members. — PTI

Indian hanged in Kuwait

Dubai, May 2
An Indian national was today hanged to death in Kuwait for killing his employer in 2003. Shakrullah Ansari, in his early 20s and hails from Uttar Pradesh, was hanged after his mercy petition was rejected by the ruler of Kuwait. He was sentenced to death by a local court for killing his Kuwaiti employer.

Ansari had complained to the Indian Embassy three years ago that he was being harassed by his employer who used to beat him and often did not give him food, sources in the mission said. Ansari, according to the prosecution, had killed the employer in 2003. — PTI