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Judge finds 21 guilty of Madrid train bombings
90 Indians held in UAE India more important than Pak, says US |
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SC forms bench for Karachi blasts case
Court can intervene if poll unfair: Pak SC
Boy playing with matches began fire in California
Indian student develops molecular condom to prevent AIDS
Immigrants bag over 50 pc jobs in UK
Speak English or lose pay, Aussie firm tells staff
Prince Harry quizzed over shooting birds
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Judge finds 21 guilty of Madrid train bombings Madrid, October 31 Seven of the 28 accused were acquitted of any involvement in the bombings including Rabei Osman Sayed Ahmed, known as “Mohamed the Egyptian” and already jailed in Italy after he was convicted of belonging to an international terrorist group. Moroccan Jamal Zougam was sentenced to a total of more than 40,000 years in prison, although under Spanish law he can only serve a maximum of 40 years. Spaniard Emilio Suarez Trashorras, found guilty of supplying explosives, also received a sentence of thousands of years in jail. Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez ruled out the participation of Basque guerrillas ETA in the March 11, 2004, bombings which also injured more than 1,800 people when 10 bombs packed into sports bags ripped through four commuter trains. The bombings reshaped Spanish politics as voters spurned a conservative government that at first blamed the Islamist attack on ETA. Twenty-nine people, mostly Moroccans and Spaniards, went on trial earlier this year for crimes ranging from masterminding the attack to stealing explosives from a mine and selling them on in exchange for drugs. One has since been acquitted. The judge also announced compensation ranging from 30,000 euros ($ 43,340 ) to 1.5 million euros for victims. “We are really nervous, really worried -- but we’d like to think that the judges gathered enough evidence to deliver a sentence that comforts all of us,” said Jesus Ramirez, whose legs were shattered in the attack. All the suspects pleaded innocent and those found guilty are expected to appeal against their sentences. The verdicts close another chapter on the bombings but with a general election less than five months away, they could embarrass the opposition centre-right Popular Party, which initially blamed ETA for the attack. The blasts hit three days before the last elections, which the then Popular Party government had looked set to win, despite having led the country into the highly unpopular war in Iraq. But the conservative government’s insistence that Basque separatists planted the bombs backfired when evidence piled up to show they were the work of radical Islamists. — Reuters |
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90 Indians held in UAE Dubai, October 31 Over 4,500 South Asians, mostly Indians, have been taken into custody after the protests by workers to press their demands for better wages and working conditions at a labour camp here. Of them, 159, including 90 Indians, were identified as being allegedly involved in the violence. “Investigations are underway to find out their exact role in the violence,” Indian Ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmed said. They would be deported after the probe. Most of the others, including 3,900 Indians, have been released as they were not found involved. They had given undertakings, orally and in writing, that they had no grievance with the employers and had not participated in violence, the Ambassador said The release was ensured after the intervention of the Indian mission. |
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India more important than Pak, says US Washington, October 31 “The US-India strategic potential is very, very profound,” deputy assistant secretary of defence for South and South-East Asia James Clad told online journalists and bloggers during a conference call from the Pentagon. While India’s sometimes contentious neighbour, Pakistan, continues to search for Osama Bin Laden and help wage the global war on terrorism, Clad explained, the US-Indian relationship was more important in the long run. “India simply must, as a long-term consideration, matter more for us than Pakistan,” Clad has been quoted as saying in the American Forces Press Services. “India is seen as potentially a power with global reach,” Clad said. “It’s been slow in coming - I think it would be slow in coming in the future - but it is steady. The trend lines are unmistakable,” he said.
— PTI |
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SC forms bench for Karachi blasts case The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo moto notice of October 18 Karsaz tragedy in Karachi on the occasion of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s return to Pakistan. Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has formed a special Bench headed by him that will begin proceedings in the case from tomorrow (Thursday). A press note of the Supreme Court said the Chief Justice had taken suo moto notice citing media reports that more than 130 persons were killed and hundreds seriously injured in the tragic incident in Karachi. It noted that about a fortnight had passed and the executive had failed to make any significant progress in investigating the blasts. “The country has been hit by terrorism incidents and suicide attacks, The whole leadership of a major political party was targeted in Karachi tragedy. The incident has hit the confidence of the nation, endangered business activities and would affect political activities in the country in future,” the statement said, adding that the culprits had yet not been identified and arrested. It further noted that the United Nations Security Council and the international community had also expressed concern over the incident. The Pakistan People’s Party welcomed the court initiative while underling the slow pace of the government probe and the reports that lot of evidence had been removed from the scene. PPP information secretary Sherry Rehman said the court intervention was a positive development and hoped the investigations would be given a boost. She said the government was reluctant to provide adequate security to Bhutto and cited government refusal to allow her own security people enough arms or let her travel in car with tinted glass so that any assailant was denied knowledge of her exact position in the car. Meanwhile, PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar denied reports that party chairperson was flying to Dubai later tonight (Wednesday) after presiding over an important meeting of the PPP Central Executive Committee in Karachi. He said Bhutto had no immediate plans to visit Dubai but may go abroad later for important engagements. Sherry Rehman said she had no knowledge of Bhutto’s Dubai plan while another party leader Raja Pervez Ashraf played it down saying her family lives in Dubai and she could visit them any time. He said if Bhutto goes to Dubai, she would return to Islamabad on November 9 to address a public meeting in Liaquat Gardens Rawalpindi.
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Court can intervene if poll unfair: Pak SC
Amid some tense moments generated by Attorney-General Qayyum Malik's remarks about the Supreme Court, several judges observed that the court remains the ultimate forum for citizens when legitimacy and fairness of the electoral process is undermined. They said the Supreme Court intervention is in order when the constitutionality of the presidential election is questioned. The court also discussed possible delay in the hearing despite its earlier desire to give a verdict by Friday. Justice Javed Iqbal, head of the 11-judge bench, noted that Malik and other members of the government panel, including Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada and Waseem Sajjad, want to take at least one day each. Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, counsel of main petitioner Justice Wajihuddin, said he would need time to respond to the arguments of the government lawyers. This may delay the judgment, he said. Qayyum, on Wednesday, resumed arguments before the Supreme Court's bench challenging the eligibility of Musharraf to contest election. He said the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to hear the petitions. The case should first go to a high court. Qayyum said the high courts are also constitutional institutions, which are being rendered superfluous by too much intervention by the Supreme Court. It can only intervene in matters of public interest and affecting fundamental rights of the people. The petitions filed against Musharraf do not relate to any of such issues. In an apparent dig at the court, Malik said it had begun hearing the petitions because it involves Musharraf. He said the Supreme Court did not take any pro-active stance when military leaders, including Musharraf, ruled the country. "Now that the country is moving into a new phase of civilian rule, the Supreme Court has stepped in that may disrupt this process", he said, urging the court to let Musharraf make a smooth transition. The judges rejected Qayyum's provocative remarks and said the election has to be in accordance with the constitution and the court's role begins when its validity is questioned.
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Boy playing with matches began fire in California
Los Angeles, October 31 The boy ''admitted that he had been playing with matches,'' said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore yesterday. The Buckweed fire was one of about 24 conflagrations that ravaged
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Indian student develops molecular condom to prevent AIDS Washington, October 31 Developed by Kavita Madanlal Gupta, an international student from India currently working toward a PhD in bioengineering, and Patrick Kiser, an assistant professor of bioengineering at the university, the condom will be commercialised through a partnership with India’s Pregna International. Microbicides, such as the microbicidal molecular condom developed by Gupta, are seen as a way for women to gain power by protecting themselves from HIV, the university said on Tuesday. Pregna and the university will together work on this and a variety of other technologies, which have the potential to provide humanitarian aid to the people of India. The dynamic partnership between the University of Utah and Pregna International, a world leader in contraceptive manufacturing located in Mumbai, will focus on the commercialisation of cutting edge anti-HIV and contraceptive delivery products for the Indian marketplace, it said. “There are over two-million individuals living with HIV/AIDS in India today with 84 per cent of the infections resulting from sexual transmission of the virus,” said Kiser. “The university’s portfolio of innovative technologies coupled with the product development experience of Pregna could help control the spread of this devastating disease.” “This partnership will give the university a chance to place their technologies in the hands of people that need them most and will enhance the value of our technologies in the developed world,” he said. Apart from Pregna, the university’s vice president of technology venture development, Jack Brittain will also sign memoranda of understanding with Globerian, Global Health Private Ltd MediCity and Manipal AcuNova Ltd. The memoranda to be signed in the presence of Utah Governor Jon Huntsman who is currently leading a trade delegation to India, in Mumbai and New Delhi will initiate a long-term international collaboration between the University and India. The university will work with each of the four companies to create a progressive alliance to accelerate commercialisation of university-invented technologies, expand educational and research opportunities, as well as aid in humanitarian efforts.
— IANS
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Immigrants bag over 50 pc jobs in UK
London, October 31 According to figures released yesterday, out of 2.1 million jobs created under the Labour Party government since 1997, 52 per cent went to 1.1 million migrant workers, the media reported here today. The data came just days after a government study had revealed that “migrant workers are both higher paid and more reliable than their British counterparts and contributed £6 billion to economic growth last year.” “The research showed that in the long run, our country and exchequer are better off with immigration rather than without it,” British immigration minister Liam Byrne said. According to the findings, migrants had earned £424 a week on an average, as compared to £395 for British workers, and had paid more in tax than they consumed in services last year. The report also found that in 2006, record immigration pushed the number of foreign workers up to 12.5 per cent compared to 7.4 per cent 10 years back. Since average output growth over this period was 2.7 per cent a year and migration contributed an estimated 15 to 20 per cent of this, the study had estimated a contribution of £6 billion from foreign workers or nearly £700,000 a day. “In the long run, it is likely that the net fiscal contribution of an immigrant will be greater than that of a non-immigrant,” the research had said, claiming that there’s no evidence of foreign workers pushing British people out of jobs. — PTI
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Speak English or lose pay, Aussie firm tells staff
Sydney, October 31 The Australian company Cochlear, famous for hearing aids, has threatened to deny pay rises to staff who speak foreign languages at the workplace, despite the fact that more than Huy Kha, a worker from Cambodia, alleges in his complaint- to be lodged today with the NSW’s anti-discrimination board- that in June his manager ordered him to ''speak English at all times." ''The team leader said if we are found speaking a foreign language, we will fail our assessment to get a higher classification," The Age quoted Cochlear’s chief executive Chris Roberts as saying he was unaware of Kha's complaint but that the company had ''a policy of mutual respect in the workplace. So, if there is a bunch of people in a group, they should not speak a language that cuts others out.'' — UNI
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Prince Harry quizzed over shooting birds
London, October 31 The Norfolk constabulary said it was investigating a possible wildlife offence after a member of the public reported two hen harriers were shot on Wednesday on the edge of Sandringham Estate, a royal country retreat, about 175 km north of London. Buckingham Palace yesterday said Harry and a friend were in the area at that time and the police had asked if they knew anything about the alleged incident. Hen harriers are classified as globally threatened by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which says the bird is often targeted by hunters.
— AP
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