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Pak judge hearing 26/11 case wants to quit Universal shelves ‘Indian Summer’ 400 terror suspects held in Pak Sikh guard allowed to serve with turban on |
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1 lakh Italian women protest Rome, October 21 Some 100,000 women joined a protest against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, accusing him of "offending" women, the daily La Repubblica reported today. Obama thanks Karzai, Abdullah India joins rich nations to protect forests Major terrorist attack in US foiled
Pak says it has solid proof of India’s involvement in Balochistan Top priority to ties with Russia: Krishna
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Pak judge hearing 26/11 case wants to quit The Lahore High Court on Wednesday called for comments of judge of the Special Anti-Terrorist Court for his reasons to refuse to hear the Mumbai-related case against seven accused believed to be involved in the terrorist carnage last year. Chief Justice Khawaja Sharif of the LHC issued notice to judge Baqar Ali Rana on a petition filed by senior most defence counsel Khawaja Sultan, who sought the transfer of the case accusing Rana of accepting government pressure. Earlier on Tuesday, Justice Rana referred the case to the Chief Justice while maintaining that he could not continue proceedings in the case for "unavoidable" reasons. All defence counsels had boycotted the proceedings in protest against Rana's "arbitrary" act of indictment of the seven accused in their absence on October 10 when they were asked to vacate the court premises in the wake of terrorist a el told reporters here. The trial was being held in strict security conditions in Rawalpindi. Pakistani authorities had initially arrested five people, including Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, who is being charged as the mastermind, Zarar Shah, alias Abdul Wajid, believed to be a facilitator and using his computer expertise to aid the attackers, Hamad Amin Sadiq accused of facilitating the transfer of funds and providing hideouts for the attackers, Abu al Qama, alias Mazhar Iqbal, named as a "handler and facilitator" in the chargesheet and Shahid Jamil Riaz blamed for facilitating the transfer of funds. Riaz, who was arrested on March 19, also served as a crew member of the boat Al-Fauz that was used by the attackers. Thirteen other persons named in the case have been absconding since the attack but two of them were arrested recently and were supposed to be indicted in today's hearing along with the five others. India has been criticising repeated adjournment of the case and accused Pakistan officials of delaying tactics in bring the handlers and perpetrators of November 26 terrorist attacks on Mumbai last year to justice. It has also flayed the release of Jamiat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed by courts saying the Pakistani authorities have not prepared a credible case against him even though India has provided sufficient evidence against Saeed. Hafiz Saeed, who first launched the Lashkar-i-Taiba (LeT) that India believes to have masterminded the Mumbai attack, later founded Jamiat-ud-Dawah (JuD) after the LeT was outlawed. The JuD was also banned early this year pursuant to a UN Security Council resolution. Pakistan says India has failed to provide enough evidence against Hafiz Saeed that could be proved in a court of law in Pakistan. The United States has backed the Indian allegations. The Kerry-Lugar Aid Bill passed this week by the Senate tripling non-military aid to Pakistan specifically mentions the Lashkar and Hafiz Saeed's headquarters Muridke while requiring Pakistan to take tangible action.
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Universal shelves ‘Indian Summer’
New York, October 21 Universal Pictures has put the film, which was to go on the floor in India early next year, on hold, 'Variety' magazine online reported. "We were in between a rock and a hard place. The Indian government wanted us to make
less of the love story while the studio wanted us to make more of the love story,"
said director Joe Wright. Starring Hugh Grant and Kate Blanchett as Lord and Edwina
Mountbatten, the film was troubled from the start after the Indian government voiced concerns
over the plot, which focused on Edwina's romance with the country's first Prime Minister. Officials demanded copy approval
of the script and eventually gave the film the green light, but the project continued to be plagued by money problems, with bosses at Universal reportedly fretting over the estimated $30-40 million costs.
— PTI
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400 terror suspects held in Pak
Lahore, October 21 “Raids are being carried out on the basis of specific and general information about terror suspects and so far we have taken a large number of Afghans and Pathan suspects into custody,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Chaudhry Shafiq Ahmed. Though he did not give the exact number of persons detained, other officials said over 400 suspects had been rounded up. Most of the arrested persons did not have computerised national identity cards, they said. Ahmed said a “major operation” was underway in areas like Shafiqabad, Ravi Road, Shahdara, China Scheme, Manzoor Park and Amanat Park to track down suspects.
— PTI
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Sikh guard allowed to serve with turban on
Washington, October 21 In a statement, Sikh Coalition said the Department of Homeland Security has agreed to pay Raghbir Singh, an observant Sikh who wears a beard and turban in accordance with his religious beliefs, monetary damages for his wrongful termination in 2005. "Holding the federal government accountable for discriminating against Sikhs sends a strong message to private employers. If the government includes Sikh-Americans in its workforce, it should encourage other employers to do the same," said Harsimran Kaur, legal director, Sikh Coalition. "Beyond monetary recognition, we're pleased the government recognised the need to edit its policies to accommodate for religious differences," said Khari Tillery, who represented Singh along with the Sikh Coalition and Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights. "Singh's turban and beard did not affect his ability to perform his job duties and he was an exemplary employee," he argued. Singh is a former contracted federal security guard who was fired from his Fresno post in 2005 when his supervisors reported that his beard and religious turban failed to comply with homeland security uniform. In June 2007, Singh's lawyers filed a complaint in federal court asserting religious discrimination claims against the private security company that employed Singh and free exercise and Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) claims against several federal employees. Claims with the private security firm were settled in 2008 for monetary damages, the statement said.
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Berlusconi’s sexist remark sparks row
Rome, October 21 The women signed a petition launched by the left-leaning paper - a relentless chronicler of sex scandals that have been dogging Berlusconi for months - after he said on a television broadcast that opposition deputy Rosy Bindy was "prettier than she is intelligent." The remark, made in a telephone call to the show where Bindy (58), was a guest, was perceived as an insult aimed at contrasting her with a bevy of right-wing ministers and deputies, who entered politics after careers as television showgirls. "This man offends us, stop him," reads the petition for "women's dignity" that drew more than 98,000 signatures, according to La Repubblica. Many women sent in messages, such as "woman offended by a disappointing leader," "we are not at your disposal," and "this insult comes from a man, who is more honest than intelligent." Former left-wing cabinet minister Giovanna Melandri said of the billionaire Prime Minister, reputedly self-conscious about his below-average height, that he is "taller than he is polite." "By constantly putting the accent on the age of a woman, on her physical looks and not on her human qualities, there's a danger of going back to the time before feminism," said signatory Lidia Ravera, a prominent writer.
— AFP
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Obama thanks
Karzai, Abdullah
Washington, October 21 “I had the opportunity to speak with President Karzai this morning and I wanted to congratulate him on accepting the certification of the recent election,” Obama told White House reporters at joint media briefing with the visiting Iraqi Prime Minister of Iraq Noori al-Maliki. The White House later said during the telephone conversation Obama underscored that this decision was in the best interests of the Afghan people. “President Obama also called Dr Abdullah Abdullah to express appreciation for his constructive efforts,” the White House said. Senior US officials said it was not clear whether the run-off would change the timing of Obama’s decision on request by his top commanders for deployment of 40,000 more troops in Afghanistan. “We have seen the candidates express their willingness to abide by constitutional law and this is the way forward in order to complete this process,” Obama was quoted as saying by the White House. Obama also received an update from US Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Einkenberry on developments in the country. During the talks, the White House said, Obama thanked his top diplomat and his team for their hard and exceptional work in recent days and discussed his appreciation for Senator John Kerry’s collaboration with the Ambassador. Earlier in a statement, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the decision of Karzai and said this is in the best interest of the people of Afghanistan. “The leadership shown by the President (Karzai), Dr Abdullah and all of the other candidates has strengthened Afghanistan and kept faith with the best interests of the Afghan people,” Clinton said.
— PTI
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India joins rich nations to protect forests
Washington, October 21 The six developing nations which also include Brazil, Congo, Morocco, Nepal and Romania have joined the group of five contributing countries- the US, Australia, Britain, Denmark and Norway - under the governing body of the Forest Investment Programme (FIP). This signals the commitment of these countries to a unique partnership to combat climate change through forest management, the World Bank said. "This new program will provide much-needed upfront investment to developing countries and forest-dependent communities to help them prepare for and benefit from financial flows for the sustainable management of forests," said Eduardo Saboia, who represented Brazil in the series of FIP design meetings. The FIP Trust Fund Sub-Committee will meet in Washington for the first time on October 29 to begin implementation of the Program, including consideration of criteria for how to select pilot countries and regions. The FIP governance structure is among the first in a new generation of partnerships among developing and developed countries and other stakeholders which takes account of the need for a level playing field in addressing climate action, the bank said, adding that FIP investment programs will be implemented through a limited number of country-led and owned FIP pilot programs. "These should lead to replicable models resulting in effective forest management, improved forest governance and information systems, restoration and sustainable management of degraded forests, forest protection measures and other investments to reduce the pressure on forests, both inside and outside the forest sector," it said. The pilot programs will be chosen by taking into account country distribution across regions and biomass, ensuring that the FIP will generate broad lessons addressing a range of challenges for the sustainable management of forests.
— PTI
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Major terrorist attack in US foiled
Washington, October 21 According to the affidavit, the youth, Tarek Mehanna, and co-conspirators had multiple conversations about obtaining automatic weapons and randomly shooting people in a shopping mall. The conversations went so far as to discuss the logistics of a mall attack, including coordination, weapons needed and the possibility of attacking emergency responders, the affidavit alleged. However, it added that the plan was ultimately abandoned, because of their inability to obtain automatic weapons they thought were necessary to effectively carry out the
attacks
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Pak says it has solid proof of India’s involvement in Balochistan
Islamabad, Octobert 21 He said India should stop “issuing threats” every few weeks, as Pakistan is capable of responding to any contingency. He said Manmoham Singh should share with Pakistan the information on the basis of which he had said a Mumbai-like attack is imminent.“The Prime Minister of India made a statement six months back that something similar to the Mumbai attacks will happen in India. Yesterday, he has made a statement that (an attack) is imminent. The Prime Minister, I am sure you have the information or some intelligence,” he said. Malik said, “I request you (Singh) to give me the information or intelligence that is forcing you say that an attack is imminent. In 48 hours, we will get back to you.” Malik ruled out the possibility of Pakistan taking action against Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed without evidence. India has accused Saeed, also the founder of the Lashker-e-Taiba, of masterminding the Mumbai attacks in November last year.Pakistan’s repeated calls for the resumption of peace talks, stalled since the Mumbai attacks, should not be seen as a sign of weakness, he said. Pakistan wants the solution of problems and India should focus on solving problems instead of issuing threats, he added. Malik also accused India of having done nothing to bring to book the perpetrators of the 2007 attack on the Samjhauta Express train in which some 60 people were killed, a majority of them Pakistanis. — PTI |
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Top priority to ties with Russia: Krishna
Moscow, October 21 “We in the government have been insisting that this time-tested relationship has weathered many storms and out of which it has always emerged even stronger," Krishna said and added that relations with Russia will remain a top foreign policy priority. Krishna was talking to reporters after a 40-minute meeting with Medvedev during which he discussed a wide range of issues. “A wide range of bilateral and international issues, including Afghanistan, were discussed in the meeting with Medvedev. On all the issues we have similar views,” Krishna said. During his meeting, Krishna recalled the Russian assistance to India in the initial years of independence. Medvedev said the two countries had cooperated in “joint work against current threats like terrorism, narco-crime and organised crime” as well in battling the effects of the global economic crisis. Krishna said the intensive exchange of high-level visits including the Prime Minister's visit to Yekaterinburg in June and President Pratibha Patil’s visit in September “are an answer to skeptics” who question the value of this importance. Earlier, today he had one-to-one and delegation level talks with the Russian Vice-premier Sergei Sobyanin at the 15th session of Indo-Russian Inter-governmental commission co-chaired by them. “Russia is one country, which can help India in its quest for energy,” Krishna said adding that the energy, both conventional and nuclear will be the focus of bilateral economic interaction with Russia along with hi-tech areas like space and IT. Krishna also had a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with whom he is also scheduled to meet in trilateral Russia-India-China format in Bangalore on October 26. Kirshna will be in Tashkent tomorrow where he is scheduled to meet with the leaders of this Central Asian nation with deep historic links with India.
— PTI
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