सजा पूरी होने पर भी पाक जेलों में बंद 25 भारतीय

लाहौर। सजा पूरी होने के बावजूद 25 भारतीय कैदी पाकिस्तान की जेलों में बंद हैं। पाकिस्तान के मशहूर मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्ता अंसार बर्नी ने राष्ट्रपति आसिफ अली जरदारी के समक्ष इन कैदियों का मामला उठाया है।
जरदारी को लिखे पत्र में बर्नी ने भारतीय बंदियों की हिरासत को 'गैरकानूनी' करार देते हुए उन्हें तत्काल रिहा करने की मांग की है। बर्नी के अनुसार, 'सजा पूरी होने के बावजूद भारतीय बंदियों को हिरासत में रखना गैरकानूनी और मानवाधिकारों का सरासर उल्लंघन है।' पाकिस्तान के पूर्व मानवाधिकार मंत्री बर्नी ने भारतीय कैदी किरपाल सिंह और सरबजीत सिंह की मौत की सजा को उम्र कैद में बदलने की गुहार लगाई है।
जेल में बंद भारतीय कैदियों में मुंबई निवासी 38 वर्षीय टीना पेका भी हैं। पेका को 12 साल पहले गिरफ्तार किया गया था। उन्हें एक हजार रुपये जुर्माने के साथ एक वर्ष की सजा दी गई थी। मानसिक रूप से विक्षिप्त भारतीय महिला बोला को 2007 से अपनी रिहाई का इंतजार है।
सजा पूरी करने के बावजूद पाकिस्तानी जेलों में बंद अन्य भारतीय कैदियों के नाम हैं:-
नकाया
राम प्रकाश
साजू राम
गणेश पांदी (29)
गोमघ सिंह
दीन मुहम्मद
शहाबुद्दीन मीर (63)
इलियास
गोपाल दास (49)
मुहम्मद मुस्लिमुद्दीन
रामू राम
खुर्शीद अहमद
आरिफ हिदायत
कासिम मुहम्मद अमीन (66)
सुरजीत सिंह (69)
कुलदीप सिंह (37)
कुलदीप कुमार (41)
मंगा सिंह (34)
बिरजू (28)

Pitt donates $1m to cancer ward

Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and his siblings have donated $1m (£612,000) to help open a new paediatric cancer centre in the US.
The ward will be named after their mother in honour of her passion for children's issues.
The money was given to St John's Hospital in Springfield, Missouri - the town where Pitt and his brother and sister grew up.

Swine flu: Three more cases in Wellington

There are now 109 confirmed cases of swine flu in New Zealand, with 23 of them coming in the last 24 hours.
Of the 23 latest cases, seven cases are in Auckland, three in Wellington and 13 in Christchurch.
The Health Ministry said that while the number of cases was increasing, there are still relatively few cases and only isolated instances of community transmission.
The public interest in swine flu had been significant with 1500 calls answered at Healthline yesterday, almost double the usual amount.

There is a possibility of a Russian thaw in Indo-Pak relations. For the first time after 26/11, there will be a one-on-one meeting between the heads of the two countries.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will meet on Tuesday on the sidelines of a BRIC summit.
There are two views on whether they should meet at all. Some say that Pakistan has just released Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed and they are not serious about tackling any terrorism that targets India. A second view believes that what the terrorists want is a cold war between India and Pakistan, and a warmer peaceful relationship would defeat that,But the Indian government has hinted at a softening of its stand, and a possible thaw with Islamabad - something even the Prime Minister confirmed.
"During my visit, I look forward to meeting and exchanging views with the other world leaders who will be present in Yekaterinburg," said Manmohan before leaving for Russia.
Singh and Zardari will have a bilateral meeting, but sources say the comprehensive dialogue process may not restart, yet, the dialogue even if it resumes, could be in a different form

Making Honesty a Policy in Indonesia Cafes

SAMARINDA, Indonesia — A country not known for its transparent practices in business, politics and many other areas, Indonesia is pressing ahead in its long-running anticorruption drive by opening up cashier-free “honesty cafes” across the archipelago.

During a break at a high school here one recent morning, Selica Erlindi, 15, a 10th grader who wants to be a pediatrician, picked a drink and a bag of spicy cassava chips from the local honesty cafe’s shelves. Then, in keeping with the cafe’s goal of nurturing probity among its customers and society at large, she deposited, on the honor system, the equivalent of 60 cents inside a clear plastic box. As part of a national campaign led by the attorney general’s office, the provincial government here on the eastern shore of the island of Borneo opened a dozen honesty cafes last month alone in schools and government offices. By 2010, the provincial government here plans to have more than 1,000 such cafes in operation, including in private establishments.
The attorney general’s office says the honesty cafes will nip in the bud corrupt tendencies among the young and straighten out those known for indulging in corrupt practices, starting with civil servants. By shifting the responsibility of paying correctly to the patrons themselves, the cafes are meant to force people to think constantly about whether they are being honest and, presumably, make them feel guilty if they are not

England surrender to Windies

Hosts England went from elation to despair in the space of a few minutes as West Indies eliminated them from the ICC World Twenty20 at The Oval.
Facing an adjusted target of 80 off nine overs after a rain interruption, Chris Gayle's side were teetering on the brink when they were reduced to 45-5.
But Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivanarine Chanderpaul kept their heads to see their side home on 82-5 with four balls to spare, after England had earlier made 161-6 from a full allocation of 20 overs.

Iran to recount votes in disputed election

TEHRAN-- Iran's election authority has agreed to recount votes in the disputed presidential election, government-funded Press TV said Tuesday.

The Guardian Council -- which is made up of top clerics and judges -- said it will recount votes that the opposition questioned in Friday's race.
The surprise announcement came as supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and those of the man he claims to have trounced in last week's vote were planning rival marches -- raising the specter of more violence as the country entered a fourth day of post-election unrest.
Seven people were killed on Monday night in the capital, Tehran, after they allegedly attacked a military post. Earlier in the day, another person was reportedly fatally shot at the end of a massive rally by supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi.
Press TV said Tuesday that the seven were killed when they tried to damage a military post near Azadi, or Freedom, Square.

Tehran tense as Iran's supreme leader endorses vote outcome

Iran's supreme leader gave his blessing to the outcome of the country's presidential election Sunday despite widespread allegations of fraud, calling the results "a divine miracle," the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the record voter turnout in Friday's election showed Iranians value "resistance against oppressors," the agency reported.
"Pointing to enemies' massive propaganda campaign to discourage people from taking part in the elections, Ayatollah Khamenei also said there was really a divine miracle behind this elections, given its results that was 10 million higher than any of the previous ones in the 30-year history of elections in Iran," IRNA reported.
Official results showed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected with more than 62 percent of the vote. But the hardline incumbent's leading opponent, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Moussavi, has disputed the results, and his supporters have fought in the streets with police and Ahmadinejad's supporters since the vote.

Leaders gather for Shanghai talks

Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders are gathering in Russia for the ninth Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit.
Some will also attend the first summit of the four emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The main agenda item at the meetings in Yekaterinburg will be how to deal with the global economic crisis.
Putting the two top-level meetings next to each other highlights the dominance of the economic crisis for both groups.
The two meetings are further signs of a global power shift.
The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, or SCO, was formed in 2001 by China, Russia and the four Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to curb extremism in the region and enhance border security.
India, Pakistan, Iran and Mongolia later joined as observer members.
It was China's answer to a multi-polar world and increasingly it has played a role in promoting regional security, for example by contributing to reconstruction in Afghanistan.

Internet chat 'dupes Castro son'

A Cuban exile blogger from Miami says he used a female internet alter ego to gain access to a member of the usually impervious family of Fidel Castro.
Luis Dominguez said he used the character to begin an online relationship with 40-year-old Antonio, the son of ex-leader Mr Castro.
He refused to apologise for the deception, saying he wanted to show the "opulent lifestyles" of the Castros.
Cuban authorities have made no comment regarding the online chats.

Palestinians dismiss Israel plan

Palestinians have rejected the Israeli prime minister's conditions for a two-state solution, saying he has "paralysed" the peace process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a major policy speech, accepted the creation of a Palestinian state but only if it was demilitarised.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman said his comments challenged Palestinian, Arab and US positions.
But the US said Mr Netanyahu's stance was an "important step forward".
In a landmark speech, weeks after US President Barack Obama urged him to agree a two-state plan, Mr Netanyahu said the Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state.
He said a Palestinian state must have no army, no control of its air space and no way of smuggling in weapons.

His speech provoked anger among Palestinian officials.

Pakistan targets Taliban leader

Pakistan has ordered its military to carry out an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban leader in the north-west of the country, an official says.
Provincial governor Owais Ahmad Ghani said troops had been told to eliminate Baitullah Mehsud and his fighters.
Mr Ghani did not say when the operation would begin, but he suggested that it was imminent.
Baitullah Mehsud's group are reported to be behind a string of attacks in Pakistan in recent weeks.
Mr Ghani told reporters in Islamabad: "Baitullah Mehsud is the root cause of all evils."
He has been accused of involvement in the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto - an accusation he denies.
He is also believed to be linked to attacks over the border in Afghanistan.

England 153-8 beat India 150-5 by three runs

England kept alive their hopes of reaching the World Twenty20 semi-finals by eliminating holders India in a nail-biting Super Eights encounter.
Kevin Pietersen top-scored with a battling 46 off 27 balls as he and Ravi Bopara put on 71 for the second wicket and helped their side post 153-8.
England then shone in the field as Graeme Swann (2-28) and Ryan Sidebottom (2-31) put their side on course to win.
India were restricted to 150-5 as the hosts claimed a three-run victory.
The result puts England level on points with West Indies in Group E, while it means South Africa have now qualified for the semi-finals.
England play the West Indies at The Oval on Monday and the winner of that game will join the Proteas in qualifying for the last four.
India face South Africa at Trent Bridge on Tuesday but they will be playing for pride alone after seeing their title defence crumble at an electric Lord's, where their supporters were in the majority and the atmosphere was sensational.

Crowds join Ahmadinejad victory rally

Tens of thousands of people have joined a rally in central Tehran to celebrate the re-election of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Crowds thronged the main thoroughfare, Vali Asr street, waving Iranian flags and chanting in jubilation.
The president's closest opponent in the election, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, has lodged an official appeal against the result amid continuing angry protests.
Mr Ahmadinejad denied any vote-fixing, saying the result was "very accurate".

Vietnam holds high-profile lawyer

Mr Dinh defended pro-democracy activists

Vietnamese authorities have arrested a high-profile lawyer for allegedly conspiring against the government.
Le Cong Dinh, 41, one of Vietnam's most respected lawyers, has defended a number of pro-democracy activists.
He was alleged to have been found with a copy of a new constitution he wrote aiming to replace the current one.
The police said they will charge Mr Le with Article 88 of the Vietnam's Criminal Code for distributing anti-government materials.

Rebels seize 9 foreigners in Yemen

Nine foreigners, including three children, were kidnapped by Shiite rebels in northern Yemen, the state-run news agency reported Sunday.
Seven Germans, a Briton and a South Korean were seized by Houthi rebels in the volatile province of Saada, state-run SABA said. The foreigners were working at a hospital in the region.
Houthi rebels are Shiite militants who have been fighting the government for years. The militants are hoping to derail the peace and reconstruction process in Saada, which has been rocked by war in the past year, according to the news agency.
The abduction comes after the release of 24 medical workers kidnapped by armed tribesmen in Amran province.
The tribesmen stopped a bus Thursday and seized the medical workers, who were from India, Egypt, Philippines and Sudan, SABA said.
After the kidnapping, the captors demanded the release of tribesmen arrested in connection with a war between troops and the Houthi rebels last year, according to the news agency.
The hostages were released unharmed, the news agency said

Poll: Half of Israelis back bombing if needed to stop Iran nukes

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Roughly half of Israelis support bombing Iran's nuclear facilities if international efforts fail to stop the Islamic republic from developing nuclear weapons, according to a Hebrew University poll released Sunday.
Some 52 percent of Israelis say the country should bomb Iran's nuclear reactor, while 35 percent are against, the poll found. The margin of error in the poll of Israelis is 4.5 percentage points.
Palestinians are somewhat more evenly divided, with 43 percent saying a nuclear Iran would be good for the Arab world and 33 percent saying it would be bad, according to the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah, which conducted the poll along with Hebrew University. The margin of error for the Palestinian sample is 3 percentage points.
Hebrew University released the poll shortly before Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to make what he called a major speech to lay out his plan for the country's peace and security.

Biden expresses 'doubts' about Iranian election

Iranians demonstrate near the Iranian Embassy in The Hague against the President Ahmadinejad's victory.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden expressed doubts Sunday about the validity of Iran's presidential election, but said it would take more time to analyze the results.

"I have doubts, but withhold comment," Biden said on NBC's "Meet the Press" program.
Biden said the Iranian government has suppressed crowds and limited free speech by shutting down social networking sites such as Facebook, which he said raised questions. He also called the strong showing by incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "unlikely," based on pre-election analysis.
"Is this the response, is this the accurate response, is this the wish of the Iranian people?" Biden said.Israel warned Sunday that the re-election of Ahmadinejad represented "an intensification of the Iranian threat," and called for redoubled international efforts to halt its nuclear program.

Moussavi Web site letter wants election results thrown out

Mir Hossein Moussavi is asking that Iran's election results be annulled, according to his campaign Web site.

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Fresh clashes broke out between police and protesters Sunday as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a victory rally and opposition supporters claimed ballot fraud in Friday's presidential election.

Ahmadinejad, the hard-line incumbent, defeated reformist rival Mir Hossein Moussavi, a former prime minister, in the election, according to official results.
Backers of Moussavi have been denouncing the results.
On Sunday, a letter that appeared to be written by Moussavi requested that the government annul the contested results. The letter was circulated among Moussavi's supporters and posted on his campaign Web site, which has published previously confirmed statements from Moussavi.
"I see this as the only solution to restore the public trust and support of the people for their government," it states.
The letter calls on Iran's Guardian Council to nullify the results. The Council is a constitutionally mandated body of six clerics and six jurists, which functions as Iran's electoral authority and has other powers.

Venezuela to help Nicaragua after U.S. rebuff

Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega expressed disappointment in U.S. President Barack Obama's decision

(CNN) -- Venezuela has promised to give Nicaragua $50 million to replace money that the United States said this week it would withhold from the Central American country, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Saavedra said Saturday.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez promised the aid after Ortega learned that the United States was canceling $62 million of aid that was to have come from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S.-government-funded anti-poverty fund set up by former President George W. Bush.
Ortega expressed disappointment in President Barack Obama for the decision. "He expresses good will, but in practice, he has the same policies as President Reagan," Ortega told a crowd of supporters in Managua's Plaza of the Revolution.
In 1982, then-President Reagan supported funding the contras, the forces opposed to Ortega and his socialist Sandinista Party, which had come to power after overthrowing the U.S.-backed Anastasio Somoza in 1979.
Ortega called this week's decision not to follow through on the payment "disrespectful."
"The United States had given its word to the people of Nicaragua and in particular to the people of the cities involved in the program," he said.
Wednesday's decision to cut the funds altogether came after the United States announced last November that it was suspending aid to Managua in the wake of what it said were fraudulent municipal elections.