VIJAYWADA: An Indian woman and her seven year old son were found dead in their home in New Jersey, USA. The bodies of Sasikala, 40, and son Anish Sai, were found by her husband N Hanumantha Rao, when he returned home from work last week. The couple, originally from Andhra Pradesh, were working software professionals, and had been living in the US for nine years. According to reports, the victims were strangled to death. This is the latest in a series of growing incidents involving Indian IT professionals.
Pakistani pardons Indians who killed his son in UAE
NEW DELHI: A Pakistani man has pardoned 10 Indians who are on death row after being convicted of killing is son in Abu Dhabi in 2015. A UAE court has approved the request that the father be paid 'blood money'. The court still has to rule on the pardon, but it appears likely the 10 men will be freed. Under Islamic law or sharia, which the UAE follows, the victim's family can file an appeal in court against the death penalty for the convicts if the two reconcile and the former pardons the latter. "It was unfortunate that I lost my son. I have forgiven these 10 individuals. In fact, Allah has saved their lives," said Mohammad Riaz, the father of Muhammad Farhan, who was killed by the Indians following an altercation. "The lives of at least 10 people, including a wife and children, hinge [financially] on one person [who comes to work in the UAE]. I appeal (to) the young generation not to indulge in such fights," said Riaz.
Pak military courts get two-year extension
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's National Assembly passed the constitution amendment bill to reinstate and expand the jurisdiction of military courts to try civilians for terrorism-related offences. The Constitution (Twenty Eighth Amendment) bill and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) were passed amid opposition with two-thirds majority. Following the attack by Pakistani Taliban on Army Public School in Peshawar that killed 148, government had created military courts in 2015 for a two-year period.
Russian ex-MP shot, Ukraine blames Kremlin
KIEV: Ukraine accused Russia of “state terrorism” after a former Russian lawmaker and key witness in a treason case against former President Viktor Yanukovich was shot in central Kiev. Russia called the allegation “absurd.” Denis Voronenkov was killed by an assailant who was armed with a pistol and later died in hospital after being shot by the exMP's bodyguard. Voronenkov fled to Ukraine last year and was helping the authorities build a treason case against Yanukovich, Ukraine's pro-Russia former president. Voronenkov had also spoken out against Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014, although he voted for the move at the time.
Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak walks free
CAIRO: Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s ousted president was freed from a military hospital after six years in custody over charges of killing more than 200 protesters during the 2011 Arab Spring uprising that toppled him. The 88-year-old Mubarak left the Maadi Military Hospital in southern Cairo and went to his home in the northern suburb of Heliopolis, his lawyer Farid El-Deeb said. Earlier this month, the Appeals Court gave its final verdict and acquitted Mubarak over charges of taking part in killing protesters during the 2011 revolution that dislodged him from power. He had been at Maadi Military Hospital since 2013, when he was transferred there on bail from Torah prison.
US grants asylum to teenage Singaporean blogger
SINGAPORE: A US immigration judge granted asylum to a Singaporean teenage blogger, according to a statement by his lawyer. The judge ruled in favour of the 18-year-old Amos Yee who has been detained in Chicago by immigration authorities since his arrival last December after considering that he had been unfairly persecuted for his political opinions, Efe news reported. The judge also deemed Yee's fear of future persecution by authorities in Singapore as credible and real. The granting of asylum to the teenager will only be approved if the Department of National Security does not oppose the measure.
Hong Kong gets first woman leader
HONG KONG: A committee dominated by pro-Beijing elites chose Hong Kong's next leader on Sunday in the first vote since huge pro-democracy protests erupted over the election system in 2014. Carrie Lam, the government's former No 2 official and Beijing's favoured candidate, received 777 votes, defeating former finance secretary John Tsang, who received 365 votes. Lam will become the first female leader for the city and its fourth since British colonial control ended. China's communist leadership had lobbied for her, so Lam's victory was no surprise. Lam will take over from incumbent Leung Chun-ying. Lam is an efficient and pragmatic administrator but unpopular with Hong Kongers because she's seen as a proxy for Beijing. Tsang, in contrast, is popular because of his easygoing persona and use of social media.
In US, judge grants person right to be genderless
PORTLAND (US): An Oregon judge who last year ruled that a transgender person can legally change their sex to “non-binary” has given the OK for a Portland resident to be genderless. Multnomah County Judge Amy Holmes Hehn on March 10 granted a petition allowing Patrick Abbatiello to go from male to “agender” and switch to the single name Patch. People who are agender see themselves as neither a man nor a woman and have no gender identity. The 27-year-old Patch writes and designs video games and had been using the name Patch since well before the decision to legally change. An acquaintance applied it more than a decade ago and it stuck.
Bangladesh ends stand-off, all militants killed
DHAKA: Bangladesh army said on Monday that it had killed all four militants believed to have seized a building in Sylhet four days ago with a large cache of ammunition. Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Fakhrul Ahsan said two bodies were found in the building on Monday in addition to six people, including two policemen, who were killed in explosions near it earlier. Of the four militants killed on Monday, Ahsan said the bodies of female militant and one man were handed over to police but two others were inside as they were wired or surrounded by explosives. The army is planning how to recover the bodies, he said.
