Dozens of passengers and crew members aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19 last week, according to the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean International said in a statement that the ship, the Symphony of the Seas, was carrying more than 6,000 guests and crew members when 48 people onboard tested positive.

The ship departed Dec. 11 for a seven-night Caribbean cruise and returned to port in Miami on Saturday, the company said.

The cases were identified because of contact tracing after a guest tested positive, the cruise line said.

“Each person quickly went into quarantine,” the statement said. “Everyone who tested positive was asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and we continuously monitored their health.”

The cruise line said that the ship sailed with 95% of its guests aboard fully vaccinated and that 98% of the people who tested positive were fully vaccinated. It was not immediately clear whether any of the people who tested positive had received a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-witnesses-rare-anti-government-protest-after-execution-of-kurdish-prisoner-438428">Also read |&nbsp;Iran witnesses rare anti-government protest after execution of Kurdish prisoner</a>

Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and test negative before boarding the ship. Children who are not yet vaccinated must provide a negative PCR test result before sailing and test negative at the terminal before boarding.

The company said that all its crew members were full vaccinated against COVID-19 and were tested weekly.

During the early days of the pandemic in 2020, outbreaks on cruise ships sickened hundreds of people and upended the tourism industry, as officials and companies struggled to keep crews and passengers safe.

For months, cruise ships were barred from sailing to many ports. Even after vaccinations became more widely available in the United States in April, allowing much of the travel industry to ramp up again, cruise ships remained docked in ports, costing the industry billions of dollars each month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-northwest-region-hit-with-hemorrhagic-fever-438362">Also read |&nbsp;China's northwest region hit with hemorrhagic fever</a>

The cruise industry rebounded in the summer, with many companies reporting an increase in bookings and a better handle on COVID-19 protocols.

But a recent spike in COVID cases in parts of the United States and Europe and growing concerns over the omicron variant may hinder that momentum.

This month, at least 17 coronavirus cases were identified on a Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship that docked in New Orleans, including a case of the new omicron variant.

Dozens of passengers and crew members aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19 last week, according to the cruise line. Royal Caribbean International said in a statement that the ship, the Symphony of the Seas, was carrying more than 6,000 guests and crew members when 48 people onboard tested positive.

Dozens of passengers and crew members aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19 last week, according to the cruise line. Royal Caribbean International said in a statement that the ship, the Symphony of the Seas, was carrying more than 6,000 guests and crew members when 48 people onboard tested positive. The ship departed Dec. 11 for a seven-night Caribbean cruise and returned to port in Miami on Saturday, the company said. The cases were identified because of contact tracing after a guest tested positive, the cruise line said. “Each person quickly went into quarantine,” the statement said. “Everyone who tested positive was asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and we continuously monitored their health.” The cruise line said that the ship sailed with 95% of its guests aboard fully vaccinated and that 98% of the people who tested positive were fully vaccinated. It was not immediately clear whether any of the people who tested positive had received a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. Also read | Iran witnesses rare anti-government protest after execution of Kurdish prisoner Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and test negative before boarding the ship. Children who are not yet vaccinated must provide a negative PCR test result before sailing and test negative at the terminal before boarding. The company said that all its crew members were full vaccinated against COVID-19 and were tested weekly. During the early days of the pandemic in 2020, outbreaks on cruise ships sickened hundreds of people and upended the tourism industry, as officials and companies struggled to keep crews and passengers safe. For months, cruise ships were barred from sailing to many ports. Even after vaccinations became more widely available in the United States in April, allowing much of the travel industry to ramp up again, cruise ships remained docked in ports, costing the industry billions of dollars each month. Also read | China's northwest region hit with hemorrhagic fever The cruise industry rebounded in the summer, with many companies reporting an increase in bookings and a better handle on COVID-19 protocols. But a recent spike in COVID cases in parts of the United States and Europe and growing concerns over the omicron variant may hinder that momentum. This month, at least 17 coronavirus cases were identified on a Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship that docked in New Orleans, including a case of the new omicron variant.

Cruise ship returns to Miami with 48 cases of COVID-19

In what is being considered a ground-breaking ruling, a 20-year-old woman, Evie Toombes, who sued her mother's general practitioner claiming that she should never have been born has now won millions in damages.

Toombes is a para-showjumping star in Lincolnshire who suffers from spina bifida since birth. Under this condition, the patient suffers from a gap in the spine as it fails to develop in the womb.

Evie launched a "wrongful conception" case against her mother's doctor as she claimed that her mother's doctor, Dr Philip Mitchell failed to prescribe her vital supplements which led to her condition.&nbsp;She claims that Philip failed to tell her to take folic acid during pregnancy.

Judge Rosalind Coe QC ruled that if Evie's mother, Caroline, had been given the correct advice then she would have avoided her attempts to conceive. Following this, there would have been later conception resulting in a normal healthy child. &nbsp;

"In the circumstances, I find that Mrs Toombes was not pregnant at the time of the consultation with Dr Mitchell," she said in her judgment.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/general-practitioner-gets-sued-by-her-clients-daughter-for-millions-for-allowing-her-birth-431889">Also read |&nbsp;General practitioner gets sued by her client's daughter for millions for allowing her birth</a>

"She was not advised in accordance with the guidance to take folic acid prior to conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy."

'In the circumstances, there would have been a later conception, which would have resulted in a normal healthy child. I, therefore, find that the claimant's claim succeeds on liability," she added.

Dr Philip Mitchell denies liability and claims that he gave Caroline 'reasonable advice.'&nbsp;

Her mother said, ''He told me it was not necessary. I was advised that if I had a good diet previously, I would not have to take folic acid.''

Evie had to spend some days connected to tubes for up to 24-hours-a-day because of her condition.

However, despite her condition, Evie has formed a career in showjumping and she competes against both disabled and able-bodied riders.

(With inputs from agencies)

In what is being considered a ground-breaking ruling, a 20-year-old woman, Evie Toombes, who sued her mother's general practitioner claiming that she should never have been born has now won millions in damages.

In what is being considered a ground-breaking ruling, a 20-year-old woman, Evie Toombes, who sued her mother's general practitioner claiming that she should never have been born has now won millions in damages. Toombes is a para-showjumping star in Lincolnshire who suffers from spina bifida since birth. Under this condition, the patient suffers from a gap in the spine as it fails to develop in the womb. Evie launched a "wrongful conception" case against her mother's doctor as she claimed that her mother's doctor, Dr Philip Mitchell failed to prescribe her vital supplements which led to her condition. She claims that Philip failed to tell her to take folic acid during pregnancy. Judge Rosalind Coe QC ruled that if Evie's mother, Caroline, had been given the correct advice then she would have avoided her attempts to conceive. Following this, there would have been later conception resulting in a normal healthy child. "In the circumstances, I find that Mrs Toombes was not pregnant at the time of the consultation with Dr Mitchell," she said in her judgment. Also read | General practitioner gets sued by her client's daughter for millions for allowing her birth "She was not advised in accordance with the guidance to take folic acid prior to conception and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy." 'In the circumstances, there would have been a later conception, which would have resulted in a normal healthy child. I, therefore, find that the claimant's claim succeeds on liability," she added. Dr Philip Mitchell denies liability and claims that he gave Caroline 'reasonable advice.' Her mother said, ''He told me it was not necessary. I was advised that if I had a good diet previously, I would not have to take folic acid.'' Evie had to spend some days connected to tubes for up to 24-hours-a-day because of her condition. However, despite her condition, Evie has formed a career in showjumping and she competes against both disabled and able-bodied riders. (With inputs from agencies)

20-year-old Evie Toombes, who sued mom's doctor for allowing her to be born, wins millions

In the Wisconsin’s Christmas parade carnage case, the police on Monday said that the suspect, who drove a speeding SUV into dozens of people at the event, was earlier involved in a domestic disturbance. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Wisconsin reels from shock and grief, suspect to be charged with homicide

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wisconsin-reels-from-shock-and-grief-suspect-to-be-charged-with-homicide-431317/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Now, the accused will be charged with homicide for the five people killed in the incident. It was not terror-related, said authorities. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-5-dead-40-injured-after-suv-runs-over-crowd-at-a-parade-in-wisconsin-suspect-taken-into-custody-431086" hreflang="en">At least 5 dead, 40 injured after SUV runs over crowd at a parade in Wisconsin; suspect taken into custody</a>

In a briefing, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said, "We have information that the suspect, prior to the incident, was involved in a domestic disturbance." &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Waukesha Wisconsin: Video of Red Ford Escape breaking through parade barriers as police fire shots. This was just after mowing down &amp; shooting at multiple parade goers. 🙏🇺🇲 <a href="https://t.co/ZDakhpk1KT">pic.twitter.com/ZDakhpk1KT</a>
— EPSTEIN's SHEET 🧻 (@johnpecco1) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnpecco1/status/1462576201424412673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The person in custody is 39-year-old Darrell E Brooks, Thompson added. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here’s the suspect in the Christmas parade carnage that left 5 people dead and 20+ injured. He has a 50-page criminal history with pending felonies. He was out on bail. Fathom that. <a href="https://t.co/ZNy4Ycb509">pic.twitter.com/ZNy4Ycb509</a>
— Neal Boortz — Puddin’ Stick (@Talkmaster) <a href="https://twitter.com/Talkmaster/status/1462841807491018756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In the Sunday's carnage, 48 people, including two children, were injured. In investigation, the FBI is assisting local police. &nbsp;

In the search for online court records showed a recent case, which is open, involving a person named Darrell Brooks. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/44-americans-dont-want-children-say-the-world-is-too-bleak-431121" hreflang="en">44% Americans don't want children, say the world is too 'bleak'</a>

As per the documents of the court, Brooks is charged with restricting or obstructing an officer, bail jumping and battery. Earlier this month, a $1,000 cash bond was posted, the records showed. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We had several friends at the Waukesha Christmas parade. Thankfully they are all safe. 
 
They described the incident as total carnage and something you never want children to see. Candy was being thrown in the street for kids to pick up just prior to. This is an unspeakable crime.
— Mythinformed MKE (@MythinformedMKE) <a href="https://twitter.com/MythinformedMKE/status/1462605900930334721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In a statement detailing the pending charges against Brooks on Monday, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office said it was conducting an internal review of the decision involving Brook's bail recommendation. &nbsp;

Children's Wisconsin hospital officials said on Monday that they treated 18 children, including six, who remained in critical condition and three in serious condition. The rest were released. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In the Wisconsin’s Christmas parade carnage case, the police on Monday said that the suspect, who drove a speeding SUV into dozens of people at the event, was earlier involved in a domestic disturbance.

In the Wisconsin’s Christmas parade carnage case, the police on Monday said that the suspect, who drove a speeding SUV into dozens of people at the event, was earlier involved in a domestic disturbance. Watch: Wisconsin reels from shock and grief, suspect to be charged with homicide × Now, the accused will be charged with homicide for the five people killed in the incident. It was not terror-related, said authorities. Also Read: At least 5 dead, 40 injured after SUV runs over crowd at a parade in Wisconsin; suspect taken into custody In a briefing, Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said, "We have information that the suspect, prior to the incident, was involved in a domestic disturbance." Waukesha Wisconsin: Video of Red Ford Escape breaking through parade barriers as police fire shots. This was just after mowing down & shooting at multiple parade goers. 🙏🇺🇲 pic.twitter.com/ZDakhpk1KT — EPSTEIN's SHEET 🧻 (@johnpecco1) November 22, 2021 × The person in custody is 39-year-old Darrell E Brooks, Thompson added. Here’s the suspect in the Christmas parade carnage that left 5 people dead and 20+ injured. He has a 50-page criminal history with pending felonies. He was out on bail. Fathom that. pic.twitter.com/ZNy4Ycb509 — Neal Boortz — Puddin’ Stick (@Talkmaster) November 22, 2021 × In the Sunday's carnage, 48 people, including two children, were injured. In investigation, the FBI is assisting local police. In the search for online court records showed a recent case, which is open, involving a person named Darrell Brooks. Also Read: 44% Americans don't want children, say the world is too 'bleak' As per the documents of the court, Brooks is charged with restricting or obstructing an officer, bail jumping and battery. Earlier this month, a $1,000 cash bond was posted, the records showed. We had several friends at the Waukesha Christmas parade. Thankfully they are all safe. They described the incident as total carnage and something you never want children to see. Candy was being thrown in the street for kids to pick up just prior to. This is an unspeakable crime. — Mythinformed MKE (@MythinformedMKE) November 22, 2021 × In a statement detailing the pending charges against Brooks on Monday, the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office said it was conducting an internal review of the decision involving Brook's bail recommendation. Children's Wisconsin hospital officials said on Monday that they treated 18 children, including six, who remained in critical condition and three in serious condition. The rest were released. (With inputs from agencies)

Already involved in a case, Wisconsin parade carnage suspect to be charged with homicide

The FBI has issued a federal arrest warrant for Gabby Petito's boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, for his "use of unauthorised devices" following her death. The indictment says that Brian used a debit card and PIN number for accounts that did not belong to him between 30 August and 1 September.

The FBI has issued a federal arrest warrant for Gabby Petito's boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, for his "use of unauthorised devices" following her death. The indictment says that Brian used a debit card and PIN number for accounts that did not belong to him between 30 August and 1 September. Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old woman from Florida, was travelling along with her fiance Brian Laundrie but was reported missing on September 11 after he returned alone from the trip and refused to answer questions about her. He did not contact her family or the police when he returned on September 1. Brian was visiting Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming with Petito. The police are searching for him after the FBI found human remains ''consistent'' with Petito's description. Also read | FBI confirms Gabby Petito's death by homicide amid ongoing search for fiance The FBI later said a county coroner had confirmed that Petito's cause of death was a homicide and have labelled him a ''person of interest.'' According to bodycam footage released by the Utah police, Petito had filed a report about a domestic violence incident and had complained about her mental health. Laundrie had claimed that she had struck him during an argument. However, he did not file any charges. The case has been in the headlines in the past couple of days and has captivated the attention of internet sleuths on several social media platforms. A Tiktok campaign is trending with the hashtag Gabby Petito on Tiktok with over 650 million views.

FBI issues arrest warrant for boyfriend Brian Laundrie in Gabby Petito case

Addressing a news conference, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said on Sunday that the kidnapping case of Afghanistan ambassador's daughter is expected to be solved in 72 hours.&nbsp;

As per PM Imran Khan's directives,&nbsp;Rasheed said the government registered an FIR against the kidnapping at 2 am.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The authorities will investigate as to how the envoy's daughter reached Daman-e-Koh from Rawalpindi and hopefully by today evening, there will be&nbsp;a clearer picture, said the&nbsp;minister, as per a Geo News report.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier on&nbsp;Friday,&nbsp;daughter of Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan Najibullah&nbsp;Alikhil, was kidnapped in Pakistani capital Islamabad&nbsp;in&nbsp;a shocking development.&nbsp;

The 27-year-old went missing at around 2.30 pm (local time) near Rana Market in Islamabad. Her shoes and mobile phone&nbsp;were missing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ambassador&nbsp;Alikhil's&nbsp;daughter was assaulted in a taxi which she had taken while returning from&nbsp;the&nbsp;market.&nbsp;The ambassador's&nbsp;daughter had reached hospital later.&nbsp;According to a report by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science in Islamabad, she had&nbsp;swelling in various parts of her body.&nbsp;

Just hours after the incident, Afghanistan summoned Pakistan's Ambassador to Kabul Mansoor Ahmad Khan and lodged a&nbsp;'strong protest'&nbsp;apart from expressing&nbsp;'deep concerns'&nbsp;over the incident.&nbsp;

In a statement after the summoning, Afghan foreign ministry said that it "explicitly called on the Pakistani government to take immediate action to identify and punish the perpetrators of this crime and ensure the full security and immunity of Afghan diplomats and their families in accordance with international conventions."&nbsp;

Pakistan reacted to the development and its foreign ministry&nbsp;had&nbsp;said it had increased the security of the Afghan envoy and his family.&nbsp;

"Law enforcement agencies are trying to trace and apprehend the culprits to be brought to justice," the ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pakistani PM Imran Khan had also directed the country's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to&nbsp;utilise&nbsp;all resources to apprehend the persons involved in the incident. A deadline of 48 hours&nbsp;was for law enforcement agencies to apprehend the culprits.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Addressing a news conference, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said on Sunday that the kidnapping case of Afghanistan ambassador's daughter is expected to be solved in 72 hours.

Addressing a news conference, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said on Sunday that the kidnapping case of Afghanistan ambassador's daughter is expected to be solved in 72 hours. As per PM Imran Khan's directives, Rasheed said the government registered an FIR against the kidnapping at 2 am. The authorities will investigate as to how the envoy's daughter reached Daman-e-Koh from Rawalpindi and hopefully by today evening, there will be a clearer picture, said the minister, as per a Geo News report. Earlier on Friday, daughter of Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan Najibullah Alikhil, was kidnapped in Pakistani capital Islamabad in a shocking development. The 27-year-old went missing at around 2.30 pm (local time) near Rana Market in Islamabad. Her shoes and mobile phone were missing. Ambassador Alikhil's daughter was assaulted in a taxi which she had taken while returning from the market. The ambassador's daughter had reached hospital later. According to a report by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science in Islamabad, she had swelling in various parts of her body. Just hours after the incident, Afghanistan summoned Pakistan's Ambassador to Kabul Mansoor Ahmad Khan and lodged a 'strong protest' apart from expressing 'deep concerns' over the incident. In a statement after the summoning, Afghan foreign ministry said that it "explicitly called on the Pakistani government to take immediate action to identify and punish the perpetrators of this crime and ensure the full security and immunity of Afghan diplomats and their families in accordance with international conventions." Pakistan reacted to the development and its foreign ministry had said it had increased the security of the Afghan envoy and his family. "Law enforcement agencies are trying to trace and apprehend the culprits to be brought to justice," the ministry said in a statement. Pakistani PM Imran Khan had also directed the country's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to utilise all resources to apprehend the persons involved in the incident. A deadline of 48 hours was for law enforcement agencies to apprehend the culprits. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan’s Interior Minister: Afghan envoy daughter's kidnapping case to be solved in 72 hours 

Russian billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov and his former wife Tatiana Akhmedova reached a settlement on Friday after years of legal wrangling over a record 454 million pound ($625 million) divorce award made by London's High Court in 2016. 
 
The dispute led to an unsuccessful attempt by Akhemdova to seize a 115-metre (377-foot) superyacht owned by her former husband through courts in Dubai, as well as a separate court order for her son Temur to pay her more than 70 million pounds from family assets. 
 
The terms of Friday's settlement are confidential and how much money Akhmedova will now receive is unclear. 
 
"This was never about a figure but a husband honouring his commitment to his family," a spokesperson for Akhmedova said, rejecting a claim from a spokesperson for her former husband that she would have been better off not pursuing the legal action. 
 
The Times newspaper said Akhmedova would receive around 150 million pounds, which would also have to cover her legal costs. 
 
Akhmedova's legal action was funded through a specialist financing company, Burford Capital, which said it would receive approximately $103 million for its efforts to enforce the 454 million pound judgment. 
 
Burford said the settlement would boost its operating profit this year by around $20 million. 
 
"In aggregate, Burford expects the matter to have generated more than $70 million of realized gain over the life of the investment," it said in a statement. 
 
British judge Gwynneth Knowles, in her ruling against Akhmedova's son Temur in April, said: "The Akhmedov family is one of the unhappiest ever to have appeared in my courtroom."

Russian billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov and his former wife Tatiana Akhmedova reached a settlement on Friday after years of legal wrangling over a record 454 million pound ($625 million) divorce award made by London's High Court in 2016.

Russian billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov and his former wife Tatiana Akhmedova reached a settlement on Friday after years of legal wrangling over a record 454 million pound ($625 million) divorce award made by London's High Court in 2016. The dispute led to an unsuccessful attempt by Akhemdova to seize a 115-metre (377-foot) superyacht owned by her former husband through courts in Dubai, as well as a separate court order for her son Temur to pay her more than 70 million pounds from family assets. The terms of Friday's settlement are confidential and how much money Akhmedova will now receive is unclear. "This was never about a figure but a husband honouring his commitment to his family," a spokesperson for Akhmedova said, rejecting a claim from a spokesperson for her former husband that she would have been better off not pursuing the legal action. The Times newspaper said Akhmedova would receive around 150 million pounds, which would also have to cover her legal costs. Akhmedova's legal action was funded through a specialist financing company, Burford Capital, which said it would receive approximately $103 million for its efforts to enforce the 454 million pound judgment. Burford said the settlement would boost its operating profit this year by around $20 million. "In aggregate, Burford expects the matter to have generated more than $70 million of realized gain over the life of the investment," it said in a statement. British judge Gwynneth Knowles, in her ruling against Akhmedova's son Temur in April, said: "The Akhmedov family is one of the unhappiest ever to have appeared in my courtroom."

Russian billionaire, wife settle bitter $625 million divorce case

COVID-19 deaths and cases are on the rise again. The World Health Organization reported that deaths climbed last week after nine straight weeks of decline. It recorded more than 55,000 lives lost, which is a 3 per cent increase from the week before.

Dr David Dowdy, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, warned, "Its important that we recognize that COVID-19 has the potential for explosive outbreaks".&nbsp;

As cases continue to surge, Argentina on Wednesday, July 14, reached a milestone in its fight to control the pandemic as deaths caused by COVID-19 crossed 100,000. As per the data published by the Health Ministry, 19,697 new cases and 614 more deaths were recorded taking the total number of deaths to 100,250.

Also, residents across Myanmar's biggest city are defying a military curfew in a desperate search for oxygen to keep their loved ones breathing as a new coronavirus wave crashes over the coup-wracked country.

The spike in cases is the latest blow to Myanmar, already suffering from a February coup and a bloody crackdown on dissent that has killed over 900 people and gutted the economy.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-variant-getting-more-dangerous-and-can-soon-be-dominant-who-chief-warns-397933">Also read |&nbsp;Delta variant getting more dangerous and can soon be dominant, WHO Chief warns</a>

In the US, newly confirmed infections per day have doubled over the past two weeks to an average of about 24,000, though deaths are still on a downward trajectory at around 260 a day.&nbsp;

Tokyo is under the fourth state of emergency ahead of the Summer Games this month, with infections climbing fast and hospital beds filling up.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the WHO labelled the Delta variant of COVID-19 as a "variant of concern", the organisation’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had warned about the alarming increase of the ‘highly transmissible' variant.

Tedros warned that the Delta variant has now spread to 104 countries and will soon become the dominant variant of COVID-19 in the world. This will result in a deadly increase in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths.

"My message today is that we are experiencing a worsening public health emergency that further threatens lives, livelihoods and a sound global economic recovery. It is definitely worse in places that have very few vaccines, but the pandemic is not over anywhere," he said in a press briefing.

COVID-19 deaths and cases are on the rise again. The World Health Organization reported that deaths climbed last week after nine straight weeks of decline. It recorded more than 55,000 lives lost, which is a 3 per cent increase from the week before.

COVID-19 deaths and cases are on the rise again. The World Health Organization reported that deaths climbed last week after nine straight weeks of decline. It recorded more than 55,000 lives lost, which is a 3 per cent increase from the week before. Dr David Dowdy, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, warned, "Its important that we recognize that COVID-19 has the potential for explosive outbreaks". As cases continue to surge, Argentina on Wednesday, July 14, reached a milestone in its fight to control the pandemic as deaths caused by COVID-19 crossed 100,000. As per the data published by the Health Ministry, 19,697 new cases and 614 more deaths were recorded taking the total number of deaths to 100,250. Also, residents across Myanmar's biggest city are defying a military curfew in a desperate search for oxygen to keep their loved ones breathing as a new coronavirus wave crashes over the coup-wracked country. The spike in cases is the latest blow to Myanmar, already suffering from a February coup and a bloody crackdown on dissent that has killed over 900 people and gutted the economy. Also read | Delta variant getting more dangerous and can soon be dominant, WHO Chief warns In the US, newly confirmed infections per day have doubled over the past two weeks to an average of about 24,000, though deaths are still on a downward trajectory at around 260 a day. Tokyo is under the fourth state of emergency ahead of the Summer Games this month, with infections climbing fast and hospital beds filling up. Meanwhile, the WHO labelled the Delta variant of COVID-19 as a "variant of concern", the organisation’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had warned about the alarming increase of the ‘highly transmissible' variant. Tedros warned that the Delta variant has now spread to 104 countries and will soon become the dominant variant of COVID-19 in the world. This will result in a deadly increase in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths. "My message today is that we are experiencing a worsening public health emergency that further threatens lives, livelihoods and a sound global economic recovery. It is definitely worse in places that have very few vaccines, but the pandemic is not over anywhere," he said in a press briefing.

COVID-19 deaths, cases rise again globally amid relaxed curbs

There is&nbsp;so much hype now surrounding the recent death of Father Stan Swamy.

Swamy is an accused in the Elgar Parishad case. He&nbsp;was facing investigation for his links to Maoist and Naxalite groups in India.&nbsp;

His death is being hyped up by a section of the media, social media and some politicians. But what is the truth?

Here are some of the facts that you should&nbsp;know.

So what really happened?

Elgar Parishad case&nbsp;accused Fr Stan Swamy, 84, suffered a cardiac arrest in&nbsp;Holy Family Hospital on&nbsp;July&nbsp;3. He passed away on July&nbsp;5.&nbsp;

What is the case he was involved in?

At the heart of the Elgar Parishad case is the incitement of people and giving of provocative speeches during a meeting of the same name, organised&nbsp;by Kabir Kala Manch on&nbsp;December&nbsp;31,&nbsp;2017 at&nbsp;Shanivarwada, Pune, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

The accused&nbsp;promoted enmity between the caste groups, which led to violence resulting in loss of life and property.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;&nbsp;case was registered on&nbsp;January&nbsp;8,&nbsp;2018.

During investigation, it was revealed that senior leaders of CPI (Maoist), a proscribed terrorist&nbsp;organisation,&nbsp;were in contact with organisers of Elgar Parishad to spread their ideology of Maoism&nbsp;or&nbsp;Naxalism&nbsp;and encourage unlawful&nbsp;activities.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;case&nbsp;was&nbsp;later&nbsp;transferred&nbsp;to&nbsp;National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The role of Stan Swamy emerged during the investigation, as he was found to be a member of CPI (Maoist) and actively involved in furthering its activities.

He was found to be in communication with CPI (Maoist) cadre. He was also convener of Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC), a front organisation&nbsp;of CPI (Maoist).&nbsp;

Arrest and case: Was Swamy given due legal process?

Swamy was arrested on&nbsp;October&nbsp;8,&nbsp;2020 by NIA. He was&nbsp;duly informed of grounds of arrest in terms of relevant sections of law.

He was examined by the medical practitioner and accordingly,&nbsp;his health condition was certified to be stable.

He was also subjected to medical check-up.&nbsp;He has made no complaints about his ill-treatment&nbsp;at&nbsp;the hands of the investigation officers during his production before the concerned NIA&nbsp;court, according to the government.&nbsp;

He was sent on judicial custody to Central Jail in Taloja, Mumbai.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In between, his bail applications before the High Court of Bombay was&nbsp;rejected.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Was his health condition taken into account?&nbsp;

According to the government, Swamy was provided with&nbsp;all&nbsp;the&nbsp;necessary requirements related to entitlement of accused in detention.

From his arrest to production before a special court, all the necessary medical formalities after his arrest were complied with. Care and attention were given for his safety and comfort during the air journey from Ranchi to Mumbai.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During&nbsp;his&nbsp;judicial&nbsp;custody,&nbsp;Fr&nbsp;Stan&nbsp;Swamy&nbsp;was&nbsp;kept&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;separate&nbsp;cell&nbsp;of&nbsp;prison&nbsp;hospital&nbsp;with&nbsp;all&nbsp;necessary&nbsp;precautions&nbsp;and&nbsp;two&nbsp;attendants&nbsp;as&nbsp;per&nbsp;advice&nbsp;of&nbsp;medical&nbsp;officer&nbsp;of&nbsp;Taloja&nbsp;Central&nbsp;Prison in&nbsp;Mumbai.&nbsp;

He&nbsp;was&nbsp;provided&nbsp;with&nbsp;all&nbsp;facilities&nbsp;including&nbsp;wheel&nbsp;chair,&nbsp;walker,&nbsp;walking&nbsp;stick,&nbsp;straws,&nbsp;sipper,&nbsp;mug,&nbsp;commode&nbsp;chair,&nbsp;battery&nbsp;cells&nbsp;for&nbsp;his&nbsp;hearing&nbsp;machines,&nbsp;dental&nbsp;treatment,&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;psychiatrist&nbsp;and&nbsp;telemedicine, the government said.&nbsp;

Was he taken into custody?

No. Considering his age, no police custody was obtained by NIA during investigation, as sufficient evidences were already on record.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Did he get proper medical treatment?&nbsp;

On&nbsp;May&nbsp;21,&nbsp;2021, Fr Stan Swamy had filed criminal appeal before High Court of Bombay, regarding which Maharashtra had filed medical report of Board of Doctors constituted by JJ Hospital.

He was advised by court to be treated in JJ Hospital; however, he refused to get admitted in JJ Hospital.

Subsequently, High Court allowed his plea to be shifted and treated in Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, along with&nbsp;one attendant as per the protocol.

The Maharashtra government was directed to provide protection during the treatment.&nbsp;

Swamy remained admitted in hospital since&nbsp;May&nbsp;28,&nbsp;2021 for treatment in respect of ailments.

The duration of his stay in the hospital was extended till&nbsp;July&nbsp;6,&nbsp;2021.&nbsp;

There is so much hype now surrounding the recent death of Father Stan Swamy. Swamy is an accused in the Elgar Parishad case. He was facing investigation for his links to Maoist and Naxalite groups in India.

There is so much hype now surrounding the recent death of Father Stan Swamy. Swamy is an accused in the Elgar Parishad case. He was facing investigation for his links to Maoist and Naxalite groups in India. His death is being hyped up by a section of the media, social media and some politicians. But what is the truth? Here are some of the facts that you should know. So what really happened? Elgar Parishad case accused Fr Stan Swamy, 84, suffered a cardiac arrest in Holy Family Hospital on July 3. He passed away on July 5. What is the case he was involved in? At the heart of the Elgar Parishad case is the incitement of people and giving of provocative speeches during a meeting of the same name, organised by Kabir Kala Manch on December 31, 2017 at Shanivarwada, Pune, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. The accused promoted enmity between the caste groups, which led to violence resulting in loss of life and property. The case was registered on January 8, 2018. During investigation, it was revealed that senior leaders of CPI (Maoist), a proscribed terrorist organisation, were in contact with organisers of Elgar Parishad to spread their ideology of Maoism or Naxalism and encourage unlawful activities. The case was later transferred to National Investigation Agency (NIA). The role of Stan Swamy emerged during the investigation, as he was found to be a member of CPI (Maoist) and actively involved in furthering its activities. He was found to be in communication with CPI (Maoist) cadre. He was also convener of Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC), a front organisation of CPI (Maoist). Arrest and case: Was Swamy given due legal process? Swamy was arrested on October 8, 2020 by NIA. He was duly informed of grounds of arrest in terms of relevant sections of law. He was examined by the medical practitioner and accordingly, his health condition was certified to be stable. He was also subjected to medical check-up. He has made no complaints about his ill-treatment at the hands of the investigation officers during his production before the concerned NIA court, according to the government. He was sent on judicial custody to Central Jail in Taloja, Mumbai. In between, his bail applications before the High Court of Bombay was rejected. Was his health condition taken into account? According to the government, Swamy was provided with all the necessary requirements related to entitlement of accused in detention. From his arrest to production before a special court, all the necessary medical formalities after his arrest were complied with. Care and attention were given for his safety and comfort during the air journey from Ranchi to Mumbai. During his judicial custody, Fr Stan Swamy was kept in a separate cell of prison hospital with all necessary precautions and two attendants as per advice of medical officer of Taloja Central Prison in Mumbai. He was provided with all facilities including wheel chair, walker, walking stick, straws, sipper, mug, commode chair, battery cells for his hearing machines, dental treatment, visiting psychiatrist and telemedicine, the government said. Was he taken into custody? No. Considering his age, no police custody was obtained by NIA during investigation, as sufficient evidences were already on record. Did he get proper medical treatment? On May 21, 2021, Fr Stan Swamy had filed criminal appeal before High Court of Bombay, regarding which Maharashtra had filed medical report of Board of Doctors constituted by JJ Hospital. He was advised by court to be treated in JJ Hospital; however, he refused to get admitted in JJ Hospital. Subsequently, High Court allowed his plea to be shifted and treated in Holy Family Hospital, Bandra, along with one attendant as per the protocol. The Maharashtra government was directed to provide protection during the treatment. Swamy remained admitted in hospital since May 28, 2021 for treatment in respect of ailments. The duration of his stay in the hospital was extended till July 6, 2021.

Stan Swamy's death: Facts vs furore - here is what we know

The virus that causes COVID-19 could have started spreading in&nbsp;China&nbsp;as early as October 2019, two months before the first case was identified in the central city of Wuhan, a new study showed on Friday.

Researchers from Britain's University of Kent used methods from conservation science to estimate that SARS-CoV-2 first appeared from early October to mid-November 2019, according to a paper published in the PLOS Pathogens journal.

The most likely date for the virus's emergence was Nov. 17, 2019, and it had probably already spread globally by January 2020, they estimated.

China's first official COVID-19 case was in December 2019 and was linked to Wuhan's Huanan seafood market.

However, some early cases had no known connection with Huanan, implying that SARS-CoV-2 was already circulating before it reached the market.

A joint study published by&nbsp;China&nbsp;and the World Health Organization at the end of March acknowledged there could have been sporadic human infections before the Wuhan outbreak.

In a paper released in preprint form this week, Jesse Bloom of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle recovered deleted sequencing data from early COVID-19 cases in&nbsp;China.

The data showed that samples taken from the Huanan market were "not representative" of SARS-CoV-2 as a whole, and were a variant of a progenitor sequence circulating earlier, which spread to other parts of&nbsp;China.

The U.S. National Institutes of Health confirmed to Reuters that the samples used in the study were submitted to the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) in March 2020 and later deleted at the request of Chinese investigators, who said they would be updated and submitted to another archive.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-delta-variant-is-infecting-vaccinated-people-says-israel-393811">Also Read |&nbsp;COVID-19: Delta variant is infecting vaccinated people, says Israel</a>

Critics said the deletion was further evidence that&nbsp;China&nbsp;was trying to cover up the origins of COVID-19.

"Why would scientists ask international databases to delete key data that informs us about how COVID-19 began in Wuhan?" said Alina Chan, a researcher with Harvard's Broad Institute, writing on Twitter.

Another study by Australian scientists, published on Thursday in the Scientific Reports journal, used genomic data to show SARS-CoV-2 binds to human receptors far more easily than other species, suggesting it was already adapted to humans when it first emerged.

It said it was possible there was another unidentified animal with even stronger affinity that served as an intermediary species, but the hypothesis that it leaked from the lab could not be ruled out.

"While it is clear early viruses had a high propensity for human receptors, that doesn't mean they were 'man-made'," said Dominic Dwyer, infectious disease expert at Australia's Westmead Hospital who was part of the WHO team investigating COVID-19 in Wuhan this year.

"Such conclusions remain speculative," he said.

Serum samples still needed to be tested to make a stronger case about COVID-19's origins, said Stuart Turville, associate professor at the Kirby Institute, an Australian medical research organisation who was responding to the University of Kent study.

"Unfortunately with the current pressure of the lab leak hypothesis and the sensitivities in doing this follow-up research in&nbsp;China, it may be some time till we see reports like that," he said.

The virus that causes COVID-19 could have started spreading in China as early as October 2019, two months before the first case was identified in the central city of Wuhan, a new study showed on Friday.

The virus that causes COVID-19 could have started spreading in China as early as October 2019, two months before the first case was identified in the central city of Wuhan, a new study showed on Friday. Researchers from Britain's University of Kent used methods from conservation science to estimate that SARS-CoV-2 first appeared from early October to mid-November 2019, according to a paper published in the PLOS Pathogens journal. The most likely date for the virus's emergence was Nov. 17, 2019, and it had probably already spread globally by January 2020, they estimated. China's first official COVID-19 case was in December 2019 and was linked to Wuhan's Huanan seafood market. However, some early cases had no known connection with Huanan, implying that SARS-CoV-2 was already circulating before it reached the market. A joint study published by China and the World Health Organization at the end of March acknowledged there could have been sporadic human infections before the Wuhan outbreak. In a paper released in preprint form this week, Jesse Bloom of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle recovered deleted sequencing data from early COVID-19 cases in China. The data showed that samples taken from the Huanan market were "not representative" of SARS-CoV-2 as a whole, and were a variant of a progenitor sequence circulating earlier, which spread to other parts of China. The U.S. National Institutes of Health confirmed to Reuters that the samples used in the study were submitted to the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) in March 2020 and later deleted at the request of Chinese investigators, who said they would be updated and submitted to another archive. Also Read | COVID-19: Delta variant is infecting vaccinated people, says Israel Critics said the deletion was further evidence that China was trying to cover up the origins of COVID-19. "Why would scientists ask international databases to delete key data that informs us about how COVID-19 began in Wuhan?" said Alina Chan, a researcher with Harvard's Broad Institute, writing on Twitter. Another study by Australian scientists, published on Thursday in the Scientific Reports journal, used genomic data to show SARS-CoV-2 binds to human receptors far more easily than other species, suggesting it was already adapted to humans when it first emerged. It said it was possible there was another unidentified animal with even stronger affinity that served as an intermediary species, but the hypothesis that it leaked from the lab could not be ruled out. "While it is clear early viruses had a high propensity for human receptors, that doesn't mean they were 'man-made'," said Dominic Dwyer, infectious disease expert at Australia's Westmead Hospital who was part of the WHO team investigating COVID-19 in Wuhan this year. "Such conclusions remain speculative," he said. Serum samples still needed to be tested to make a stronger case about COVID-19's origins, said Stuart Turville, associate professor at the Kirby Institute, an Australian medical research organisation who was responding to the University of Kent study. "Unfortunately with the current pressure of the lab leak hypothesis and the sensitivities in doing this follow-up research in China, it may be some time till we see reports like that," he said.

First COVID-19 case could have emerged in China in Oct 2019, says study

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has told the armed forces that reported racist and sexual abuse in a German platoon based in Lithuania has deeply affected their reputation.

German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has told the armed forces that reported racist and sexual abuse in a German platoon based in Lithuania has deeply affected their reputation. She said the scandal was a "slap in the face" for all those serving in the Bundeswehr. The members of a platoon which is a part of the Nato mission allegedly filmed an incident of sexual assault against another soldier. They also sang anti-Semitic songs. With time, more allegations emerged of sexual and racial abuse in the platoon, including soldiers singing a song to mark Adolf Hitler's birthday on 20 April. Addressing a Bundeswehr officers' academy in Hamburg, the Defense Minister said, "Through their behaviour, these soldiers frivolously put the whole Bundeswehr's reputation at risk". Also Read | Judge under US sanctions set to take over Iran presidency The allegations were first reported by Der Spiegel news and they relate to a party held at a hotel in Lithuania during the end of April. The platoon was part of Nato's "Enhanced Forward Presence". This is a mission that aims at training local soldiers in the three Baltic states and Poland as a deterrent against Russian aggression. There are 620 German troops in Lithuania, leading a Nato battlegroup. Taking to her official Twitter handle, the minister wrote, "The misconduct of some soldiers in Lithuania is a slap in the face of everyone who works in the day after day #Bundeswehrserve the security of our country. The derailments damage the reputation of the Bundeswehr and Germany. That will be punished with all severity". She further mentioned, "In Germany, all necessary investigations and proceedings are continued and the consequences are drawn".

Racism case seen as a threat for the reputation of entire German army

A top Turkish prosecutor refiled a case with the constitutional court demanding the closure of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for alleged ties to militants, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported. 
 
In March, the court sent back a similar indictment on procedural grounds for lack of details. The latest indictment demanded a political ban on some 500 party members and a block on HDP's bank accounts, Anadolu said. 
 
Turkey has a long history of shutting down political parties seen as a threat and has in the past banned a series of other pro-Kurdish parties. 
 
The prosecutor's move in March was the culmination of a years-long crackdown on the HDP, parliament's third-largest party, under which thousands of its members were tried on mainly terrorism charges. 
 
The party denies links to terrorism and called the move a 'political coup'. 
 
In a written statement, the prosecutor said the HDP committed crimes against the independence of the state and its unbreakable unity with its country and people, according to Anadolu. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A top Turkish prosecutor refiled a case with the constitutional court demanding the closure of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for alleged ties to militants, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.

A top Turkish prosecutor refiled a case with the constitutional court demanding the closure of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) for alleged ties to militants, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported. In March, the court sent back a similar indictment on procedural grounds for lack of details. The latest indictment demanded a political ban on some 500 party members and a block on HDP's bank accounts, Anadolu said. Turkey has a long history of shutting down political parties seen as a threat and has in the past banned a series of other pro-Kurdish parties. The prosecutor's move in March was the culmination of a years-long crackdown on the HDP, parliament's third-largest party, under which thousands of its members were tried on mainly terrorism charges. The party denies links to terrorism and called the move a 'political coup'. In a written statement, the prosecutor said the HDP committed crimes against the independence of the state and its unbreakable unity with its country and people, according to Anadolu. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkish prosecutor refiles case to close pro-Kurdish party: Report

The first-ever case of the highly infectious B.1.617 variant of coronavirus, first identified in India, has been detected in Pakistan despite a ban on travellers from the neighbouring country since April, the country's top health institute here has said.&nbsp;

The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Friday shared the results of whole-genome sequencing of SARS CoV-2 samples collected during the first three weeks of May 2021, The Express Tribune reported on Friday.&nbsp;

The sequencing results confirmed the detection of seven cases of B.1.351 (South African variant) and one case of B.1.617.2 (first identified in India). This is the first in-country detection of the latter strain, the NIH said in a statement.&nbsp;

As per protocols, contact tracing of all the cases is in progress by the Field Epidemiology &amp; Disease Surveillance Division and District Health Office (DHO), Islamabad, the report said.&nbsp;

The NIH said the continued detection of global strains highlighted the ongoing need for observation of guidelines, usage of masks and need for vaccination.&nbsp;

After India's outbreak of COVID-19 fuelled by the new strain earlier this year, Pakistan in April imposed a ban on travellers arriving from the neighbouring country via the air, sea and land routes, the report said.&nbsp;

However, in May, the variant was detected in Thai travellers, who had visited Pakistan, the report said.&nbsp;

Health authorities in Thailand had confirmed the country's first cases of the variant first identified in India in a Thai woman and her four-year-old son, who were reportedly put in state quarantine since arriving from Pakistan, it said.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier said that the B.1.617 strain of coronavirus was found in dozens of countries all over the world. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The first-ever case of the highly infectious B.1.617 variant of coronavirus, first identified in India, has been detected in Pakistan despite a ban on travellers from the neighbouring country since April, the country's top health institute here has said.

The first-ever case of the highly infectious B.1.617 variant of coronavirus, first identified in India, has been detected in Pakistan despite a ban on travellers from the neighbouring country since April, the country's top health institute here has said. The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Friday shared the results of whole-genome sequencing of SARS CoV-2 samples collected during the first three weeks of May 2021, The Express Tribune reported on Friday. The sequencing results confirmed the detection of seven cases of B.1.351 (South African variant) and one case of B.1.617.2 (first identified in India). This is the first in-country detection of the latter strain, the NIH said in a statement. As per protocols, contact tracing of all the cases is in progress by the Field Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division and District Health Office (DHO), Islamabad, the report said. The NIH said the continued detection of global strains highlighted the ongoing need for observation of guidelines, usage of masks and need for vaccination. After India's outbreak of COVID-19 fuelled by the new strain earlier this year, Pakistan in April imposed a ban on travellers arriving from the neighbouring country via the air, sea and land routes, the report said. However, in May, the variant was detected in Thai travellers, who had visited Pakistan, the report said. Health authorities in Thailand had confirmed the country's first cases of the variant first identified in India in a Thai woman and her four-year-old son, who were reportedly put in state quarantine since arriving from Pakistan, it said. The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier said that the B.1.617 strain of coronavirus was found in dozens of countries all over the world.

First case of B.1.617 COVID-19 variant found in Pakistan 

The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel’s detention and a compensation claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday.&nbsp;

The Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, became jammed across the canal in high winds on March 23, and remained grounded for six days, blocking traffic in both directions and disrupting global trade.&nbsp;

The vessel has since been held in a lake between two stretches of the canal as the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) pursues a $916.5 million claim against Japanese owner Shoei Kisen.&nbsp;

An appeals chamber at Ismailia Economic Court held hearings on Saturday over the ship's detention, which the SCA is seeking to uphold following an appeal by the owner, as well as the SCA's financial claim.&nbsp;

Lawyers representing Shoei Kisen argued that the SCA had been at fault for allowing the ship to enter the waterway amid bad weather, Ahmed Abu Ali, a member of the legal team, said, adding that the authority failed to prove any fault by the ship.&nbsp;

Recordings from the ship that were presented to the court showed disagreements between SCA pilots and its control centre over whether it should enter the canal, Abu Ali said.&nbsp;

Lawyers for Shoei Kisen said the ship should have been accompanied by at least two tug boats suitable for the ship's size "but this didn't happen", he added.&nbsp;

The SCA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but it has publicly denied being at fault.&nbsp;

Lawyers for Shoei Kisen also argued that the Ever Given's detention was legally flawed and that the work to release the ship was not "a salvage (operation) in the proper legal sense", meaning the SCA could not seek compensation for such an operation, Abu Ali said.&nbsp;

"This was one of the duties of the authority according to the traffic contract," he said.&nbsp;

Shoei Kisen is claiming $100,000 in initial compensation for losses related to its detention, he said.&nbsp;

The court was expected to issue a decision on the case on Sunday, lawyers and witnesses said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel’s detention and a compensation claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday.

The owner of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal in March says the canal authority was at fault over its grounding as it disputes the vessel’s detention and a compensation claim, a lawyer representing the owner said on Saturday. The Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, became jammed across the canal in high winds on March 23, and remained grounded for six days, blocking traffic in both directions and disrupting global trade. The vessel has since been held in a lake between two stretches of the canal as the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) pursues a $916.5 million claim against Japanese owner Shoei Kisen. An appeals chamber at Ismailia Economic Court held hearings on Saturday over the ship's detention, which the SCA is seeking to uphold following an appeal by the owner, as well as the SCA's financial claim. Lawyers representing Shoei Kisen argued that the SCA had been at fault for allowing the ship to enter the waterway amid bad weather, Ahmed Abu Ali, a member of the legal team, said, adding that the authority failed to prove any fault by the ship. Recordings from the ship that were presented to the court showed disagreements between SCA pilots and its control centre over whether it should enter the canal, Abu Ali said. Lawyers for Shoei Kisen said the ship should have been accompanied by at least two tug boats suitable for the ship's size "but this didn't happen", he added. The SCA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but it has publicly denied being at fault. Lawyers for Shoei Kisen also argued that the Ever Given's detention was legally flawed and that the work to release the ship was not "a salvage (operation) in the proper legal sense", meaning the SCA could not seek compensation for such an operation, Abu Ali said. "This was one of the duties of the authority according to the traffic contract," he said. Shoei Kisen is claiming $100,000 in initial compensation for losses related to its detention, he said. The court was expected to issue a decision on the case on Sunday, lawyers and witnesses said. (With inputs from agencies)

Ship owner says Suez Canal was at fault over Ever Given grounding: Lawyer 

A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association's bankruptcy case on Tuesday, leaving the powerful gun-rights group to face a New York state lawsuit that accuses it of financial abuses and aims to put it out of business.&nbsp;

The judge was tasked with deciding whether the NRA should be allowed to incorporate in Texas instead of New York, where the state is suing in an effort to disband the group. Though headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a non-profit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in the state.&nbsp;

Judge Harlin Hale said in a written order that he was dismissing the case because he found the bankruptcy was not filed in good faith.&nbsp;

"The Court believes the NRA's purpose in filing bankruptcy is less like a traditional bankruptcy case in which a debtor is faced with financial difficulties or a judgment that it cannot satisfy and more like cases in which courts have found bankruptcy was filed to gain an unfair advantage in litigation or to avoid a regulatory scheme," Hale wrote.&nbsp;

His decision followed 11 days of testimony and arguments. Lawyers for New York and the NRA's former advertising agency grilled the group's embattled top executive, Wayne LaPierre, who acknowledged putting the NRA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy without the knowledge or assent of most of its board and other top officers.&nbsp;

"Excluding so many people from the process of deciding to file for bankruptcy, including the vast majority of the board of directors, the chief financial officer, and the general counsel, is nothing less than shocking," the judge added.&nbsp;

Phillip Journey, an NRA board member and Kansas judge, who had sought to have an examiner appointed to investigate the group's leadership, was concise about Hale's judgment: “1 word, disappointed," he wrote in a text message.&nbsp;

LaPierre pledged in a statement to continue to fight for gun rights.&nbsp;

“Although we are disappointed in some aspects of the decision, there is no change in the overall direction of our Association, its programmes, or its Second Amendment advocacy," LaPierre said via the NRA's Twitter account. "Today is ultimately about our members, those who stand courageously with the NRA in defence of constitutional freedom. We remain an independent organisation that can chart its own course, even as we remain in New York to confront our adversaries."&nbsp;

Lawyers for New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that the case was an attempt by NRA leadership to escape accountability for using the group's coffers as their personal piggybank. But the NRA's attorneys said it was a legitimate effort to avoid a political attack by James, who is a Democrat.&nbsp;

A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association's bankruptcy case on Tuesday, leaving the powerful gun-rights group to face a New York state lawsuit that accuses it of financial abuses and aims to put it out of business.

A federal judge dismissed the National Rifle Association's bankruptcy case on Tuesday, leaving the powerful gun-rights group to face a New York state lawsuit that accuses it of financial abuses and aims to put it out of business. The judge was tasked with deciding whether the NRA should be allowed to incorporate in Texas instead of New York, where the state is suing in an effort to disband the group. Though headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a non-profit in New York in 1871 and is incorporated in the state. Judge Harlin Hale said in a written order that he was dismissing the case because he found the bankruptcy was not filed in good faith. "The Court believes the NRA's purpose in filing bankruptcy is less like a traditional bankruptcy case in which a debtor is faced with financial difficulties or a judgment that it cannot satisfy and more like cases in which courts have found bankruptcy was filed to gain an unfair advantage in litigation or to avoid a regulatory scheme," Hale wrote. His decision followed 11 days of testimony and arguments. Lawyers for New York and the NRA's former advertising agency grilled the group's embattled top executive, Wayne LaPierre, who acknowledged putting the NRA into Chapter 11 bankruptcy without the knowledge or assent of most of its board and other top officers. "Excluding so many people from the process of deciding to file for bankruptcy, including the vast majority of the board of directors, the chief financial officer, and the general counsel, is nothing less than shocking," the judge added. Phillip Journey, an NRA board member and Kansas judge, who had sought to have an examiner appointed to investigate the group's leadership, was concise about Hale's judgment: “1 word, disappointed," he wrote in a text message. LaPierre pledged in a statement to continue to fight for gun rights. “Although we are disappointed in some aspects of the decision, there is no change in the overall direction of our Association, its programmes, or its Second Amendment advocacy," LaPierre said via the NRA's Twitter account. "Today is ultimately about our members, those who stand courageously with the NRA in defence of constitutional freedom. We remain an independent organisation that can chart its own course, even as we remain in New York to confront our adversaries." Lawyers for New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that the case was an attempt by NRA leadership to escape accountability for using the group's coffers as their personal piggybank. But the NRA's attorneys said it was a legitimate effort to avoid a political attack by James, who is a Democrat.

Judge dismisses NRA bankruptcy case in blow to gun lobby group  

Former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who has been admitted to a hospital here due to serious health issues, has said that the high treason case lodged against him is "baseless" and asserted that justice was not being served as his lawyer was not being heard in the matter. 
 
Speaking about his health, Musharraf, in a video message from Dubai's American Hospital, said, "I am very unwell. It has been like this since a while and I keep visiting the hospital." 
 
As per medical reports, Musharraf is suffering from cardiac problem and having blood pressure issue. He was admitted to the hospital on Monday. 
"My lawyer Salman Safdar is not being heard by the court. I have fought wars for Pakistan and served my country for 10 years," he was quoted by Geo News as saying. 
 
The former military ruler expressed hope of getting justice in the case, asserting that the commission constituted in the high treason case should hear his version. 
 
"As for me, the commission can come here, I can give them a statement. They can come and hear me, see my condition and then decide for themselves. When they return they can give their statement and my lawyer will be heard in the court too and then I hope I will get justice," Musharraf said. 
 
Since 2016, Musharraf has been living in a self-imposed exile in Dubai for "seeking medical treatment" and has not returned to the country since. He is wanted by authorities in connection to the high treason case filed against him. 
 
Last month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) stopped the special court from announcing the verdict in the matter. The order came before a special court was scheduled to announce the verdict on the basis of the available record. 
 
The IHC was hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan government seeking an adjournment of the verdict's announcement. A similar petition was also filed by Musharraf in the Lahore High Court. 
 
The special court had on November 19, concluded the trial proceedings in the high treason case against Musharraf for declaring a state emergency on November 3, 2007. The trial of the former leader has been pending since December 2013 when he was booked in the case. 
 
Musharraf was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year. 
 
However, due to litigation at appellate forums, the trial of the former president lingered on and he left Pakistan in March 2016 "to seek medical treatment." 
The retired general was that year declared an absconder as he failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons and court directives issued to the Federal Investigation Agency to arrest him.

Former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who has been admitted to a hospital here due to serious health issues, has said that the high treason case lodged against him is "baseless" and asserted that justice was not being served as his lawyer was not being heard in the matter.

Former Pakistan president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who has been admitted to a hospital here due to serious health issues, has said that the high treason case lodged against him is "baseless" and asserted that justice was not being served as his lawyer was not being heard in the matter. Speaking about his health, Musharraf, in a video message from Dubai's American Hospital, said, "I am very unwell. It has been like this since a while and I keep visiting the hospital." As per medical reports, Musharraf is suffering from cardiac problem and having blood pressure issue. He was admitted to the hospital on Monday. "My lawyer Salman Safdar is not being heard by the court. I have fought wars for Pakistan and served my country for 10 years," he was quoted by Geo News as saying. The former military ruler expressed hope of getting justice in the case, asserting that the commission constituted in the high treason case should hear his version. "As for me, the commission can come here, I can give them a statement. They can come and hear me, see my condition and then decide for themselves. When they return they can give their statement and my lawyer will be heard in the court too and then I hope I will get justice," Musharraf said. Since 2016, Musharraf has been living in a self-imposed exile in Dubai for "seeking medical treatment" and has not returned to the country since. He is wanted by authorities in connection to the high treason case filed against him. Last month, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) stopped the special court from announcing the verdict in the matter. The order came before a special court was scheduled to announce the verdict on the basis of the available record. The IHC was hearing a petition filed by the Pakistan government seeking an adjournment of the verdict's announcement. A similar petition was also filed by Musharraf in the Lahore High Court. The special court had on November 19, concluded the trial proceedings in the high treason case against Musharraf for declaring a state emergency on November 3, 2007. The trial of the former leader has been pending since December 2013 when he was booked in the case. Musharraf was indicted on March 31, 2014, and the prosecution had tabled the entire evidence before the special court in September the same year. However, due to litigation at appellate forums, the trial of the former president lingered on and he left Pakistan in March 2016 "to seek medical treatment." The retired general was that year declared an absconder as he failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons and court directives issued to the Federal Investigation Agency to arrest him.

High treason case against me baseless, lawyer not being heard: Musharraf

A special court has issued a fresh production warrant against Peter Mukerjea as he was not produced by concerned jail authorities during INX media case hearing on Friday. 
 
Indrani and Peter Mukerjea have been imprisoned for their alleged role in their daughter Sheena Bora's murder. 
 
Peter is on bail in INX media case but presently lodged in a Mumbai jail in connection with the murder case. 
 
Indrani and Peter were granted a divorce by a Mumbai court on October 3. 
 
This was Indrani and Peter's second marriage. They got married in the year 2002.

Indrani has been lodged at Mumbai's Byculla jail since her arrest in 2015 while Peter is jailed at Arthur Road Jail.

In 2012, Indrani along with Peter and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna allegedly murdered Sheena over a financial dispute. The alleged crime was uncovered three years later in 2015.

Indrani came under the police radar after her driver, Shyamvar Rai, who got arrested in another case in August 2015, revealed the murder plot.

The police then arrested Indrani, Khanna and the driver for the alleged murder. Peter was put behind bars later for allegedly being involved in the murder.

A special court has issued a fresh production warrant against Peter Mukerjea as he was not produced by concerned jail authorities during INX media case hearing on Friday.

A special court has issued a fresh production warrant against Peter Mukerjea as he was not produced by concerned jail authorities during INX media case hearing on Friday. Indrani and Peter Mukerjea have been imprisoned for their alleged role in their daughter Sheena Bora's murder. Peter is on bail in INX media case but presently lodged in a Mumbai jail in connection with the murder case. Indrani and Peter were granted a divorce by a Mumbai court on October 3. This was Indrani and Peter's second marriage. They got married in the year 2002. Indrani has been lodged at Mumbai's Byculla jail since her arrest in 2015 while Peter is jailed at Arthur Road Jail. In 2012, Indrani along with Peter and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna allegedly murdered Sheena over a financial dispute. The alleged crime was uncovered three years later in 2015. Indrani came under the police radar after her driver, Shyamvar Rai, who got arrested in another case in August 2015, revealed the murder plot. The police then arrested Indrani, Khanna and the driver for the alleged murder. Peter was put behind bars later for allegedly being involved in the murder.

Special court issues production warrant against Peter Mukerjea for involvement in INX media case

The Bombay High Court slapped a fine of Rs 25 lakh on a company for not following the High Court orders and threatening the applicant with a false case.

The Court passed the order in a matter where the company (Sapat and Company) had filed a plea against another company (Feel Good India) for violating copyright in their packaging of the product.

The fine was slapped on January 11 and has to be paid in three instalments by February 28, 2019. Out of these 25 lakhs, 5 lakhs are to be paid to the applicant and 20 lakhs are to be donated to the Tata Memorial Hospital.

The High Court also ordered to seize the packing materials from the defendant company but it's owner Neha Gandhir not only stopped the people from collecting the packing material but also threatened them to frame them in a false molestation case.

Taking note of the threat to frame the opponent in a false case, the High Court imposed the hefty fine of them.

The Court took into consideration that the defendant company's Neha Gandhir and her husband not only stopped people from following the High Court orders but also threatened the applicant with a false complaint in sections which are actually meant for protection of women.

The Bombay High Court slapped a fine of Rs 25 lakh on a company for not following the High Court orders and threatening the applicant with a false case. The Court passed the order in a matter where the company (Sapat and Company) had filed a plea against another company (Feel Good India) for violating copyright in their packaging of the product.

The Bombay High Court slapped a fine of Rs 25 lakh on a company for not following the High Court orders and threatening the applicant with a false case. The Court passed the order in a matter where the company (Sapat and Company) had filed a plea against another company (Feel Good India) for violating copyright in their packaging of the product. The fine was slapped on January 11 and has to be paid in three instalments by February 28, 2019. Out of these 25 lakhs, 5 lakhs are to be paid to the applicant and 20 lakhs are to be donated to the Tata Memorial Hospital. The High Court also ordered to seize the packing materials from the defendant company but it's owner Neha Gandhir not only stopped the people from collecting the packing material but also threatened them to frame them in a false molestation case. Taking note of the threat to frame the opponent in a false case, the High Court imposed the hefty fine of them. The Court took into consideration that the defendant company's Neha Gandhir and her husband not only stopped people from following the High Court orders but also threatened the applicant with a false complaint in sections which are actually meant for protection of women.

Bombay high court slaps Rs 25 lakh fine on company for not following orders, false case

Pakistani authorities on Tuesday sacked the head of the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) after a probe into a weekend shootout revealed that three members of a family were killed in a fake encounter on a highway.

Terrorism and murder charges were also registered against five CTD officials present during the encounter, police said.

"In the light of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), five senior officers, including CTD Punjab Chief Additional Inspector General Rai Tahir, have been sacked and five officials of the CTD who took part in the encounter booked under terrorism and murder charges," Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja told a press conference here.&nbsp;

The CTD officials on Saturday last killed four persons, including a teenage girl, in an encounter in Sahiwal, 200 km from Lahore, suspecting them to be terrorists.

The CTD team opened indiscriminate fire on the car in which a couple along with their four children and the driver were sitting. Three children survived the firing.

The anti-terror department initially termed the victims as "terrorists of the Islamic State", but later declared three of them — the couple and their 13-year-old daughter — innocent civilians. 
&nbsp; 
Raja said action against more officials would be taken after completion of the investigation. 
&nbsp; 
Replying to a query on whether any action has been taken against the ISI officials on whose lead the operation was conducted, the minister said: "The investigation is still underway."&nbsp;

He also said the fourth victim, Zeeshan Javed, was a terror suspect and the government would give a detailed briefing of his alleged links with terrorists on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The CTD had said Javed was an active member of the IS (Daesh) and a phone call was recorded from Afghanistan in which an IS commander was directing another member of the network to ask others to hide after the killing of Zeeshan.

Saturday's shootout had drawn nationwide condemnation and Prime Minister Imran Khan had also vowed to award exemplary punishment to the culprits.&nbsp;

Pakistani authorities on Tuesday sacked the head of the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) after a probe into a weekend shootout revealed that three members of a family were killed in a fake encounter on a highway.

Pakistani authorities on Tuesday sacked the head of the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) after a probe into a weekend shootout revealed that three members of a family were killed in a fake encounter on a highway. Terrorism and murder charges were also registered against five CTD officials present during the encounter, police said. "In the light of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), five senior officers, including CTD Punjab Chief Additional Inspector General Rai Tahir, have been sacked and five officials of the CTD who took part in the encounter booked under terrorism and murder charges," Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja told a press conference here. The CTD officials on Saturday last killed four persons, including a teenage girl, in an encounter in Sahiwal, 200 km from Lahore, suspecting them to be terrorists. The CTD team opened indiscriminate fire on the car in which a couple along with their four children and the driver were sitting. Three children survived the firing. The anti-terror department initially termed the victims as "terrorists of the Islamic State", but later declared three of them — the couple and their 13-year-old daughter — innocent civilians. Raja said action against more officials would be taken after completion of the investigation. Replying to a query on whether any action has been taken against the ISI officials on whose lead the operation was conducted, the minister said: "The investigation is still underway." He also said the fourth victim, Zeeshan Javed, was a terror suspect and the government would give a detailed briefing of his alleged links with terrorists on Wednesday. The CTD had said Javed was an active member of the IS (Daesh) and a phone call was recorded from Afghanistan in which an IS commander was directing another member of the network to ask others to hide after the killing of Zeeshan. Saturday's shootout had drawn nationwide condemnation and Prime Minister Imran Khan had also vowed to award exemplary punishment to the culprits.

Pak authorities sack chief of Punjab's anti-terror dept in fake encounter case

District and Sessions court on Monday acquitted six persons charged with rioting and snatching at Hafed Chowk — the epicentre of violence on August 25 last year after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Charges were pressed against the accused of rioting, snatching and instigating violence at Hafed Chowk where protests turned violent in August last year after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

According to reports, the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused.&nbsp;

On August 30, a case was filed under Sections 148 (rioting), 149 and 379-A (snatching) of the IPC.

The main accused, spokesperson of Dera Sacha Sauda Aditya Insan, is still reported to be at large.&nbsp;

The Dera chief was jailed in August last year after he was convicted of raping two of his women disciples.&nbsp;

After his conviction Guru Ram Rahim's followers went on a rampage in Panchkula and Sirsa, leaving 38 people dead and over 260 injured.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the Haryana government to make arrangements at the district jail in Sunaria for the judge to pronounce the quantum of sentence.

The high court had directed that necessary arrangements be made for the security and safe transport by air of the judicial officer and two of his staff members.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

According to reports, the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused.

District and Sessions court on Monday acquitted six persons charged with rioting and snatching at Hafed Chowk — the epicentre of violence on August 25 last year after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Charges were pressed against the accused of rioting, snatching and instigating violence at Hafed Chowk where protests turned violent in August last year after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. According to reports, the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused. On August 30, a case was filed under Sections 148 (rioting), 149 and 379-A (snatching) of the IPC. The main accused, spokesperson of Dera Sacha Sauda Aditya Insan, is still reported to be at large. The Dera chief was jailed in August last year after he was convicted of raping two of his women disciples. After his conviction Guru Ram Rahim's followers went on a rampage in Panchkula and Sirsa, leaving 38 people dead and over 260 injured. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered the Haryana government to make arrangements at the district jail in Sunaria for the judge to pronounce the quantum of sentence. The high court had directed that necessary arrangements be made for the security and safe transport by air of the judicial officer and two of his staff members. (With inputs from agencies)

Dera Sacha Sauda violence case: Court acquits all six charged with rioting, snatching

The resignation of NIA special court judge Ravinder Reddy, who delivered the verdict in &nbsp;Mecca Masjid blast case, has been rejected by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.&nbsp; 
 
Reddy has been asked to attend to his duties immediately, ANI reported sources as saying.&nbsp;

Nine people had died in the 2007 blast, which took place in Hyderabad.&nbsp;

10 people had been accused in the case, five of whom stood trial.&nbsp;

Reddy had acquitted all five earlier this week.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mecca-blast-verdict-asaduddin-owaisi-terms-nia-blind-deaf-131332">Asaduddin Owaisi calls NIA 'blind and deaf'</a>

Right after the verdict, he had resigned.&nbsp;

Special court judge Ravinder Reddy's resignation has been rejected by the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court. He has reportedly been asked to attend to his duties immediately

The resignation of NIA special court judge Ravinder Reddy, who delivered the verdict in Mecca Masjid blast case, has been rejected by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Reddy has been asked to attend to his duties immediately, ANI reported sources as saying. Nine people had died in the 2007 blast, which took place in Hyderabad. 10 people had been accused in the case, five of whom stood trial. Reddy had acquitted all five earlier this week. Also read: Asaduddin Owaisi calls NIA 'blind and deaf' Right after the verdict, he had resigned.

Resignation of judge who delivered Mecca Masjid blast verdict rejected: Sources

A court in Ahmedabad has issued summons to The Wire news portal on a criminal defamation petition filed by the Adani Group for an article published by it last December. Summonses were issued on Tuesday to seven respondents in the case, including the author of the article as well as five editors and the not-for-profit organisation that publishes The Wire.&nbsp

They have been asked by metropolitan magistrate S K Gadhavi to respond to the summonses on April 27, when the court will next hear the case.

In its petition, filed under sections 499 and 500 of the IPC, alleging criminal defamation, the Adani Group said that the article in question was published on December 11, 2017 “with the sole intention of harming the reputation of the complainant (Adani Power Maharashtra Limited)”.

The article is intended to create “cheap publicity”, smacks of “distaste, prejudice and malice against the complainant”, and is a result of a “well-thought-out conspiracy” to tarnish the image.

Summonses were issued on Tuesday to seven respondents in the case, including the author of the article as well as five editors and the not-for-profit organisation that publishes The Wire.

A court in Ahmedabad has issued summons to The Wire news portal on a criminal defamation petition filed by the Adani Group for an article published by it last December. Summonses were issued on Tuesday to seven respondents in the case, including the author of the article as well as five editors and the not-for-profit organisation that publishes The Wire. They have been asked by metropolitan magistrate S K Gadhavi to respond to the summonses on April 27, when the court will next hear the case. In its petition, filed under sections 499 and 500 of the IPC, alleging criminal defamation, the Adani Group said that the article in question was published on December 11, 2017 “with the sole intention of harming the reputation of the complainant (Adani Power Maharashtra Limited)”. The article is intended to create “cheap publicity”, smacks of “distaste, prejudice and malice against the complainant”, and is a result of a “well-thought-out conspiracy” to tarnish the image.

Court issues summons to The Wire in defamation case filed by Adani Group

Former Pakistan&nbsp;Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam on Tuesday were granted an exemption from appearing before the court in the corruption hearing against them, as their flight could not take off from Lahore due to harsh weather.

As the hearing of the Avenfield properties reference went under way, Nawaz's counsel Khawaja Haris informed Judge Mohammad Bashir the former premier's flight was not allowed to take off from Lahore owing to the weather.&nbsp;

The judge approved the request but directed Nawaz's son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar to remain in court.&nbsp;

The case was filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the Supreme Court's ruling, was in refence to Sharif's family's London apartments.&nbsp;

Sharif, his sons Hasan and Hussain, daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar are facing multiple corruption references in the accountability court.

The corruption references, filed against the Sharif family, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London.

Nawaz's counsel resumed cross-examining the primary witness, Wajid Zia, today.&nbsp;

Zia headed the Panama case joint investigation team (JIT) which probed the Sharif family assets last year. He is being cross-examined since the last few hearings after having recorded his statement earlier over several weeks.

During Monday's hearing, pointing to Zia's 'u-turns' in his statements, Haris pleaded the court to record the proceedings of the case. The judge informally agreed to the notion.

The Pakistan Supreme Court had, on July 28, disqualified Sharif from holding the office of the prime minister and asked the National Accountability Bureau to file references against the Sharif family in connection with corruption cases against them.

On the orders of the country's Supreme Court, a JIT was formed last year to probe the allegations on the Sharif family.

As the hearing of the Avenfield properties reference went under way, Nawaz's counsel Khawaja Haris informed Judge Mohammad Bashir the former premier's flight was not allowed to take off from Lahore owing to the weather

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam on Tuesday were granted an exemption from appearing before the court in the corruption hearing against them, as their flight could not take off from Lahore due to harsh weather. As the hearing of the Avenfield properties reference went under way, Nawaz's counsel Khawaja Haris informed Judge Mohammad Bashir the former premier's flight was not allowed to take off from Lahore owing to the weather. The judge approved the request but directed Nawaz's son-in-law MNA Capt (retd) Safdar to remain in court. The case was filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the Supreme Court's ruling, was in refence to Sharif's family's London apartments. Sharif, his sons Hasan and Hussain, daughter Maryam and son-in-law Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar are facing multiple corruption references in the accountability court. The corruption references, filed against the Sharif family, pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Hill Metal Establishment, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London. Nawaz's counsel resumed cross-examining the primary witness, Wajid Zia, today. Zia headed the Panama case joint investigation team (JIT) which probed the Sharif family assets last year. He is being cross-examined since the last few hearings after having recorded his statement earlier over several weeks. During Monday's hearing, pointing to Zia's 'u-turns' in his statements, Haris pleaded the court to record the proceedings of the case. The judge informally agreed to the notion. The Pakistan Supreme Court had, on July 28, disqualified Sharif from holding the office of the prime minister and asked the National Accountability Bureau to file references against the Sharif family in connection with corruption cases against them. On the orders of the country's Supreme Court, a JIT was formed last year to probe the allegations on the Sharif family.

Nawaz, daughter Maryam exempted from appearing in court in corruption case

A case has been registered against a professor of the JNU&#39;s School of Life Sciences (SLS) following allegations of sexual harassment against him by a group of women students, police said today.

The FIR was registered at the Vasant Kunj police station in southwest Delhi, they said.

&quot;The professor often makes sexually-coloured remarks, open demands for sex and comments on the figure of almost every girl. If a girl objects, he holds a grudge against her,&quot; the women students had said in a statement yesterday.

&quot;There is a financial nexus between the professor and the administration. No instrument has been purchased for years, but still crores of rupees have been spent,&quot; it said.

The statement was issued by them after a press meet on the JNU campus.

The Delhi Police said they would be questioning the professor soon.

The JNU professor, however, told, that he was being targeted by the Left-leaning students.

&quot;The girls, who have levelled the allegations against me, had received a mail from me on February 27 regarding their irregular attendance in the lab. So, they are targeting me,&quot; he had said yesterday.

Today, a large number of students of the SLS staged a demonstration and demanded the Dean of the school suspend the professor from all official positions and initiate an inquiry.

In a letter to the Dean, the students said, &quot;As you already know an FIR has been filed against the professor and since he is in several positions of power and holding university posts, we ask you to immediately inform the vice- chancellor and university administration to suspend him from all the positions.&quot;

Members of the JNU Students Union, representatives of the discarded Gender Sensitisation Committee against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) and those belonging to the women&#39;s collective Pinjra Tod also took part in the protest.

The protesters have announced a march to the administration block demanding the vice-chancellor to intervene.

The JNU professor, however, told, that he was being targeted by the Left-leaning students

A case has been registered against a professor of the JNU's School of Life Sciences (SLS) following allegations of sexual harassment against him by a group of women students, police said today. The FIR was registered at the Vasant Kunj police station in southwest Delhi, they said. "The professor often makes sexually-coloured remarks, open demands for sex and comments on the figure of almost every girl. If a girl objects, he holds a grudge against her," the women students had said in a statement yesterday. "There is a financial nexus between the professor and the administration. No instrument has been purchased for years, but still crores of rupees have been spent," it said. The statement was issued by them after a press meet on the JNU campus. The Delhi Police said they would be questioning the professor soon. The JNU professor, however, told, that he was being targeted by the Left-leaning students. "The girls, who have levelled the allegations against me, had received a mail from me on February 27 regarding their irregular attendance in the lab. So, they are targeting me," he had said yesterday. Today, a large number of students of the SLS staged a demonstration and demanded the Dean of the school suspend the professor from all official positions and initiate an inquiry. In a letter to the Dean, the students said, "As you already know an FIR has been filed against the professor and since he is in several positions of power and holding university posts, we ask you to immediately inform the vice- chancellor and university administration to suspend him from all the positions." Members of the JNU Students Union, representatives of the discarded Gender Sensitisation Committee against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) and those belonging to the women's collective Pinjra Tod also took part in the protest. The protesters have announced a march to the administration block demanding the vice-chancellor to intervene.

JNU professor booked over sexual harassment claims by women students

Britain&#39;s&nbsp;foreign minister&nbsp;Boris&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;was&nbsp;accused&nbsp;by cabinet colleagues on Sunday of &quot;backseat driving&quot; on&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;after setting out his own vision of the country&#39;s future outside the European Union.

Only days before Prime Minister Theresa May is due to speak in Italy about&nbsp;Britain&#39;s&nbsp;planned EU departure,&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;on Saturday published a 4,300-word newspaper article that roamed well beyond his ministerial brief and, in some cases, the approach set out by the government.

Interior minister Amber Rudd said it was &quot;absolutely fine&quot; for the foreign secretary to intervene publicly but that she did not want him managing the&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;process.

&quot;What we&#39;ve got is Theresa May managing that process, she&#39;s driving the car,&quot; Rudd told the BBC&#39;s Andrew Marr on Sunday.

Asked if&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;was backseat driving, she replied: &quot;Yes, you could call it backseat driving, absolutely.&quot;

Johnson&#39;s article re-ignited speculation that he would challenge May for the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Rudd, however, said she did not think&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;was laying the groundwork to challenge May.

&quot;I think that he, like I, supports the prime minister at this difficult time as we try to conclude the negotiations with the EU,&quot; she said.

May&#39;s deputy, Damian Green, also weighed in, saying that&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;had written a &quot;very exuberant&quot; article but it was &quot;absolutely clear to everyone that the driver of the car in this instance is the prime minister&quot;.

&quot;It is the job of the rest of us in the cabinet to agree on a set of proposals and get behind those proposals and get behind the prime minister,&quot; Green told BBC TV.

&#39;MISUSE OF STATISTICS&#39;

Johnson&nbsp;wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Britain would not pay to access the EU market in the future. Once out of the EU, the country should borrow to invest in infrastructure, reform the tax code and set immigration levels as it sees fit, he said.

Johnson&nbsp;also repeated the&nbsp;Brexit&nbsp;campaign claim that the government would be 350 million pounds ($476 million) a week better off outside the EU.

Government officials criticised&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;for repeating the claim, saying the figure does not take into account the funding Britain receives back from Brussels.

David Norgrove, of the UK Statistics Authority, said he was &quot;surprised and disappointed&quot; thatJohnson&nbsp;was still quoting a figure that confused gross and net contributions.

&quot;It is a clear misuse of official statistics,&quot; Norgrove said in a letter to&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;on Sunday.

Johnson&nbsp;said in reply that Norgrove&#39;s letter was &quot;based on what appeared to be a wilful distortion of the text of my article&quot; and asked the official to withdraw it.

The timing of&nbsp;Johnson&#39;s article -- published a day after a bomb injured 30 people on a train in London -- also drew criticism from some colleagues.

Reacting to the furore his article had generated,&nbsp;Johnson&nbsp;tweeted on Saturday: &quot;Looking forward to PM&#39;s Florence Speech. All behind Theresa for a glorious&nbsp;Brexit.&quot;

Only days before Prime Minister Theresa May is due to speak in Italy about?Britain's?planned EU departure,?Johnson?on Saturday published a 4,300-word newspaper article that roamed well beyond his ministerial brief and, in some cases, the approach set out by the government.

Britain's foreign minister Boris Johnson was accused by cabinet colleagues on Sunday of "backseat driving" on Brexit after setting out his own vision of the country's future outside the European Union. Only days before Prime Minister Theresa May is due to speak in Italy about Britain's planned EU departure, Johnson on Saturday published a 4,300-word newspaper article that roamed well beyond his ministerial brief and, in some cases, the approach set out by the government. Interior minister Amber Rudd said it was "absolutely fine" for the foreign secretary to intervene publicly but that she did not want him managing the Brexit process. "What we've got is Theresa May managing that process, she's driving the car," Rudd told the BBC's Andrew Marr on Sunday. Asked if Johnson was backseat driving, she replied: "Yes, you could call it backseat driving, absolutely." Johnson's article re-ignited speculation that he would challenge May for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Rudd, however, said she did not think Johnson was laying the groundwork to challenge May. "I think that he, like I, supports the prime minister at this difficult time as we try to conclude the negotiations with the EU," she said. May's deputy, Damian Green, also weighed in, saying that Johnson had written a "very exuberant" article but it was "absolutely clear to everyone that the driver of the car in this instance is the prime minister". "It is the job of the rest of us in the cabinet to agree on a set of proposals and get behind those proposals and get behind the prime minister," Green told BBC TV. 'MISUSE OF STATISTICS' Johnson wrote in the Daily Telegraph that Britain would not pay to access the EU market in the future. Once out of the EU, the country should borrow to invest in infrastructure, reform the tax code and set immigration levels as it sees fit, he said. Johnson also repeated the Brexit campaign claim that the government would be 350 million pounds ($476 million) a week better off outside the EU. Government officials criticised Johnson for repeating the claim, saying the figure does not take into account the funding Britain receives back from Brussels. David Norgrove, of the UK Statistics Authority, said he was "surprised and disappointed" thatJohnson was still quoting a figure that confused gross and net contributions. "It is a clear misuse of official statistics," Norgrove said in a letter to Johnson on Sunday. Johnson said in reply that Norgrove's letter was "based on what appeared to be a wilful distortion of the text of my article" and asked the official to withdraw it. The timing of Johnson's article -- published a day after a bomb injured 30 people on a train in London -- also drew criticism from some colleagues. Reacting to the furore his article had generated, Johnson tweeted on Saturday: "Looking forward to PM's Florence Speech. All behind Theresa for a glorious Brexit."

Britain's Boris Johnson accused of Brexit 'backseat driving'

Apple on Tuesday rejected allegations from Russia&#39;s state competition watchdog it may have been involved in fixing prices for iPhones, saying resellers set their own prices. 
 
Apple reacted a day after Russia&#39;s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) said it had opened a case into the allegations after a consumer had pointed out that identical prices had been set for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models, which appeared in Russia in October 2015, at 16 major resellers. 
 
Apple, in emailed comments, said it did not oblige Russian resellers to fix prices for its products. 
 
&quot;Resellers set their own prices for the Apple products they sell in Russia and around the world,&quot; the company&#39;s press office said. 
 
FAS said it was looking into the idea that Apple had somehow obliged Russian resellers to treat its recommended product prices as mandatory. It said an investigation had shown that retailers had set identical prices and kept them at that level for a certain time period, including for other models. 
 
FAS has the power to fine firms it finds guilty of price-fixing. 
 
(Reuters)

The Russian state watchdog had opened a case after a consumer pointed out identical prices had been set for the 6s and 6s Plus models

Apple on Tuesday rejected allegations from Russia's state competition watchdog it may have been involved in fixing prices for iPhones, saying resellers set their own prices. Apple reacted a day after Russia's Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) said it had opened a case into the allegations after a consumer had pointed out that identical prices had been set for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models, which appeared in Russia in October 2015, at 16 major resellers. Apple, in emailed comments, said it did not oblige Russian resellers to fix prices for its products. "Resellers set their own prices for the Apple products they sell in Russia and around the world," the company's press office said. FAS said it was looking into the idea that Apple had somehow obliged Russian resellers to treat its recommended product prices as mandatory. It said an investigation had shown that retailers had set identical prices and kept them at that level for a certain time period, including for other models. FAS has the power to fine firms it finds guilty of price-fixing. (Reuters)

Apple dismisses iPhone price-fixing allegations in Russia

A Chinese human rights activist was on Friday given a three-year suspended prison sentence for subversion, state media said, the fourth such case this week as authorities crack down on dissent. 
 
Christian activist Gou Hongguo had gone abroad to be trained in &quot;subverting state power&quot;, the Second Intermediate People&#39;s Court in the northern city of Tianjin said Friday on a verified social media account. He also sought to turn public opinion against the government and attempted to overthrow the socialist system, among a litany of other offences, it said. 
 
He was given three years in prison, suspended for three years, the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that he had pleaded guilty and said he would not appeal. 
 
The sentence is relatively light by the standards of dissident trials in China, where the courts are controlled by the ruling Communist party. Gou, who had protested against forced evictions, was one of more than 200 activists and lawyers involved in cases the Communist party considers sensitive who were detained in the so-called &quot;709 crackdown&quot;, named for its main date in July 2015. 
 
Gou&#39;s trial was the fourth at the Tianjin court this week&nbsp;and followed that of high-profile rights lawyer Zhou Shifeng,&nbsp;whose Fengrui law firm, known for taking on cases of dissident scholars, victims of sexual abuse and members of banned religious groups has been at the centre of the 709 crackdown. 
 
Zhou was on Thursday given seven years in prison for subversion. Activist Zhai Yanmin was on Tuesday handed a three-year suspended sentence for crimes that included waving banners and shouting slogans, while Hu Shigen, a Christian campaigner who was a member of the same underground church as Gou, was jailed for seven and a half years on Wednesday. 
 
Campaign groups have condemned the trials, and US State Department spokesman Mark Turner said the charges were &quot;vague and apparently politically motivated&quot;. 
 
&quot;It&rsquo;s troubling that Chinese authorities denied these defendants access to their chosen counsel and family members as well,&quot; he said. &quot;We urge China to release all the lawyers and activists who were detained on July 9th, 2015, and remove restrictions on their freedom of movement and professional activities.&quot; 
 
Authorities insist the Tianjin trials are open, with the court stating that about 40 people including politicians, legal scholars, and &ldquo;civilian representatives from all walks of life&rdquo;, as well as mainland and foreign media outlets, were present at Gou&#39;s proceedings. But family members of those detained, particularly their wives, complain of being constantly surveilled and forcibly being kept away from the court or barred from seeking further information. 
 
Gou&#39;s wife Fan Lili went to the courthouse earlier this week, falling to the ground outside the building weeping, saying she had not been informed of her husband&#39;s trial date and had not been allowed in. Watched by scores of police and plainclothes officers, she reportedly pleaded for him to come home and meet his 16-month-old son for the first time. 
 
(AFP)

Campaign groups condemned the trials. US State Department spokesman Mark Turner said they were 'vague and apparently politically motivated'

A Chinese human rights activist was on Friday given a three-year suspended prison sentence for subversion, state media said, the fourth such case this week as authorities crack down on dissent. Christian activist Gou Hongguo had gone abroad to be trained in "subverting state power", the Second Intermediate People's Court in the northern city of Tianjin said Friday on a verified social media account. He also sought to turn public opinion against the government and attempted to overthrow the socialist system, among a litany of other offences, it said. He was given three years in prison, suspended for three years, the official Xinhua news agency said, adding that he had pleaded guilty and said he would not appeal. The sentence is relatively light by the standards of dissident trials in China, where the courts are controlled by the ruling Communist party. Gou, who had protested against forced evictions, was one of more than 200 activists and lawyers involved in cases the Communist party considers sensitive who were detained in the so-called "709 crackdown", named for its main date in July 2015. Gou's trial was the fourth at the Tianjin court this week and followed that of high-profile rights lawyer Zhou Shifeng, whose Fengrui law firm, known for taking on cases of dissident scholars, victims of sexual abuse and members of banned religious groups has been at the centre of the 709 crackdown. Zhou was on Thursday given seven years in prison for subversion. Activist Zhai Yanmin was on Tuesday handed a three-year suspended sentence for crimes that included waving banners and shouting slogans, while Hu Shigen, a Christian campaigner who was a member of the same underground church as Gou, was jailed for seven and a half years on Wednesday. Campaign groups have condemned the trials, and US State Department spokesman Mark Turner said the charges were "vague and apparently politically motivated". "It’s troubling that Chinese authorities denied these defendants access to their chosen counsel and family members as well," he said. "We urge China to release all the lawyers and activists who were detained on July 9th, 2015, and remove restrictions on their freedom of movement and professional activities." Authorities insist the Tianjin trials are open, with the court stating that about 40 people including politicians, legal scholars, and “civilian representatives from all walks of life”, as well as mainland and foreign media outlets, were present at Gou's proceedings. But family members of those detained, particularly their wives, complain of being constantly surveilled and forcibly being kept away from the court or barred from seeking further information. Gou's wife Fan Lili went to the courthouse earlier this week, falling to the ground outside the building weeping, saying she had not been informed of her husband's trial date and had not been allowed in. Watched by scores of police and plainclothes officers, she reportedly pleaded for him to come home and meet his 16-month-old son for the first time. (AFP)

China puts activist on trial, 4th case in 4 days

A 26-year-old Dalit man on Thursday died in police custody under suspicious circumstances in Kanpur, following which twelve police personnel have been suspended. 
 
Kamal Valmiki, a resident of Shiv Katra village, was found dead at Ahirwan police station on Thursday afternoon after he was picked up along with another man, Raju Mistri, Wednesday in a case of loot. 
 
Police called the family of Mistri to identify the body, which was later claimed by Kamal&#39;s family. 
 
The family members of the deceased filed an FIR against the station in charge and other police personnel for beating Kamal to death. However, police claimed he had committed suicide and sent the body for postmortem. 
 
&quot;Twelve police personnel, including the station in charge Yogendra Singh, have been suspended and strict action will be taken against them if found guilty,&quot; SSP, Mathura, Shalabh Mathur said 
 
The members of Valmiki community blocked the Kanpur-Lucknow highway and threw stones at the police station, following which senior police officials reached there to control the situation.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Raju Mistri has been reported missing. 
 
(DNA)

Kamal Valmiki was found dead at Ahirwan police station on Thursday afternoon under suspicious circumstances

A 26-year-old Dalit man on Thursday died in police custody under suspicious circumstances in Kanpur, following which twelve police personnel have been suspended. Kamal Valmiki, a resident of Shiv Katra village, was found dead at Ahirwan police station on Thursday afternoon after he was picked up along with another man, Raju Mistri, Wednesday in a case of loot. Police called the family of Mistri to identify the body, which was later claimed by Kamal's family. The family members of the deceased filed an FIR against the station in charge and other police personnel for beating Kamal to death. However, police claimed he had committed suicide and sent the body for postmortem. "Twelve police personnel, including the station in charge Yogendra Singh, have been suspended and strict action will be taken against them if found guilty," SSP, Mathura, Shalabh Mathur said The members of Valmiki community blocked the Kanpur-Lucknow highway and threw stones at the police station, following which senior police officials reached there to control the situation. Meanwhile, Raju Mistri has been reported missing. (DNA)

Dalit man dies in police custody in India's Kanpur

Former Pakistani dictator General Pervez Musharraf owned more properties under defence housing schemes than previously thought, a media report said on Tuesday, days after a top court ordered authorities to confiscate his bank accounts and property. 
 
The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) confirmed three bungalows were named after the 72-year-old former president, who is currently said to be in Dubai for purported medical treatment. 
 
The DHA wrote a letter to the district and session court confirming their presence, Geo News reported. 
 
According to details in the letter, Musharraf has a 2000-yard bungalow in Phase 8, Defence. He also owns two plots in DHA phase 8, DHA stated.&nbsp;However DHA has remained silent over a bungalow in Army Housing Scheme which is considered one of the main properties of the former military dictator. 
 
Quoting sources in DHA, the report said that Musharraf in fact has two properties in Army Housing Scheme, something that even the court was unaware of. 
 
District Judge South (Karachi) Nazir Amin Memon had initiated action based on the Special Court judge&#39;s ruling on July 19, in which the court had ordered freezing of Musharraf&#39;s assets and properties. 
 
The district judge had ordered seizing of four bungalows belonging to the former president for not appearing before it during proceedings of a high treason case despite repeated notices. 
 
The district judge in a letter had asked the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to take action and submit a response in three days over the matter. 
 
Musharraf flew to Dubai in March for purported medical treatment after the Supreme Court lifted the ban on his foreign trips and it is believed that he may never return to face a slew of several high-profile cases against him. 
 
The Special Court in one of its previous rulings had declared ex-president Musharraf a &#39;proclaimed offender&#39;. 
 
In March 2014, Musharraf was formally indicted over treason charges for imposing emergency and the Provisional Constitutional Order on November 3, 2007. 
 
Musharraf came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposing then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, he resigned as president and went into self-imposed exile in Dubai. 
 
He returned in 2013 to contest elections but was implicated in several high-profile cases. He is facing trial in illegal detention of judges in 2007. Musharraf has also been charged in connection with the 2007 assassination of prime minister Benazir Bhutto.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

A Special Court's ruling on July 19 had ordered freezing of Musharraf's properties for failing to appear in a high treason case

Former Pakistani dictator General Pervez Musharraf owned more properties under defence housing schemes than previously thought, a media report said on Tuesday, days after a top court ordered authorities to confiscate his bank accounts and property. The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) confirmed three bungalows were named after the 72-year-old former president, who is currently said to be in Dubai for purported medical treatment. The DHA wrote a letter to the district and session court confirming their presence, Geo News reported. According to details in the letter, Musharraf has a 2000-yard bungalow in Phase 8, Defence. He also owns two plots in DHA phase 8, DHA stated. However DHA has remained silent over a bungalow in Army Housing Scheme which is considered one of the main properties of the former military dictator. Quoting sources in DHA, the report said that Musharraf in fact has two properties in Army Housing Scheme, something that even the court was unaware of. District Judge South (Karachi) Nazir Amin Memon had initiated action based on the Special Court judge's ruling on July 19, in which the court had ordered freezing of Musharraf's assets and properties. The district judge had ordered seizing of four bungalows belonging to the former president for not appearing before it during proceedings of a high treason case despite repeated notices. The district judge in a letter had asked the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to take action and submit a response in three days over the matter. Musharraf flew to Dubai in March for purported medical treatment after the Supreme Court lifted the ban on his foreign trips and it is believed that he may never return to face a slew of several high-profile cases against him. The Special Court in one of its previous rulings had declared ex-president Musharraf a 'proclaimed offender'. In March 2014, Musharraf was formally indicted over treason charges for imposing emergency and the Provisional Constitutional Order on November 3, 2007. Musharraf came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, deposing then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Facing impeachment following elections in 2008, he resigned as president and went into self-imposed exile in Dubai. He returned in 2013 to contest elections but was implicated in several high-profile cases. He is facing trial in illegal detention of judges in 2007. Musharraf has also been charged in connection with the 2007 assassination of prime minister Benazir Bhutto. (PTI)

Musharraf owns more properties than known: Report

At least 24 people were injured in an explosion on a train in Taiwan&#39;s capital late Thursday, in an incident described by the island&#39;s premier as &quot;malicious&quot;. 
 
The blast at around 10 pm (1400 GMT) caused a small fire and plunged the carriage into darkness as the train was pulling into a station in Taipei. 
 
&quot;It looks like somebody did this with a malicious intent and we will fully investigate this case,&quot; Taiwan&#39;s premier Lin Chuan told reporters. 
 
Local media quoted eyewitnesses saying they had seen a man carry a black rectangle-shaped object onto the train.&nbsp;Police were reviewing surveillance footage to try and identify the man, but also said that they had not received any threats prior to the incident. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s something like a firecracker that exploded ... I saw a rectangle-shaped firecracker on the seat. We will explain more after the forensics team inspect (the scene),&quot; said National Police Agency chief Chen Kuo-en. 
 
Television footage showed emergency workers treating injured passengers outside the train station, most of them suffering from burns. 
 
&quot;There was a blast and the carriage went dark. People were panicking and screaming,&quot; one passenger told a local news channel.&nbsp;&quot;I saw fire from the lights and I heard a sound and my hair was on fire,&quot; another woman said. 
 
Images from inside the train carriage showed shattered glass on the floor and part of a side wall blackened by flames.&nbsp;&quot;I want to tell the public to rest assured, as we have heightened the alert for the security of public areas and transport systems,&quot; premier Lin told reporters after he had visited the injured in hospital. 
 
The government set up an emergency taskforce to investigate the cause and a police probe is underway, his office also said in a statement.&nbsp;In 2014 a college student killed four people in a stabbing sprees on the Taipei metro, shocking the island and prompting a security overhaul of the city&#39;s public transport systems. 
 
(AFP)

It looks like somebody did this with a malicious intent and we will fully investigate this case: Taiwan's premier, Lin Chuan

At least 24 people were injured in an explosion on a train in Taiwan's capital late Thursday, in an incident described by the island's premier as "malicious". The blast at around 10 pm (1400 GMT) caused a small fire and plunged the carriage into darkness as the train was pulling into a station in Taipei. "It looks like somebody did this with a malicious intent and we will fully investigate this case," Taiwan's premier Lin Chuan told reporters. Local media quoted eyewitnesses saying they had seen a man carry a black rectangle-shaped object onto the train. Police were reviewing surveillance footage to try and identify the man, but also said that they had not received any threats prior to the incident. "It's something like a firecracker that exploded ... I saw a rectangle-shaped firecracker on the seat. We will explain more after the forensics team inspect (the scene)," said National Police Agency chief Chen Kuo-en. Television footage showed emergency workers treating injured passengers outside the train station, most of them suffering from burns. "There was a blast and the carriage went dark. People were panicking and screaming," one passenger told a local news channel. "I saw fire from the lights and I heard a sound and my hair was on fire," another woman said. Images from inside the train carriage showed shattered glass on the floor and part of a side wall blackened by flames. "I want to tell the public to rest assured, as we have heightened the alert for the security of public areas and transport systems," premier Lin told reporters after he had visited the injured in hospital. The government set up an emergency taskforce to investigate the cause and a police probe is underway, his office also said in a statement. In 2014 a college student killed four people in a stabbing sprees on the Taipei metro, shocking the island and prompting a security overhaul of the city's public transport systems. (AFP)

Explosion on Taiwan train, at least 24 injured

US actor John Malkovich took French daily Le Monde and two of its journalists to court on Friday for defamation over a report alleging that he held a secret Swiss bank account. 
 
Dangerous Liaisons star Malkovich is suing the paper over two articles published in February about the tax evasion scheme run by British banking giant HSBC out of its Swiss affiliate. 
 
Malkovich, 62, was among several celebrities listed by Le Monde among the &quot;elite tax evaders&quot; to have had a secret Swiss account between 2005 and 2007 - a claim Malkovich has rejected. 
 
&quot;Not only did John Malkovich not defraud tax authorities&quot;, he &quot;never had an account with HSBC&quot;, Julia Minkowski, one of his lawyers, told a Paris court. 
 
The only Swiss account he ever had was a securities portfolio with a bank that was later bought by HSBC, Minkowski added. 
 
The actor had declared that account to US tax authorities before closing it on November 30, 1999, a month before the creation of HSBC&#39;s Swiss private banking arm, she said. 
 
Herve Temime, another of the actor&#39;s lawyers, said Le Monde&#39;s linking of the actor to the Swissleaks revelations was &quot;shameful&quot;, calling his client a &quot;man of great integrity&quot;. 
 
Prosecutor Annabelle Philippe rapped the two journalists who authored the report, and who were absent from the proceedings, for not having the &quot;decency to come and recognise the lack of professionalism of their investigation&quot;. 
 
Le Monde&#39;s lawyer Christophe Bigot, for his part, accused Malkovich of &quot;creating a fuss&quot; despite having had an account &quot;in a discreet little bank in a country (that was) uncooperative&quot; with other countries on tax matters. 
 
The court will rule on the case in October. 
 
(AFP)

The Hollywood actor took two journalists to court for alleging he held a secret Swiss bank account

US actor John Malkovich took French daily Le Monde and two of its journalists to court on Friday for defamation over a report alleging that he held a secret Swiss bank account. Dangerous Liaisons star Malkovich is suing the paper over two articles published in February about the tax evasion scheme run by British banking giant HSBC out of its Swiss affiliate. Malkovich, 62, was among several celebrities listed by Le Monde among the "elite tax evaders" to have had a secret Swiss account between 2005 and 2007 - a claim Malkovich has rejected. "Not only did John Malkovich not defraud tax authorities", he "never had an account with HSBC", Julia Minkowski, one of his lawyers, told a Paris court. The only Swiss account he ever had was a securities portfolio with a bank that was later bought by HSBC, Minkowski added. The actor had declared that account to US tax authorities before closing it on November 30, 1999, a month before the creation of HSBC's Swiss private banking arm, she said. Herve Temime, another of the actor's lawyers, said Le Monde's linking of the actor to the Swissleaks revelations was "shameful", calling his client a "man of great integrity". Prosecutor Annabelle Philippe rapped the two journalists who authored the report, and who were absent from the proceedings, for not having the "decency to come and recognise the lack of professionalism of their investigation". Le Monde's lawyer Christophe Bigot, for his part, accused Malkovich of "creating a fuss" despite having had an account "in a discreet little bank in a country (that was) uncooperative" with other countries on tax matters. The court will rule on the case in October. (AFP)

John Malkovich a 'man of integrity', French court told lawyer in defamation case

The Belgian data protection authority lost a legal battle with Facebook on Wednesday in which it sought to stop the company from tracking online activities of non-Facebook users in Belgium who visit the site&#39;s pages. 
 
The Belgian Privacy Commission said that the Brussels Appeals Court had dismissed its case on the grounds that the regulator has no jurisdiction over Facebook Inc, which has its European headquarters in Ireland. 
 
That marks a victory for the US company, which staunchly maintained that only the Irish Data Protection Commissioner has jurisdiction over how it uses Europeans&#39; data. 
 
Facebook has had run-ins with a number of European privacy watchdogs over its use of user generated data. 
 
Belgium&#39;s data protection regulator took Facebook to court a year ago, accusing it of violating EU privacy law by tracking people without a Facebook account without their consent. 
 
The court ruled in favour of the regulator and ordered Facebook to stop tracking non-Facebook users when they visited a Facebook page or face a 250,000 euros ($277,000) fine per day. 
 
Facebook appealed the ruling. In the meantime, it said it would comply and stop using the so-called &#39;datr&#39; cookie which it places on user&#39;s browsers when they visit a Facebook.com site or click a Facebook &#39;Like&#39; button on other websites, allowing it to track the online activities of that browser. 
 
&quot;We are pleased with the court&#39;s decision and look forward to bringing all our services back online for the people in Belgium,&quot; a Facebook spokeswoman said. 
 
The Belgian regulator said it would look into launching a final appeal with the Court of Cassation, which can throw out previous judgments but not deliver new ones. 
 
&quot;Today&#39;s decision simply and purely means that the Belgian citizen cannot obtain the protection of his private life through the courts and tribunals when it concerns foreign actors,&quot; the regulator said in a statement. 
 
It added that the Court of Cassation had previously overruled the Court of Appeal on matters of jurisdiction over foreign companies. 
 
&quot;Thus the citizen is also exposed to massive violations of private life,&quot; said Willem Debeuckelaere, president of the Belgian privacy commission. 
 
The Brussels appeals court also threw out the Belgian privacy commission&#39;s claim that the case was urgent and required expedited procedure. 
 
(Reuters)

The Belgian body had sought to prevent Facebook from accessing data on non-Facebook users in the country via it's datr cookie

The Belgian data protection authority lost a legal battle with Facebook on Wednesday in which it sought to stop the company from tracking online activities of non-Facebook users in Belgium who visit the site's pages. The Belgian Privacy Commission said that the Brussels Appeals Court had dismissed its case on the grounds that the regulator has no jurisdiction over Facebook Inc, which has its European headquarters in Ireland. That marks a victory for the US company, which staunchly maintained that only the Irish Data Protection Commissioner has jurisdiction over how it uses Europeans' data. Facebook has had run-ins with a number of European privacy watchdogs over its use of user generated data. Belgium's data protection regulator took Facebook to court a year ago, accusing it of violating EU privacy law by tracking people without a Facebook account without their consent. The court ruled in favour of the regulator and ordered Facebook to stop tracking non-Facebook users when they visited a Facebook page or face a 250,000 euros ($277,000) fine per day. Facebook appealed the ruling. In the meantime, it said it would comply and stop using the so-called 'datr' cookie which it places on user's browsers when they visit a Facebook.com site or click a Facebook 'Like' button on other websites, allowing it to track the online activities of that browser. "We are pleased with the court's decision and look forward to bringing all our services back online for the people in Belgium," a Facebook spokeswoman said. The Belgian regulator said it would look into launching a final appeal with the Court of Cassation, which can throw out previous judgments but not deliver new ones. "Today's decision simply and purely means that the Belgian citizen cannot obtain the protection of his private life through the courts and tribunals when it concerns foreign actors," the regulator said in a statement. It added that the Court of Cassation had previously overruled the Court of Appeal on matters of jurisdiction over foreign companies. "Thus the citizen is also exposed to massive violations of private life," said Willem Debeuckelaere, president of the Belgian privacy commission. The Brussels appeals court also threw out the Belgian privacy commission's claim that the case was urgent and required expedited procedure. (Reuters)

Facebook wins privacy case against Belgian data protection authority

case

Case, News on Case, stories on Case, articles on Case, Case stories at Wion, Case news, Case latest news