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A nightmare – Nunavuts annual suicide numbers
APTN National NewsNunavut’s annual suicide numbers are in and to put it simply – it’s a nightmare.A record number of people killed themselves this past year in Nunavut.APTN’s Kent Driscoll has the numbers and the response from Iqaluit.
Traditional food sources help offset high grocery bills in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug
APTN National NewsWith the high cost shipping people living in northern and remote communities struggle with expensive grocery bills.APTN’s Delaney Windigo is in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation and has a story of one family using traditional methods to offset those costs in northern Ontario.
Face to Face Graphic novelist speaks about tackling heavy subjects in a
Dennis WardFace to FaceGrowing up in Winnipeg, David Alexander Robertson never learned about his Indigenous culture and heritage in school.But he’s trying to make sure that is not the case for the next generation.The award winning graphic novelist has close to 20 titles under his belt.All can be used as teaching tools in the classroom. We speak with Robertson about tackling heavy subjects such as residential schools, MMIW and suicide in a medium that appeals to youth.dward@aptn.ca
Indigenous man sick from kidney ailment booted off Greyhound bus called drunk
John Murray APTN National NewsBarry Spence is an electrician who lives in the small town of Thompson, Man.He also suffers from kidney problems and the nearest health service centre to deal with his ailment is 700 km south in Winnipeg.He took a greyhound bus recently to a medical appointment for his kidneys.What happened on his way home left him shocked and alone at 4 a.m. on the side of the highway.
Activists question why Montreal police released Inuk woman into industrial area at
Tom FennarioAPTN NewsOfficials who work with Indigenous people in Montreal are asking why an Inuk woman was released by police at midnight on a Friday in an industrial area of the city.Mina Aculiak was in Montreal getting treatment of an injury she sustained after being run over by a police car in her home community of Umiujaq, Nunavik.Police say she was arrested after causing a disturbance at the hospital.After being released, Aculiak disappeared for five days.tfennario@aptn.ca@tfennario
Metis Nation of Ontario put on year probation ordered to rescind communities
Darrell StrangerAPTN NewsThe Metis National Council (MNC) has adopted a resolution to put the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) on a one year probation following the organization grandfathering in non Metis citizens and six Metis communities where the Metis National Council only recognizes one.“So we’re at the stage it’s up to the Metis Nation leadership in Ontario to comply if they can meet the conditions then there’s no issue,” said MNC President Clement Chartier.“If they can’t it’s not an issue for us.”Some of the resolutions include, a committee of the MNC board of governors is going to be established to organize a registry review of all MNO members, and the MNO rescind its declaration of the six new historic Metis communities.The MNO has one year to adopt the re-admission resolutions.MNO President Margaret Froh said she doesn’t see a problem with meeting these requirements, but she isn’t happy about it.“I think in particular when making this kind of decision I would prefer our assembly had all the information and had the time to be able to really consider properly,” she said. “That being said the will of the assembly has been essentially the Metis nation of Ontario was being provided with a year to provide some clarity around some of the points they’ve raised.”The MNC said if the MNO doesn’t meet the deadlines and requirements, it will be suspended.dstranger@aptn.ca@darrellstranger
Iqaluit mayor will not run in fall municipal election encourages more Inuit
Kent DriscollAPTN NewsIqaluit Mayor Madeleine Redfern will not run for another term in the Nunavut capital’s upcoming election this fall.The outgoing mayor made the announcement Tuesday at a council meeting and then posted her statement to social media.She referenced Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo’s fall from power as a Liberal cabinet minister to an independent MP as one of the big challenges she and her city faced, saying she had to learn to lobby the federal government herself.For much of her time as mayor Redfern has been the only woman on council.In her message to council and to her constituents on Tuesday, she urged more women to run for public office.“Our views matter,” she told APTN News. “We have a lot of very smart, capable Inuit and especially a lot of very smart capable, educated Inuit women, that should feel confident and comfortable being able to step up.“We need to make sure that this is a safe place — as well that you’re not going to come into this room and be bullied…or receive sexist or misogynistic type of comments.”kdriscoll@aptn.ca@KentDriscoll
Barrick Gold swings to loss in third quarter on lower sales and
TORONTO – Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX) says lower gold production and a hit on sales from its Tanzanian operations pushed the mining giant to a net loss in the third quarter.The Toronto-based miner says it had a net loss of US$11 million or a penny per share for the quarter, compared with net earnings of US$175 million or 15 cents per share a year earlier.Barrick says overall gold production came in at 1.24 million ounces, compared with 1.38 million for the third quarter last year.The company, which owns 64 per cent of Tanzania-focused Acacia Mining, is embroiled in a tax and refining dispute with the government there that it says affected its gold sales.Last week, Barrick said it had reached a resolution to the impasse that would include Acacia paying US$300 million to Tanzania and transferring to the government a 16 per cent interest in its three gold mines. The deal still needs to be approved by Acacia.Barrick says net earnings for the third quarter were impacted by a tax provision of US$172 million related to the proposed deal.
Feds urged auditors to refocus Aboriginal jobs program review documents show
OTTAWA – Federal officials asked the auditor general earlier this year to adjust the scope of his review of a key Indigenous skills training program, fearful the audit would miss its mark.Michael Ferguson’s teams are focused on how effective two Indigenous employment programs are at helping people find work — a measure that Employment and Social Development Canada argued takes too narrow a view.In a July 14 letter sent to the lead auditor, a department official argued a change in focus was needed because zeroing in on whether participants got jobs “may not fully consider the objectives of the Indigenous labour market programs.”The letter urged Ferguson’s team to change its audit plan to “reflect the objective of continuous growth and learning,” reads the letter obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.The documents say the department expected to get its first look at the preliminary report this week.A spokesman for Ferguson said the letter is part of regular discussions about an audit’s design to make sure the findings and recommendations are useful for the government.“Ultimately, in accordance with our regular audit process, we obtain acknowledgment of the suitability of the criteria used in each audit from the audited entity’s management,” Vincent Frigon said in an email.Neither Frigon nor the department would say what happened after the concerns were raised, citing confidentiality until the audit is public.Ferguson’s auditors are looking at how the department managed, delivered, and monitored programs, but also how it has reported results since April 2010, almost a year after the Aboriginal skills and employment training strategy and the Skills and Partnership Fund were launched.The department says that over the last seven years, both programs have helped over 350,000 Indigenous people, with almost 133,000 landing a job and more than 60,000 going back to school.The strategy is set to expire in the coming months and the Liberals have promised to have a new program in place by April, a few weeks before Ferguson’s review is expected to come out in May.Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups, such as schools, have also argued that a new jobs strategy should provide more money for groups delivering training programs and focus on the fast-growing cohort of Indigenous youth.A key request from Indigenous groups is to shift the focus to building employment skills, including for those already in the workforce, rather than measuring success by whether someone in the program lands a job.The government expects that over the next decade, about 400,000 young Aboriginals will join the workforce, adding to the almost 900,000 already of working age.
Report Obama in discussions to produce shows for Netflix
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Netflix shares surged to an all-time high following the news that Barack Obama and Netflix reportedly are negotiating a deal for the former president and his wife, Michelle, to produce shows exclusively for the streaming service.The proposed deal was reported Friday by The New York Times, which cited people familiar with the discussions who were not identified.The report sent shares to an all-time high of $326.74 earlier. The Los Gatos, California, company’s stock reached $326.07 in afternoon trading, marking a gain of nearly 3 per cent.Netflix did not respond for a request for comment. Obama spokeswoman Katie Hill declined comment on the report.Obama senior adviser Eric Schultz, in a statement provided to The Associated Press, said the Obamas believe in the power of storytelling to inspire.Schultz said the couple continues to explore new ways to help others share their stories.The New York Times reported that Obama doesn’t intend to use his Netflix shows to respond directly to President Donald Trump or conservative critics.
China strengthens foothold in EU with Portugal agreements
LISBON, Portugal — Portugal is embracing China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, which offers loans for the building of large-scale infrastructure projects.Despite wariness in other European Union capitals about Beijing’s strategy, the Portuguese government has wholeheartedly endorsed the scheme during a 24-hour state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.The two countries signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding on co-operation within China’s modern Silk Road initiative, with special emphasis on transport connections and energy.Xi described Portugal as “an important hub in the land and maritime silk routes.”The Portuguese government wants China to help develop Portugal’s biggest Atlantic port and expand national energy company Energias de Portugal overseas, among other things.The two countries signed 17 co-operation agreements. They included deals on joint technological research in the energy and communications sectors.The Associated Press
Bernier unhappy with Attorney Generals report on proportional representation
VICTORIA, B.C. — Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier says he’s not happy about some of the recommendations made by Attorney General David Eby in a report on the upcoming provincial referendum on proportional representation, which is due out this fall.Bernier said that the report shows that the NDP has “stacked the deck” in favour of B.C. residents to vote in favour of the province adopting proportional representation during the upcoming referendum. Bernier, who has come out against getting rid of the current First Past The Post system, claims that Premier John Horgan broke a promise after saying that the referendum would consist of a simple ‘yes or no’ question.“They broke their promise on how they were going to do this referendum. Now they’ve made it more rigged where its really convoluted and confusing for people. They have not provided any time for groups to really formulate and understand what it’s about. There’s no maps that are showing how the boundaries might change. It’s a completely manipulated process.” Bernier said he feels that the current timeline that has been adopted by the provincial government is too short. He said that the previous Liberal government allowed for over a year ahead of the last referendum on electoral reform, which was held in conjunction with the 2009 provincial election. During that referendum, just under 61 percent of voters rejected the proposal for the province to switch to the Single Transferable Vote method of voting. That referendum followed on the heels of another referendum during the 2005 election, when 57 percent of residents voted in favour of STV, which was below the required threshold. Bernier also says that during previous referendums, there have been regional thresholds that have meant that the referendum would not pass if the initiative did not receive enough favourable votes in rural areas of the the province. He added that the NDP have not set any minimum thresholds for different regions, meaning that rural areas of B.C. could be out-voted based simply on the number of eligible voters who live in the Lower Mainland.
RCMP send Underwater Recover Team to Gillam in search for Northern BC
There will be no access to media of the dive area or to the divers.Updates will continue to be provided by News Release and on the Manitoba RCMP social media accounts.GILLAM, M.B. – Manitoba RCMP are sending an underwater recovery team to the Nelson River near Gillam.The RCMP are still searching for the Gillam area for Bryer Schemeglsky and Kam McLeod. The two were last seen in the area on July 22, 2019.The RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team will arrive in Gillam Saturday night and will start searching the Nelson River on Sunday.There is no official word on why the dive team was called in, but a reporter with the Globe and Mail tweeted the following. While driving north from Fox Lake Cree Nation on PR 290 this aft @RenataDAliesio and I were turned back by RCMP. A rowboat the police found banged up in the Nelson River May have spurred them to bring in a dive team. Renata’s story: https://t.co/9QAdL2ZI57#canadamanhunt pic.twitter.com/5wwEwsM8GG— Melissa Tait (@meltait) August 4, 2019The RCMP say members of the team are highly trained and have access to a range of advanced equipment to assist in their underwater searches.Earlier this week the RCMP announced they would scall back the search for Schmegelsky and McLeod in Northern Manitoba. In the next Province, the OPP have been investigating several tips that the pair is now in that Province. So far the OPP have not been able to confirm the tips. UPDATE – As the search for Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmeglsky continues, we are able to provide the following update.On Friday afternoon, RCMP officers searching from a helicopter, located a damaged aluminum boat on the shore of the Nelson River.Based on this new information, five members of the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team (URT) were immediately deployed. They arrived in Gillam on Saturday, August 3rd, and are expected to conduct a thorough underwater search of significant areas of interest today.
Police continue to stress, that if you believe you’ve seen Kam McLeod and Bryer Schemelsky, contact your local police department immediately or 911. Sightings have been posted to social media before being shared with the RCMP, that has caused delays in the investigation.According to MyGrandePrairieNow.com, the RCMP have confirmed the pair were seen in a Fairview Gas Station on July 20. The sighting was not reported to the RCMP until several days later. This is the second confirmed sighting of the pair in Alberta.The last confirmed sighting of the pair was on July 22 in Gillam Manitoba. The pair are wanted in connection with three homicides in Northern B.C. that all occurred during the week of July 15, 2019.
Yes middle class is shrinking that too around world Study
Paris: Middle-income households are disappearing in developed countries around the world, according to a new study by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The study, titled “Under Pressure: The Squeezed Middle Class”, laid out a litany of problems affecting middle-income households, warning that “this could have serious consequences for nations’ economic growth and social fabric”, CNN reported on Thursday. Also Read – Thermal coal import may surpass 200 MT this fiscal”Today the middle class looks increasingly like a boat in rocky waters,” OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría said in a statement. “Governments must listen to people’s concerns and protect and promote middle-class living standards.” According to the study, the share of people in middle-income households in developed countries fell from 64 per cent in the mid-1980s to only 61 per cent by the mid-2010s. However the declines were larger in several countries, including the US, Israel, Germany, Canada, Finland and Sweden, it added. Also Read – Food grain output seen at 140.57 mt in current fiscal on monsoon boostIn the US, just over 50 per cent of the population is middle class, much smaller than most other developed countries. The report considers households earning between 75 per cent and 200 per cent of the median national income as middle class. Rising income inequality is part of the reason for the trend. Over the past 30 years, median incomes in OECD countries increased a third less than the average income of the richest 10 per cent, the report found. At the same time, costs are going up faster than inflation in the world’s richest economies – making it harder for the middle class to keep up. Home prices, in particular, have been growing more than a third faster than median household income in recent decades. The middle class spent 32 per cent of their budgets on housing in 2015, compared to 25% in 1985. In the study, the OECD offers some suggestions for addressing the middle class squeeze, many of which match the talking points of progressive US candidates, CNN reported. They include lowering taxes on the middle class and increasing them on the wealthy, developing more affordable housing, helping young adults build wealth, containing the cost of education, child care and health and improving workers’ skills and training.
Falling NPAs may give a 60bps booster shot to GDP this fiscal
Mumbai: The rise in banks’ profitability, thanks to a steady decline in dud assets, can give a 0.60- percent boost to GDP in fiscal 2020, says a report. This will be possible due to the rise in profits on the back of a decline in credit costs, which is the money that banks set aside to deal with bad loans, will help banks lend more money to productive purposes, it said. “The fall in credit costs implies a positive supply impact of 1.40 percent to credit growth, which can boost real investment growth by 2 percent and real GDP growth by 0.60 percent financial year,” a report by American brokerage Goldman Sachs said Monday. Also Read – Thermal coal import may surpass 200 MT this fiscalThe Reserve Bank earlier this month pegged FY20 GDP print at 7.2 percent, down 20 bps from its February forecast. The brokerage estimates credit costs as a proportion of the total outstanding loans will nearly halve to 1.20 percent in FY20 from the peak of 2.30 percent in FY18. In absolute terms, the fall will be to the tune of Rs 1.9 lakh crore from Rs 3.3 lakh crore. Credit growth has already been coming in at a multi- year high for the last few fortnights, and printed at 13.24 per cent for the fortnight to March 29. Also Read – Food grain output seen at 140.57 mt in current fiscal on monsoon boostThe brokerage report said for the past nine years, the banking system has grappled with non-performing assets, where ballooning credit costs impaired their capital, constrained credit supply, and was associated with a decline in credit and investment growth. Improvements in credit supply will now more likely stem from an improvement in banks’ profitability on a normalisation of bank credit costs, it said. This will be achieved on the back of more benign trends in stress loans and the healthier NPA provisioning ratios that “proactive policies have engendered over the past two years”, it said. The report said boost to credit growth can be higher if credit costs are lower, banks continue to substitute away from bonds into credit to the real economy, or raise more capital than the baseline. However, on the flipside, growth can be impacted by up to 0.15 percent if some of the assumptions do not come true, it warned.
Eyeing the European Crown
An impressive UCL campaign has seen Barcelona end their quarter-final curse (2016-2018) and reach the 8th semi-final in the last 12 years. As the only European giant standing in the elite competition, Barcelona is pipped as favourites to lift the trophy for the 6th time. Subduing Inter and Spurs in the group stage and Lyon in last 16, Barça were matched against Manchester United in a rematch of the two UCL finals (2009, 2011). And, similar to those finals, Barcelona triumphed owing to the brilliance of their talisman Lionel Messi who is in dazzling form leading the scoring charts with ten goals. Barcelona’s balanced performance in attack, midfield, defence as well as a calm and cautious goalkeeper means it would be an apt test of Liverpool’s overly attacking gameplay. They have conceded less and Camp Nou’s effectively a fortress with Barça unbeaten in Europe since 2013. Drawn against second favourites Liverpool means this semi-final will be a goal fest given the firepower both sides possess. Barça possesses the flair, experience, and vision to make it to Madrid but will have to be careful given the scintillating form the Reds are in. Also Read – Puducherry on top after 8-wkt win over Chandigarh Gameplay: Possession, high-press and pace on the break remain Barça’s dominant traits. Their mesmerising momentum shift, sharp passing, crisp one-twos, delicate through-balls and devastating long balls are capable of unlocking any defence. Key Players: Lionel Messi and Luis SuárezMemories of the final defeat last season to Real Madrid must have brought a horde of realisations and ensuing improvisations – strengthening defence for starters. Liverpool possesses the deadliest attacking trio right now with the possibility of goals coming from any direction. Klopp’s two years at the helm have created a team that does not sit back waiting for a chance on the break but instead looks forward to orchestrating the game, with reinvigorated counter-attacks and a better conversion rate of attempts to the goal. Liverpool came out of group stage courtesy of more goals after being tied on points and head-to-head with Napoli. Removing Bayern Munich in a sensational away match performance in last 16, Liverpool’s quarter-final clash against Porto was a cake walk (Agg. 6-1). Making it to a consecutive semi-final, the Reds’ bolstered defence and ultra-high pressing will certainly cause problems for the Spanish giants. Pursuing a neck-to-neck league title race against City, Liverpool will have to tactically rotate the squad in order to produce the sublime performance they have, so far or they could jeopardise chances of silverware in both competitions. Also Read – Vijender’s next fight on Nov 22, opponent to be announced later Gameplay: Strong defence, explosive pressing and the in-form attacking trio provide balance to the team. A serious counter-attacking threat, Liverpool can unleash Mane and Salah through long balls creating certain goal opportunities. Key Players: Virgil van Dijk and Mo SalahHaving brushed aside league rivals Manchester City in a high-octane match, Spurs has already made history. Their first semi-final berth in 57 years of Europe’s elite competition was achieved in a dramatic fashion trumping the citizens who were favourites to win and advancing on away goals. A seven-goal thriller with a meandering scoreboard kept everyone at the edge of their seats till the final whistle as City failed to overturn the aggregate deficit despite winning 4-3 on the night. Spurs are accredited with an admirable fighting spirit which has brought them from being almost out of the group stage to a maiden UCL semi-final appearance. The 1-0 home victory against Inter and late Lucas Moura goal at Camp Nou on the last matchday facilitated their progress from the group stage based on a better head-to-head record against Inter. In the round of 16, they edged past an in-form Dortmund with a comfortable 4-0 aggregate score. Spurs’ all-out attack might just leave them vulnerable to Ajax’s sustained gameplay and it would be better if they balance their efforts while not letting Ajax get an away goal. Gameplay: Spurs maintain an average possession while stressing on counter attacks to surprise opponents owing to their great speed on the break. Pochettino’s ‘attack is the best defence’ strategy fits their narrative. Key players: Son Heung-Min and C EriksonWith an exhilarating performance at Turin to reach the semi-finals after 20 years, Ajax has demonstrated that efficient team dynamics can outclass big fishes owing to one simple fact: Football is a team game. Smooth passing, neat one-twos, flexible yet maintained team positioning and balanced attack and defence have all accounted for Ajax’s dream run in the UCL this season. Having not lost a single game back in the group stage, Ajax has since taken on European heavyweights one after another and produced beautiful football. Drawing both matches against Bayern, defeating Real Madrid in Bernabéu (1-4) and usurping favourites Juventus to book a place in the semi-finals, a team of youngsters has left the world in awe of its resilience and skill. Led by 19-year-old Matthijs de Ligt, this Ajax side has suddenly stimulated the global audience with its vibrant and young squad outplaying the veterans of UCL. For Ajax, style is not an alternative to substance but a route to it and through its unwavering faith and high-performance tempo, they have axed their way through to the top four. In a match of comparative underdogs, Ajax might just trump Spurs owing to their majestic form this season. Gameplay: Displaying total football in all its glory, Ajax’s philosophy of high-pressing, more possession and controlled tempo fits their explosive energy. Key Players: Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt
Afghan women push for voice in talks fearing loss of rights
Herat (Afghanistan): Afghanistan’s women are demanding a seat at the table in negotiations over the country’s future, determined to prevent the gains they have made since the 2001 fall of the Taliban from being bargained away. But already, they are meeting resistance to having a strong voice in the talks. Women’s rights activists are not just concerned about the Taliban, who were notorious for their repression of women during their rule. They are just as worried that religious conservatives, warlords and strongmen who dominate Afghanistan’s U.S.-backed leadership and whose attitudes toward women often differ little from the Taliban will trade away their rights to reach a deal. Also Read – Saudi Crown Prince Salman ‘snubbed’ Pak PM Imran, recalled his private jet from US: ReportPressure is on for a peace accord as the United States seeks to end its long military presence in Afghanistan. For women, the stakes are high. The advances they have made are important for example, women are now members of parliament, and their rights are enshrined in the constitution, including the right to education. But the gains are fragile and limited, and nearly 18 years after the U.S.-led coalition ousted the Taliban, Afghan women still live under a crushing weight of discrimination. Also Read – Iraq military admits ‘excessive force’ used in deadly protestsWhat laws that do exist are little enforced, activists say, giving male relatives and tribal councils almost complete say over women’s and girls’ lives. That leaves them vulnerable to violence, early marriage and exclusion from work and education. The 2018 Women, Peace and Security Index rated Afghanistan as the second worst place in the world to be a woman, after Syria. Strong participation in talks is “not a gift, it is our right,” said Suraya Pakzad, an activist. “We, the women of Afghanistan, are suffering, fighting to bring peace in Afghanistan, to change Afghanistan.” “We will not allow anyone to push us, to force us to go back,” she said. “We know how to raise our voices.” Activists are pressing for at least a third of participants in any negotiations to be women. But so far, the door has been largely closed to them. President Ashraf Ghani appointed only five women to a 37-member council created to shepherd negotiations.
Female aerobics teacher held for robbing 15 cr in Dwarka
New Delhi: A 32-year-old woman aerobics teacher was arrested with her three associates in robbery case of Rs 1.5 crore in Bindapur area of Dwarka district. Police said that the victim in the case had hired the instructor for training, who passed information regarding cash kept in the victim’s house to other accused.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Anto Alphonse said that on the intervening night of March 30-31, the accused entered in the complainant’s room where he and his aunty were sleeping. Also Read – Odd-Even: CM seeks transport dept’s views on exemption to women, two wheelers, CNG vehicles”All the accused started beating them and tied their hands, feet and mouth,” said DCP Dwarka. He further said that the accused fled away with valuables and money. Complainant has alleged that on March 30, his uncle and his two sons went to Beas, Punjab. His aunt was alone at home. Therefore, for the safety of his aunt, the complainant comes to her house in Bindapur for night stay. “Recently the victim’s family had sold a property. The aerobics teacher had information regarding the huge cash kept in the house,” an investigator said. Also Read – More good air days in Delhi due to Centre’s steps: JavadekarThe investigation further revealed that on the day of the incident, accused entered into the complainant’s house with the assistance of the lady as she had let the rear gate open during the evening. “The accused had also completed MBA,” he added. Police further added that on the basis of CCTV footage, it was learnt that total six persons were involved in the crime and subsequently, section 395 of IPC was added in the present case. On April 5, the team arrested one of the accused Baldev Singh who is the mastermind of the heist. On interrogation, he disclosed the name of the aerobics teacher, who gave them information. During the investigation, the police team conducted search operation in the outskirts of Aligarh, UP and other distant places in order to arrest the co-accused persons involved in the heist. The team constantly shadowed the accused persons technically and on the basis of disclosure of Baldev Singh, on April 7. “After tracking and obtaining the location of the mobile phones of accused Biru, he along with co-accused Sonu was arrested from the area of Sudarshan Park in Moti Nagar,” police said. On the disclosure of accused Baldev, a sum of Rs 40 lakh was recovered from his bank locker and case property of the present case. On the instance of Sonu total Rs 7.56 lakh was also recovered from his native village in Badaun in Uttar Pradesh and two gold bangle were recovered from the possession of accused Biru.
Clashes with Kadhafi remnants erupt in southern Libya
TRIPOLI – Fresh clashes erupted Tuesday in the southern Libyan city of Sebha pitting supporters of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi against government forces and former rebels, a military source said.The latest fighting was sparked by the arrival of government reinforcements who aim to dislodge the Kadhafi supporters from several positions they occupy in and around the desert city, said Al-Ferjani Akila, of the Sebha Operations Centre.There was no immediate word on casualties. “Clashes are taking place between the army and former rebels from Misrata on one side and supporters of the old regime on the other,” he said.The coastal city of Misrata saw some of the bloodiest combat of the eight-month uprising that toppled Kadhafi, who was captured and killed by rebels in October 2011.At least 88 people have been killed and 130 wounded over the past two weeks in fighting between rival tribes in Sebha.The fighting initially pitted the Arab Awled Sleiman tribe against members of the Toubou, a non-Arab ethnic group that has long complained of being marginalised by Tripoli. The Awled Sleiman have also clashed with other Arab tribes.Kadhafi loyalists have taken advantage of the chaos to launch repeated attacks on the city’s Tamenhant air base, according to local officials.
FreeOuldNass Campaign to Stop Prosecution of British Gay Tourists Friend
Rabat – A day after the release of British citizen Ray Cole, his Moroccan friend, Jamal Ould Nass has been granted provisional release, but is still likely to face prison time.After the release of the Cole amid a strong international campaign supporting his case, social media activists launched the #FreeOuldNass movement to call for the complete freedom for Ould Nass, who was jailed alongside Cole in Marrakech for “homosexual acts.”The petition called on activists abroad to rally to help Ould Nass and to put an end to “arresting mature people because of their private practices.” “Ould Nass is not the victim´s real name–this nickname is used in order to protect the victim’s identity; the real name has been diffused to the extremist groups in Morocco and we believe that he is now in great danger; even in case he embraces freedom his life will still be threatened,” the petition said.Jamal Ould Nass was arrested and imprisoned with Ray Cole for alleged, “gross indecency, homosexual intercourse and possession of pornographic images” on October 2.© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed