US rejects Indian request to lift travel ban on Modi
The United States on Monday refused to reverse a decision to bar rightwing leader Narendra Modi, prompting India to call the step contrary to the democratic objectives shared by the two countries.
US Ambassador David Mulford said that since Modi belonged to the category of “foreign government officials responsible for, or (who) directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violation of religious freedom” he cannot be granted a visa.
Mulford’s statement came two days after Indian Premier Manmohan Singh urged Washington to reconsider its decision on Modi, who is accused of complicity in a massacre of hundreds of Muslims in Gujarat. “The (Indian) ministry of external affairs requested that the (US) Department of State review the decision to revoke his tourist/business visa. Upon review, the State Department reaffirmed the original decision,” Mulford said. India said it “regretted” that despite a diplomatic protest, the US refused to offer a visa to Modi, re-elected chief minister of Gujarat in polls held after the 2002 riots.
Related Travel Information
US refuses to lift travel ban on Modi
The United States yesterday refused to reverse a decision to bar rightwing leader Narendra Modi but stressed the move was not aimed at his Hindu nationalist party, which ruled India until last year.
United States ambassador David Mulford to New Delhi said that since Modi belonged to the category of “foreign government officials responsible for, or (who) directly carried out, at any time, particularly severe violation of religious freedom” he cannot be granted a visa.
Mulford’s statement to reporters came two days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged Washington to reconsider its decision
From issuing notifications in papers to talking with Gulf companies, the Indian embassy in Kuwait is going all out to ensure that the ban on the travel of Indian workers to Iraq is implemented.
The Indian embassy in Kuwait does not want to take any chances, Ambassador Swashpawan Singh said following reports that some Gulf-based companies were hiring Indian drivers.
"We are taking all necessary measures to see that the ban imposed on Indian workers' travel to Iraq is in place and that entails regular monitoring and intimating the companies engaged in such work about the ban."
More: hindustantimes.com
Australia defied a UN request not to deport an asylum seeker and then flew him back three days later when new information was received.
Asylum-seeker "Hassan" was deported to Dubai despite a UN request to let it finish a probe into his case, ABC Radio said.
The UN said Hassan would face danger if deported to his home country, which was undisclosed, and he was returned.
Source: nzherald.co.nz
Only Kashmiris should travel by bus service
In a special party Majlis-e-Shura meeting on Thursday, Jamaat-e-Islami adopted many resolutions that stated bus service is not a substitute to the self-determination right of more than 12 million Kashmiris who are struggling to rid of Indian occupation to live freely.
The party asked the Pakistani government to benefit from the service and pressure India in resolving the conflict in line with the aspirations of Kashmiri people.
Jamaat-e-Islami said the bus service facility should not be limited to Muzaffarabad and Srinagar and other land routes linking Indian and Pakistani controlled Kashmir territories should also
U.S. hold off Netherlands to lift fourth Hopman Cup
The U.S. squeezed out a record fourth title at the 750,000-dollar Hopman Cup with a 2-1 win Friday night over qualifier the Netherlands in a contest which turned on the deciding mixed doubles.
Taylor Dent and Lisa Raymond put the Americans into command of the tournament winner's table after 18 editions of the mixed team event, coming through to complete a quartet of trophies in the final rubber of the week.
Holland's teenage talent Michaella Krajicek and seasoned journeyman Peter Wessels flirted with the upset but couldn't nose over the line in the end
