Spain asks Cuba for better treatment of political prisoners

Madrid, Feb 19 (IANS/EFE) Spain has asked the Cuban government to provide better humanitarian treatment for ailing dissidents during a meeting in Madrid to discuss the state of human rights on the communist-ruled island.

Dissidents say repression on the rise in Cuba

Havana, Feb 19 (IANS/EFE) The unofficial Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation has said that four political prisoners were released from prison in January, but it added that “political repression continued increasing, in the form of arbitrary arrests for several hours or several days”.

Oldest Canadian veteran of World War I dies at age 109 in Spokane

Oldest Canadian vet of WWI dies at 109

SPOKANE, Wash. — The oldest Canadian veteran of World War I has died at the age of 109.

Magna Entertainment files reorganization plan based on creditors dropping lawsuit

Magna Entertainment files reorganization plan

Appeals court reverses $6.2M discrimination verdict for lesbian firefighter against city of LA

Calif. court reverses $6.2M firefighter judgment

Chris Brown back in LA court to update judge on probation for beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna

Chris Brown back in court for probation update

In child-support saga, Bristol Palin seeks ex’s financial records for media interviews

Pa. judge: Baking exec who knows secrets behind ‘nooks and crannies’ can’t work for rival

VP who knows baker’s secrets can’t work for rival

Obama administration reaches settlement for $1.25B in payments to black farmers

Summary Box: Glaxo will reformulate denture cream after reports of nerve damage tied to zinc

Summary Box: Glaxo removes zinc from denture cream

Abused animals could get right to lawyer in Swiss proposal up for vote

Legal eagles? Swiss to vote on lawyers for animals

BJP legislator in trouble over misuse of funds

GANDHINAGAR - Gujarat High Court has directed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Shankar Chaudhary to file an affidavit before March 4 regarding allegations that he misused Rs.60 lakh of government relief money.

Chhattisgarh’s power to appoint special cops stays

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Thursday refused to interfere with Chhattisgarh government’s power to appoint special police officers (SPOs) drawn from the local populace to help regular police force fight the widespread Maoist extremism in the state.

Greece facing Goldman Sachs debt deal scrutiny as EU deadline looms

Greece facing Goldman Sachs debt deal scrutiny

Court panel to review Mullaperiyar dam

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Thursday appointed former chief justice of India A.S. Anand as the chairperson of a techno-legal panel formed to examine the strength and capacity of the more than a century old Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala.

Cabinet approves extension for anti-scavenging scheme

NEW DELHI - The union cabinet Thursday approved a revised time frame for rehabilitating the manual scavengers left out of the ongoing scheme.

Achuthanandan hails apex court ruling on Mullaperiyar dam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Thursday hailed the Supreme Court ruling asking for a review of the safety of the controversial Mullaperiyar dam.

No relief for Sajjan Kumar from high court

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Thursday refused to give Congress leader Sajjan Kumar any interim relief, declining to stay the non-bailable warrant issued against him in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases.

Posting security on university campuses unhealthy: Apex court

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Thursday disapproved of stationing security personnel and paramilitary forces in campuses of educational institutions.

Court seeks time-frame to procure more buses

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Thursday asked the Delhi government to fix a time-frame and say how many buses they can procure in the next three months to phase out Blueline buses from the capital.

Artist depicts migration as ants’ invasion on Colombia

Bogota, Feb 18 (IANS/EFE) Swarm of ants made of fibreglass carved on the facade, pillars and windows of Colombian Congress building depicts the impact of migration and displacement across the world, says prominent sculptor Rafael Gomexbarros.

No relief to Sajjan Kumar from high court

NEW DELHI - Delhi High Court Thursday refused to give Congress leader Sajjan Kumar any interim relief on the non-bailable warrant issued against him in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases.

Court pulls up police for Osmania University incidents

HYDERABAD - The Andhra Pradesh High Court Thursday once again pulled up state police for using force against students and journalists on the Osmania University campus last week and asked them why the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should not be asked to probe the campus violence.

Reveal perks of NACIL top brass: CIC

NEW DELHI - The Central Information Commission (CIC) has asked the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), which operates national carrier Air India, to reveal the details of perks, privileges and facilities enjoyed by its chairman and managing director.

Gilani plays smart, but Chief Justice emerges winner in averting Pak constitutional crisis

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s smart move to earn kudos for resolving what can be seen as a self-created, almost fatal, constitutional crisis, and his sincerity towards the judiciary will be on real test when NRO cases come up for hearing before the apex court, an editorial in The News says.

Malaysian leader hires Indian expert to fight sodomy case

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has engaged three international DNA and forensic experts, including an Indian professor, to assist in the ongoing trial he is facing on a sodomy charge.

Investor sells Vedanta shares over human rights violations

NEW DELHI - After the Church of England, another British investor has decided to sell its shares worth 2.2 million pounds (Rs.159 million/$3.5 million) in the Indian-owned mining company Vedanta Resources, citing serious concerns about the company’s approach to human rights and environment in Orissa.

US confirms immigration talks with Cuba

Washington, Feb 18 (IANS/EFE) The US government has confirmed that one of its top diplomats for Latin America will participate in a new round of talks on immigration issues with Cuba in Havana this week.