28 dead after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay: state media tmh/sjc
'On the afternoon of July 19, the Wonder Sea tourist boat carrying 53 people capsized. Vietnamese Border Guards and navy rescued 11 people and recovered 28 bodies,' VNExpress news site reported.
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Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Zahir Jaffer files petition for Pakistan top court to overturn death sentence for Noor Mukadam murder
ISLAMABAD: Zahir Zakir Jaffer, the man convicted of one of Pakistan's most harrowing femicide cases, has filed a review petition at the Supreme Court to overturn his death sentence for the 2021 beheading of Noor Mukadam. In the petition, filed under Article 188 of the Constitution and seen by Arab News on Wednesday, Jaffer argues that the May 2024 judgment upholding his death sentence contains 'mistakes floating on the surface of the record.' He alleges that the court failed to consider material facts and due process violations that, if reviewed, would prove his innocence. The petition argues that widespread social media coverage had fueled public hostility toward Jaffer during the investigation, trial, and appeals process, undermining his right to a fair trial. It also cites a ruling from another case to suggest that procedural errors occurred because the case was handled in haste. 'The impugned judgment may very graciously be reviewed, recalled and set aside,' the petition states, 'and the petitioner may very graciously be acquitted of the charges or in the alternate, may be ordered to be re-tried afresh.' The Supreme Court had previously declared the evidence against Jaffer 'overwhelming' and found no merit in his insanity defense. But in this final legal challenge, Jaffer's lawyers argue the case involved 'misreading and non-reading of material evidence,' and claim that he was denied a fair trial. Jaffer, a dual Pakistani-American citizen from a wealthy business family, was convicted of torturing and beheading Mukadam, the daughter of a former ambassador, at his Islamabad home in July 2021. The murder triggered national outrage, women-led protests, and rare scrutiny of elite impunity in Pakistan's legal system Jaffer was sentenced to death in February 2022 and lost appeals in the Islamabad High Court and Supreme Court. In its May ruling, the apex court said Jaffer had confined Mukadam for two days, ignored her pleas, and 'beheaded her in a gruesome manner.' 'All the evidence pointed squarely to the petitioner,' the justices wrote, citing testimony from guards, digital records, and Mukadam's attempts to flee the house. The scope of review petitions in Pakistan is extremely narrow and restricted to identifying legal errors, not reassessing facts. Unless the Supreme Court admits the review, Jaffer's last option will be a clemency request to the President of Pakistan, which the Mukadam family has vowed to challenge.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
US government employee banned from leaving China
WASHINGTON (AP) – A US government employee has been banned from leaving China after traveling there in a personal capacity, the State Department said Tuesday, marking the latest case where Beijing has stopped US nationals from departing the country. The State Department did not reveal the identity of the employee at the US Patent and Trademark Office, which is part of the Commerce Department, but said it is tracking this case very closely and that it is engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens, it said. The Chinese government restricts people from leaving the country if they are involved in investigations, including business disputes, but it has been accused of using the tool to arbitrarily keep both Chinese and foreign nationals in the country. China's use of the exit ban and other concerns previously prompted the State Department to tell Americans to reconsider travel to China. The travel advisory was only eased in November after China released three US citizens who were detained for years. It's one of the latest instances of such travel restrictions. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Chenyue Mao, a US-based Wells Fargo banker, was blocked from leaving China, prompting the bank to suspend all travel to the country. Citing privacy and other considerations, the State Department did not comment on Mao's case. Wells Fargo said Tuesday that it is closely tracking this situation and working through the appropriate channels so our employee can return to the United States as soon as possible. Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said Mao is involved in a criminal case currently being handled by Chinese law-enforcement authorities and that she is subject to exit restrictions in accordance with the law. 'Let me stress that it is an individual judicial case,' Guo said. 'China will as always welcome people from all countries to travel and do business in China and ensure their rights and interests in accordance with the law.' Asked about the case involving the US government employee, Guo said: 'I have no details to share. China upholds the rule of law and handles entry and exit affairs in accordance with the law.' Other Americans have faced China's exit ban. Two American siblings were only allowed to leave China in 2021 after they were stranded there for three years after visiting their relatives.
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Massachusetts governor will give an update on assisted-living fire that killed 10
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is scheduled to meet with city officials and update the public Tuesday about the response to a fire at an assisted-living facility in Fall River that killed 10 people. The July 13 fire at Gabriel House in the city about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Boston remains under investigation. The blaze left some residents hanging out windows of the three-story facility screaming for help. The fire highlighted the lack of regulations governing assisted-living facilities that often care for low-income or disabled residents. Later Tuesday, the Bristol County district attorney's office is expected to hold a news conference to provide an update on the investigation. Although the cause of the fire remains unknown, authorities have said it does not appear to be suspicious. The district attorney's office identified the 10th victim as Halina Lawler, 70, on Monday. The victims of the fire ranged in age from 61 to 86. Healey said in a statement last week that a state agency tasked with ensuring assisted living residences are in compliance with regulations will investigate to make sure all 273 such facilities in Massachusetts are prepared to protect residents during emergencies. She said in the statement that the fire was a horrible tragedy and a chance to improve safety. 'This is a moment to make sure that every Assisted Living Residence is prepared to respond to emergencies and to protect the safety of their residents,' Healey said. Gabriel House is owned by Dennis Etzkorn, who has said he is cooperating with investigations into the blaze. The facility issued a statement on Monday that said it's important to determine exactly what caused this catastrophe and if there were factors that made it worse. The statement also said the facility has always placed a premium on residents' safety. 'Maintaining compliance with all safety and building codes has always been our priority and there were quarterly inspections of the fire suppression system – the latest as recently as five days prior to the fire,' said George K. Regan Jr., a spokesperson for the facility.
