Iran hangs 5 drug traffickers

The latest hanging brings to 192 the number of executions reported in Iran so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on media and official reports.

Iranian media reported 179 hangings last year but international human rights groups say the actual number was much higher, ranking the Islamic republic second only to China in the number of people it executed in 2010.

Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and that it is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.
Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are among the crimes punishable by death in Iran.

Use of tomatoes reduces chances of prostate cancer: Research

According to American experts consumption of tomatoes can reduce the chances of prostate cancer. According to the experts of Illinois University a special element carotenoids is found in red coloured vegetables and fruit like tomatoes that helps in reducing the chances of prostate cancer.

Experts are now investigating the fact that how do carotenoids work inside the human body and for their investigations the experts would use special type of isotopes.

Demi, Ashton join cause against Human trafficking

CAIRO: With more than 2.4 million people held captive across the world, human trafficking has become one of today”s major crimes and issues of social concern.

To find new ways to tackle this scourge, the ”End Human Trafficking Now: Enforcing the UN Protocol Luxor International Forum” kicked off today bringing together policy makers, civil society and business leaders from around the world.

The event, organized by the End Human Trafficking Now! Campaign (EHTN!) and the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT), was also attended by Hollywood stars and international personalities such as Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Mira Sorvino, CNN Anchor Jim Clancy and artist Ann Carrington.

As a US$ 32 billion a year global enterprise, human trafficking is a shameful crime which requires the cooperation of all sectors of society.

UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov urged action from a critical and sometimes overlooked player – business: “The private sector has so much to offer in terms of resources, knowledge and influence to combat human trafficking. Raising awareness both within the workforce and the general community on trafficking is critical, and businesses have a moral and legal responsibility to ensure that all aspects of their operations are “traffic-free” – from employees, to suppliers, to partners”.

One way through which businesses can become more involved is through the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking. Launched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York in November, the Trust Fund is seen as a critical move to provide humanitarian, legal and financial aid to human trafficking victims.

“I implore businesses, civil society and each and every person to pledge their support for the Trust Fund. The special role that the business community can play in the Fund is one where I would particularly like to hear your views. ”Have a heart” for victims of human trafficking and help us protect the victims of this crime”, said Mr. Fedotov.

The Luxor Forum will also play host to the inaugural presentation of the ”Business Leaders Award Against Human Trafficking”.. Presented by EHTN!, UN.GIFT and the United Nations Global Compact, the award will be announced on 12 December and will honour those business executives who have shown energy and commitment in tackling human trafficking.

On the same day Microsoft will launch an e-learning course which will help teach the private sector about human trafficking and contribute to a better understanding of this crime.

US starts human blindness trial using stem cells

WASHINGTON: Human embryonic stem cells will be tested as a treatment for blindness, a US company announced Monday in the second such clinical trial to examine how the controversial process works in people.

Just 12 adult patients will take part in the trial to see how the treatment using retinal cells derived from human embryonic stem cells affects patients with a common form of juvenile vision loss that can take hold in children as young as six.

The process has been tested on rats and mice and has been found to halt the progressive disease without causing tumors or other side effects, said chief scientific officer Bob Lanza at the biotech company Advanced Cell Technology.

“These cells have been really performing quite spectacularly in the animals. If we can see that in the human patients we will hit a home run here,” said Lanza.

The trial, run and

Asma Jahangir to get UN award for human rights

UNITED NATIONS: One of Pakistan’s leading human rights defenders, Asma Jahangir, was Tuesday named as this year’s winner of a UN award that recognizes outstanding individual contribution to promoting a culture of human rights around the world.

The Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, nominated Ms. Jahangir as laureate of this year’s Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights in recognition of her work in Pakistan’s Supreme Court where she championed the rights of religious minorities, women and children, according to a UN press release issued at UN Headquarters in New York.

Ms. Jahangir is the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and served as its Secretary-General and chairperson.

Internationally,

Human smuggling – Trend Pk VIDEO

Shakeel Karar from Islamabad reports on the human smuggling. (October 28, 2010)

Human smuggling – Trend Pk VIDEO

Shakeel Karar from Islamabad reports on the human smuggling. (October 28, 2010)

Human trafficking on rise in Pakistan; another 16 youths missing

Around 16 youths belonging to Mandi Bahauddin, who are said to have gone to Oman in search of better fortune, have been missing for the last 15 months, Dunya News reported on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sped up its efforts to nab the 78 most-wanted human traffickers.
Director FIA (Immigration) Captain Zafar Iqbal, while talking to Dunya News, said that every year the Agency made a new red book comprising the human smugglers and send them to concerned departments and law enforcement agencies.
He further said that Baloch agents are said to be involved in the nasty smuggling.

Imran holds Nawaz for rigging in polls

LAHORE: Accusing PML-N’s Quaid Mian Mohammed Nawaz Sharif of rigging polls, PTI’s Chairman Imran Khan has said Nawaz makes use of police and administration for election rigging like he would do with Umpires when playing cricket, Geo news reported.

Imran was addressing an election gathering comprising local people and party workers in PP-160 Lahore’s constituency of provincial assembly which was held in Rana Town.

Alleging government of helping US in the name of fighting terrorism, he said our leaders have made US war their own now, which resulted in fierce encounters among local tribesmen and Pakistan army, bring country to a complete destruction.

In another gathering held in Azam Garden, Imran Khan criticized government and opposition leaders over failed economic policies to run country.

Israel dismisses UN resolution for probe of commando raid

JERUSALEM: Israel dismissed on Thursday a UN decision to set up a probe of the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, saying the Human Rights Council that adopted the resolution had no moral authority whatsoever.

“The authority of this council, which once again is working stubbornly against Israel, has reached rock bottom,” said foreign ministry spokesman Ygal Palmor.

He pointed out that some of the resolution”s signatories, like “Djibouti, Pakistan, Cuba or Saudi Arabia, are in a bad position to present themselves as defenders of human rights which they violate massively,” he told foreign news agency.

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