Egypt jails 14 ‘same sex’ men

CAIRO: An Egyptian court On Monday sentenced 14 men convicted of being homosexuals to three years in jail each for “abnormal” sexual relations, a defence lawyer said. Ishaq Wadie said the men were released on bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($283, 230 euros) each until an appeals trial.

The trial of three other suspects was delayed over procedural reasons, the lawyer said. Homosexuality is not expressly outlawed in Egypt, but gays have previously been charged with debauchery in the deeply conservative Muslim society. In recent months, authorities have cracked down on people who practice so-called “abnormal” sexual relations, which in Egypt means homosexuality, or for inciting debauchery. The stepped-up measures follow an outdoor concert in Cairo on September 22 by Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila, when the flag representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community was raised. “This deeply discriminatory bill would be a huge setback for human rights and another nail in the coffin for sexual rights in Egypt,” said Najia Bounaim, North Africa campaigns director at Amnesty. MOSCOW: India and Russia on Monday agreed to help each other in combating terrorism as the two strategic partners signed a key agreement, asserting that there are no good or bad terrorists and the menace should be fought jointly.

The agreement between the two countries for cooperation in tackling all forms of terrorism was signed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Russia’s Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev here after they held wide-ranging talks.

The ministers underlined that cooperation in the field of security is an important aspect of this bilateral relationship further strengthen cooperation to combat terrorism, extremism and radicalism, a statement issued by the Indian embassy said.

They agreed that terrorism must be fought unitedly and there were no good or bad terrorists, it said.

“The new agreement between India’s MHA and Russia’s interior ministry will replace the October 1993 agreement between both the countries. This agreement will help in expanding and deepening cooperation on issues related to internal security,” Singh tweeted after signing the pact.

The Indian embassy statement said the two leaders agreed to cooperate in combating new challenges, enhance exchange of information, cooperate in building a data base and in training of police and investigative agencies.

Indian and Russian representatives also signed the joint action plan for countering the threat posed by narcotics and the agreement will provide legal framework for bilateral cooperation in this field.

The pact was signed by Indian ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran and deputy minister for internal affairs of the Russian Federation Igor Zubov in presence of Singh and Kolokoltsev.

The agreement on internal security is an updated and more comprehensive agreement on cooperation on security between the MHA and the Russian ministry of interior.

This pact provides a comprehensive approach for help in security related issues, including information technology crimes, counterfeiting currency, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, trafficking in human beings, economic crimes, crimes related to intellectual property, cultural property amongst others, the statement said.

During the meeting, the ministers emphasised the strength of the relationship between India and Russia that has been consolidated in the past 70 years in all areas.

Before leaving for Russia, Singh said India and Russia share a special relationship which has withstood the test of time over the decades. LONDON: Britain will decide on the Irish border issue only once talks about its post-brexit arrangements with the European Union are under way, trade minister Liam Fox reiterated on Monday.

The British government’s insistence on the stance is increasingly at odds with Irish demands for guarantees, ahead of a mid-december summit when EU leaders will decide if Brexit talks can move on to trade.

The impasse threatens to scupper hopes in London that “sufficient progress” has been made on the border, as well as citizens’ rights and its divorce bill to leave the bloc, to move the negotiations into the next phase.

“We don’t want there to be a hard border but the UK is going to be leaving the customs union and the single market,” Fox, a leading Brexiteer in the Cabinet, said on television.

“But we can’t get a final answer to the Irish question until we get an idea of the end state – and until we get into discussions with the EU on the end state that will be very difficult.”

He added: “So the quicker we can do that the better.” Fox’s comments came as Phil Hogan, the Irish Republic’s EU agriculture commissioner, restated his country’s threat to block Brexit talks progress unless it receives firm assurances of no hard border on the island.

Ireland has urged Britain – or just Northern Ireland – to remain within the single market or customs union, which Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly ruled out.

Hogan told a British Sunday newspaper that May’s ministers had “blind faith” in reaching a comprehensive free trade deal, and warned Dublin would “continue to play tough to the end” over the border.

Arlene Foster, the leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party – which props up May’s minority Conservative government in Westminster – also weighed in, saying her party opposed any internal trade barrier within the UK. She also accused the Irish government of intransigence.

Meanwhile John Mcdonnell, Britain’s shadow chancellor, said he was “worried” by Fox’s comments and remaining in the customs union or single market should remain an option.