UK foils alleged terror plot to blow up Downing Street gates, kill PM

Agencies
December 6, 2017

London, Dec 6: An Islamist terror plot to assassinate British Prime Minister Theresa May by detonating an explosive device to storm into her Downing Street office has been foiled by the country's security services, media reports said today.

Two men, 20-year-old Naa'imur Zakariya Rahman and 21- year-old Mohammed Aqib Imran, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London today charged with terror offences following their arrest by counter-terrorism officers on November 28.

They have been remanded in custody to appear before the Old Bailey court in the city on December 20.

At a brief hearing, the court was told that Rahman had "planned to detonate" a bomb at Downing Street gates and in the ensuing chaos try to kill May with a knife.

He is charged with the preparation of terrorist acts and is also charged with assisting another man to prepare separate acts of terrorism.

Imran is accused of allegedly planning to travel overseas for the preparation of acts of terror.

The latest plot emerges as a new report released this week found that the UK's security services could possibly have prevented a suicide attack at the Manchester Arena in May.

Bomber Salman Abedi killed 22 people when he blew himself up outside an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

Barrister David  Anderson, who was asked to conduct an independent investigation, said Abedi had been on MI5's radar but that his "true significance was not appreciated at the time".

After reviewing the security services' actions in relation to four terrorist attacks in the UK this year, he concluded, "It is conceivable that the Manchester attack, in particular, might have been averted had the cards fallen differently."

His report also noted that the Pakistani-origin ringleader, Khuram Butt, of the terrorist attack on London Bridge in June had been on the security services' radar for two years.
The 27-year-old had been watched by MI5.

Butt was involved in "high-risk extremist activity", according to intelligence initially received by MI5 but the assessment was downgraded and he was believed to have turned his attention to travelling overseas instead.

Butt appeared on the security radar a number of times and was on bail for fraud on June 3 when he, Youssef Zaghba and  Rachid Redouane killed eight people in a knife and van attack.

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News Network
June 12,2020

Washington, Jun 12: US President Donald Trump is considering suspending a number of employment visas including the H-1B, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, in view of the massive unemployment in America due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media report.

The proposed suspension could extend into the government’s new fiscal year beginning October 1, when many new visas are issued, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, quoting unnamed administration officials.

“That could bar any new H-1B holder outside the country from coming to work until the suspension is lifted, though visa holders already in the country are unlikely to be affected,” the daily reported.

H-1B is the most coveted foreign work visas for technology professionals from India.

Such a decision by the Trump administration is likely to have an adverse impact on thousands of Indian IT professionals. Already a large number of Indians on the H-1B visas have lost their jobs and are headed back home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The White House, however, said that no final decision has been made and the administration is considering various proposals.

“The administration is currently evaluating a wide range of options, formulated by career experts, to protect American workers and job seekers especially disadvantaged and underserved citizens — but no decisions of any kind have been made,” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

In addition to the H-1B visas, the suspension could apply to the H-2B visa for short-term seasonal workers, the J-1 visa for short-term workers including camp counselors and au pairs and the L-1 visa for internal company transfers, the financial daily reported.

Meanwhile, the US Chambers of Commerce CEO Thomas Donohue on Thursday wrote a letter to Trump, expressing concern over his reported move on temporary work visas.

“As the economy rebounds, American businesses will need assurances that they can meet all their workforce needs. To that end, it is crucial that they have access to talent both domestically and from around the world,” Donohue wrote in a letter to Trump.

According to The Hill newspaper, Donohue said that American businesses need L-1 visa holders, who have a work visa valid for a relatively short amount of time, for necessary expertise.

He noted the importance of H-1B visa holders, who have a work visa valid for multiple years, for various industries, including technology, accounting and manufacturers, the newspaper said.

“Policies that would, for example, impose wide-ranging bans on the entry of nonimmigrant workers or impose burdensome new regulatory requirements on businesses that employ foreign nationals would undermine that access to talent and in the process, undercut our economy’s ability to grow and create jobs,” Donohue added.

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News Network
May 27,2020

Geneva, May 27: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide has increased by nearly 100,000 over the past 24 hours to surpass 5.4 million, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

According to the WHO, the global case tally currently stands at 5,404,512 -- a rise by 99,780 over the past day.

The death count worldwide amounts to 343,514 -- an increase by 1,486.

Most cases of infection are recorded in the Americas -- 2,454,452, with 143,739 deaths.

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News Network
March 25,2020

London, Mar 25: Prince Charles on Wednesday has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is working from home with mild symptoms, according to UK media.
A Clarence House spokesperson said the Prince of Wales was "displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual", the Telegraph UK reported.
"He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual," the spokesperson added.
In accordance with the government and medical advice, the 71-year old heir to the British throne and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, are now self-isolating at their home in Scotland.
The Duchess of Cornwall has also been tested but does not have the virus.
The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire where they met the criteria required for testing.
"It is not possible to ascertain from whom the Prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks," the statement further said.

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