India intensifies efforts to save nurse Nimisha Priya facing execution in Yemen
New Delhi: The Government of India has pledged to extend all possible assistance to Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse on death row in Yemen. Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi recently upheld the death sentence against Priya, who was convicted in 2018 for the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national. According to media reports, the sentence could be carried out within a month.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed its commitment to the case, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating, "We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter."
The verdict has devastated Priya’s family, who have been fighting for her release since her conviction. Her mother, Prema Kumari, has been in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, for several months, attempting to negotiate a pardon by offering "blood money" to Mahdi’s family as per Yemeni law. However, negotiations have been complicated by financial and legal hurdles, including demands for substantial pre-negotiation fees by the lawyer engaged by the Indian Embassy.
Nimisha Priya, originally from Palakkad, Kerala, moved to Yemen for work but found herself embroiled in a dispute with Mahdi, who had initially helped her establish a clinic. Priya claimed in court that Mahdi misused their professional association to manipulate clinic ownership, harass her, and seize her passport. Her appeal alleged that years of abuse and financial exploitation culminated in the events of 2017, when Mahdi died after being sedated during a confrontation.
While Priya's appeals to Yemeni courts have been exhausted, her fate now hinges on securing a pardon from the victim's family and tribal leaders. Efforts led by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council and crowdfunding initiatives have faced transparency issues, further complicating the case.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
