Zakia Jafri, crusader for justice in Gujarat Riots case, passes away
Ahmedabad: Zakia Jafri, the widow of former parliamentarian Ehsan Jafri, who was killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots, passed away on Saturday, February 1. She was widely known for her relentless fight for justice in connection with the communal violence that led to her husband's brutal killing.
Human rights activist Teesta Setalvad confirmed her passing on social media, posting on X, “Zakia Appa, a compassionate leader of the human rights community, passed away just 30 minutes ago!”
Zakia Jafri had been pursuing justice since 2006, when she filed a complaint alleging that the Gujarat police had failed to register FIRs against then Chief Minister Narendra Modi and several other BJP leaders for their alleged role in the anti-Muslim violence. Her legal battle gained momentum in 2008 when the Supreme Court directed a fresh probe into nine riot cases, including the Gulberg Society massacre, where Ehsan Jafri was among the victims. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was subsequently formed to examine her complaint.
In 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed her plea challenging the SIT's clean chit to Modi and other accused, effectively closing the legal battle she had fought for years.
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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.
