International Roundup

A new intelligence report says it “seems logical” that migrants from regions where suicide bombings occur might import the deadly tactic to Canada. Canada, a culturally diverse nation, has sizeable populations from regions where suicide bombings are used by extremist elements, such as Lebanon, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, and Algeria. These countries are also among the leading immigrant sources to Canada. Therefore, the report determines that it is quite logical that these groups would bring their conflicts and tactics to Canada.

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In the United Kingdom, a Pakistani refugee’s health is deteriorating quickly while she and her son are awaiting deportation in a Laval detention center, advocates of her case warned this week. Supporters of Fatima, 63, rallied to demand that the federal government release her and her son, Imran 17, from the Immigration Detention Center, where she’s been since June 25.

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The whole legal basis under which 13 “suspected international terrorists” are being held indefinitely in Britain without trail is to be reconsidered by the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. The three senior judges gave no reason for their ruling, which was published last week. There are 13 foreign nationals without charge in British prisons under the home secretary, David Blunkett’s, Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act, which was brought into force two months after the September 11 attacks.

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Migrants should be diverted to ease housing, environmental and other pressures on the city, according to a national poll in Australia. The poll found out that almost 60% of Australians were in favor of an immigration program that directed new entrants towards less populous centers such as Darwin or Tasmania. Flaws have been recently identified in the city’s power and water supply system. Immigration has also been raised as a factor contributing to Sydney’s soaring house prices, which the federal government denies. The premier Bob Carr has been lobbying for a cut in migrant numbers, arguing that Sydney cannot cope with the 1000 new entrants currently arriving each week.

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Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on security co-operation, especially in the sphere of human smuggling, said Pakistan’s Minster of Interior and Narcotics. He disclosed this when he met his Sri Lankan counterpart John Amaratunga at the Interior Ministry. The Pakistani Government is firmly committed to support Sri Lanka in global efforts to combat terrorism and human smuggling. This came when Police in Matugama nabbed 14 Pakistanis and seven Indians who were waiting to travel illegally to Italy last week.