Italian sues runaway bride for 500,000 euros

ROME: An Italian groom left hanging at the altar after his runaway bride changed her mind at the last minute because she was in love with another man is now suing her for 500,000 euros ($743,000).

The 32-year-old said he had suffered emotional and material damages after booking a villa for the wedding outside Rome, reserving a honeymoon on a Pacific island and refurbishing an apartment to his fiancee's tastes.

Wednesday's report by Italy's ANSA news agency said the man, referred to only by his first name, Riccardo, was already in the church when his fiancee's brother told him she would not be coming and the priest cancelled the service.

The report said that Riccardo had hired lawyers and filed a lawsuit, which emphasized that he and his family had borne all the costs for the wedding.

BRUSSELS: European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex) has opposed changes to the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) proposed by the European Union (EU) Commission to grant duty-free access to Pakistan, a statement said on Thursday.

Euratex believes the changes will increase the vulnerability threshold of the GSP+ from one percent to two percent, which will have a severe impact on the EU textile and clothing industry.

“This increase in the vulnerability threshold of GSP+ was tailor made in order to include Pakistan among the beneficiary countries,” said Alberto Paccanelli, President, Euratex.

“If this proposal is approved, Pakistan will be allowed to export to the EU without paying any duty.”

Euratex argues that this is not the first time that the EU has decided to grant duty-free access to Pakistan, with a change in the vulnerability threshold of GSP+ already under consideration last year and a waiver proposal, pending at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

“Pakistan is among the top world exporters in textile and clothing and the fourth EU supplier,” said Paccanelli.

In 2010 its exports to the EU have increased by more than 20 percent in value and six percent in volume. For some products Pakistan had already a dominant position ñ bed-linen and cotton fabrics.

This decision, apart from having a negative impact on the EU industry, will erode the preferences of the countries in need in favour of a stronger and already prevailing market player.

“Euratex recognises that overall the commission proposal makes an effort to concentrate the preferences in the countries that need them. Unfortunately, in our sector this effort was precluded for political reasons as we choose to benefit a country, which does not need any special treatment,” said Paccanelli.

Euratex hopes the negative impact can be offset through a reduction in the vulnerability threshold and an improvement in the existing textile safeguard clause, making it applicable both to textiles and clothing.

Singh in Kabul for talks after Osama's death

KABUL: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday for a two-day visit, including talks on the regional impact of Osama bin Laden's death and future aid projects, officials said. (AFP)

COAS stopped DG ISI from resigning

ISLAMABAD: Director General ISI, Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha Friday admitting failure in the Osama killing episode in Abbottabad, sought apology from the nation and added that he would resign if the parliament so demands, Geo News reported.

“The failure was not intentional but I admit that it was a mistake,” the ISI Chief said during the in-camera joint sitting of the parliament that was briefed by security and intelligence officials in the backdrop of the US unilateral assault in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011 that eliminated Osama bin Laden.

He said he considered himself answerable before the parliament and people. “Parliament is supreme and I am feeling relieved after presenting myself before it,” Lt Gen Pasha added.

The ISI Chief said he had made up his mind to resign after consulting his family but he was stopped from doing so by the Army Chief.

He told the parliamentarians that intelligence was shared with the US in connection with Osama bin Laden in 2004. But the US undertook operation in Abbottabad without informing Pakistan and it shook our confidence, he added.

“Now we are facing pressure from all sides …. our media is also criticizing,” he said.

Lt Gen Shuja Pasha said that investigation from Osama’s wife had been carried out, which revealed that bin Laden had been present in the Abbottabad compound for the past 5 years but he (Osama) did not come out from there for even once during this time.

At this point parliamentarians of Pakistan Muslim League-N, expressing concern, said lack of advanced technology could raise a number of questions on Pakistan’s defence capabilities.

Deputy Chief of Air Staff Operations Air Marshal, Muhammad Hassan said the US helicopters were equipped with highly sophisticated technology and escaped detection (by our radars). The US used stealth technology in Abbottabad operation and this technology is exclusively possessed by the US, he added and also said that Pakistan had started observing this technology.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman in reply to a question as to when the drone strikes will end, said that drones entering Pakistani air space would be struck down if such orders were issued.