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Irregularities found in Assange rape case

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London, February 09: A Swedish legal expert said yesterday there were serious irregularities in the way prosecutors built their sex crimes case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Sven-Erik Alhem, a former chief prosecutor in Sweden, said prosecutor Marianne Ny “should have made sure Assange was able to give his version of events in detail.”

Assange’s lawyers say prosecutors have rebuffed his offer to be questioned from London about rape and sexual misconduct claims by two Swedish women. Assange denies wrongdoing.

Woman ‘declared dead’ found alive

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Fujairah, February 09: An Emirati teacher Shaikha lies unconscious in Rashid Hospital, unaware that last week, she was allegedly declared dead by Dibba Hospital.

The victim met with a road accident and sustained serious injuries. She was admitted to Dibba Hospital where her relatives alleged that she was declared dead. This claim, however, has been denied by the hospital’s management. Shaikha, 30, was heading to school for a training course when the accident took place on February 1. She fainted due to the impact.

FNC poll date to be fixed soon

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Abu Dhabi, February 09: The UAE’s 2006 democratic experience may be repeated, with only one exception – the electoral college would be doubled to more than 12,000 Emiratis, picked by Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, sources told Gulf News.

A decision is expected to set a date for elections to choose 50 per cent of the members of the 40-member House by the new electoral college.

The rest of the FNC members will be named by the Rulers. An Election Committee will then draw up executive instructions to start the polling process.

Dubai schoolboy’s killer set to be executed

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Dubai, February 09: An Emirati sailor, Rashid Al Rashidi, who was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old schoolboy on Eid Al Adha in 2009, will be executed very soon, Gulf News learned on Tuesday.

“The 31-year-old convict, Al Rashidi, will be executed very soon. Probably in a few days, but the exact date has not been finalised,” a top judicial source told Gulf News on Tuesday.

Facebook founder Zuckerberg obtains restraining order against stalker

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Los Angeles, February 09:Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has succeeded in obtaining a restraining order against a man who reportedly used the social networking site to threaten his safety.

Zuckerberg has asked a judge to ban 31-year-old Pradeep Manukonda from going anywhere near him after he bombarded him with messages via Facebook.

In Zuckerberg’s legal filing, Manukonda is accused of attempting to “follow, surveil and contact Zuckerberg using language threatening his personal safety, as well as the wellbeing of his girlfriend and sister”.

Paris Hilton takes up body-building

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London, February 09:Socialite Paris Hilton has reportedly started body building and is sticking to a high-calorie diet after her boyfriend Cy Waits encouraged her to do more exercises.

The 29-year-old socialite, who showed off a larger, more muscular figure when she walked down the ramp at a Brazilian fashion show last week, is said to have been inspired by her fitness fanatic boyfriend Cy Waits and is apparently now on a 3,500 calories a day diet to keep her energy levels up for her intense workouts, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Anti-Mubarak protests held in Jordan

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Jordan, February 09:Jordanians have voiced solidarity with the protesters in Egypt.
Hundreds of Jordanians have demonstrated in the streets of capital Amman in a show of support for the uprising in Egypt against President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.

Scores of trade unionists and leftist youths staged a sit-in on Tuesday outside the Egyptian Embassy in the Jordanian capital in a display of solidarity with Egyptian protesters, AFP reported.

Overreaction, says Pallam Raju

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Bangalore, February 09:Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju on Tuesday said there was “overreaction” to the issue of grant of S-band to Devas, a private company, by the Indian Space Research Organisation, even as he maintained that the Centre would look into it if any “improprieties” were found.

Replying to queries by mediapersons on the sidelines of the International Aerospace Awards function here, Mr. Raju made it clear that his Ministry had no role to play in the episode as it was the Ministry of Communications that looked into spectrum allocation.

HC asks state to implement guidelines for Ganesh idols

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Aurangabad, February 09:The Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court today asked the state government to ensure that the idols of Lord Ganesh were not made from hazardous materials.

Court was hearing the PIL filed by anti-superstition activists Narendra Dabholkar and Avinash Patil.

The court also ordered that the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board were followed in this regard.

Legal experts bat for measures to prevent torture

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Hyderabad, February 09:Expressing serious concern over continuance of torture by police and other agencies, legal experts today advocated on the need for initiating measures to prevent torture.

Participating in a session on ‘Commonwealth Human Rights Torture and Death in Custody’ at the ongoing 17th Commonwealth Law Conference here, the legal experts lamented that even though torture is prohibited under international law and the domestic laws of most countries, there have been repeated reports of torture and similar ill-treatment.

UP unsafe for women: Vyas

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Sultanpur(UP), February 09:Chairperson of National Commission of Women Girija Vyas today said there has been an increase in number of women harassment cases in UP.

“It is unfortunate that despite a woman chief minister, there has been an increase of women harassment cases in UP,” Vyas said after meeting a girl, gangraped at Lahia Jalalpur village recently, at district hospital here.

Vyas said a there should be a separate board for medical examination of rape victims.

–PTI

Chocolate healthier than many fruit juices

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Washington, February 09: Chocolate is healthier than many fruit juices and is a ‘superfood’ in its own right, says a new study conducted by a US-based chocolate company.

Superfoods are high in anti-oxidants and compounds that help prevent damage to healthy cells.

Researchers from the Hershey Centre for Health & Nutrition in the US found that powdered dark chocolate had more anti-oxidants and polyphenols, believed to protect us from cancer and cardiac conditions, the Chemistry Central Journal reports.

Forest guard abducted, later freed by Maoists

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Hazaribagh (Bihar), February 09:A forest guard and his driver were abducted by Maoists from Dodia village of the district for refusing to pay extortion but were later released by the ultras, police said today.

About 20 Maoists went to the village and took away forest guard Sheo Bachan Lal, his driver and three others towards Gaya, Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kamboj said.

The Maoists had abducted them as they refused to pay extortion for launching a road work under the MGNREGA project in the village, Kamboj said.

–PTI

Pakistani artists to perform in Dubai

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Dubai, February 09: Some top Pakistani artists, including famous stage and film actress Sidra Noor, will perform in Dubai to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The show, titled “Boom Boom Valentine”, will feature performances on famous Pakistani songs and comedy skits, especially prepared for the occasion.

“I want to make it a memorable show because it is my introductory show in Dubai and many more will follow,” said producer and organiser Asma Butt who is also CEO of Dolphin Communication. The show will be held at Deira Sheraton Hotel on February 16.

Mayawati orders disciplinary action against officials

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Lucknow, February 09:UP Chief Minister Mayawati today ordered disciplinary action against six officials, including Kanpur divisional commissioner, for laxity in works which came to light during her surprise inspection of two districts.

“The CM carried out surprise inspections in Kanpur and Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar districts to review progress of development works, implementation of welfare schemes, state of essential services and law and order situation,” a government spokesman said here.

Kidnapped boy rescued, 4 held

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Chandigarh, February 09:Police today rescued a kidnapped child and arrested four people in this connection.

The one-year-old boy was kidnapped from sector-26 here in the morning. Later in the day, his father received a call on his mobile phone demanding Rs 5 lakh for the child’s release, following which he approached the police.

The police deciphered the number and dispatched a team to the STD booth from where the call was ostensibly made. They managed to procure the identity of the callers and located them nearby on a motorcycle.

Helen Mirren in awe of Kate Middleton

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London, February 09:Veteran actress Dame Helen Mirren is in awe of British royal Prince Williams’ fiancee Kate Middleton.

The actress admits that Middleton is a “very special” person to take on the challenges of becoming a British royal, reports imdb.com.

“I love where she comes from and who she is. You see them together and they’re easy with each other. They look at each other with genuine interest and love, they make each other laugh. It takes a very special person to step into that world,” said Mirren.

Naidu slams Cong-PRP merger

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Guntur(AP), February 09:Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu today ridiculed Chiranjeevi-led Praja Rajyam’s merger with Congress, and alleged that the actor had joined hands with the “corrupt” Congress only for power.

Talking to reporters here, Naidu recounted Chiranjeevi’s earlier tirade against the Congress and wondered how he had now switched over to the ruling party.

“He has sacrificed his oft-repeated social justice concept,” Naidu said.

–PTI

Categories Uncategorised

Move granting part-time jobs for teenagers in UAE criticised

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Abu Dhabi, February 09: A decision allowing teenagers to take up part-time jobs may adversely affect efforts being made to better shape the population make-up, a member of the Federal National Council (FNC) said on Tuesday.

Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, a representative from Dubai, explained the decision may encourage foreigners to bring in their children to live, learn and eventually seek further rights.

The decision, which is also applicable to young Emiratis, could lead to an increase in the drop outs from schools, he said.

Proposal moots freeing 70 acres of land:Ayodhya

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Faizabad, February 09: Several of the parties to the Ayodhya dispute are discussing a proposal seeking release of the 70 acres of land acquired by the Centre near the makeshift temple and the Babri Masjid site.

The new proposal, which has been put forward by industrialist Sanjay Dalmia, a relative of former VHP chief Vishnu Hari Dalmia, envisages building a temple, a mosque, a church and a gurudwara in the released area.

Fire at Nagaland CM’s residence, family escapes unhurt

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Kohima, February 08:Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his family narrowly escaped Tuesday evening when a major fire broke out at their residence while they were sitting down to dinner, an official said.

“The chief minister and his family were inside the house. Fortunately, they escaped unhurt,” Nagaland Additional Chief Secretary Alemtemshi Jamir told IANS.

Rio and his family members were about to start their dinner when the fire was detected at around 6.20 p.m.

The fire brigade arrived at the spot and the blaze was doused by around 8 p.m.

Mother-son duo arrested for cheating

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New Delhi, February 08:An illiterate mother and her school dropout son, accused of cheating people by enticing them to invest in the schemes of their “companies” that promised high interest rates, have been arrested, police said Tuesday.

Kitabun Nisha, 63 and her son Anwar Azad, 36 were arrested Monday.

“They set up a company named Shresthapriya Finance and Investment Ltd in Shakarpur area of east Delhi while another, Popular Savinvest Ltd had its office in Laxmi Nagar area of east Delhi,” a police official said.

‘Facebook plays critical role in Arab world’s social movements’

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Abu Dhabi, February 08:Networking sites like Facebook and Twitter will continue to play a critical role in organising social and civil movements in the Arab world, a new report says.

According to the inaugural Arab Social Media Report (ASMR) released by Dubai School of Government, a leading research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world, the penetration of social networking tools is soaring in the Arab world.

The growth is highest among the youth between the age group of 15 and 29, who make up around one-third of the total Arab population.

Robbery in east Delhi

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New Delhi, February 08:A 28-year-old shopkeeper was allegedly beaten up by two masked men and robbed of Rs.1 lakh and recharge coupons worth thousands of rupees in Krishna Nagar area of east Delhi, police said Tuesday.

The victim has been identified as Deepak Kumar. The incident took place Monday at around 10 p.m. when two motorcycle-borne men entered his shop and robbed him at gun-point. The incident came to light only Tuesday morning.

Park your vehicle using a mobile phone

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New Delhi, February 08:In a move to ease parking hassles, the Delhi government is proposing to set up two smart parking lots in the city where people can pay using their mobile phone and even get the availability of parking space displayed on their phone screens, an official said Tuesday.