Month: January 2010

‘Israel, US spread Iranophobia to divide ME states’

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Tehran, January 30: Iran’s Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani says the US and Israel are attempting to spread Iranophobia in the region to create division in the Middle East.

“It is necessary to recognize that, by creating a non-realistic sense of fear and dread towards Iran, the US and Israel are seeking to expand their military bases in the region,” the top Iranian official said on Friday in a visit to Kuwait.

Larijani added that the US and Israel make the most out of forging unreal enemies in the oil-rich region, “selling their armaments and plundering oil reserves.”

Arms sale to Taiwan will cost US dear, says China

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Beijing, January 30: China has threatened the US with “serious” consequences over a Washington decision to sell USD 6.4 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan.

The arms package includes Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters, and communications equipment for Taiwan’s F-16 fleet. However, it does not include the fighter jet itself, which had been part of Taipei’s wish list, AFP reported on Friday.

France, US draft Iran sanctions proposal

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Paris, January 30: French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says Paris and Washington have worked out a common position on sanctions against Iran.

“We have reached a very clear agreement on further actions. We will act in two directions: Constant dialogue and work on sanctions,” Kouchner said Friday, after meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Paris.

The US and France intend to submit their proposal in preparation for a possible United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote within weeks.

Palestinians hand Gaza War report to UN

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Gaza, January 30: The Palestinian Authority says it has submitted a report to the United Nations on Israel’s last year offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN observer, said Friday that he handed the report to the chief of cabinet Vijay Nambiar at UN headquarters in New York.

Mansour, however, declined to provide details, saying it was a confidential report demanded by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

Taliban to ‘soon decide ‘ on reintegration offer

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Kabul, January 30: Taliban leaders said on Friday that they will decide soon on Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s offer of peace talks and on whether they will join the government.

Karzai, on Thursday, at a major conference on Afghanistan in London, invited Taliban leaders to take part in a “loya jirga” — or large assembly of elders — to initiate peace talks aimed at ending the Afghan war.

Under Karzai’s proposal, Western powers, who are calling for efficient plans that would pave the way for them to begin withdrawing their troops, would not be directly involved in the peace talks.

IAEA: Dialogue with Iran still on

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Davos, January 30: The UN nuclear agency chief said on Friday dialogue was continuing on a draft deal on enriched uranium between Iran and world powers despite Tehran’s rejection of terms meant to prevent the material being used for atomic bombs.

Western diplomats have said Iran has effectively turned down the IAEA-brokered proposal and the United States and major European allies are pursuing broader UN sanctions against the Iran over its nuclear activity.

Iran hard-liner demands more executions

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Tehran, January 30: A powerful hard-line Iranian cleric on Friday called for the execution of more opposition activists to silence anti-government protests, praising the hanging a day earlier of two men caught up in the leadership’s postelection crackdown.

Speaking in a Friday prayer sermon, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said the wave of street demonstrations sparked by the disputed June presidential election would not have lasted until now if protesters had been executed early on.

Bin Laden blasts US for climate change

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Cairo, January 30: Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden has called for the world to boycott American goods and the US dollar, blaming the United States and other industrialized countries for global warming, according to a new audiotape released Friday.

In the tape, broadcast in part on Al-Jazeera television, Bin Laden warned of the dangers of climate change and says that the way to stop it is to bring “the wheels of the American economy” to a halt.

Big Maha Kumbh bathing day draws thousands

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Haridwar, January 30: The banks of the Ganga here reverberated with chants of “Har Har Gange”, “Jai Jai Gange” as a sea of pilgrims took a holy dip on Magh Purnima Saturday during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela.

Braving the cold and misty morning, men, women, children and priests in saffron gathered at the bathing ghats before dawn, waiting for the sun to rise for the auspicious bath during the Maha Kumbh, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

SRK, Kajol to ring NASDAQ opening bell

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New York, January 30: Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol have been invited by NASDAQ, the world’s biggest stock exchange, to ring their opening bell here Monday.

The stars of director Karan Johar’s upcoming feature film “My Name Is Khan” will become the first Indian actors to open the market, an honour usually reserved for CEOs of major corporations, when they ring in the first trading day of February at 9:30 a.m.

10 killed, 20 missing as boat capsizes in AP

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Hyderabad, January 30: At least 10 people were killed and 20 were missing Saturday after an overcrowded boat capsized in Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh.

A police officer said 10 bodies were recovered so far while a search was on for the missing people. The boat was carrying 70 people, mostly pilgrims. Local people rescued 40 passengers.

Man shot at in Greater Noida

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Noida, January 30: An employee of a private factory was shot at by unidentified men in Bisrakh area of Greater Noida, police said Friday.

According to police, Satish Kumar, an operator with an electrical manufacturing unit in Sector-59, was returning to home in Thursday evening when unidentified assailants fired at him.

Sandra Bullock hires pet detective for missing dog

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London, January 30: Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock and her husband Jesse James have hired a pet detective to find their missing pet bull dog Cinnabun.

“I’m in contact with Sandra and Jesse all day. We’ve been going back and forth checking on tips,” said Colleen Busch, from pet detective agency Find Toto, reports E! Online.

As well as hiring a detective, the couple have started an online campaign to raise awareness of the missing pet and help bring her home safely after she went missing from their home in Seal Beach, California, Jan 25.

Toyota to recall 1.8 million cars in Europe

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Germany, January 30: Japanese carmaker Toyota, the world’s largest, is to recall some 1.8 million vehicles in Europe in a bid to fix a potentially lethal accelerator fault, a spokesman for Toyota Motor Europe said Friday.

The fault involves the accelerator pedal becoming lodged underneath the floor mat.

Toyota Motor Europe sold some 882,350 vehicles across the continent in 2009.

On Thursday, Toyota Motor Sales USA said it would repair an additional 1.09 million vehicles to address the same fault.

Two U.S. soldiers and one U.S. employee killed in Afghanistan

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Kabul, January 30: Two U.S. service members and one U.S. employee on Friday were killed in eastern Afghanistan, NATO said.

The ISAF said they are investigating the incident, but did not have anything further to report.

There have been twenty-eight U.S. coalition deaths in Afghanistan this year, thus far.

–IANS–

UAE charity helps Haiti quake victims

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Abu Dhabi, January 30: The Red Crescent Authority (RCA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have distributed 45 tonnes of relief items among the Haiti quake victims as part of its humanitarian aid assistance, WAM news agency reported.

The materials, including tents, blankets and food, were distributed in the Croix des Bouquets area, three kilometers from Port au Prince, Haiti’s capital. About 1,500 families received the aid.

Humaid Al-Shamsi, head of the RCA delegation in Haiti, said Friday his organisation would increase its humanitarian supplies to the country in the coming days.

Obama announces tax cuts for small businesses

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Washington, January 30: President Obama on Friday announced new proposal to create jobs and cut taxes for small businesses.

At the Chesapeake Machine Company in Baltimore, Maryland, President Obama announced the details for the Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Cut that he says will put more Americans back to work by giving businesses – specifically small businesses – a tax cut for new hiring. The new proposal will also provide tax incentives for businesses to expand wages for their employees.

Abu Dhabi to attract $12 bn capital investments

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Abu Dhabi, January 30: Abu Dhabi will attract new capital investments worth more than 45 billion dirhams (about $12 billion) over the next five years, WAM news agency said citing an official report.

The investments will be made by the existing as well as new companies to be set up in the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) capital over the period.

The emirate would remain a favourite place for investors during the period as it is pursuing a strong economic reform-agenda, the report said Friday.

US plans weapons sales to Taiwan

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Washington, January 30: The Obama administration informed the US Congress Friday of a proposal to sell up to $6.4 billion in weapons to Taiwan, a move that could spark a diplomatic rift with China.

The package includes 60 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, 12 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and land attack missiles, 114 Patriot missile-defence systems, two mine hunting ships, and related equipment and communications and information technology, the Pentagon said.

New port terminal set to boost Dubai cruise tourism

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Dubai, January 30: An new port terminal being built here in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to boost cruise tourism in a big way, WAM news agency reported.

Though an exact launch date has still not been set, the new cruise terminal at Port Rashid is expected to open next month.

The opening could possibly coincide with the naming of the new cruise ship by Costa Cruises Feb 23, WAM said Friday.

Student offers virginity for sale to pay university fees

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Wellington, January 30: A 19-year-old New Zealand student is offering her virginity for sale to the highest bidder on an auction website to raise money for her university fees, a newspaper reported Saturday.

“Unigirl,” as she calls herself, says she is attractive, has never had a sexual relationship and is still a virgin.

“I am offering my virginity by tender to the highest bidder as long as all personal safety aspects are observed,” she says on the I Need website ineed.co.nz, which is based in the North Island city of Hamilton.

UN urges new approach to fight Somali piracy

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New York, January 30: A senior UN official urged a comprehensive, cohesive and broad-based strategy to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia, noting that the continued spread of the scourge points to the limits of a solely sea-based approach, WAM news agency reported.

In recent years, pirates operating from Somalia have been hijacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and holding their crews and cargo for ransom, according to the UN.

Obama steps up nuclear energy commitment, creates commission

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Washington, January 30: US President Barack Obama Friday stepped up his commitment to nuclear energy as part of the solution to global warming, marking a shift in policy that is partly designed to end a deadlock with opposition Republicans over energy policy.

Obama tasked a new commission to make proposals within two years on how to better manage used nuclear fuel and waste. He said nuclear energy was key to weaning the US off its dependency on foreign fossil fuels.

Student offers virginity for sale to pay university fees

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Wellington, January 30:A 19-year-old New Zealand student is offering her virginity for sale to the highest bidder on an auction website to raise money for her university fees, a newspaper reported Saturday.

“Unigirl,” as she calls herself, says she is attractive, has never had a sexual relationship and is still a virgin.

“I am offering my virginity by tender to the highest bidder as long as all personal safety aspects are observed,” she says on the I Need website ineed.co.nz, which is based in the North Island city of Hamilton.

250,000 civilians uprooted in Yemen since 2004

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Geneva, January 30: An estimated 250,000 civilians have been uprooted since clashes in Yemen erupted in 2004, with the number having more than doubled since just last August, WAM news agency reported citing the UN refugee agency.