Month: June 2010

Israel trying to limit diplomatic damage from raid

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Jerusalem, June 03: In an attempt to limit the diplomatic damage from its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Israel dropped plans Wednesday to prosecute dozens of pro-Palestinian activists, opting instead to deport them all immediately.

The stunning reversal came as Israel faced increasingly sharp international condemnation for Monday’s high-seas raid that ended when Israeli commandos killed nine activists. The outcry included accusations of war crimes and a decision by Nicaragua to break diplomatic relations with Israel over the raid.

Saudi Shura Council lashes out at Israel

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Jeddah, June 03: The Saudi Shura Council has strongly condemned the brutal Israeli attack on the flotilla carrying humanitarian aid.

At a meeting chaired by the council’s Vice President Bandar bin Mohammed Hajjar on Tuesday, members lashed out at the Israelis for raiding the Freedom Flotilla, which was transporting aid to Gaza.

Oman extends amnesty for illegal expats

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Muscat, June 03: The Oman government has extended an amnesty for illegal expatriate residents for a second time. The new deadline is July 31.

The scheme, which allows overstaying expatriates to regularise their status or leave the country without paying fines, was first announced late last year with March 30 set as the closing date, which was subsequently extended by two months until May 31.

2mn child labourers in EU

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London, June 03: Over two million children under the age of 15 are salaried workers in the European Union (EU) including developed countries like Holland, Denmark and France, an international child rights organisation has alleged.

Children who work is one of the most extended phenomena in all of central and eastern Europe, while poverty forces the young to take on adult work in face of necessity, “Save the Children” has said.

Beauty parlours, restaurants, laundries and cleaning companies are the major areas where immigrant children work.

Bride’s age must in new Saudi marriage contracts

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Jeddah, June 03: The new marriage contracts represent a serious step to prevent the marriage of young girls, according to sources at the Ministry of Justice.

“There is a serious drive by the ministry to determine an age for girls to marry following the recent reporting of older men marrying young girls,” the sources said.

Weight gain during pregnancy, risky for child’s heart

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London, June 03: A new study has revealed that piling in pounds can increase a child’s risk of developing risk of heart disease in later life.

The findings revealed that women who put on the most weight had less heart-healthy children at the age of nine. These children were heavier, had bigger waists, more body fat and lower blood levels of “good” cholesterol.

Iran says enriching to higher levels as backup plan

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Vienna, June 03: Iran is enriching nuclear material to higher levels as a backup plan because it fears it will not receive foreign fuel for a medical research reactor, Tehran’s envoy to the U.N. atomic watchdog said on Wednesday.

Iran started refining uranium to 20 percent purity in February saying it wanted to produce fuel for a reactor that makes isotopes for treating cancer after talks over a fuel swap deal proposal with big powers stalled.

The move sparked Western concerns because it brings the material closer to the level of refinement needed for atomic weapons.

Mohammed approves Pensions and Social Security Authority structure

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Dubai, June 03: His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the organisational structure of the General Pensions and Social Security Authority (GPSSA).

According to the new structure, the authority will have four executive directors, operation centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and business units for investment, risk assessment and internal auditing.

Sonia shock for Spanish writer

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New Delhi, June 03: Sonia moved from the village of Lusiana to Orbassano, an industrial town in the outskirts of Turin when she was 10 years old. She was known as paesane here — a derogatory term for immigrants out of sync with fashion trends. But as her father Stefano, who was known for his honesty, worked his way up, she moved from being known as the daughter of a “ cowheard” and “ bricklayer” to the daughter of a builder who lived comfortably.

New benefits to the families of gay

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Washington, June 03: President Barack Obama on Wednesday expanded benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees, a move likely to be welcomed by gay rights activists who have questioned his commitment to their causes.

Obama said he had directed government agencies to offer a number of new benefits to the families of gay and lesbian federal employees, including family assistance services, hardship transfers and relocation expenses.

Briton’s killer arrested

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Dubai, June 03: The Dubai Police has tracked down and arrested the man who was allegedly behind the cold-blooded murder of a British woman, Maria Esilan, in her apartment here last Thursday.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) coordinated with the Interpol to arrest the alleged killer, who fled after the crime to his home country, Syria, Major-General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police, said on Wednesday.

Israel under ‘international assault of hypocrisy’: Netanyahu

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Jerusalem, June 03: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday bluntly rejected international criticism of his country’s forceful interception on high seas of six aid ships headed for the blockaded Gaza Strip.

“The state of Israel is standing opposite an international assault of hypocrisy. And it’s not the first time,” charged the Israeli leader in his first public reaction since nine foreign activists were killed in the operation early Monday.

EC moves court over a ‘ defiant’ Mayawati

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New Delhi, June 03: The election Commission ( EC) on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against a “ defiant” Uttar Pradesh government.

The EC alleged that the state, by not supplying details about the construction of statues of elephants and chief minister Mayawati, was coming in the way of EC’s deciding on the misuse of the Bahujan Samaj Party’s ( BSP) election symbol.

“ The commission is handicapped by the defiant and uncooperative stance of Uttar Pradesh,” the application filed by the EC stated.

Palestinians pay homage to victims of Israeli attack

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Dubai, June 03: Palestinians gathered in large numbers at the consulate in Dubai on Tuesday to stand in silence in memory of the heroes of the ‘Freedom Flotilla’, who died in the Israeli attack 
on Sunday.

They said Israel had become a real danger to all countries of the world, as it did not respect international law. The harsh policy of starvation against the Palestinian people was killing innocents, they said, and described the attack on the ‘Freedom Flotilla’ as an act of terrorism.

Indian envoy meets Pakistani opposition leader

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Islamabad, June 03: Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal Wednesday called on opposition leader of Pakistan National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to discuss bilateral relations.

They discussed political situation in Pakistan, terrorism and other issues during their meeting at Punjab House, the Online news agency reported.

The Pakistani leader said cordial relations between the two countries will enhance stability of the region. The Indian official said India wants good relations with Pakistan.

–IANS–

No licence, no practice for health professionals

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Dubai, June 03: Health professionals working without a licence in Dubai will be blacklisted and not allowed to work in any other emirate, according to the Dubai Health Authority.

The warning came after the authority found a number of health professionals working in the emirate without a licence. In a recent circular issued to health establishments, the authority warned of legal action against those found in violation.

Paris Hilton does sexy dance with Ne-Yo

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London, June 03: Socialite heiress Paris Hilton showed audience some sexy moves after she was called on stage by R&B star Ne-Yo during his performance.

The singer was performing in Las Vegas and when he spotted Hilton, he called her up on stage. While Ne-Yo sang “Miss Independent”, Hilton performed some sexy dance steps, which involved pulling her dress up and almost showing her backside to the audience, reports dailymail.co.uk.

I may look like Madonna when I grow old: Gaga

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London, June 03: Singer Lady Gaga thinks she may look like pop diva Madonna when she grows old because her mother looks like the pop superstar.

The “Poker Face” singer finds her comparison to the Queen of Pop funny and more of appearance based rather than performance, reports contactmusic.com.

Israel sorry after slip- up on India

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New Delhi, June 03: Israel on Wednesday tried to avert a diplomatic row by terming as a “ regrettable error” the bracketing of India with Pakistan and other violence- hit countries by its foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman at the UN. Under fire for attacking an aid flotilla, Lieberman had told UN secretary- general Ban Ki- moon that while its action was being condemned, there was no such word on “ 500 people being killed in various incidents in India, Pakistan, Thailand, Afghanistan and Iraq”.

Planes with nine bodies, hundreds of activists leave Israel

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Tel Aviv, June 03: Israel early Thursday completed the deportation of hundreds of foreign nationals from its Ben-Gurion International Airport, the country’s foreign ministry announced.

The bodies of the nine people who were killed in early Monday’s forceful interception in mid-sea of six ships bound for Gaza were also on board the planes that took off from Tel Aviv, a spokesman told DPA.

Green flag for UAE to host global meet

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Dubai, June 03: The United Arab Emirates will host the Summit on the Global Agenda in Dubai from November 29 to December 1 in 2010 and Abu Dhabi will do so next year.

Representatives of the World Economic Forum and the UAE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to flag off the preparations for the 2010 meet.

US probe takes aim at rating agencies

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New York, June 03: Credit rating agencies came under fire for their role in the global financial crisis Wednesday, as senior industry figures — including mega-investor Warren Buffett — were grilled by US investigators.

Answering allegations that rating firms helped propel the sale of risky investments that poisoned the global financial system, senior officials from Moody’s admitted mistakes were made, but denied any wrongdoing.

I keep fit for health, not for glamour: Sonali

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Mumbai, June 03: Actress Sonali Bendre is looking trimmer than ever and says she works out regularly — not to look glamorous but to keep herself fit.

“I have been working out regularly for the last two months and that is why you see a change in me. But it is purely for health reasons that I started exercising and taking care of my body,” Sonali told IANS.

US drones are ‘licence to kill’: UN expert

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Geneva, June 03: A UN human rights expert on Wednesday condemned the United States’ targeted killings using drones, warning that the practice amounted to a “licence to kill without accountability”.

In a report to the UN Human Rights Council, Philip Alston, the special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, said the “prolific” US use of targeted killings, mainly by unmanned aircraft, was setting a damaging example that other countries would follow.

U.S. joins U.N. condemnation of Israeli flotilla attack

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Washington, June 03: “The United States supports the Security Council’s condemnation of the acts leading to this tragedy,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, striking a note of support for the victims of an attack by Israel on an aid-laden flotilla of ships bound for Gaza.

After nearly two days of relative caution in its response, the United States came out strongly against the commando-led attack on the flotilla on Monday, which resulted in the deaths of nine activists on board.