Month: December 2013

Expedite probe into Afghan war crimes: Human Rights Watch

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The prosecutor’s office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should expedite its preliminary inquiry on grave international crimes committed in Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch said Sunday.

In its November Report on Preliminary Examination Activities, the ICC prosecutor’s office found that “(w)ar crimes and crimes against humanity were and continue to be committed in Afghanistan”.

ICC said it would examine whether the government was taking sufficient action to investigate and prosecute these crimes.

`Royal Baby` world’s top online search obsession in 2013: Yahoo

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Yahoo has released a list of world’s top ten obsessions that gave people sleepless nights and do frantic online search, and the winner of the top spot is none other than the royal baby.

The most obsessive online search in 2013 has been made for Kate, William and royal baby George, while Miley Cyrus’ twerking helped her stay at the top second position. According to Daily Star, other obsessions include Scottish tennis star Andy Murray and US TV hit Breaking Bad and False Widow spiders.

Angry fiancee boots out Ricky Hatton from shared home following booze bender

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Former British boxer Ricky Hatton was reportedly thrown out by his angry fiancee out of their shared two million-pound house following his alleged four-day drinking spree.

The former world champion and his 150,000-pound Bentley are now sharing place at a friend”s pad after his fiancee Jennifer Dooley, who is the mother of Hatton”s two daughters, refused to let him back in after Hatton went out last Friday to watch his son box in his debut bout and did not return until Monday.

Three security personnel killed in northwest Pakistan

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Three security personnel have been killed and two others injured when militants attacked security forces in northwest Pakistan.

Security sources said the exchange of fire took place yesterday in Yari Khel area of Baizai Tehsil in Mohmand Agency.

Mohmand Agency is one of Pakistan’s seven tribal agencies near the Afghan border and is said to be a stronghold of the Taliban and al-Qaeda elements.

PTI

Death toll up to 26 in Syrian strike: Activists

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The death toll from a government helicopter strike on a rebel-held town near the northern city of Aleppo has risen to 26 people including four children, said Syrian activists.

A military helicopter targeted a compound of the rebel group known as the Tawhid Brigade in the town of al-Bab, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The bombs missed their target and hit the Nafasin market instead, killing 26 people, most of them civilians.

Most Americans don”t trust each other, finds poll

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Majority of Americans do not trust each other, a new poll has found. Only one-third of Americans said most people can be trusted. Half felt that way in 1972, when the General Social Survey first asked the question.

Iran, Russia in talks on new Bushehr nuclear plant

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Iran and Russia are in talks to build another nuclear plant at Bushehr, with construction set to begin in 2014, media today reported nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi as saying.

“With the progress made in the Geneva talks, next year we will see the start of construction on another nuclear power plant in Bushehr,” said Salehi of the landmark deal clinched with world powers on Tehran’s disputed nuclear drive. He did not elaborate on the new plant’s power capacity, but Iran has planned to build 1,000-megawatt plants.

US offers to assist in destruction of Syria”s chemical weapons

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The United States has offered to help destroy some of the most lethal elements of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is helping lead the effort, said the U.S. offered to contribute money, technology and support to destroy Syrian President Bashar al-Assad”s regime of the chemical weapons by December 31.

Japan PM to discuss China air zone with Biden

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said today that he would discuss China’s expansion of its air defence zone with US Vice President Joe Biden in Tokyo to coordinate their stance after apparently contradictory responses.

China raised regional tensions with its declaration last weekend of the zone, which covers islands in the East China Sea at the centre of a dispute between Beijing and Tokyo, and demands that aircraft submit flight plans when traversing the area.

Govt. should make Jammu-Kashmir a ‘super state’, not a ‘separate state’: Modi

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Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the Congress-led UPA Government for ignoring the development of the state, and said that the Government should have thought of making Jammu and Kashmir a super state instead of a separate state.

“They call Jammu Kashmir a beggar state but the state will prove it is a better state and not a beggar state. It would have been better if the Government thought of making Jammu and Kashmir a super state instead of a separate state,’ he said while addressing a rally here today.

Pakistan’s culture impressive: Chinese lawmakers

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A visiting Chinese parliamentary delegation has termed Pakistan’s culture as “impressive”, a media report said Sunday.

The delegation headed by Shen Yueyue, vice chairperson of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress, visited the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage or Lok Virsa here Saturday, the Daily Times reported.

“We are very much impressed to see the culture of Pakistan which has been presented beautifully in this museum,” Shen said.

The delegation also visited the Faisal Mosque and the Pakistan National Monument in the capital.

IANS

Iran ‘will not abandon Arak heavy water reactor’

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Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi has said Tehran will never abandon the Arak heavy water reactor, considering it a “red line” in talks with world powers, media reported on Sunday.

“Your actions and words show you don’t want us to have the Arak heavy water reactor which means you want to deprive us of our rights,” Salehi was quoted as saying by the website of state broadcaster IRIB.

“But you should know that it is a red line which we will never cross, likewise enrichment” of uranium.

Iraq funeral bomb kills 12, November unrest claims 950

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A suicide bombing at the funeral of an Iraqi anti-Qaeda fighter killed 12 people today as figures showed nearly 950 people died last month in spiralling violence ahead of elections.

The violence, Iraq’s worst protracted period of unrest since it emerged from a gruesome Sunni-Shiite sectarian war, has sparked fears the country is slipping back into all-out bloodletting.

Officials have adopted an array of measures aimed at halting the attacks, focussing their efforts on resurgent al-Qaeda front groups emboldened by the war raging in neighbouring Syria.

Eating high-fat diet during puberty ups breast cancer risk later in life

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A new study has revealed that eating a high-fat diet at puberty can accelerate the development of breast cancer and may actually increase the risk of cancer similar to a type often found in younger adult women.

The study from the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program at Michigan State University indicated that before any tumors appear, there are changes in the breast that include increased cell growth and alterations in immune cells.

These changes persist into adulthood and can lead to the rapid development of precancerous lesions and ultimately breast cancer.

Ireland retain ICC World Twenty20 qualifier crown

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Ireland won the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier title for the third time in four appearances with a 68-run victory over Afghanistan in Saturday`s final in Dubai.

The defending champions posted an impressive 225 in their innings with Trent Johnston the star, smashing a career-best 62 off just 32 balls, with four sixes and five fours.

Australian-born Johnston then returned bowling figures of three for 34 to deservedly take the man-of-the-match award, but was ably supported by opener Paul Stirling, who top-scored with a 43-ball 76.

McIlroy shocks Scott to win Australian Open

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Double Major-winner Rory McIlroy won the Australian Open on Sunday with a birdie at the final hole, pipping home favourite Adam Scott, to secure his first tournament victory of 2013.

Scott was leading by a stroke with one hole to play and looked certain to become only the second player ever to capture the Australian “Triple Crown”.

However, the world number two bogeyed the last and McIlroy holed a birdie putt to win by a shot with 18 under par at the Royal Sydney course.

‘Oldest woman in Europe’ reveals diet secrets

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Emma Morano, who is the oldest woman in Europe and fifth-oldest person in the world at 114, has shed light on her diet secrets .

According to La Stampa, Morano believes that eating a raw egg every day has helped her live so long, News.com.au reported.

Morano, who was born in 1899, said that for breakfast she eats biscuits with milk or water and during the day she eats two eggs, one raw and one cooked, just like the doctor recommended when she was 20 years old.

For lunch she’ll eat pasta and minced meat then for dinner, she’ll have just a glass of milk, Morano said.

AK Ganguly need not resign as rights panel chief: Sorabjee

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Former Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly need not resign from the chairmanship of West Bengal Human Rights Commission in the wake of sexual harassment allegation against him as it would set a “dangerous precedent”, former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee has said.

“No. I don’t think so. Because he says these allegations are baseless. Why should he?….We are in the realm of accusations,” Sorabjee said when asked whether Ganguly, who is accused by a young woman law intern of sexually harassing her, should resign from the post of WBHRC Chairman in the wake of allegations.

Ganguly need not resign as rights panel chief: Sorabjee

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Former Supreme Court judge A K Ganguly need not resign from the chairmanship of West Bengal Human Rights Commission in the wake of sexual harassment allegation against him as it would set a “dangerous precedent”, former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee has said.

“No. I don’t think so. Because he says these allegations are baseless. Why should he?….We are in the realm of accusations,” Sorabjee said when asked whether Ganguly, who is accused by a young woman law intern of sexually harassing her, should resign from the post of WBHRC Chairman in the wake of allegations.

Pop songs, talkback radio helping astronomers track harmful space junk

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Scientists have discovered a surprising new way to keep a check on space junk and prevent any catastrophic collisions with Earth – by using pop songs, talkback radio and highly advanced science.

The inaugural research headed by Curtin University in Australia, will use the newly operational Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), one of three precursor telescopes for the 2 billion dollars Square Kilometre Array project, to detect radio waves reflecting off thousands of objects orbiting the earth.

BJP softens on Article 370, Modi seeks discussion on it

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BJP today downplayed its own stand on Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir, saying it should be debated whether the constitutional provision has been beneficial for the state and even hinted that it may give up its demand for abrogation if such a view emerges.

Addressing his first rally here after being named the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi said his party wanted a discussion on various aspects of the issue.

Centre cannot interfere in Tehelka case: Shinde

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Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Sunday said the Centre cannot interfere in the sexual assault case against Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal.

Replying to a question on whether Tejpal’s arrest came after much delay, Shinde, who was here to attend a function, said, “Our government does not protect culprits in any way. Since it (Tejpal’s) is a case of a different state, the Centre cannot interfere in it.”

‘Bigg Boss 7’: Love, shuv and more!

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Kushal Tandon proposed to Gauahar Khan in the `Bigg Boss Saath-7` house and this boosted viewers` curiosity, while Tanisha Mukherjee-Armaan Kohli`s camaraderie is keeping the audiences hooked to the ongoing season of the reality show.

How real are these relationships? Ex-contestants claim inmates sometimes “fake romances” for survival and to boost viewership ratings and sometimes “they attach themselves to someone” due to loneliness in the house, where they are locked up for three months without contact with the outside world.

Tejpal’s ‘political conspiracy’ defence missing in court

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Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal’s public stance that the rape victim’s complaint was politically coloured and a part of a larger conspiracy is missing from his anticipatory bail application.

The application makes no mention of politics motivating the complainant, his junior employee, to hurl rape charges against him.

North Goa District and Sessions judge Anuja Prabhudessai Saturday denied anticipatory bail to Tejpal and cleared the road for his arrest.

I’m not qualified to write autobiography: Amitabh Bachchan

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Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he is not “qualified” to pen an autobiography even though he has an illustrious career of over four decades in Indian cinema.

At an open question-and-answer session at the Penguin Annual Lecture 2013 in the capital Friday night, Big B was asked if he has given a thought to sharing some of his life`s experiences via a book.

“I am not qualified to do that,” said the 71-year-old thespian who continues to entertain the people through his films and popular TV show “Kaun Banega Crorepati”.