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Thousands protest PARIS, Dec 22: An estimated 3,000 protesters, including many young women in .....more US
raises terror NEW YORK, Dec 22: The United States has raised its nationwide terrorism alert from "elevated" to "high" and stepped.....more Australians sentenced on terror charges in Beruit CANBERRA, Dec 22: Two Australian brothers have been convicted in absentia and sentenced to 10 years’ jail in Beruit.....more Mental hospital rejects Woman’s claims for damages for molestation SINGAPORE, Dec 22: Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health has rejected a woman’s .....more |
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New Zealand to review New Zealand, Dec 22: New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said today that a ....more Gene
for muscles SINGAPORE, Dec 22: Scientists from Singapore and Britain have discovered a gene that controls how muscles develop, a. ....more Afghan
Ambassador SYDNEY, Dec 22: Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Australia, Mahmoud Saikal, has .. ....more Castro
plans unexpected trip to Venezuela, CARACAS, Dec 22: Cuban President Fidel Castro plans to make a rare and unexpected ....more |
Thousands protest in Paris against Muslim veil ban PARIS, Dec 22: An estimated 3,000 protesters, including many young women in Muslim headscarves, demonstrated against the French Government’s plan to ban overt religious symbols in schools. The proposal, announced by President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday, has been welcomed by most local religious leaders but has drawn the ire of Muslims at home and abroad. The predominantly Muslim demonstrators yesterday brandished French identity cards or the national flag as they marched through central Paris carrying banners that read "my veil, my voice" or "veil, cross, Kippa, leave us the choice". The draft law, which the Government hopes to submit to Parliament in February, would ban religious symbols such as headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses. Devout Muslims believe women should cover their hair from the view of men not related to them. Devout jewish men wear skullcaps, or Kippas, as a sign of constant reverence to God. Pupils will still be allowed to wear discreet symbols of faith such as Islamic pendants, the star of david or crosses. "In France, everyone is allowed to say what they think. Those who are in favour of this law have spoken, now it’s our turn," said Wouassila, one of the organisers of the March. Influential Muslim clerics have urged Muslims to use their political and economic influence over France to fight the draft law, while Syria’s top cleric called on Chirac yesterday to reconsider the legislation. Keftarou urged Chriac in a letter "to reconsider backing this decision to be in harmony with the great history of France...And its moderate tradition in allowing co-existence between religions, races and various nationalities." Jacques Martin, conservative Mayor of nogent-sur-marne to the east of Paris, fuelled the controversy this week by ordering couples not to wear any religious, political or other overt symbols during civil wedding ceremonies. Anti-racism groups said the measure was legally dubious and would only help to stir up ill-feeling towards Muslims, but Martin dismissed the polemic as a "storm in a teacup". "This letter was written years ago and its purpose is to clarify the rules both for civil servants and engaged couples," he was quoted as saying on Sunday by the daily Le Parisien. (AGENCIES) |
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US raises terror alert to high, security beefed up NEW YORK, Dec 22: The United States has raised its nationwide terrorism alert from "elevated" to "high" and stepped up security around bridges, airports, nuclear power stations and industrial plants due to the threat of an Al-Qaeda attack during the holiday season that could either "rival" or "exceed" the Sept 11 strikes. Simultaneously, a warning to American citizens worldwide was issued. Announcing the decision to raise the threat level, homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the move was the result of a "substantial increase" in the volume of intelligence pointing to "near-term attacks that could either rival or exceed what we experienced on Sept 11." On the five-level colour coded scale, the threat level was raised to from yellow or elevated to orange which stands for high risk of terrorists attacks. Yellow is the middle of the scale and orange second highest. The red is the highest which would be used if threat is imminent or the attack is underway. Officials say that the indicators show that the threat level is "perhaps is greater now than at any point" since Sept 11, 2001. FBI sent out warning to thousands of state agencies as officials said they consider New York, Washington and some cities on west coast as high risk. They are specially concerned about bridges, tunnels, chemical plants, nuclear power plants, dams and high rise building at high risk during the next two weeks. Reports also hinted at the possibility that terrorists might try to use planes as weapons like they did in Sept 11 exploiting some weaknesses in the aviation security system. Officials said that they are providing "extensive and considerable protection" across the nation. Intelligence information suggests that "extremists abroad" are anticipating attacks that could rival or exceed those of Sept 11, Ridge said. But he did not see any connection between arrest of Saddam Hussein and the possibility of attacks. "Recent reporting reiterates — and this is a constant stream of reporting — that Al-Qaeda continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon," Ridge said at a Washington news conference. "And they are constantly evaluating procedures, both in the United States and elsewhere, to find gaps in our security posture that could be exploited." "We have enhanced security at our nation’s airports and around other transportation systems and infrastructure," he said. "We will redeploy agents and other resources at our borders to meet the current threat. There will be more coast guard air and sea patrols off our shores, in our ports and escorting ships." The authorities are also putting into operation airspace restrictions for smaller planes in Washington area and banning flying over sporting events. In New York, Mayor Michael Bloomberg assured people that the city fully prepared and promised to increase police presence at landmarks and financial institutions, increase check points at tunnels and bridges and enhance patrolling of waterways. (PTI) |
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Australians sentenced on terror charges in Beruit CANBERRA, Dec 22: Two Australian brothers have been convicted in absentia and sentenced to 10 years’ jail in Beruit for terror-related offences, the Australian Government said today, adding it would extradite the men if asked. Former Qantas baggage handler Bilal Khazal and his brother Maher, who are living in Sydney, were convicted and sentenced by a Beirut Military Court on Saturday, a spokesman for Justice Minister Chris Ellison said. The spokesman would give no details on the case. The Australian newspaper reported today the men were convicted of helping finance a militant Muslim group accused of bombing a Mcdonald’s restaurant in Beirut in April. The newspaper said the Beirut Military Court had convicted a total of 27 people of carrying out a series of anti-American attacks across Lebanon between late 2002 and April 2003, handing down sentences from three months to life. "My advice is there’s been no extradition request received by Australia, but if there was one received we will naturally respond positively," Australian Prime Minister John Howard said. Bilal Khazal has been linked by the United States to Al-Qaeda suspect Imad Eddim Barakat Yarkas, also known as Abu Dahdah, who has been detained in Spain since November 2001 on suspicion of a role in the September 11, 2001, airliner attacks. But Khazal, whose passport was confiscated last year by Australian authorities who deemed him a security threat, has denied any terror links. The brothers’ Australian lawyer, Adam Houda, said they did not accept the verdict of the Beirut Military Court and criticised the Australian Government’s willingness to grant any extradition request from Lebanon. "(The government) are fully aware that Military Courts do not operate according to rules of fairness and what the Government should be doing is taking a stand and saying: ‘We won’t be letting one of our citizens be subject to that kind of forum’," Houda told Australian radio. (AGENCIES) |
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Mental hospital rejects Woman’s claims for damages for molestation SINGAPORE, Dec 22: Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health has rejected a woman’s claims for damages for trauma suffered when she was molested by a fellow patient, the Imh said today. The facility was not negligent and took "all reasonable and adequate precautions, safety measures and treatment" for the patient when she was there in May, a statement by the hospital said. The 26-year-old woman accused a male patient of kissing her, exposing himself and lying on top her. She said she had been sedated and tied to her bed after a violent struggle when she was admitted following an attempted suicide. The attack happened in a mixed-gender ward, set up because of a staff shortage during the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The 45-year-old man was charged but acquitted after he was deemed mentally unsound. In a letter to the woman’s lawyer, S Radakrishnan, the hospital raised doubts about the reliability of two female witnesses, "Acutely mentally ill" patients who allegedly pulled the molester off to plaintiff. When nurses heard the commotion, one of them checked the room within seconds and not a full five minutes later as the woman claimed, the hospital maintained. In her account, the woman said staff did not allow her to make a police report, prompting her to make a secret call to her brother. The hospital said the ward nursing officer notified the police. (DPA) |
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New Zealand to review use of electric-shock treatment WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Dec 22: New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said today that a preliminary audit showed electric-shock treatment on mentally ill patients was safe but announced a comprehensive review of its use. The announcement followed recommendations from a Parliamentary committee after it had received a petition from a patient advocacy group signed by 3,000 people that claimed the treatment had left people with brain damage and memory loss. The ministry’s Director-General, Dr Karen Poutasi, said the review would look at the safety and effectiveness of electro- convulsive therapy and the adequacy of current regulatory controls on its use. It will be led by Auckland University Geriatrics and Neurology Professor Craig Anderson and include Otago University Law Professor Peter Skegg and mental health consumer expert Ranui Wilson. Poutasi said a ministry audit of technical aspects of electro-convulsive therapy delivery in New Zealand would be published in late January but preliminary findings were that the therapy was being safely delivered. She said, however, that improvements could be made in information given to patients and their families and in staff training and monitoring. (DPA) |
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Gene for muscles discovered by Singapore-British team SINGAPORE, Dec 22: Scientists from Singapore and Britain have discovered a gene that controls how muscles develop, a find that could pave the way for curing inherited diseases, a newspaper reported today. Without the "U-boot" gene, certain muscles called slow-twitch fibres do not develop, according to researchers at the institute of molecular and cell biology in Singapore and the University of Sheffield in Britain. The findings, based on a study of Zebrafish, were published in the Straits Times. They could shed light on the origins of different muscles in a growing embryo. The Zebrafish is a popular creature with researchers because it shares many of the same genes as humans. The human body’s skeletal muscles are made up of slow-twitch and fast-twitch muscle fibres. The slow-twitch fibres contract slowly but can keep working for a long time, while fast-twitch fibres react quickly but tire quickly too, said Dr Sudipto Roy of the institute’s muscle and neuron diversification laboratory. "A 100-metre spring is powered predominantly by fast muscle fibres while the sustained levels of power needed for a marathon are produced by the slow fibres," Roy was quoted as saying. "The next step would be to look at the role of this gene in inherited disorders which cause muscle disease," he said. Congenital myopathy, the term for any muscle disorder present at birth, includes hundreds of distinct neuromuscular syndromes and disorders. (DPA) |
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Afghan Ambassador appeals to detainees on hunger strike SYDNEY, Dec 22: Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Australia, Mahmoud Saikal, has appealed to 35 asylum seekers being detained on the Pacific island of Nauru to end their 12-day hunger strike, ABC radio news reported today. Some of the men, who are mainly Afghans, have sewn their lips together in protest of being refused permission to settle in Australia and a number have already been treated in hospital. As the Australian Government prepared to dispatch a two-man delegation to Nauru to talk to the protesters, Saikal said he had tried to persuade the men to end the strike. "I appealed to them a few days ago," he told the ABC. "I wrote to them a letter urging them to give up the hunger strike and also the stitching of their lips. How effective that has been I don’t know. It’s yet to be seen. Today, I will be following it." The United Nations Commissioner for refugees last week called on Australia to avoid a tragedy and reach what it called a dignified solution that does not involve prolonged detention. More than 280 asylum seekers, including 39 children, are being held on Nauru after Australia refused to allow them onto its territory. (DPA) |
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Castro plans unexpected trip to Venezuela, President says CARACAS, Dec 22: Cuban President Fidel Castro plans to make a rare and unexpected trip out of his own country today, when he is to visit Venezuela to discuss intensifying cooperation between the two countries. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a leftist politician who is an admirer of Castro, made the announcement of the "unofficial visit" yesterday. Chavez said in his radio and television programme "Alo Presidente" that he wanted to speak for several hours to Castro about the strengthening of Cuban support for literacy and medical programmes for the poor. He said the two leaders would also discuss a new form of integration that would have nothing to do with neoliberalism, or market reforms such as privatizations, and would fight for greater social justice. (DPA) |
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China rejects US religious freedom report BEIJING, Dec 22: Calling the US state department’s annual report on religious freedom as "extremely unfair and absolutely unreasonable", China said its citizens enjoyed religious freedom and asked US not to interfer in its internal affiars. "The Chinese Government expresses strong displeasure and resolute objection to this," Xinhua news agency quoting a Chinese foreign ministry official said yesterday. China was protecting its citizens’ religious rights in accordance with the law, Liu said, adding that all ethnic groups and people enjoyed equal religious freedom. Banning of organizations or individuals such as the Falun Gong cult was being done for safeguarding and ensuring the religious freedom of all citizens, he said. The US would do well to concentrate on developing mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries instead of interfering in China’s internal affairs under the guise of religious issues, he added. (UNI) Alleged gang rape draws 200 spectators HONG KONG, Dec 22: Eight men were arrested over the weekend for allegedly gang raping a woman in front of 200 revellers at a disco in Zhuhai about 50 kilometres west of Hong Kong. The men were seized after police intercepted two taxis driving away from the rolling stone disco following a complaint from the woman. A Zhuhai police spokesman confirmed the attack had occurred and eight suspects were in custody, a media report said today. One witness said the woman was attacked in the main area of the disco. She was pinned to a sofa, stripped naked by four of the attackers and repeatedly raped in front of about 200 people, the standard reported. The hysterical woman gave chase after the attackers fled, but when she stood in front of the taxis to stop the men leaving, a security guard pushed her out of the way. A witness who followed the woman said she gave chase in another taxi, calling police on her mobile phone. Officers then forced the two taxis to stop. The disco is partly-owned by a former Hong Kong movie star, Wong Ha-Wai, who said she was unaware of the incident, but would help with the police investigation. (DPA) KABUL, Dec 22: Four explosions rocked the Afghan capital Kabul, as talks on a new constitution for the country continue, officials said today. There were no reports of deaths or injuries from the blasts, which Afghan security officials said were likely caused by rockets. They blamed the explosions on remnants of the ousted Islamic Taliban. Authorities said the blasts, which took place last night, did not hit the venue for talks in the country’s grand assembly (Loya Jirga), or the facilities in Kabul of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They took place in a residential area in the northern part of the capital. Currently more than 500 delegates in the grand assembly are debating what should be included in a new constitution. Taliban leaders urged participants to boycott the meeting and Taliban fighters threatened to disrupt the proceedings. (DPA) WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, Dec 22: An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the richter scale struck New Zealand’s north island early morning near Mount Ruapehu and was felt more than 300 kilometres south in the capital, Wellington. The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences said the quake was centred 150 kilometres below the earth’s surface, making any damage unlikely, radio New Zealand reported. (DPA) |
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