Monday, January 31, 2011

Mid Day International News

Mid Day International News


Padma Lakshmi doesn't care if 'it was Hitler who impregnated her'

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Top chef host Padma Lakshmi, who is embroiled in a legal battle over the custody of her baby, has said that she doesn't care whose baby it is.

"I don't care if Hitler himself had impregnated me. It's a miracle I got pregnant and that Krishna's here," the New York Post quoted Lakshmi as telling a friend.

Since giving birth to her daughter, Krishna, last February, Lakshmi has been at war with the girl's father, venture capitalist Adam Dell.

According to Dell, 41, since the baby was born, Lakshmi has allowed him only 9 days of visitation a month, at three-and-half hours per day.

The war went public last week as Dell filed for full custody in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Lakshmi, said a friend, doesn't know why Dell has gone to court, and "has never denied Adam the agreed time with the baby."


A giant 7-kg baby born in Russia

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A baby boy weighing 7.2 kg has born in the Russian town of Khabarovsk.

The newborn and his 33-year-old mother were fine, authorities said. The baby was born last week.

According to statistics, these big babies are a rare event and they are born one in a 1,500.

The usual weight of healthy newborn children is 3-3.5 kg and an infant up to 5 kg is considered big, more than 5 is a 'giant'.


Three eunuchs raped in Pakistan

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Three eunuchs, who had gone to perform at a wedding in Pakistan's Punjab province, were abducted and raped by armed men, police said.

The incident took place in Dera Ghazi Khan district where the three eunuchs had gone to take part in a wedding ceremony.

"We had been invited for a dance performance and we arrived at the function together sometime in the evening," the Express Tribune quoted one of the rape victims as saying.

The eunuch said four armed men kidnapped them when they were about to leave the house late at night.

"We were counting our earnings when someone gagged me from behind," said another eunuch.

"We were blind folded and driven somewhere near the wedding location and then they assaulted us."

"The four men had been guests at the wedding. We saw them during our dance performance," the eunuch said.

They were later dumped in a field and the abductors fled.

"We couldn't do anything. They had guns and they threatened to kill us if we went to the police," lamented a eunuch.

Malik Ramzan Shahid, a police official, said: "We are conducting an investigation and have questioned guests who were at the wedding."


Shane Warne's ex finds love in the arms of model Toby Roberts

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Shane Warne's ex-wife Simone Callahan has found new love with a younger man, Melbourne model Toby Roberts.

According to this week's issue of Woman's Day magazine, Callahan is dating Roberts, son of St Kilda champion and 1958 Brownlow medallist Neil Roberts.

The couple stepped out last week for a romantic meal in St Kilda, holding hands over dinner and Roberts gently stroking the mother of three's arm as they chatted, the Herald Sun reported.

Former model Callahan prepared for her date by doing a spot of shopping in her home suburb of Brighton, picking up new lingerie and some linen, according to the magazine.

She then dropped her children off at a friend's house.

Callahan's hot date ended the next morning when she kissed Roberts goodbye after he spent the night at her home.

Callahan confirmed, she and Roberts, a 30-something sales manager with Crocs footwear and a part-time model, were dating.

"It's early days, but I'm happy," News.com.au quoted her as telling Woman's Day.

Callahan and Warne separated last year, with the spinner confirming the split after his affair with Hurley became public when they were busted kissing in London.


Shane Warne to reunite with Liz Hurley?

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Rumours are abuzz that spin bowler Shane Warne is all set to reunite with his ladylove Liz Hurley.

Speculation is mounting that the pair could enjoy a romantic Melbourne rendezvous before jetting off together for a short holiday, reports News.com.au.

As Warne's ex-wife, Simone Callaghan moves on with her life, the cricket legend and his new flame are planning their next encounter.

Twitter fans have swapped messages about Hurley's trip with Warne telling her he has organised kangaroos and koalas for her visit.


Indian astrologer arrested after threatening clients for sex

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An Indian astrologer has been arrested after a woman accused him of forcing her into having sex when she approached him for help.

According to Makkal Osai, a Tamil daily, VT Easwaran was exposed after the 47-year-old married woman lodged a report against him at the Selvapuram police in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, reports the Star Online.

Easwaran, a famous astrologer who makes television appearances, was subsequently arrested.

Police said Easwaran had been carrying out his sexual exploits for some time and has had sexual relations with a few women who came to him to have their fortunes told.

However, they didn't complained against the 47-year-old as they were threatened with black magic spells.

Easwaran, from Valparai, is apparently a PhD scholar from an American university and an astrologer.

The woman, who filed a report against Easwaran, said he had showered her with praises of her beauty and later starting making sexual advances towards her.


China denies Karmapa is its spy

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China on Monday denied that Karmapa, the head of the Tibetan Karma Kagyu sect, was its spy, and claimed that allegations against the country in this regard showed India's 'mistrustful attitude' towards Beijing.

"The speculation by India's media, regarding the matter of the Karmapa as a Chinese agent or spy, shows that India is keeping its mistrustful attitude toward China," said Xu Zhitao, an official at the United Front Work Department of the ruling Communist Party Central Committee.

In the first reaction to reports of raids on the offices of a trust backed by Karmapa in the Indian press, the official said, "the 17th Karmapa Living Buddha (Monks in Tibet are called living Buddhas) is the first reincarnated Living Buddha confirmed and approved by the Central Government of the People's Republic of China after the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951."

"The reincarnation of holy men is a unique form of succession in Tibetan Buddhism, which has long been recognised and respected," Xu told state-run Global Times.

Karmapa, heading the Karmapa sect, is informally ranked number 3 in Tibetan Buddhist spiritual religious milieu. He is endorsed by both the Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual head as well as by the Chinese government. Where as Panchen Lama ranked second was appointed by China and but was not backed by Dalai Lama, the highest Tibetan spiritual leader denounced by China.

"Karmapa left China in 1999 for the purpose of religious behaviors, just as he claimed," Xu said, apparently referring to the explanation provided by Karmapa's advisor, Karma Topden in Dharmashala yesterday that one reason why the monk went to India was to complete spiritual learning process as all top teachers of his sect were based in India.

Xu, however, made no mention of Karmapa's assertions the main reason why Karmapa fled to India was to escape from the pressure exhorted by the Chinese authorities on him to denounce Dalai Lama and support the Panchen Lama selected by the Chinese authorities.

Karmapa whose original name is Ugyen Trinley Dorjee said one reason why he went to India was to seek the blessings of Dalai Lama, who is denounced by China. The Global Times news report also cited reports in the Indian media about protests by Karmapa supporters denying the allegations.

"This is not the first time that India's media has linked 'spies' with China. Earlier this month, three Chinese citizens were arrested in India on suspicion of money laundering and spying on border security. But the Chinese foreign ministry said they were actually tourists who had mistakenly crossed the border from Nepal," it said.


Vandals rip heads off two mummies at Egyptian Museum

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Looters broke into Cairo's famed Egyptian Museum, ripping the heads off two mummies and damaging about 10 small artifacts before being caught and detained by army soldiers, Egypt's antiquities chief said yesterday.

Zahi Hawass said the vandals did not manage to steal any of the museum's antiquities, and that the prized collection was now safe and under military guard.

The museum, which is home to the gold mask of King Tutankhamun that draws millions of tourists a year, also houses thousands of artifacts spanning the full sweep of Egypt's rich pharaonic history.

The greatest threat to the collection inside is posed by the torched ruling party headquarters building next door.

"What scares me is that if this building is destroyed, it will fall over the museum," Hawass said as he watched fire trucks spray water on the still smoldering NDP headquarters.

Thousands escape jails
Thousands of inmates escaped prisons across Egypt on Sunday, including at least one jail that housed militants northwest of Cairo, adding to the chaos engulfing the country as anti-government protests continue to demand the ouster of longtime authoritarian President Hosni Mubarak. Security officials said the prisoners escaped overnight from four jails after starting fires and clashing with guards. The inmates were helped by gangs of armed men who attacked the prisons, firing at guards in gun battles that lasted hours.The security officials said several inmates were killed and wounded during the escapes early yesterday, but gave no specific figures.

Indians to be airlifted

The Indian Embassy in Cairo has made arrangements to airlift Indian nationals in Egypt wanting to return home in the wake of violent agitation against the Hosni Mubarak regime. The arrangements are being coordinated by Indian Ambassador R Swaminathan. The embassy officials are in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi, which is closely monitoring the situation. The officials said most of the Indians are PIOs who have settled in Egypt and the Government will make arrangements if they wish to return to the country.
The MEA had yesterday issued a travel advisory asking Indians to avoid non-essential travel to that country. There are about 3,600 People of Indian Origin in Egypt, of which some 2,200 are in Cairo. "In view of the prevailing situation in Egypt, Indian nationals are advised to avoid non-essential travel to Egypt for the present...," the advisory had said.

Is Mubarak in resort town?

Workers in the resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh are convinced President Hosni Mubarak is holed up in his winter residence after fleeing rioters in Cairo. The president is a frequent visitor to the resort and has hosted a number of world leaders there at his home, which is located inside the sprawling complex of a golf hotel.
Last night, the long entrance driveway to the residence was guarded by a small number of armed police who turned away all approaching vehicles. At the nearby main public entrance to the Maritim Jolie Ville Golf Hotel, guards refused to answer questions about the whether Mubarak was at home. A tourist shuttle bus driver claimed to have seen Mubarak's entourage arrive on Wednesday, and that his official plane was at Sharm-el-Sheikh airport but nobody at the airport would confirm if this was true.

Al Jazeera's bureau shut down

Egyptian authorities have said they are shutting down Al Jazeera's Cairo bureau, the network said in a statement yesterday."Al Jazeera sees this as an act designed to stifle and repress the freedom of reporting by the network and its journalists," the network said. "In this time of deep turmoil and unrest in Egyptian society it is imperative that voices from all sides be heard; the closing of our bureau by the Egyptian government is aimed at censoring and silencing the voices of the Egyptian people." The network's Arabic-language channel was off the air in Egypt Sunday afternoon, but Al Jazeera English was still on the air.


Climber lands on his feet after 1,000-foot fall

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Rescuers found him reading a map, while shaking from 'extreme emotional shock'

A climber who fell 1,000ft (305m) down a mountain and survived was found by his rescuers standing up reading a map.

The 35-year-old lost his footing at the summit of Sgurr Choinnich Mor near Ben Nevis in the Highlands and plummeted down the near-vertical eastern slope.


The man lost his footing at the summit of Sgurr Choinnich Mor near Ben Nevis in the Highlands

Lt Tim Barker, from the helicopter rescue crew, said, "It seemed impossible... he must have literally glanced off the outcrops as he fell."

He added the climber, from Glasgow, was shaking from "extreme emotional shock".

Lt Barker, the Royal Navy's Sea King helicopter crew's observer, said, "We began to hover-taxi down the slope and spotted a man at the bottom, standing up.

"We honestly thought it couldn't have been him, as he was on his feet, reading a map. Above him was a series of three high craggy outcrops.

"It seemed impossible. So we retraced our path back up the mountain and, sure enough, there were bits of his kit in a vertical line all the way up where he had obviously lost them during the fall.

"It was quite incredible. He must have literally glanced off the outcrops as he fell, almost flying."

The helicopter, from HMS Gannet in Prestwick, Ayrshire, was already airborne on a training exercise when it was scrambled to the scene.

A paramedic was winched down to check the climber over. He appeared unscathed aside from some superficial cuts and bruises and a minor chest injury.

Lt Barker added, "He is lucky to be alive. It's hard to believe that someone could have fallen that distance on that terrain and been able to stand up at the end of it, let alone chat to us in the helicopter on the way to the hospital.

"Really an amazing result - I have to say, when we got the call and realised the details of where he'd fallen, we did expect to arrive on scene to find the worst-case scenario."

The climber, from Glasgow, was one of a group of 24 who had reached the summit when the accident happened.


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