Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Mid Day International News

Mid Day International News

75 bodies recovered from Air France crash after 2 years:report

Posted:

Seventy-five bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of an Air France plane that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean two years ago, more than doubling the number of remains that have been found, according to a media report.

The remains have not yet been identified, vice-president of the French victims' association, Robert Soulas said. Soulas said he got the news from a French government liaison appointed to deal with families of victims, CNN reported.

"Personally, I would have preferred to leave the bodies of our loved ones on the seafloor," he added.

Air France 447 flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil on June 1, 2009, killing all 228 people aboard.

The bulk of the wreckage was found this year after a search by robot submarines of an underwater mountain range. Many bodies were still in the fuselage, investigators said at the time.

Only about 50 bodies were recovered in the days following the crash.

Air crash investigators have been working on the theory that the speed sensors, known as pitot tubes or probes, malfunctioned because of ice at high altitude.


Germany to phase out nuclear power by 2022

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Germany has become the first big industrialised power to agree on an end to nuclear power following the disaster in Japan, with a phaseout due to be completed by 2022. The Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen, announced the decision yesterday by the centre-right coalition, which was prompted by the crisis at Japan's Fukushima plant, calling it "irreversible".


Fukushima fallout: German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen,
German Economy Minister Philipp Roesler and German Chancellor Angela
Merkel address a press conference at the chancellery in Berlin. pic/AFP

"After long consultations, there is now an agreement by the coalition to end nuclear energy," he said after seven hours of negotiations at the offices of the Chancellor Angela Merkel. Germany has 17 nuclear reactors on its soil, eight of which are currently off the electricity grid.

Seven of those offline are the country's oldest nuclear reactors, which the government shut down pending a safety inquiry after the emergency at Fukushima that began in March. It also means that the country will have to find the 22 per cent of its electricity needs covered by nuclear reactors from another source. But, Roettgen insisted there was no danger of blackouts. "We assure that electricity will be ensured at all times and for all users," he pledged, but did not provide details.

17 Number of nuclear reactors that Germany has


Dentures save man from fatal gun shot

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Of all the things you'd expect to save someone's life -- a lifejacket, a bullet-proof vest, a motorcycle helmet -- would you ever include the humble pair of dentures? Well, it seems like we might have to after reports of some fake gnashers coming to the rescue of a Brazilian barkeep. An elderly Brazilian man shot in the face escaped death when his dentures deflected a bullet headed for his brain.


Saviour: A hospital official says that if the bullet hadn't hit Zacarias
Pacheco de Moraes' dentures, it would have pierced his brain.
Representation pic

A hospital official says that 81-year-old Zacarias Pacheco de Moraes was shot on Thursday while working in a bar he owns in the small western city of Alta Floresta. Jose Marcos da Silva was quoted by Globo TV's G1 website as saying that the bullet probably would have pierced Moraes' brain if it hadn't first hit his dentures before lodging in his throat.

The official said the bullet will not be removed immediately because surgery right now would be too risky.
Silva said the patient was in stable condition but in danger of losing part of his eyesight because of the bullet's trajectory. He did not elaborate.


Man's freedom flushed away

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Policeman detained for using Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's toilet

When the call of nature comes, it cannot always be denied. Few have answered it in such an unfortunate fashion as Alois Mabhunu. While on duty at a trade fair, the Zimbabwean police sergeant could not hold on and allegedly dashed to the nearest toilet - disastrously, it transpired, as it was reserved for President Robert Mugabe. He was arrested and imprisoned on suspicion of invading the presidential privy. The incident happened at the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in the western city of Bulawayo, according to local radio station VOP.


Can't touch this: Robert Mugabe personal space is closely guarded.
Several motorists have been assaulted for not giving way to his
motorcade. File pic/getty images

Under the headline 'Never Use Toilet Reserved For President!' VOP's website reported that Mabhunu was on duty during the fair's official opening by Mugabe and Jean-Louis Ekra, the president of Afreximbank. "Mabhunu, due to the call of nature, rushed to the toilets reserved for Mugabe and his guest Ekra, but was stopped by other officers guarding the toilets," VOP said. "Under intense pressure from the call of nature, the officer forced his way in and managed to relieve himself. He was arrested on May 7 after a report was made to Mugabe's security men and to senior police officers in the city."

Fighting the case
Mabhunu, a murder detective, is in police detention at barracks on the outskirts of Bulawayo. The legality of the case against him was challenged by Beatrice Mtetwa, a leading Zimbabwean human rights lawyer. "There has to be a law saying the toilet is the president's, but this was a public one," she said. "They will have had to issue a proclamation in the government gazette specifying it. I bet they didn't do that." Mugabe's personal space has been fiercely protected. In the past, several motorists are said to have been assaulted by his security personnel for not giving way to the presidential motorcade.


Middletons get Bieber fever

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Justin Bieber was quick to profess his admiration for the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister Pippa Middleton after he watched the royal wedding last month. Now, the teenage pop star appears to have made a business deal with the Middleton family. Party Pieces, the website owned by the Middletons, has recently won a lucrative deal to sell Justin Bieber merchandise.


Lucrative deal: The Middletons will sell Bieber party ware including
plates and pinatas. File pics

It is one of a number of new lines being sold through the website in the last few weeks including Disney's Toy Story 3 and Nintendo's Super Mario. Bieber watched the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and was taken not only by the bride but also by her bridesmaid, Pippa. Like many others he tweeted about Middleton's comely appearance informing his 10 million followers: "Congrats to William and Kate...and Kate's sister." And the Middletons, it seems, are just as taken with him.

Their online newspaper The Party Times, which is produced by Middleton, announced. "We've got Bieber fever."
Representatives for the Canadian singer confirmed that Party Pieces would be selling the Justin Bieber Party Kit, along with other items.

The set costs �20.89 (Rs 1,550) and includes plates, cups, napkins, banner and balloons for up to 16 guests. Cheaper alternatives include a pack of four badge necklaces for �1.99 (Rs 147) and a pack of decorative award ribbons for �2.25 (Rs 170). A pinata is also for sale for �13.99 (Rs 1,040).

The Party Times article said, "Teenage girls around the world go crazy for Bieber. In fact, they love Justin Bieber so much that the pop star now has his very own party-ware." The article goes on to give red carpet tips on "pop star" dress cards and how to turn your father into a fake paparazzi photographer. It is thought that Party Pieces has seen a significant increase in business since the royal wedding, particularly from America.

Rs 1,550 Cost of Justin Bieber Party Kit, which includes plates, cups, napkins, banners and balloons


Owner gifts dog rolex collar

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Border terrier Smike really is the king of bling with his Rolex dog collar -- and with his new gear he has earned the nickname 'watchdog'. Smike's owner, Karen Denney from the village of Crawford near St Helens, specially commissioned the collar, as she wanted the ultimate canine accessory. The leather collar has a designer watch built-in and dog-lover Denney decided to splash out for her pet's seventh birthday.


King of bling: Smike received the 'watchdog' collar for his seventh
birthday.

And now the 30-year-old and Smike are celebrities when she takes him for his daily stroll on Merseyside.
Denney loves showing-off her watchdog, equipped with his collar which includes a �200 (Rs 15,000) replica Rolex. The shop assistant said, "Over the years I've seen a lot of accessories for cats and dogs but I wanted something a bit different. I wouldn't usually go for something this flashy but when I saw this design I just had to have one."

She added, "Smike gets lots of attention when I take him out for a walk he's so full of fun. He's the talk of the village at the moment. Everyone keeps asking me where they can get a 'Dog's Rolex for their dog." The top-of-the-range collar was the work of Alison Jones, who owns Prince and Princess Petwear in St Helens, which specialises in luxury items for pets. The 27-year-old said, "We have a huge range of designer collars but this one tops the lot. It is the ultimate accessory for any watchdog! We can make them in any size, shape and colour."


Duke Defends Chinese Slur

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Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip defends the infamous "slitty-eyed" gaffe he made during a trip to China 25 years ago'

Prince Philip's notorious comment that British students would become 'slitty-eyed' if they stayed in China became one of his most famous -- some would say infamous -- gaffes. The state visit in 1986 became renowned for the incident, in which he advised the students, "If you stay here much longer you will all be slitty-eyed". But despite a long career in the spotlight, and the international opprobrium his intervention produced, it seems the Duke is steadfast in his belief that he was right.


Notorious: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Great Wall
of China during their 1986 State Visit. file Pic/Getty Images

He told a BBC documentary to mark his 90th birthday, "I'd forgotten about it. But for one particular reporter who overheard it, it wouldn't have come out. What's more, the Chinese weren't worried about it, so why should anyone else?" The 'slitty-eyed' remark was one of a lengthy list of what have been seen as gaffes in the Duke's career as consort to the Queen. On his birthday next month, he is set to undertake two official engagements.
However, two days later, on June 12, his official celebrations will include a service at St George's chapel in Windsor and a reception at the castle.

To mark the occasion, Buckingham Palace has released a list of 90 facts about the Duke. They include the fact that in 2009, he became the longest serving consort in British history when he out-lived Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III; he has made an estimated 5,000 speeches; and he has gradually re-designed the gardens at Balmoral, including forming a water garden which he dug himself with a bulldozer.

Royal gaffes
>> He tells Indian businessman Atul Patel "There's a lot of your family in tonight" at a 400-strong Buckingham Palace reception for British Indians in October 2009.
>> Navy sea cadet instructor Elizabeth Rendle who works in a bar was asked 'Is it a strip club?' by the Prince.
>> A Buckingham Palace guest with a goatee who told Prince Philip he was a designer got the sharp response: 'Well, you didn't design your beard too well, did you?' in 2009.

June 10
Prince Philip will celebrate his birthday. However, a special event has been organised for his birthday on June 12. A special page has also been set up on the British Monarchy website.

Britain deports Pakistani child sex offender

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Britain has deported Pakistani child sex offender Zulfqar Hussain to his home country after he lost a legal battle to stay on in Britain.

"We will not accept foreign nationals like Zulfqar Hussain breaking our laws. Those who commit serious offences should be removed at the earliest possible opportunity", The News quoted Britain''s immigration minister Damien Green said.

He left for Islamabad after the court had ruled out he be allowed to stay in Britain along with his wife and children.

A court in Preston earlier had sentenced him to over five years imprisonment on the charges of sexual activity with a minor, detaining a child without lawful authority and possession of drugs with intent to supply.

The authorities were able to deport him to Pakistan, as he did not have British citizenship was only granted indefinite leave to stay in the country.

Sikh group ransacks community centre in Britain

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A Sikh group in Britain has protested against liquor and meat being served at one of their community centres, a media report said.

The Sun reported that as many as 200 Sikhs Saturday trashed the community centre, shattered windows and broke furniture causing "significant" damage.

Police from across the West Midlands arrived at the Sikh Cultural Centre in Dudley.

Three people were injured in the clashes.

The media report said that the protesters accused the community centre of insulting their faith by allowing alcohol and meat at a private party.

The stand-off ended after five hours.
Posted by Harshad at 7:34 AM

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