Mid Day International News |
- Indian teacher sues UK school after 'bloody Indian', 'Paki lover' slurs
- Muslim men slashes UK teacher's face for teaching other religions
- Warne's ex reveals they were still living together during Hurley fling
- 65 killed as quake shakes up New Zealand city
- 6.3 magnitude quake hits New Zealand, causes deaths
- Tourists to head to Kate's old haunts
- Purring into record books
- Has Gaddafi fled Libya?
- Vancouver is world's best city
- British PM visits Cairo
| Indian teacher sues UK school after 'bloody Indian', 'Paki lover' slurs Posted: An Indian head teacher has sued her primary school in Reading, Berkshire, after parents who had "deeply held racist attitudes" had made her life miserable. Sudhana Singh, 44, says pupils at Moorlands Community Primary School was told by the children that their parents 'hated blacks'. One parent even labelled her a 'Paki lover', she claims, and the school had done nothing to investigate the case. However, she says a parental petition calling for her sacking was handed to the local education authority and Reading Borough Council then gave the go-ahead for an independent inquiry. Singh was then placed on compulsory 'garden leave' and 'frog-marched' from the school while the probe continued, she says. She is suing the school's governing body and the council for race discrimination, harassment and victimisation. In papers submitted to Reading Employment Tribunal, Singh says that she had a highly successful 20-year teaching career. She started her career in South Africa, and has written on education issues in the Times Educational Supplement. She had been deputy head at Foxborough Primary School in Slough, Berkshire before joining Moorlands in September 2009. Singh alleges that there was "hostility and aggression" right from the beginning and the governors themselves "deliberately endorsed a targeted campaign of discrimination, bullying and harassment against her." In March last year, Mrs Singh made a formal complaint to governors and the council over 'acute racism' among parents. "The claimant expressed that she considered that she was the victim of parents' deeply entrenched racist views," the Daily Mail quoted the papers as saying. Parents were so rude and aggressive at times over issues such as the school's healthy eating policy that she had to call the police, she claims. A petition was then signed by 169 parents calling for a vote on the head's future was presented to governors. It read, "We appreciate that the transition of a new head teacher into a school can be a difficult time but we feel that enough time has been given for this process and we feel highly disappointed and let down with the lack of apparent care and concern for our children in her school." But other parents, whose children were among the 432 pupils, supported Singh and claimed she had been the victim of a smear campaign. Parent Kes Willliams told the local media, "My daughter loves it at Moorlands. I have nothing but praise for the school which has done such a lot for my daughter. "I think the accusations aimed at Mrs Singh are inaccurate and petitions were signed after false information was given to parents." A parent then allegedly confronted Williams in the school car park, shouting "P*** lover, if you don't shut up we will shut you up." Williams also revealed how the mother behind the petition, Heidi Craske, had complained, "That bloody Indian woman should not be in charge of our children." Instead of dismissing the petition's credibility, the council announced an independent inquiry. The papers state, "The claimant was simply horrified that such a course of action was considered appropriate as it was clearly playing to the demands of the playground mafia." Singh said the report was a 'sham' and says that she was given no chance to respond to allegations made by unknown accusers. In July, Singh says she was ordered to take gardening leave, or face being suspended. Singh's solicitor Shazia Khan, of law firm Bindmans, said, "My client has a fundamental right to feel safe and secure at work. She has brought to the attention of her employers very serious allegations of racial harassment, for which she believes she is being victimised. "It is important that public authorities set a positive example and are not seen to discriminate to ensure public confidence in them." The school's governing body and Reading Borough Council have denied Singh's allegation, adding that they had no reason to suspect the petition from parents was not authentic. A Reading Borough Council spokesman said, "In view of ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot make any comment at this time."
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| Muslim men slashes UK teacher's face for teaching other religions Posted: Four Muslim men had brutally attacked a school teacher, slashing his face and leaving him with a fractured skull, in London for giving lessons to Muslim girls about other religions, a court here has heard. Akmol Hussein, 26, Sheikh Rashid, 27, Azad Hussain, 25, and Simon Alam, 19, attacked Gary Smith with a Stanley knife, an iron rod and a block of cement, The Daily Mail reports. Detectives had secretly recorded the gang's plot to attack Smith prior to the attacks in which they condemned Smith for "teaching other religions to our sisters", the Snaresbrook Crown Court has heard. The teacher was reportedly targeted while he was walking down the Burdett Road alone in nearby Mile End on July 12 last year, the court was told. "The evidence from what was said on the probe points overwhelmingly to a religious motive for this attack," Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse, said. Judge John Hand remanded the defendants in custody until sentence is delivered on a date that has not been scheduled so far.
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| Warne's ex reveals they were still living together during Hurley fling Posted: In an interview with Australian magazine New Idea, Shane Warne's ex-wife Simone Callahan has revealed that she was still living with the spin king when news of his relationship with Liz Hurley broke. The 41-year-old said although the couple had parted ways two months earlier, they were continuing to live under the same roof with their kids. They were planning to spend Christmas and New Year together before Simone would move out for good when the professional poker player was snapped kissing Hurley. After finding out that Warne had already moved on, the mother-of-three decided to cut her losses and move out immediately. "I was going to have a quiet Christmas with the children and then set about moving out as unobtrusively as possible," the Daily Mail quoted her as saying. "The fact that there was all this attention (with Shane and Liz) put a bit of a damper on everything. "Shane and I had spoken to the children about the planned break and they were sad. Of course, we all were. "But they had no idea about their father and anyone at that time. Suddenly, there were paparazzi following us everywhere. "Shane and I gave it a good try but as much as we tried, things weren't panning out the way they should," she added.
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| 65 killed as quake shakes up New Zealand city Posted: At least 65 people were killed, buildings were flattened, falling debris crushed vehicles and panic-stricken people shrieked in fear as an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude caused the earth to heave in this New Zealand city. Prime Minister John Key said the toll stands at 65 and is likely to rise. Key, who flew down to Christchurch in South Island, told One News it was likely the earthquake could be the country's 'darkest day'. Residents of Christchurch, which is one of the biggest cities of New Zealand, have reported bodies lying on the streets. TV images showed several collapsed buildings in the centre of Christchurch. A state of emergency has been declared at the city. "We've had friends in town call us and say there are just bodies lying around; lots of dead bodies outside shops just lying there just covered in bricks. "When it hit we were knocked to our feet. Everything in the house fell down, nothing was left still standing. There's more damage than the first earthquake, the roads are completely torn up; sewage coming up and flooding. It's crazy," New Zealand Herald quoted Christchurch resident Jaydn Katene as saying. "The elderly are all crying. The next-door neighbours around us were all bawling their eyes out, it was horrible. "We've seen cars halfway sunken into the road. We've heard there's a bus which is sunken halfway into the road just around the corner. "Buildings are half-collapsed everywhere...It's pretty shocking; a total warzone," Katene said. The earthquake struck at 12.51 pm, causing extensive damage to this city in the South Island. Christchurch resident Jane Smith told the Herald that a colleague had helped with rescue efforts after a building facade collapsed on a bus. "There's people dead. He was pulling them out of a bus. Colombo St is completely muted," she was quoted as saying. Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker told Radio New Zealand: "The centre of the earthquake was in Lyttelton Harbour. There are hills covered in rocks, those rocks would have come down." He said there was immense damage to the city centre and people were trapped in buildings. "Everybody needs to understand that this is going to be a day of very black news," he said. DPA adds: Police said emergency services were battling a number of fires and trying to rescue many people trapped in collapsed buildings. Members of the public have posted videos of destruction, including buildings and cars being crushed in rock slides in suburbs including Sumner and Lyttelton. Aftershocks were still being felt as buildings were evacuated and people fled the central city area. Officials asked people to stay off roads as emergency services and the military struggled to get to areas where people could be trapped. Witnesses said the ground lifted up to one metre in places. The New Zealand Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences said the epicentre was near Christchurch, at a depth of five km. The quake, which struck at 12.51 pm, would have caused more damage than a previous 7.1 earthquake on September 4 because of its shallow depth, the institute said. The September quake, with an epicentre 30 km west of the city at a depth of 33 km, struck in the early morning when the city was largely empty. As a result there were no fatalities last year. Tuesday's quake brought down power lines, ruptured pipes and forced the closure and evacuation of many buildings including the airport and university, and disrupted phone communications.
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| 6.3 magnitude quake hits New Zealand, causes deaths Posted: "There are just bodies lying around," said a stunned resident of this New Zealand city after a massive earthquake Tuesday flattened buildings and falling debris crushed vehicles.
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| Tourists to head to Kate's old haunts Posted: Berkshire is the place where, 29-year-old Kate Middleton was born and has grown up as a young charming lady. In lieu of her name, this part of Berkshire is known as Kate Middleton Country. Kate Middleton is the fiancee of Prince William and will soon become his better half on April 29 in London.  The Old Boot Inn pub which the couple often frequent is also on the tour A coach firm is operating tours of Kate Middleton's home village in Berkshire ahead of the royal wedding. Tour operator Adrian Morton said there had been interest from companies in the USA and Japan for the tours of what has been called Kate Middleton Country. Other focal points in Bucklebury include the local church and the font where Miss Middleton was baptised. The coach also passes her family home, which is hidden from view by trees. 'Insatiable appetite' Keith Miller, a reporter who had a seat on the first tour which set off on Sunday, said there was an "insatiable appetite" for the royal wedding across the Atlantic. "We will literally cover, as a nation, every single event regardless of how insignificant it may appear," he said. "If it gives us some insight into Kate Middleton or Prince William we will do it because our audience wants to know about it." Morton, who operates Mortons Travel, said, "We have companies in America and Japan looking to try and hire our coaches to do tours." As part of the tour, tourists also visit the Old Boot Inn pub which the Royal couple often frequent. Landlord John Haley who has been invited to the ceremony at Westminster Abbey said he was looking forward to the big day. "They have been in and had a meal a number of times," he added. "Although we have known Kate for 15 years, it was still nervous when they both came in as a couple. But now they've been in quite a few times and it's quite relaxed, they are just normal, down-to-earth, lovely people." Security threat In the lead-up to the April 29 wedding, growing security concerns have seen counter-terrorism teams in England diverted from tracking Islamist outfits to examine the Irish threat.
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| Posted: Pet cat Smokey is believed to have the loudest purr in the world producing powerful rumbles as loud as a lawnmower.
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| Posted: Libyan leader reportedly leaves capital after his regime comes under heavy pressure owing to violent clashes between pro- and anti-state protesters British Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday he had seen information to suggest Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi had fled the country and was on his way to Venezuela.  A protestor holds a placard as demonstrators gather outside the Libyan Embassy in London yesterday "I have no information that says he is, but I have seen some information that suggests he is on his way there at the moment." Gaddafi's four-decade-old rule appeared in increasing jeopardy yesterday as anti-government protests reached the capital for the first time, leaving dozens dead at the hands of the security forces. Several cities in the east appeared to be in the hands of the opposition as protests spread from Benghazi, cradle of a popular uprising that has rattled one of the Arab world's most entrenched governments. One of Gaddafi's sons said the veteran leader would fight the revolt until "the last man standing." Saif al-Islam Gaddafi appeared on national television in an attempt to threaten people, saying the army would enforce security at any price to put down one of the bloodiest revolts to convulse the Arab world. Protesters rallied in Tripoli's streets, tribal and religious leaders spoke out against Gaddafi, and army units defected to the opposition in a revolt that has cost the lives of more than 200 people. Control of cities Protesters said they had taken control of Benghazi and other cities, with some analysts suggesting the country was heading for civil war. In signs of disagreement inside Libya's ruling elite, the justice minister resigned in protest at the "excessive use of violence" against protesters. Media quoted medical sources as saying 61 people had been killed in the latest protests in Tripoli. It said security forces were looting banks and other government institutions, and protesters had broken into several police stations and wrecked them. The building Parliament, meets in Tripoli was on fire, as was a police station in one of the eastern suburbs. But people in Tripoli expressed anger at the speech. "The speech was very disappointing because he threatened the Libyan people with killing, hunger and burning. He did not offer mercy for the souls of the martyrs who were killed," said one protester. In Benghazi, protesters appeared to be largely in control after forcing troops and police to retreat to a compound. Government buildings were set ablaze and ransacked. "Youths with weapons are in charge of the city. There are no security forces anywhere," said University of Benghazi professor Hanaa Elgallal. Salahuddin Abdullah, a self-described protest organiser, said, "In Benghazi there is celebration and euphoria . . . The city is no longer under military control. It is completely under demonstrators' control." No refuge The government of President Hugo Chavez denied yesterday reports Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was traveling to Venezuela following violent protests
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| Vancouver is world's best city Posted: Vancouver topped the list of the world's most liveable cities for the fifth straight year, according to the annual survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit Melbourne came in second pipping Vienna for the second place London moved up one place to 53rd Paris, the French capital came in at number 16 Pittsburgh was the top US city with 29th place while Los Angeles moved up three places to 44th and New York held onto the 56th spot. The top Asian city was Osaka at number 12 edging out Beijing, which was at number 72 and Tokyo, which came in at 18 Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, once again claimed the worst position with a rating of 37.5 per cent Dhaka and Colombo also featured on the list of the worst cities to live in No Indian city featured in the first 50 The Economist Intelligence Unit survey ranks cities based on 30 factors such as healthcare, culture and environment, and education and personal safety
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| Posted: David Cameron becomes first foreign leader to visit the county, urges leaders to the path of demoncracy British prime minister, David Cameron, held talks in Cairo yesterday with military and civilian leaders, becoming the highest-ranking foreign leader to visit Egypt since the popular uprising that led to the ousting of long-time president, Hosni Mubarak.  David Cameron speaks to Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik. Cameron was keen on the visit and wanted to be the first to arrive in Cairo Cameron, met with the country's de facto military leader Field Marshall Hussein Tantawi, and Ahmed Shafiq, the prime minister who heads a caretaker government. Earlier, he told reporters that he was in Cairo to express support for a genuine transition to civilian rule and an end to the repressive emergency law that remains one of Mubarak's enduring legacies. He was expected later to meet with opposition leaders, with the exception of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that was banned by the former government and shunned in diplomatic circles but that is playing an active role in the reborn politics of Egypt. William J Burns, the American undersecretary of state for political affairs, also arrived in Cairo for meetings with government officials and civil society representatives, the State Department said. Analysts have indicated that it is somewhat unusual for a major world leader to visit a country that is still in the process of setting up a new government, with many questions surrounding it. Cameron has emphasised that he will campaign for the establishment of democracy in Egypt, which is currently under an interim military rule. "This is a great opportunity for us to go and talk to those currently running Egypt to make sure this really is a genuine transition from military rule to civilian rule and see what friendly countries like Britain and others in Europe can do to help," he said. "I am particularly keen... to get to Egypt and to be one of the first people there." Cameron is also slated to meet with opposition figures, although not with the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned Islamist group. "What is so refreshing about what's been happening is that this is not an Islamist revolt," Cameron said. "This is not extremists on the streets. This is people who want to have the sort of basic freedoms that we take for granted in the UK." Cameron also indicated that the "huge ties of history and culture" between Britain and Egypt puts him in a good stead to recommend freedom and democracy for the country. Before arriving in Cairo, Cameron waded into the subject of Libya, where government troops have used deadly force against protesters, killing at least 200 over the past few days. "Our message, as it has been throughout this I think we have been extremely consistent in saying that the response to the aspirations people are showing on the streets of these countries must be one of reform not repression," he said. "We can see what is happening in Libya which is completely appalling and unacceptable as the regime is using the most vicious forms of repression against people who want to see that country, make progress." " Agencies Assets frozen Authorities in Egypt have frozen the assets of former President Hosni Mubarak, his wife Suzanne and his sons Alaa and Gamal.
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