Mid Day International News |
- Five killed in Afghan protests over Koran burning
- Two journalists killed in Syria: Activist
- Afghan Quran row: US tenders apology; calls incident horrific
- Eric Cantona tries his hand at modelling
- Prince of Monaco hurt in Bar brawl
- Scientist brings plant back to life after 30,000 frozen years
- Scientists have devised formula for the perfect pancake flip
- Berlusconi's crooning gets him in trouble with Italian rapper
- DSK questioned in prostitution probe
| Five killed in Afghan protests over Koran burning Posted: At least five Afghans were shot dead and dozens wounded today in clashes between police and demonstrators protesting over the burning of the Koran at a US-run military base, officials said.
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| Two journalists killed in Syria: Activist Posted: Two Western journalists were killed today in shelling by Syrian regime forces of the flashpoint city of Homs, an activist said. The two were killed when a shell crashed into a makeshift media centre set up by anti-regime activists in Baba Amr district, under siege since February 4, activist Omar Shaker told AFP from the area. He said three other foreign journalists were wounded. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the two journalists killed were an American woman and a French man. The Syrian opposition said the journalists' deaths were almost certainly the result of shelling by regime forces. "Homs is a very, very dangerous place," said Basma Kodmani, spokeswoman for the Syrian National Council, the most representative opposition umbrella group. "I see no reason why opposition members would shoot at journalists," she said. "It is, therefore, most probably related to the regime." French television reporter Gilles Jacquier was killed in Homs last month as a shell exploded amid a group of journalists covering protests in the city on a visit organised by the Syrian authorities.
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| Afghan Quran row: US tenders apology; calls incident horrific Posted: Led by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the US has apologised to the people of Afghanistan on the "inappropriate treatment" of the holy Quran by American soldiers at the Bagram Airbase in a central Afghan province. "We apologise to the Afghan people and disapprove of such conduct in the strongest possible terms," the White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, told reporters at his daily news conference when asked about the incident at the Bagram air base resulting in an outrage in the country. "This was a deeply unfortunate incident that does not reflect the great respect our military has for the religious practices of the Afghan people," Carney said, adding that the US military leaders have apologised for these "unintentional actions", and ISAF is undertaking an investigation to understand what happened and to ensure that steps are taken so that incidents like this do not happen again. Expressing regret at the incident, Carney said it does not represent the views of US military, and it certainly does not represent the conduct of its men and women in uniform, or America's general respect for the religious practices and beliefs of the Afghan people. The White House statement came hours after the Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, offered his personal apology. "This morning ISAF Commander General John Allen notified me of the deeply unfortunate incident involving the inappropriate treatment of religious materials, including the Quran, at Bagram Airbase," Panetta said in a statement. "He and I apologise to the Afghan people and disapprove of such conduct in the strongest possible terms," said the US Defense Secretary, adding that these actions do not represent the views of the United States military. "We honor and respect the religious practices of the Afghan people, without exception," he said. Panetta said he supports General Allen's swift and decisive action to investigate this matter jointly with the Afghan government. "I will carefully review the final results of the investigation to ensure that we take all steps necessary and appropriate so that this never happens again," he said. The State Department termed it as a "horrific" incident. The Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was briefed about the incident early in the day. "The desecration of religious articles is not in keeping with the standards of American tolerance, human rights practices and freedom of religion," the State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, said.
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| Eric Cantona tries his hand at modelling Posted: The former French footballer Eric Cantona has a new role as the face of fashion label The Kooples' first sportswear collection. The Kooples, the slick French fashion label revered for its effortless take on Parisian style, has launched a sport collection, and who better to front the campaign than Monsieur Eric Cantona?  Fashion forward: Eric Cantona and his wife are the face of the new sporting line for Kooples. Cantona sports a frown in most of his images. File pic The 45-year-old has teamed up with his wife to pose for the pictures " naturally, as the label always casts dashing couples in its advertising campaigns. While Cantona sports something of a menacing frown in the images, his other half, actress and director Rachida Brakni looks more at ease in front of the camera. The tagline 'Eric and Rachida have been a couple for 10 years' confirms their romantic status. But what about the clothes? Well, the sweat pants could be appropriate for a jog, but the cotton blazers and v-neck polo shirts look ideal for a stroll along a sun soaked promenade. Prices start at around �70 (Rs 5,445) for tops. Cantona's presidency stunt In January, Eric Cantona launched a stunning bid for the French presidency -- but then revealed his plan was nothing more than a publicity stunt. He had written to French mayors outlining his credentials and asking for their support. However, his bid was a stunt to promote the work of a homeless charity.
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| Prince of Monaco hurt in Bar brawl Posted: Prince Pierre Casiraghi taken to hospital after he insults models Monaco's Prince Pierre Casiraghi was beaten up in a vicious nightclub brawl over three supermodels. The 24-year-old prince was taken to hospital covered in blood after fists flew when he apparently insulted the girls.  Punched in the face: According to witnesses, Adam Hock launched into a brawl with Prince Casiraghi and his friends after they heckled the models. The prince's face looked broken with deep cuts. File pic/afp The nephew of ruler Prince Albert II, and grandson of late actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly, was sent crashing on to a table. A witness said: "Pierre's face looked broken, with deep cuts and blood everywhere. He looked like he needed plastic surgery." The late-night rumpus in New York broke out after the prince and three playboy pals allegedly hurled abuse at models Natasha Poly, Valentina Zelyaeva and Anja Rubik, who were sat with former Manhattan nightclub owner Adam Hock. The royal and his cronies, including celeb socialite Paris Hilton's ex Stavros Niarchos III, are said to have heckled the catwalk beauties while swigging from a �300 bottle of vodka. Another witness claimed: "They were being completely obnoxious. The next thing I saw, all hell broke loose." Hock is accused of punching the prince and then the three others at Manhattan's Double Seven club. At one point in the fight, one of Pierre's group allegedly tried to hit Hock over the head with a bottle. Hock has appeared in court charged with four assaults, but claims it was self defence. His lawyer Salvatore Strazzullo said: "These four guys are trust-fund babies who think the world is owed to them. They are spoilt brats." But Richard Golub, representing the prince -- who later left hospital -- said: "It was a horrifying incident and was entirely unprovoked." The Monaco Royal Family's curse The Royal Family is haunted by what is called the "curse of the Grimaldis". Princess Caroline's second husband Stefano Casiraghi died in a speedboat accident. Stephanie ran away to the circus and Albert II married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock, who allegedly tried to flee after learning he was fathering a child with a lover.
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| Scientist brings plant back to life after 30,000 frozen years Posted: As far as flowering pot plants go, the Silene stenophylla plant sitting in a corner of a Russian laboratory will not win many awards. The one award it will win, however, is pretty impressive: the most ancient, viable, multi-cellular, living organism on Earth.  Still growing strong: After being buried for 30,500 years, the Silene bore fruit and bloomed petite white flowers. pic/afp The Silene stenophylla was brought back to life using seeds buried by squirrels in Siberian permafrost more than 30,000 years ago. The seeds have been held in suspended animation by the cold, which has served as a "frozen gene pool", scientists say. The breakthrough means some early lifeforms, which 'have long since vanished from the earth's surface', could still be held in the frozen wastes. It also suggests that dormant life found on Mars or other icy planets could be revived. The seeds were dug out of the fossilised burrows of Arctic ground squirrels. Powerful microscopes showed they were the fruits of Silene stenophylla -- a small herbaceous plant that displays petite white flowers when in bloom -- and still grows in the region today. The only difference was these seeds -- preserved at a depth of 125 feet at sub-zero temperatures -- were slightly smaller than their modern-day counterparts. Radiocarbon dating analysis showed they were between 31,500 and 32,100 years old, reported Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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| Scientists have devised formula for the perfect pancake flip Posted: The University College London have come up with a formula for the perfect flipping technique and it seems size really does matter.  According to University Professor of Mathematics Frank Smith, the simple mathematical formula for the perfect flip is: L = 4 H /P- D / 2 (L = hand distance from inner edge of the pancake / H = height of flip / D = diameter of pancake) Professor Smith said, "We all know that no-one enjoys wasting ingredients but there are many factors and risks involved in producing a perfect pancake. "We've discovered that the wrong direction or speed, for instance, will mean that the average flipper may ruin two or even more pancakes trying to perfect their technique. We aim to reduce this waste by advising Brits how to achieve the perfect flip." They have even come up with a formula for pancake afficiandos if you want to take your flipping to greater heights.
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| Berlusconi's crooning gets him in trouble with Italian rapper Posted: Silvio Berlusconi has been accused of plagiarism after drawing on his cruise ship crooning days to pen a rousing new song for his party as it looks towards elections next year. The former prime minister, who resigned in November amid sex scandals and an acute economic crisis, claimed to have written the anthem in just three-and-a-half hours. Called 'People of Liberty', it includes the line "We are the people who hope and who fight, who believe in the dream of liberty!"  In a soup: Silvio Berlusconi But he has been accused of ripping off the words of the song by an Italian rap artist called J.Ax. The musician, whose real name is Alessandro Aleotti, has warned he may take legal action over the alleged plagiarism -- threatening the ageing playboy with yet another judicial entanglement. The rapper, from Berlusconi's home town of Milan, claims the song's lyrics bear a suspicious similarity to a song he wrote a decade ago called People who hope. The singer expressed his anger on his Twitter account, writing: "Tomorrow I will file a complaint against Berlusconi. F***ing incredible." Berlusconi is also reportedly mulling a change to the name of his party, from People of Freedom to Forza Italiani - Go, Italians! He remains mired in judicial problems -- he is a defendant in four trials for tax fraud, bribery, abuse of office and paying for sex with an alleged under-age prostitute, a Moroccan-born teenage dancer nicknamed Ruby the Heart Stealer. A verdict in the trial is expected this month. Last week the media mogul launched the umpteenth attack against the judiciary, accusing judges and magistrates of being politically biased and out to destroy him.
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| DSK questioned in prostitution probe Posted: Former IMF chief detained by French police for 'complicity in pimping' after he admits to attending sex parties all over the world; allegations emerge that the married 62-year-old had relationships with at least 10 call girls Dominique Strauss-Kahn was yesterday detained by French police and faces criminal charges relating to an illegal prostitute racket.  The former International Monetary Fund chief was told by detectives that there is evidence linking him to 'complicity in pimping' and 'misuse of corporate assets'. He will be held in custody until 'Wednesday at least' before bail can be considered, said a source close to the case. Strauss-Kahn has admitted to attending 'sex parties' in cities all over the world, but denies knowing that the women he slept with were prostitutes. Now, he faces criminal charges if prosecutors can prove that fraudulently obtained money was being paid to the prostitutes, and that Strauss-Kahn knew about this.  Questions to answer: Journalists film and take pictures of disgraced former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn as he enters the Gendarme station, Paris. Pic/afp The money is alleged to have come from a building company executive who is accused of using his firm's funds to entertain the guests. Strauss-Kahn was driven to the police station yesterday in a Mercedes limousine with blacked-out windows before being hustled inside by his legal team. He has claimed he did not know he was sleeping with prostitutes because 'the women were all naked at the time'. The unorthodox defence comes amid allegations that his mobile phone records showed he had relationships with at least 10 call girls. All of the women, who come from France and Belgium, claim to have had paid sex with him while he was IMF chief. But Strauss-Kahn's lawyer, Henri Leclerc, said his client was 'totally unaware' that the women were receiving cash. "At these parties, people were not necessarily dressed, and I defy you to tell the difference between a naked prostitute and any other naked woman," said Leclerc. Strauss-Kahn admits taking part in orgies and said he had an 'uninhibited sex life', but that 'he never paid a cent' for it. "I have a horror of prostitutes and pimping," he said.
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