Europe
Friday, April 30th, 2010
FRANCE – Muslims in France say the government’s plan to fine women for wearing the Islamic veil is one in a string of political ploys that stigmatise them and pander to anti-Islamic prejudice. Extracts from the law leaked on Friday propose to fine women 150 euros (200 dollars) for wearing a full-face veil in public, [...]
Misc.
Friday, April 30th, 2010
A bill allowing same-sex civil unions that prompted some of Hawaii’s biggest protest rallies is headed to the governor after the state House of Representatives gave it final legislative approval Thursday. The House voted 31-20 in favor of the measure, which passed the Senate in January. Republican Gov. Linda Lingle has not said whether she [...]
Asia
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Shanghai kicked off the six-month World Expo on Friday with a star-studded gala ceremony set to end in a lavish blaze of fireworks and light along the city’s river-front. Still basking in the glow of its successful staging of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China is treating the Expo as an equally important showcase for its [...]
Entertainment
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Eminem mentions Ben Roethlisberger in his latest song: “Despicable.” The million-selling rapper refers to the Steelers’ troubled quarterback in explicit lyrics and with the lines, “I’d rather turn this club into a bar room brawl. Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall.” A 20-year-old college student accused Roethlisberger of sexual assault following a [...]
Europe
Friday, April 30th, 2010
VATICAN – Pope Benedict XVI had an impromptu meeting on Friday with five bishops who completed a probe into a conservative Catholic order whose founder Marcial Maciel was disgraced by abuse scandals. The inspectors had been scheduled only to meet with Vatican number two, Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone. The five inspectors, who completed the [...]
Odd News
Friday, April 30th, 2010
U.S – A 67-year-old Oklahoma man had quite a fright after backing his car at high speed through a seventh-floor exterior wall of a parking garage. Ralph Hudson says his foot got stuck between his Mercedes’ brake and gas pedal as he was backing up in a towering parking garage in downtown Tulsa on Wednesday. [...]
Asia
Friday, April 30th, 2010
BEIJING – China said Friday that a Chinese diplomat in the U.S. was beaten and injured by Houston police and urged an investigation to ensure diplomatic practices are not violated. The U.S. State Department was taking the matter very seriously and findings of the investigation would be shared with China “as soon as appropriate,” said [...]
Travel
Friday, April 30th, 2010
The guestrooms are delightful, the gardens a treat, but it’s for the sublime food that everyone flocks to Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons in Great Milton, just southeast of the English university city of Oxford. Michelin-starred chef, restaurateur and, latterly, television cookery show presenter Blanc opened the Manoir in 1984 and it has [...]