Israel ex-President Moshe Katsav found guilty of rape

The BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says Moshe Katsav is expected to appeal against the judges' unanimous decision.

Israel's former President Moshe Katsav has been convicted of rape by a court in Tel Aviv and could go to jail.

union royal wedding treat

Senior barons will meet early next year to co-ordinate mass action in protest at Government cuts.

57 reporters killed in 2010

MEDIA advocacy group Reporters Without Borders says 57 journalists were killed worldwide in 2010.

The deadliest country for journalists this year was Pakistan, where 11 reporters were killed in connection with their jobs.
Overall, the worldwide death toll is down 25 per cent from 2009. But Reporters Without Borders says in its annual year-end report that kidnappings increased dramatically in 2010 to 51 cases, up from 33 in 2009.
The Paris-based group said yesterday that journalists are "turning into bargaining chips" for kidnappers.
Earlier this month the Committee to Protect Journalists said 42 media workers were killed worldwide in 2010. The two groups have slightly different criteria on what kind of media staff they include in their cou

Travel travails: Fog halts planes, Gujjars trains

NEW DELHI: Staying put appears to be the soundest course of action for travellers in the coming weeks

Free ‘pongal' package for 1.94 crore card-holders

Free ‘pongal' package will be distributed through fair price shops across the State to a total of 1.94 crore

offer prayer for rain across the country

His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah; His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; His Highness Shaikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman; Shaikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah; Shaikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain and senior officials offered prayers for rain as per the directives of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in the various emirates on Saturday

Political Divide Undermines Obama’s Nuclear Goals

WASHINGTON — The new arms control treaty with Russia, whose ratification now seems assured,

2G scam: PM's offer to face PAC a last-minute idea?

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's offer to face the Public Accounts Committee over spectrum scam appears to be a last-minute idea to rebuff the perception about UPA being mired in corruption, after Sonia Gandhi made a strong pitch for probity at the plenary on Sunday.

After the PM created a buzz with his PAC offer, there was speculation that it was an idea which struck late. The offer for PAC came in the 8th paragraph of the PM's speech but it was not part of the original text. In fact, it was stapled to the written text in a separate paper with a different font and print. It led to discussions among partymen and media.

As political moves go, it is a shrewd one, if late. Sonia's direction to chief ministers and ministers to give up their discretionary powers a day earlier drew appreciation and wide media coverage.

Following it up with the PM's offer to appear before PAC may only add to the strong Congress attempt to send out a message that its top leadership was open to scrutiny. Party delegates from across the country reacted positively to the PM's speech, with AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh saying it was a masterstroke which would take the winds out of the BJP's sails. The BJP-led Opposition is to launch its anti-corruption campaign from December 22.

The move will also question the Opposition's argument that UPA was opposed to JPC to save the PM from being summoned. JPC has powers to summon anyone which PAC cannot do.

Saudi king may want to move Ground Zero mosque to St. Vincent's site

A Manhattan lawyer with ties to the Saudi royal family is sounding out officials and

Sachin cricket enters 51st century

Trotting down the pitch, his fist punched the thin Highveld air, before both hands went up in unison

UAE eases job rules for expats

In a landmark 
decision aimed at infusing 
broader flexibility in the labour market, Minister of Labour

Mecca blast: CBI files charge sheet against accused

hree years after a blast at Mecca Masjid claimed nine lives here, the CBI today filed a charge sheet against Devendra Gupta and Lokesh Sharma, who are also accused in the Ajmer blast case.
The probe agency filed the charge

14-year-old girl pretends to be kidnapped

A 14-year-old Austrian girl played out self-fabricated scenario as if she was kidnapped

Raiding Radia, CBI lands up at DMK’s doorstep

A week after the raids at the residences of former Union Telecom Miniser A Raja and his aides,

Qatar Airways Introduces Incheon-Doha Service

Qatar Airways will launch direct services between Incheon International Airport,

US aircraft carrier to be sent to West Sea

A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will be dispatched to the West Sea

Campaign launched to reduce road crashes in Sharjah

Sharjah: Police on Sunday launched a year-long traffic campaign to reduce the number of accidents

In Radia tapes, an alarming picture of media manipulation

The contents of a fresh set of leaked phone conversations involving Niira Radia and her associates paint an alarming picture of the extent to which the influential lobbyist

Woman guilty in death of baby found in lake

GRETNA — A 22-year-old woman accused of drowning her newborn baby in Lake Pontchartrain has

Saina wins the Hong Kong Open

ndia’s Saina Nehwal showed her grit and class as she overpowered