Early results give Iran moderate clear lead
TEHRAN, June 15 (AFP) – Moderate cleric Hassan Rowhani, bolstered by a late surge in support from suppressed Iranian reformists, took an early lead in the presidential election to find a successor to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, initial results showed today. The first round results gave Rowhani 52 percent of the vote, more than three times as [...]
Facebook reveals details of US data requests
WASHINGTON, June 15 (AFP) Facebook revealed today it received between 9,000 and 10,000 requests for user data from US authorities in the second half of last year, as it seeks to shield itself from a growing scandal. The requests covered issues from child disappearances to petty crimes and terror threats and targeted between 18,000 and 19,000 [...]
Emma to reunite with Potter producer
Emma Watson is to star in a new fantasy franchise. The Bling Ring actress is set to reunite with Harry Potter producer David Heyman and Warner Bros., the studio behind the lauded wizard movies, for a new series of films, Variety reports. Described as a female version of fantasy franchise Game of Thrones, the movies will [...]
Blair strongly denies affair with Murdoch’s wife
Tony Blair was forced to deny internet rumours, linking him with the divorce of Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng. The internet was awash with unfounded suggestions that the former PM may have been romantically involved with 44-year-old Miss Deng, who is a close friend. The speculation followed a Twitter claim by BBC business editor Robert Peston [...]
US considers no-fly zone after Syria crosses ‘red line’
ANKARA/BEIRUT, June 15, (Reuters) – The United States is considering a no-fly zone in Syria as it weighs options for intervention into the 2-year-old civil war, Western diplomats said on Friday, after the White House said Syria had crossed a “red line” by using nerve gas. After months of deliberation, President Barack Obama’s administration said [...]
Opposition apologises to Australian PM
Labour leader said to be ‘deeply shocked’ by sexist dinner menu drawn up by the opposition Liberal Party which served up ‘Julia Gillard quail with small breasts, huge thighs’ at fundraiser Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was said to be ‘deeply shocked’ today by a sexist dinner menu drawn up by the opposition Liberal Party [...]
Revealed: Prince William’s Indian ancestry
DNA tests show future British monarch has clear genetic line to the former ‘Jewel in the Crown’ from Diana’s side DNA testing has revealed that Prince William will become the first British monarch of Indian ancestry. A clear genetic line has been drawn between the Duke of Cambridge and a half-Indian woman, potentially marking him as [...]
Across Asia, officials’ e-mails may be vulnerable
JAKARTA/BANGKOK (Reuters) – Government and security officials in parts of Asia have been sending sensitive information and policy documents via e-mail services offered by U.S. web giants, and concerns are spreading that these may have been monitored and collected by the National Security Agency (NSA). The official name cards of several directors at Indonesia’s ministry [...]
Transforming Syria’s war could take more than arming rebels
WASHINGTON/LONDON, (Reuters) – If the United States and allies genuinely want to change the course of the war in Syria, it may take considerably more than simply supplying the faltering opposition with weaponry. Western officials say they still believe the ultimate endgame — and possibly the exit of Bashar al-Assad — will be through a negotiated [...]
India’s LBW and post-liberalisation
NEW DELHI – A casual reader of India’s newspapers for the last several weeks would be forgiven for wondering whether the country was suddenly bereft of political controversy, sex scandals, or official corruption – normally the standard headline fare here. The newspapers’ front pages have had space – under massive banner headlines – only for [...]
The world’s thinnest watch
The world’s thinnest watch – just 0.8mm thick – has been designed using a single piece of bendy stainless steel. The CST-01 watch is thinner than a credit card and shows the time on an electronic ink display. This E ink design uses the same technology as the screen on the Kindle e-reader. It has a [...]
