Turkey says to cut ties with Israel if no apology

July 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 5 (Reuters) – Turkey will cut ties with Israel unless it receives an apology over a deadly Israeli raid on a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was quoted as saying on Monday.

“Israel has three paths ahead: It either apologises, or accepts the findings from an international commission investigating the raid, or Turkey will cut off ties,” Davutoglu told Hurriyet newspaper.

Once Israel’s closest Muslim ally, Turkey has said several times it wants Israel to apologise over the May 31 raid, pay compensation, agree to a U.N. inquiry into the incident and lift the blockade of 1.6 million Palestinians living in Gaza Strip.

Turkey has said before it was reviewing ties with the Jewish state. But Davutoglu’s words are the first time Ankara has explicitly threatened to sever ties unless its demands are met.

Israel has opened its own inquiry.

Davutoglu met Israel’s Trade and Industry Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer last week in Brussels in talks aimed at mending fences. Turkey said then it had told Israel what it should do to repair ties.

“The messages conveyed to Ben-Eliezer have reached the Israeli government. We will not wait forever for an answer,” Davutoglu told Hurriyet’s Monday edition.

“It will be enough if their own commission rules that the raid was unfair and they apologise in line with the commission’s verdict, but we have to see the verdict first.”

Nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists were killed when Israeli commandos stormed the Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara on May 31 as part of an operation to stop a relief aid flotilla headed for Israeli-blockaded Gaza.

Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Israel, cancelled joint military operations and barred Israeli military aircraft from Turkish airspace after the incident.

The United States wants Israel and Turkey, whose earlier friendship had benefited U.S. policy in the Middle East, to patch up the dispute. President Barack Obama is due to meet Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Tuesday.

Israel has maintained its commandos opened fire only after a boarding party was attacked by activists wielding clubs and knives.

Israel says the Gaza blockade is needed to choke off the supply of arms to Hamas Islamists who rule the enclave.

Relations between Israel and Turkey have been on a downward spiral since Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan spoke out forcefully against an Israeli offensive in Gaza at the end of 2008.

The two countries had forged a friendship in the 1990s largely based on military cooperation and intelligence sharing, though trade also prospered.

Turkey has improved relations with neighbours such as Iran and Syria in recent years and Erdogan became a popular figure among Muslim countries for championing the Palestinian cause. (Editing by Charles Dick)

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After the pub brawl, cricketers crawl

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Mumbai, May 26 (IANS) Six Indian cricketers Wednesday apologised to the Indian cricket board for their involvement in a pub brawl in St.Lucia, West Indies, after the team’s exit from the World Twenty20.

Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma e-mailed their apology to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary N.Srinivasan while Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Piyush Chawla met a senior board official and said that in future they would restrain themeselves from involving in any such incident.

In an e-mail to the BCCI secretary, Jadeja wrote: ‘I very much regret that the board has to send me a notice for the incident in the West Indies, and please accept my apology. I beg to inform you that I had gone to the restaurant (pub) for dinner along with other Indian team members. Some other guests which I presume were (of) Indian origin of USA also come to the restaurant and on seeing us they started abusing us, this may be because they were unhappy with our poor performance. We requested them not to abuse us but they did not stop despite of our repeated request. No way I was involved in any ugly brawl and I went to the pub only to have dinner with my teammates.’

Jadeja added: ‘If the board still thinks that I have brought any disrespect to the game of cricket or our board and our country, I once again sincerely tender my unconditional apology and assure you that I will take care that in future no way my name will be involved in any such incident.’

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S.African paper to apologise for cartoon – Muslim group

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A South African weekly, which angered Muslims by publishing a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad, agreed to issue an apology after a meeting with the United Muslims Forum of South Africa on Wednesday, the group said.

Group representatives met Mail & Guardian editor Nic Dawes and cartoonist Zapiro after the paper published a drawing last week depicting the prophet on a psychologist’s couch saying his followers have no sense of humour.

This angered Muslims, who consider as offensive any depiction of the founder of Islam, and raised fears of reprisals during next month’s World Cup. In 2005, a Danish newspaper published cartoons of Mohammad, sparking violent protests that killed several dozen people.

“The Mail and Guardian have agreed to issue a press release in which they record (that the paper) regrets the harm caused by the publication of the cartoon and apologises for the effects thereof,” said a statement from the Muslim group.

Neither Dawes nor anyone at his newspaper were immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Louise Ireland)

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Report: Akmal wants coaches to apologize, CRI

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan news reports say wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal wants an unconditional apology from his former coaches for accusing him of match-fixing during this year’s winless tour of Australia. Akmal was quoted by leading Urdu-language daily Jang on Sunday as saying both Intikhab Alam and Aqib Javed should apologize to him unconditionally, otherwise he will take court action against them.

Both Alam and Javed raised suspicions of match fixing in a leaked video of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s inquiry committee. Alam had said he was flabbergasted after Akmal missed a run out of Shane Watson during the Sydney test and later heard stories of match fixing.

Akmal was talking to the newspaper before leaving for commitments in England.

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Hamid Mir to sue media houses for ISI official’s murder slur, son squarely blames him

May 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Lahore, May 19 (ANI): Noted Pakistan television journalist Hamid Mir has sent legal notices to the Daily Times and Business Plus television channel for running a report claiming that he had a telephonic interaction with a Taliban spokesman which actually led to the killing of kidnapped former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) official Khalid Khwaja.

Mir, Executive Editor of the Geo News, has termed the story being published and aired on the newspaper and the television channel respectively, as ‘defamatory’, which was ‘based on malafide intentions’.

In his notice, Mir has demanded an official apology from both the media houses within 14 days and also payment of 250 million rupees as compensation for damages done to his reputation failing which legal action would be initiated.

“The points of interest mentioned at the end of column were also aimed to cause hatred and dislike for Mr Mir in specific sections of the society. Further, the publication of editorial titled Shocking revelations in Daily Times on 17 May 2010, which wrongly propagated Mr Mir’s indiscretion in Khalid Khawaja’s murder…” Mir’s notice to The Daily Times states.

“The said column and transcript was published in the Daily Times in breach of professional conduct and without verifying the accuracy and authenticity of the source of information,” it added.

Both Mir and the Taliban have denied having any conversation with each other concerning kidnapped ISI officials.

Earlier, Mir had said that the leaked audiotape was an attempt to malign his image by his ‘enemies in the government.’

“I never said these things to these people. This is a concocted tape. They took my voice, sampled it and manufactured this conspiracy against me,” Mir had said.

On the other hand, Khwaja’s son Osama Khalid has claimed that one of the voices in the tape was certainly that of Usman, a Taliban militant with whom his family had several talks for his father’s release.

Speaking during a television programme, Osama said the Asian Tigers, the group which had claimed to kidnapped Khwaja along with his former colleague Colonel Imam and a British filmmaker, was actually a group working for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

“Because no Muslim can do it (murder another Muslim),” Osama said.

“This audiotape is enough proof to show Hamid Mir’s role in my father’s murder,” he added.

Osama also claimed that Mir had hatched a conspiracy to murder his father and received a hefty sum for it from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). (ANI)

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FIFA to probe Triesman”s comments

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 18 (ANI): FIFA bosses will investigate the FA”s handling of Lord Triesman over his reported comments on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

“FIFA officials are demanding a report on Triesman”s comments and want to know whether FA could have acted quicker,” reports The Sun.

Triesman quit as FA chairman and leader of England”s 2018 World Cup bid on Sunday after he was recorded accusing rival bidders Spain and Russia of planning to bribe references at next month”s tournament in South Africa.

“We have not received any apologies,” said Alexei Sorokin, the head of Russia”s 2018 bid

English officials, however, claim to have faxed a full apology to Moscow and Spain.

“We can only suppose two things – either the English had some technical mistake or they were in too much of a hurry when they informed the media they had already apologised,” said Russian FA Director General Sorokin.

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke has asked the governing body”s ethics committee to cross check the claims put forward by Triesman.

Meanwhile, Spanish FA boss Jorge Perez Arias has tagged the idea of his country bribing references as absurd.

Geoff Thompson, will now chair England”s 2018 World Cup bid team.
(ANI)

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Marks & Spencer apologises for selling ‘bra tops’ to six year olds

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 13 (ANI): Brit retailer Marks & Spencer has issued an apology for selling “bra tops” to six-year-old girls.

The Santoni heart-patterned underwear tops were aimed at 6-8 year old girls and labelled “bra tops”, although some were also called “crop tops”.

A tag attached to the underwear said it was “a great way of getting girls used to the idea of wearing bras”.

However, M&S has had to change both the labelling and description after children’s charities and parents criticised the underwear.

“We”ve campaigned to combat a trend towards the sexualisation of children and one aspect of this is the production and selling of clothes that are absolutely inappropriate,” the Telegraph quoted Claude Knights, the director of child protection charity Kidscape, as telling the Guardian.

Denying that the product was a bra top, Mark & Spencer said: “We”re sorry that the labelling of our Santoni top has caused confusion.

“The garment is designed to be worn under clothing and doesn”t feature any support or padding, which makes it totally appropriate for its intended age range. All future packaging of the product will be correctly labelled and we have already altered its online description.

“We are totally committed to ensuring our clothing offer is age appropriate.” (ANI)

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BJP tenders apology over ‘Gaddar’ remarks in Parliament

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 6 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday tendered an unconditional apology for alleged remarks made by its member Ananth Kumar in the Lok Sabha against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad.

On Wednesday, certain words used by Kumar during his speech on Census 2011, resulted in a heated debate between him and Lalu Prasad.

As soon as the House met for the day, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj submitted the apology.

“I unconditionally apologise for the remarks made by Ananth Kumar yesterday,” she said.

When Prasad sought to intervene, Swaraj said in a lighter vein, “I also apologise on behalf of Laluji also.”

“There is a lot of important business to be done in the House. I appeal to members to help in the smooth running of the House,” Swaraj added.

Kumar, who was present in the House, however, did not say anything on the matter.

On Wednesday, Kumar had insisted that he had not made the remarks against Prasad and would neither apologise nor withdraw them.

“I will neither apologise nor withdraw my comments,” Kumar had said.

Swaraj said Kumar has not denied using both “Gaddar ” and “rashtravirodhi” words during his speech.

However, Swaraj maintained that Kumar had not used these two words against Prasad.

She said there was a misunderstanding among the Samajwadi Party (SP), the RJD and other members.

“But one should understand the context in which Kumar mentioned them. Our notice demanding a discussion on Census was against the column ”nationality as declared” in the National Population Register (NPR) form. Gaddar word per se is unparliamentary but not in this context,” Swaraj said.

On Wednesday evening, the Lok Sabha was adjourned twice, after Kumar and Prasad had a strong exchange over Bangladeshi’s being registered as Indian citizen in the current Census.

Kumar drew the attention of the House to the alleged activities of Bangladeshi refugees and the attempt by illegal migrants to register themselves as Indian citizens.

He asked whether members of the House are with pro-Nationals or with anti nationals, and alleged that the Bangladeshi effort was not happening without the support of some politicians.

This agitated Prasad so much so that he tried to walk over to Kumar, but SP chief Mulayam Singh stopped him. (ANI)

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CPI-M seeks apology from Trinamool over unparliamentarily language against its leader

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Wednesday sought an apology from the opposition Trinamool Congress over the alleged derogatory remarks made by its leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay against CPI-M leader Basudeb Acharia inside the Parliament.

“From the very beginning we have seen whenever we try to say anything inside the House, immediately all the Trinamool members shout, and interrupt, disturb so they are doing this thing from very beginning,” said CPI-M leader Basudeb Acharia.

“Strategy, we will ask, request the Speaker to ask him to apologise,” he added.

Meanwhile, CPI-M State Secretary Biman Bose said the Parliament should deal with the matter.

“Actually this issue has to be dealt with by the parliament and the custodian, they are to look after the issue seriously,” said Bose.

Controversial remarks disrupted Parliament on Wednesday leading to adjournments of each of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, with an angry opposition seeking an apology.

Bandyopadhyay is in the eye of a storm for his remarks against Acharia inside the Parliament on Tuesday in the backdrop of the motormen”s strike in Mumbai . (ANI)

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Census inclusion of Bangladeshis causes Lalu, Ananth spat

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): The Lok Sabha was adjourned for a second time on Wednesday evening after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ananth Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad had a strong exchange over Bangladeshi’s being registered as Indian citizen in the current Census.

Kumar drew the attention of the House to the alleged activities of Bangladeshi refugees and the attempt by illegal migrants to register themselves as Indian citizens.

Kumar demanded a statement from the Government on the issue.

He asked whether members of the House are with pro-Nationals or with anti nationals, and alleged that the Bangladeshi effort was not happening without the support of some politicians.

This agitated Lalu Prasad so much so that he tried to walk over to Kumar, but Samjwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh stopped him.

The exchange of words between the BJP and the RJD and SP members continued the Speaker to adjourn proceedings in the House.

Earlier, opposition members forced an adjournment of proceedings till 2 p.m, raising several issues, including Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay”s remarks against a CPI-M member and the controversy surrounding 2G spectrum bids.

Soon after Speaker Meira Kumar called for Question Hour, Left members rushed to the Well and started demanding an apology from Trinamool Congress member Sudip Bandopadhyay for his remarks against CPI(M) member Basudeb Acharia.

Kumar”s repeated appeals to allow Question Hour to continue went unheeded even as members from the Treasury benches waved the agenda papers demanding that the House functions properly.

AIADMK members also stormed into the Well waving copies of a newspaper that carried reports on the controversy surrounding 2G spectrum bids.

They demanded the resignation of Communications Minister and DMK leader A Raja.

DMK sources however, have ruled out the possibility of Raja resigning.

Sources said Raja has emerged as the Dalit face of the DMK and enjoys good rapport with Karunanidhi.

Though Raja is embroiled in two major allegations — the spectrum allotment — and his alleged telephone call to a Madras High Court judge for a favourable order– Karunanidhi has been defending him. (ANI)

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Uproar in Parliament over Trinamool leader Bandopadhyay”s remarks

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): Opposition members on Wednesday forced an adjournment of proceedings in the Lok Sabha till 2 p.m, raising several issues, including Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay”s remarks against a CPI-M member and the controversy surrounding 2G spectrum bids.

Soon after Speaker Meira Kumar called for Question Hour, Left members rushed to the well and started demanding an apology from Trinamool Congress member Sudip Bandopadhyay for his remarks against CPI(M) member Basudeb Acharia.

Kumar”s repeated appeals to allow Question Hour to continue went unheeded even as members from the Treasury benches waved the agenda papers demanding that the House functions properly.

AIADMK members also stormed into the well waving copies of a newspaper that carried reports on the controversy surrounding 2G spectrum bids.

They demanded resignation of Communications Minister and DMK leader A Raja.

DMK sources have ruled out the possibility of Raja resigning.

Sources said Raja has emerged as the Dalit face of the DMK and enjoys a good rapport with Karunanidhi.

Though Raja is embroiled in two major allegations — the spectrum allotment — and his alleged telephone call to a Madras High Court judge for a favourable order– Karunanidhi has been defending him. (ANI)

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Tiger Woods’ porn star ex demands apology from hotel over discrimination

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New York, May 4 (ANI): Tiger Woods” porn star ex mistress Joslyn James has sent a letter to the luxury Ritz Carlton Hotel – asking for an apology and investigation into what she alleges was discrimination.

Her lawyer Gloria Allred has fired off a letter to the North Carolina hotel demanding they apologise to James after they cancelled her reservation.

James was set to stay there while she performed at a local strip club.

Upon arrival, James said, her entourage found the Ritz had abruptly cancelled her longstanding reservation, citing concerns about media attention.

But Allred alleges the reason for the cancellation might be because Tiger may have been staying at the same hotel.

“I was really shocked [by the cancellation]. It”s not fair. They knew who I was when we made the reservation. Why all of a sudden did they get worried? If it”s true Tiger was there, he”s high-profile too, and he”s just as guilty for doing something wrong, if not more guilty,” the New York Daily News quoted James as saying.

“I”m not trying to put the blame I deserve on someone else. But I wasn”t by myself [during her trysts with Tiger]. I wasn”t breaking vows, he was. I wasn”t lying to my fans, he was,” she added.

Allred wants the hotel to conduct a ‘thorough investigation’ and make amends.

“We are appalled to think that you might have chosen to accommodate a rich, famous golfer who has admitted lying to his wife, his fans his business associates and others over a woman whose heart he has broken, and whose only fault is that she fell madly in love with Tiger Woods,” Allred wrote in a letter to the hotel”s manager.

“No guest or potential guest deserves to be treated in this thoughtless manner. We look forward to an appropriate remedy,” Allred said. (ANI)

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Policemen deployed at Thailand hospital after Red Shirts’ forced entry

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Bangkok, Apr 30(ANI): A total of 100 policemen have been deployed around King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok to prevent any further forced entry by the Red Shirt protesters, police chief said.

Assistant national police chief Pol Lt-Gen Worapong Chiewpreecha said the
Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES) has ordered police to provide security for all hospitals in Bangkok.

The decision comes after about 200 supporters and guards of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) led by leader Payap Panket searched the hospital, claiming it was being used as a hideout by the security forces.

Chulalongkorn Hospital Director Adisorn Patradul said the hospital, located next to the Red Shirt rally site on Ratchadamri Road, has closed its out-patient service after the incident and currently it is only handling emergency cases.

The patients have been transferred to Siriraj and other hospitals, he added.

According to reports, the hospital evacuated more than 1,000 patients, but there are about 600 patients in the building.

Meanwhile, UDD leader Weng Tojirakarn has issued an apology for the raid, describing it as “inappropriate, too much, and unreasonable”.

“On behalf of all [UDD] leaders, I apologise to the public and to Chulalongkorn Hospital for the incident. The situation got out of control. It is not our policy to obstruct hospital operations,” Tojirakarn said. (ANI)

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Soren writes to Gadkari, seeks apology

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr 29 (ANI): Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren has reportedly written to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari apologizing to him and senior leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Sushma Swaraj for voting in favour of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government on the cut motion.

In his letter, Soren conceded that his support to the UPA Government during the cut motion moved by the Opposition was a mistake. He pleaded with Swaraj for justice for the people of Jharkhand.

The JMM leader wrote that he had sacrificed his life for the people of Jharkhand and was now indisposed.

Shibu Soren”s son Hemant Soren had earlier on Wednesday expressed his regret to the BJP for his father”s error, asserting that the Chief Minister was ready to resign and urged the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to take a fresh initiative to form a government with a new leader.

Hemant said the state wasn”t ready to face another poll.

“The JMM is ready to make a sacrifice for Guruji”s (Soren”s) mistake,” he said.

The BJP has, however, declined the offer made by Hemant Soren.

Meanwhile, the BJP Parliamentary Board met again today under the leadership of Lal Krishna Advani and Sushma Swaraj to decide further proceedings.

It is reported that the BJP leaders will meet the Jharkhand Governor M.O.H. Farook this evening and convey their decision to withdraw support to Soren”s JMM.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led Government in Jharkhand was reduced to a minority on Wednesday after the BJP withdrew its support, as it was reportedly upset withy Soren for he voted with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government on the cut motion.

After the BJP”s pullout, the ruling coalition has been reduced to 28 from 46 in a House of 81.

Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on December 30, 2009 for the third time.

He had formed the government with a five-party coalition.

Soren had secured the support of 44 MLAs in the 81-member House after the assembly elections in Jharkhand gave a fractured verdict.

The JMM had 18 seats, BJP had 18 seats, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) had two seats, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) had five seats and Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) had one seat in the assembly.

The Congress has 14 seats in the assembly. (ANI)

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Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall ban daughter from night out

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, April 29 (ANI): Rolling Stones member Mick Jagger and his ex-wife Jerry Hall are said to have banned their 18-year-old daughter Georgia May Jagger from attending a function as her exams were coming up.

Georgia, who is studying art, photography and sociology, was due to attend the launch of a fancy new range of 3D tellies on April 27, but was forced to send an apology after her parents grounded her.

“Georgia wanted to go and had accepted the invitation,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.

“But she respects her parents and had to obey their rules. Mick wants her to focus on her exams.

“She’s only got a few months to go so this is a crucial time,” the source added. (ANI)

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US National Security Adviser says sorry for Jewish joke

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr.27 (ANI): US National Security Adviser, Lt. Gen (retired) James Jones, has apologized for a Jewish joke that he made last week to kick off an address.

According to a Christian Science Monitor (CSM) report, when Lt. Gen. Jones made the joke, the room erupted in laughter at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a pro-Israel organization.

Apparently not everyone in the room was amused, and by Monday, when the Israeli paper Haaretz published a story, a full-fledged international incident was born.

On Monday, Jones issued an apology. In addition, the White House did not include the off-the-cuff joke in its official transcript of his remarks.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs denied any cover-up.

“It was obviously an on-camera speech. There was no attempt to deceive,” Gibbs said as per a Fox News report.

“I wish that I had not made this off the cuff joke at the top of my remarks, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by it. It also distracted from the larger message I carried that day: that the United States commitment to Israel”s security is sacrosanct,” Jones said. (ANI)

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Jesse James” ‘mistress No. 2’ sends apology to Sandra Bullock

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New York, Apr 27 (ANI): Melissa Smith, Jesse James” alleged mistress No. 2, has written a letter to Sandra Bullock saying sorry for having an affair with her husband.

“I”m sure you”re wondering why I”m writing this letter to you,” Smith wrote in a typed one-page note obtained by TMZ.com. “I felt I needed to reach out to you and tell you how deeply sorry I am for everything that you”ve been through.”

Smith, who claims she had a two-year affair with Bullock”s biker husband, said she now regrets it and wants Bullock, 45, to know, reports The New York Daily News.

“I know nothing I can say in this letter is going to make the pain of my actions go away,” she wrote. “I am sorry for any hurt or pain that I have caused you. My actions of engaging with a married man are unforgivable. I never meant you any harm.”

The letter was addressed to Bullock”s production company, Fortis Films.

“Please contact me if you wish to discuss on the phone or in person,” Smith wrote. (ANI)

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Belgian bishop resigns over abuse of boy

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A Belgian Catholic bishop resigned on Friday after admitting he had sexually abused a boy when in charge of the diocese of Bruges.

“When I was still a simple priest, and for a while when I began as a bishop, I sexually abused a boy in my close entourage,” the bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, said in a statement issued at a news conference in Brussels.

“I profoundly regret what I have done and I present my sincerest apology to the victim, his family, the Catholic community and society in general,” said the 73-year-old.

The abuse took place more than 20 years ago. It was not clear how old the boy was when the abuse began or how long it lasted.

Vangheluwe stepped down after a person close to the victim complained to the church. His is the first such case in Belgium, although a church commission said it was investigating about 20 other cases involving sex abuse allegations.

Hundreds of instances of abuse by clergymen have come to light in Europe and the United States in the last month as disclosures encouraged victims to go public with their allegations.

Vangheluwe was born in the western town of Roeselare and was ordained as a priest in Bruges at the age of 26. He was appointed bishop of the historic city aged 48, a role he held for 25 years until his resignation on Friday.

Vangheluwe had a high profile at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, one of Belgium’s leading universities, where he often delivered a homily at the beginning of the academic year. He also sat on the steering committee of a local charity.

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David Duchovny doesn’t take media reports on love life “personally”

April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, April 21 (ANI): ‘The X Files’ star David Duchovny has revealed that he does not let media reports on his love life bother him and that he does not take any of the stories personally.

Duchovny, 49, had been hounded by the press in 2008 after his marriage to actress Tea Leoni was scrutinised after he checked into a clinic for sex addiction treatment.

He even threatened to sue bosses at the Daily Mail after they alluded to an alleged affair with a tennis instructor – but he dropped the defamation suit after the publication printed an apology.

“The tabloid world is busy, and omnivorous, so I was not taken aback by that story. I don’t take any of it personally,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

“I am not saying I enjoy it, but these things exist because people buy them, so it is not for me to say they should not print this stuff.

“It would be nice for them to get the facts right – but it is just gossip, so it’s not of world-shattering importance,” he said.

But he does admit he is worried how his two kids – daughter Madelaine West, 11, and seven-year-old Kyd – are going to take the scandalous stories about their dad when they’re older.

“It may be hurtful for me personally, but mostly what worries me is that my children are exposed to it. Luckily, they don’t read that British newspaper,” he said.

“But the time will come, with the glory of Google, that they’ll find something some day. ‘Dad, what the f**k is this?’ Hopefully, I’ll be able to explain.

“In the meantime, I’ll get on with enjoying my family, my work, my interests,” he added. (ANI)

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Men’s apologies could improve women’s health: Study

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, April 19 (ANI): Scientists have claimed that when a man refuses to apologize to a woman for something wrong he has done, he could put her at risk of a heart attack.

A study found that women who are starved of an apology for rude or hurtful behaviour suffer an increase in blood pressure, which can raise the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

The research also showed that those who hear a well timed “sorry” calm down more quickly, with their blood pressure returning to normal 20 percent faster.

On the other hand, a man’s blood pressure takes 20 percent longer to recover after an apology – suggesting men become more worked up after hearing an admission of guilt.

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, US, measured the diastolic blood pressure of 29 men and 59 women throughout the experiment.

Both groups were asked individually to complete a maths test in five minutes. They were interrupted three times during the test and told angrily to hurry up.

At the end of the test, they were told: “You”re obviously not good enough.”

Two minutes later, researchers apologised for their rudeness to half of the men and women.

The women who received an apology calmed down faster, while the men became more agitated.

“Results indicate that there are potentially healthy benefits to forgiveness and apology,” the Telegraph quoted one of the researchers as saying.

Diastolic blood pressure, a measure of pressure in the blood between heartbeats, can increase the chances of stroke or heart attacks if it remains high. (ANI)

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