Fitch says Japan fiscal consolidation harder now

July 13 (Reuters) – Japan’s ruling party’s poor showing at Sunday’s elections will make it more difficult for the country to push through fiscal consolidation and a delay in a credible plan beyond the year-end would increase the risk of a rating downgrade, Fitch ratings said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s ruling coalition suffered a major blow in Sunday’s upper house election, putting his policies to deal with the country’s massive debt at risk. [ID:nTOE66B066]

“If we don’t see a credible plan come through by the end of the year, it will send a negative signal for its rating, adding pressure to the credit rating,” Andrew Colquhoun, Fitch’s sovereign analyst for Japan, told Reuters.

However, Colquhoun said he was not pessimistic about the government’s ability to draw up such a plan.

“The election will make it more difficult for the government to draw up and implement such a plan, but I am not too pessimistic as I do not read the election results as a rejection of fiscal consolidation,” he said.

Fitch has rated Japan’s foreign currency debt AA and its local currency debt at AA-minus, both with a stable outlook. (Reporting by Umesh Desai; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Thai PM�s ultimatum to Red-Shirts to quit protest or face action

Bangkok, May 12 (ANI): Thailand�s Prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has issued an ultimatum to the agitating Red-Shirts to end their opposition or face action.

Vejjajiva had offered the olive branch to United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) also known as the Red-Shirts. He had agreed to hold elections in line with Red-Shirts� demands.

“If the situation in the country does not return to normal, it will affect the election. Protesters should return home on May 12,” the Bangkok Post quoted Abhisit as saying.

But they have refused to call off their rally since he offered a �reconciliation road-map, and according to Vejjajiva, this translates into their rejection of the existing arrangement.

The Red-Shirts on the other hand, maintain that the agitation will end only if Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban turns himself in to the police following complaints from family members of those killed during the clash between the security forces and the protestors. The clashes left 25 people dead and more than 800 injured, the paper reports.

“On the day Mr Suthep reports to authorities as the accused, the Red Shirt protesters will call off our demonstration on the same day,” the Bangkok Post quoted Natthawut, a Red-Shirts� leader, as saying.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has said that Nonglak Chaimaen and 13 other people, who claim they were relatives of those killed and injured on April 10 have lodged a complaint with the DSI against Suthep.

Vejjajiva is now considering enforcement of measures like cutting off water and electricity supply to the Ratchaprasong Area, the site of the rally, to put more pressure on the Red Shirts to go home.

The agitation has severely affected the normal life in the area, forcing schools to be shut down.

Vejjajiva�s concerns include the re-opening of schools, scheduled for Monday and ensuring that the election, that start on May 12 take place in a peacefully. (ANI)

Simon Cowell’s shows are ‘dangerous’ and ‘cruel’, says Annie Lennox

London, May 11 (ANI): Oscar-winning singer Annie Lennox has blasted Simon Cowell”s TV talent shows – labeling the contests ‘dangerous’ and ‘cruel’.

The Eurhythmics star claims she would never like to be a part of the judging panel of shows such as ‘American Idol’ or Britain”s ‘The X Factor’ because of the devastating effect rejection can have on upcoming singers.

“I think those types of shows are dangerous and cruel – they”ll have a long-lasting effect on how people look at music,” the Daily Star quoted her as telling Britain”s Daily Mail.

“I understand their appeal, but there”s no chance I”d ever be a judge. You have a panel of people basically giving you the thumbs up or down, and there”s so much more to music than that,” she added. (ANI)

Kerry Katona says Katie Price is living “in denial”

London, May 5 (ANI): Former Atomic Kitten member Kerry Katona has blasted Katie Price a.k.a. Jordan and said that she feels sorry for the former glamour model.

Katona, 29, told OK! magazine that she feels Jordan, 31, is living in “denial” with regard to her marriage to Alex Reid.

“I feel sorry for her. I feel like I’m watching some of my old life. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors,” the Mirror quoted her as saying.

“She can sit there and say: ‘I’m happy and really in love.’ But I did all that myself, you’re in denial.

“She’s not doing herself any favours, like I wasn’t. I wish I’d got counselling. You suffer rejection when someone leaves you, like leaving her and Brian leaving me,” she added. (ANI)

Cheating on girlfriend? Save your car!

The relationship between men and women, when it turns sour because of the philandering habits of the former, can cost him his wheels.

Women are more likely than men to seek revenge if they found out their partner was cheating on them, with 10 percent of angered females targeting their man’s motor, a poll has found.

The poll of 3,000 people by the Autoglass company found that three in every five people would seek revenge if their partners cheated on them.

Of those who decide to get even, 22- to 25-year-olds are the most likely to smash a car windshield, reports The New York Daily News.

“Our research clearly shows that in the UK most people won’t turn the other cheek when it comes to infidelity,” Autoglass managing director Nigel Doggett said, according to the Independent. “And as the car seems to be one of the prime targets for getting even, this poll should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of straying.”

Social worker Irina Firstein said: “When a spouse has an affair, it is a rejection and a betrayal of the promise or agreement that it implicit in a marriage or a committed relationship. We have notions about what is fair and not fair, and this is not fair in our minds. The impulse for revenge often translates into an action, which of course means hurting the other person.”

And as to why trash the cheater’s car, Firstein said: “It’s like kicking a guy in his privates.”

Cheated women take revenge by smashing partners’ cars

New York, Apr 28 (ANI): Women are more likely than men to seek revenge if they found out their partner was cheating on them, with 10 percent of angered females targeting their man”s motor, a poll has found.

The poll of 3,000 people by the Autoglass company found that three in every five people would seek revenge if their partners cheated on them.

Of those who decide to get even, 22- to 25-year-olds are the most likely to smash a car windshield, reports The New York Daily News.

“Our research clearly shows that in the UK most people won’t turn the other cheek when it comes to infidelity,” Autoglass managing director Nigel Doggett said, according to the Independent. “And as the car seems to be one of the prime targets for getting even, this poll should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of straying.”

Social worker Irina Firstein said: “When a spouse has an affair, it is a rejection and a betrayal of the promise or agreement that it implicit in a marriage or a committed relationship. We have notions about what is fair and not fair, and this is not fair in our minds. The impulse for revenge often translates into an action, which of course means hurting the other person.”

And as to why trash the cheater’s car, Firstein said: “It’s like kicking a guy in his privates.” (ANI)

Walker says planning body ignored experts

Walker Corporation has lodged formal complaints against the panel that refused its canal housing estate on Hobart’s eastern shore.

The company behind the Lauderdale Quay proposal has questioned the independence of the state’s new planning commission in its comments on the draft report into the project.

The panel recommended against the $300 million project on environmental, visual and social grounds.

Walker says the commission has ignored the only expert advice presented and agreed with anecdotal and unsubstantiated views of lay people.

Meanwhile the opponents of the project have accused Walker Corporation of refusing to accept the planning commission’s rejection of the project.

Jane MacDonald from the group Saves Ralphs Bay says the company doesn’t provide any actual evidence of any problems with the assessment.

“Other than that they didn’t get the answer that they wanted”, she said.

The Greens leader Nick McKim says Walker Corporation’s attack on the commission is a low blow.

The commission’s assessment panel will assess Walker Corporation’s complaints next week.

Unionist seeks preselection despite PM’s rejection

A Tasmanian unionist is planning to run for the Senate, despite being rejected by the Prime Minister at the last federal election.

Kevin Harkins of the Electrical Trades Union withdrew as Labor’s candidate for the lower house seat of Franklin, amid accusations of heavy-handed union tactics.

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said at the time there was “Buckley’s chance” of Mr Harkins becoming a Labor Senator, calling him a “pugilist”.

Mr Harkins is now seeking Senate pre-selection, but will not say whether he has received Mr Rudd’s blessing.

“I think those words were nothing more than a misunderstanding, and they should be placed into that basket,” he said.

“I think we’ve all moved on since those things happened.

“Maybe it was a mistaken identity, or something like that. I don’t really know. You would have to ask the Prime Minister about that.”

A spokesman for the Prime Minister says Mr Rudd has been open about his personal views but pre-selection is a matter for the Tasmanian ALP.

The party’s State Secretary, John Dowling, has declined to be interviewed.

Micro-brewery proponent to fight on

A south-west Western Australian landowner says he is disappointed in the Busselton Shire’s rejection of his proposal to build a micro-brewery north of Margaret River.

Murray Burton wants to build a cellar door, restaurant and brewery adjacent to a Cullen Wines and says he will now take the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal.

The proposal was rejected after the winery expressed concerns about the impact foreign yeast from the brewery would have in its biodynamic vines.

Mr Burton says he will continue to pursue the issue.

“I would have preferred the council to have sought some evidence or some factual support to the argument,” he said.

“I think that would have helped because the matter is not an easy one to deal with and when you’re relying on emotion and other argument it’s very difficult to make an objective decision.”

Pursuit of status and affection behind bullies”” behavior

Washington, Mar 25 (ANI): Most bullies are motivated by the pursuit of status and affection, says a new study.

The longitudinal study was conducted by researchers at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. It appears in the March/April 2010 issue of the journal Child Development.

In their work, the researchers questioned almost 500 elementary-school children ages 9 to 12. Based on their findings, they conclude that bullies generally choose to gain status by dominating their victims. But at the same time, they try to reduce the chances that they””ll end up on the outs with other classmates by choosing as victims children who are weak and not well-liked by others. In short, even bullies care a lot about others”” affection and don””t want to lose it.

“To understand the complex nature of acceptance and rejection, it””s necessary to distinguish the gender of the bully, the gender of the target, and the gender of the classmates who accept and reject bullies and victims,” according to René Veenstra, professor of sociology at the University of Groningen, who led the study. (ANI)

Horse studs rally against mine plans

The Hunter Valley’s thoroughbred industry has told a public hearing that the future of its industry hinges on the rejection of the proposed Bickham open-cut mine near Murrurundi.

Yesterday, the Planning and Assessment Commission was told 255 jobs at six of the largest studs near Scone could be lost and major players are considering their options if the pit proceeds.

Thoroughbred breeders’ spokesman John Messara says people are reluctant to invest due to fears the mine will be approved.

“Scone vet practice is looking at building a hospital. It’s a $6 million investment that’s being held back,” he said.

“I know of a number of other important parties that want to get involved in Hunter Valley breeding who are saying let’s wait and see.

“Remember this has been going on for 10 years, we can’t continue to live with this uncertainty.

“We’ve made that case to the Government and we’ve made it again to the commissioners.”

But Bickham Coal director John Richards says the horse studs have nothing to fear.

“We’ve tried to demonstrate that the water impacts from Bickham are both local and very small,” he said.

“So John Messara’s stud and a number of the other studs that he was mentioning as having deep concerns, they are a long way away.

“They’re more than 25 kilometres downstream.”

Rudd approval rating hits new low

A new opinion poll shows voter satisfaction with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s performance has dropped to its lowest level since he became the leader of the federal Labor Party.

The Newspoll in the Australian newspaper shows 48 per cent of voters are satisfied with Mr Rudd’s performance, while 41 per cent are dissatisfied.

It is the first time Mr Rudd’s rating has dipped beneath 50 per cent as prime minister.

Meanwhile, the poll shows the Opposition’s paid parental leave scheme is failing to gain traction with voters.

Forty per cent of respondents favoured the Government’s 18-week paid leave plan, compared to 24 per cent for the Coalition’s proposal for six months’ leave at full pay.

Labor leads the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis by 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

Forty-seven per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s performance, down one point from last month’s figures.

Mr Abbott’s dissatisfaction rating was unchanged at 38 per cent.

Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen has defended Mr Rudd and played down the figures.

“He’s said for some time that he expects polls to tighten, we expect this election to be very tough,” he said.

But Opposition frontbencher Peter Dutton says the poll is a rejection of Mr Rudd’s new health and hospital plan.

“The Australian people are starting to question whether Kevin Rudd’s got the ability to deliver in areas like health,” he said.

Senator urges drought aid snub appeal

Inverell-based Nationals’ Senator John Williams has asked the New South Wales Government to appeal against the rejection of Bundarra’s application for Exceptional Circumstances drought funding.

Last week, the National Rural Advisory Council announced that Bundarra’s rainfall did not fit the criteria for a one-in-25-year low.

The decision means farmers will not be able to access interest rate subsidies and income support.

The state Minister for Primary Industries, Steve Whan, says he is still waiting on advice from his department about avenues for appeal.

UK: Indian-origin woman gets life for killing lover with poison

LONDON: Lakhvir Singh, the Southhall-based Indian-origin woman who killed her lover out of jealousy by poisoning his curry with Indian herb Aconite, was on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment.

Singh poisoned the curry that was later consumed by Lakhvinder Cheema, 39, who died hours after eating the meal in January 2009.

Her life sentence was pronounced at the Old Bailey and she must serve a minimum of 23 years.

Sentencing her, Judge Paul Worsley said: “You set about a cold and calculating revenge. You were not just a spurned lover, you did not simply explode in anger at your rejection”.

Singh, however, was cleared of attempting to murder Gurjeet Choongh, Cheema’s fiancee.

Cheema and Choongh were due to be married on Valentine’s Day in 2009.

The jury was told that Singh could not bear the thought of her lover’s marriage to 22-year-oold Choongh and laced the food with Indian aconite, known as the Queen of Poisons.

After the engagement of Cheema and Choongh became final in November 2008, Singh went to India and returned three weeks later.

Another week later, Cheema was taken to hospital. Choongh gave evidence during the trial detailing how the couple fell ill while discussing their wedding plans.

Choongh survived because she had consumed less of the poisoned curry. She said in a victim impact statement she still suffers the stress of having been close to death. “I still do not feel fully recovered and I believe it will affect me for the rest of my life,” she said.

Edward Brown, prosecuting lawyer, said, “Perhaps jealousy, anger and revenge all playing their part, Lakhvir Singh decided to poison them using an extremely toxic and deadly poison, possibly brought especially from India.

Pak rejects India’s sixth dossier, wants more proof against Saeed in 26/11 case

Islamabad, Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan on Saturday rejected the sixth dossier received from India, saying that the contents provided in it were not enough to arrest or prosecute Hafiz Saeed, the main accused in the 26/11/2008 Mumbai terror attacks in a court of law and asked New Delhi to provide more evidence in connection with the case.

Addressing a news conference here after meeting Indian High Commissioner Sharad Sabharwal, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik said: “We want more evidence from India so that the case can be made solid and tangible.”

“We have submitted all information available to us, but we want more information to make our case solid,” said Malik, adding that in the absence of enough evidence, the court would exonerate Saeed for lack of authentic proof.

“We need forensic experts’ testimony on various evidences,” Malik said, adding: “We are fighting terror in Pakistan. We have been sincere in fighting it.”

“We have made progress in 26/11 probe despite sketchy information provided by India,” Malik also said.

Saying that legal proceedings against Saeed were on, Malik revealed details of the Pakistan Government’s efforts made so far.

He said that so far 101 witnesses had deposed, 126 items had been seized as incriminating evidence, and 25 hideouts had been identified. Bank accounts connected to the case have also been traced and identified, and the boats used have been discovered, he added.

Sources in the Indian Government said that Rehman’s rejection of the sixth dossier clearly indicated that Pakistan is not serious about taking the 26/11 probe to its logical conclusion, and reiterated their demand for the arrest and prosecution of all masterminds and accused in the case.

Earlier, during his meeting with High Commissioner Sabharwal, Malik reportedly discussed the progress being made by Pakistan in the 26/11 probe..

Malik said that if there is conclusive evidence before the establishment, charges would be framed against the seven accused.

Earlier, an anti-terrorism court here, which is conducting the trial of seven suspects linked with the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008, including LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, on Saturday adjourned the hearing of the case till September 26.

No other details of the proceedings were available due to a strict media blackout imposed by Judge Baqir Ali Rana, who is conducting the trial inside the high-security Adiala Jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi due to security reasons.

The hearings are being conducted in-camera and Rana has issued a gag order, citing national security concerns as well as the security of the accused and witnesses.

It is still not clear whether the seven accused have been formally indicted, though authorities have prepared two chargesheets against them.

Lawyers representing the accused said they had been directed by the judge to strictly adhere to the gag order and not to discuss the proceedings with the media.

Five LeT operatives Lakhvi, communications expert Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq and Shahid Jamil Riaz being tried by the anti-terrorism court.

They have been accused of providing training, financial support, accommodation, equipment and communications gear to the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai last year.

No details are available of the charges against the two other suspects, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum.

Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has said the two cases filed against his client are very weak and not sustainable in any court of law.

Saeed’s lawyer A K Dongar said the charges against his client were ridiculous. Dogar was referring to the two cases filed by Faisalabad Police – one relating to his sermon at the Royalton Hotel in Faisalabad’s Canal Road on August 27, and second for a speech at an Iftar dinner at Peoples Colony, Jaranwala Road Faisalabad on August 26, where he urged people to launch a holy war against those who’ve suppressed their rights.

“I have gone through both the FIRs against Saeed thoroughly. The charges against my client are very weak. He has expressed his views like any other Pakistani,” claimed Dogar.

According to the TIMES NOW television channel, two cases were registered against Saeed and one against his close aide Abu Jandal at police stations in Faisalabad, some 100 kilometers from Lahore.

On Friday, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Islamabad must question Saeed, notwithstanding the fact that two cases had been filed against him that were not related to that tragic event.

Chidambaram said the authorities should avail the opportunity of questioning Saeed on the 26/11 episode also, once he is arrested.

“…I am told that it’s (FIRs agaisnt Hafiz Saeed) not related to the 26/11 attacks. Even if they apprehending him on some other charge, and use the opportunity to question him on his involvement in 26/11 attacks, that would be a significant progress in the case. I hope that they question him on 26/22 too,” Chidambaram told TIMES NOW after his US visit.

Insisting that Saeed should be tried for his involvement in the 26/11 terror attack, Chidambaram said: “There is no trial there. The trial has not started there. In fact, my complaint has been even before I visited the US, that we don’t have a date set for the trial and to best of the my knowledge, the first witness has not been examined.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna also asserted that the main agenda of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York would be to pressurise Islamabad in taking action against perpetrators of last year’s Mumbai terror attack.

Krishna said this while speaking to media persons at Turkmen capital Ashgabat during his visit to that country on Friday.

“I cannot spell out what exactly I can expect from such meetings. But this much I can assure that my attempt would be to impress upon the Pakistan foreign minister the desirability of taking action against the brains behind the Mumbai attack,” said Krishna.

The Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan and diplomats of the two nuclear-armed rivals are scheduled to meet in New York next week on the sidelines of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly. (ANI)

Flintoff’s ECB contract rejection threatens Test cricket, but he plays it down

London, Sep.17 (ANI): All-rounder Andrew Flintoff may have unwittingly incited the break-up of international cricket by his refusal of an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) incremental contract, but he has played down reports of a possible backlash.

Flintoff has assured that his rejection of an England increment contract, a second tier deal offered to him because of his retirement from Test cricket, did not lessen his commitment to England. The all-rounder, who is Dubai undergoing rehabilitation after knee surgery, made it clear that he has no intention of missing any England games should they clash with matches in the various Twenty20 franchise competitions he also hopes to be part of.

Although Flintoff has put all negotiations on hold while he recovers he is known to have been in preliminary talks with teams in Australia, where their revamped Twenty20 competition is to be called the Big Bash and South Africa, where the Pro20 is easily the most popular professional cricket in the country.

Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, said yesterday that other players would join Flintoff in rejecting national deals and that there may be a rash of early retirements from international cricket.

“I think there will be a lot of serious discussion in Johannesburg later this month among the parties and between the parties. I can’t overestimate its importance. In the space of a few weeks we have had two leading players withdrawing from components of the international game, Andrew Flintoff from Tests and Ricky Ponting, from Twenty20 internationals,” The Telegraph quoted Morris, as saying.

Flintoff’s move may stimulate more than debate.

England captain Andrew Strauss was mildly surprised by the decision.

“I’m not going to sit in judgement of him because we don’t know the reasons. We need to sit down and speak to him about why he’s done this and we’ll then make an informed decision about what that means to his availability for England,” he said. (ANI)

Jamie Foxx says parents’ rejection still hurts

Washington, September 3 (ANI): Jamie Foxx has confessed he is still to get over the fact that his biological parents abandoned him.

The Oscar winning actor was given up when just seven months old and was raised by his mother’s adoptive parents.

The ‘Ray’ star said he does not understand why he was rejected, especially when he revels in the love from his own daughter, 13-year-old Corinne.

“I still ask myself why they didn’t want me. Maybe they weren’t ready to raise a child,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

“Was it too inconvenient? I lived just up the street from them. I’ll never understand it, because I know how great it feels to have a child love you back,” he added. (ANI)

Italy TV refuses to air “offensive” film featuring Berlusconi

London, Aug 29 (ANI): Italy’s state TV has stopped a trailer of a film featuring Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from being aired, claiming that it is “offensive” to his reputation.

The scandalous leader is present in an ad for Videocracy, which has scantily-clad women and statistics claiming the nation has a low press freedom rating.

But Italy TV has refused to telecast the clips on concerns that it could have a political backlash on the leader.

And the country’s state broadcaster RAI has stated in its rejection letter that the images in the trailer alluded to recent stories about the Italian premier’s private life.

However, filmmaker Erik Gandini insists that his work, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival, is about Italian culture even though it has the top man in it.

“It is a film about the present time. It is a film that talks about how Italy has become after all these years. Of course, Berlusconi is in the story,” the BBC News quoted him as saying.

He added: “In a videocracy, the key to power is the image. In Italy, one man only has kept the domination of the image over three entire decades,”

Also, producers Fandango said that RAI told them that the movie promo showing a smiling Berlusconi came across as a political message aimed against the government.

Berlusconi’s company Mediaset, which runs Italy’s private TV stations, has declined to screen the trailer too.

Mediaset and RAI’s three state television channels make up 90 percent of the available free-to-air broadcasters in Italy. (ANI)

Jennifer Aniston feels “screwed over” by Bradley Cooper

Washington, Aug 21 (ANI): Jennifer Aniston is deeply disappointed that her date with Hangover star Bradley Cooper did not end in a relationship, it has emerged.

It is believed Aniston “honestly feels screwed over” after her date with Cooper.

Fox News quoted a source as telling US Weekly: “She wanted to turn her date with Cooper into something,”

The former Friends star was very upset on seeing Cooper with Renee Zellweger a few weeks later.

Aniston “doesn’t see what Renee has that she doesn’t,” the insider said.

“She just does her thing, has her friends and her life and is cool. She’s really happy and doesn’t need anyone to feel complete,” another source said.

However, Aniston’s pals say she will be okay soon.

A pal said: “She’s used to rejection.”(ANI)