Palestinians could begin to receive direct emergency aid by the beginning of July, an EU envoy has suggested. Benita Ferrero-Waldner briefed Israel's foreign minister on the "temporary mechanism" to allow to flow of aid. Under terms agreed by the "Quartet" of Middle East peace brokers, the EU will give 100m euros ($126m) but will bypass the Hamas-led Palestinian government. Western aid was frozen after Hamas won elections but refused to renounce violence or recognise Israel. Many Palestinians have suffered severe economic hardship following the move, which prompted aid organisations to warn of a humanitarian crisis. Ms Ferrero-Waldner, the EU's external relations commissioner, was also due to meet Israeli PM Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, but will not meet Hamas officials. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk censor News |
Editor - 09:34:00 06-19-06 |
Torrential rain brings deluge to Houston 10.5 inches by mid-morning; southwest Louisiana also sees flooding |
Torrential rainfall shut down highways in the Houston area Monday and caused widespread flooding in southwest Louisiana, where more than 100 patients had to be evacuated from a nursing home.As much as 10.5 inches of rain was reported in the Houston area by the height of the morning rush hour, said Rusty Cornelius, administrative coordinator for Harris County Emergency Management. Almost 6 inches of rain fell in just 75 minutes near Hobby Airport, the National Weather Service reported.Parts of Interstate 10 and other major arteries were flooded, and numerous school districts called off classes. The Houston Fire Department reported about a dozen high-water rescues of motorists in southeastern Houston.... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13418885/
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Editor - 09:33:00 06-19-06 |
China to stem 'excessive' credit |
China's central bank has said it will strive to stop the "excessive" availability of credit and money. The bank made the announcement following a quarterly monetary policy meeting, but gave no further details. There are fears that unfettered economic growth could lead to growing inflation in the economy. The news comes after the central bank unexpectedly said last week that it would require banks to increase their financial reserves by 0.5%. Increasing credit and, therefore, investment in China could risk destabilising the world's fastest-growing major economy. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5094466.stm
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Editor - 09:29:00 06-19-06 |
Taliban ambush kills 30 in Helmand |
Taliban gunmen killed at least 30 people, many from the same family, during an ambush in a notorious corner of Helmand province, officials and relatives said on Monday.Local parliamentarian Dad Muhammad Khan said the insurgents opened fire on an armed convoy outside Sangin, a volatile riverside town, early on Sunday morning. Mr Khan said 11 people died including his two brothers, both of whom had previously served as district chief.The death toll rose sharply hours later when the Taliban mounted a second ambush on villagers who went to collect the dead and wounded from the first attack, he said. In total at least 30 people were killed, he said, including one of his sons."Everyone was killed. Our whole district is under complete Taliban control. There are Arabs, Chechens, fighters from Zabul [province] and Uruzgan," said Mr Khan, a former provincial intelligence chief who was elected to parliament in last year's historic election.... http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1801201,00.html?gusrc=rss
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Editor - 09:26:00 06-19-06 |
Woman jailed for giving lover HIV |
A woman who recklessly infected her lover with HIV has been jailed for more than two-and-a-half years. Sarah Jane Porter, 43, of Seaton Close, Kennington, south-east London, was sentenced to 32 months after admitting inflicting GBH recklessly. The court heard that, knowing she had the virus, she had unprotected sex with her 31-year-old lover of two years. Three more of her partners were traced in the inquiry, one of the first in the UK involving reckless infection. At the Inner London Crown Court on Monday, Porter was told she will serve half her sentence in prison and half on licence. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/5094708.stm
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Editor - 09:24:00 06-19-06 |
Utah Group Offers Safe Haven for Cat Accused of Ambushing Avon Lady |
An animal sanctuary is offering a safe haven to Lewis the cat, a Fairfield feline whose vicious attacks on neighbors have landed his owner in court. Neighbors say they have been terrorized by Lewis, claiming the gray and white cat has used his long claws and stealth to attack at least a half dozen people and ambush an Avon saleswoman.The Best Friends Animal Society of Kanab, Utah, which claims to be the country's largest no-kill animal sanctuary, offered to take Lewis free of charge."He would be cared for by specialists who know how to handle cats with behavior problems," Russ Mead, Best Friends' general counsel, wrote to Superior Court Judge Patrick Carroll.The judge is expected to decide Lewis' fate on Tuesday, when the cat's owner, Ruth Cisero, returns to court. Cisero, who was charge with second-degree reckless endangerment, earlier refused another judge's offer of special probation because it carried the condition that Lewis be put to death.... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,200054,00.html
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Editor - 09:19:00 06-19-06 |
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