Two a penny

.A French appeals court has over-ruled a decision to annul the marriage of a couple because the bride had lied about being a virgin.
The Muslim couple are now legally married again even though both parties said they accepted the original court decision to annul the marriage.
That judgement had outraged feminists across France, who said it amounted to a fatwa against women’s liberties.
Under the French civil code, a marriage can be annulled if a spouse has lied about a quote “essential quality” of the relationship.
The husband’s lawyer argued that the wife had breached the wedding contract and tricked her husband into marriage.

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Air NZ flight in emergency landing

Manawatu Standard Monday, 17 November 2008

JONATHAN CAMERON/Manawatu Standard
DISRUPTION: An Air New Zealand flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Palmerston North airport after an engine failed 10 minutes into a flight.

An Air New Zealand flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Palmerston North airport after an engine failed 10 minutes into a flight.
The Q300 plane, which had33 passengers onboard, was flying from Napier to Wellington when one of the propeller engines malfunctioned just before midday.
Passenger Mike Rodgers, of Gore, heard a bang when the engine shut down and saw oil seeping from the propeller.
The pilot shut the engine down and flew to Palmerston North with a single engine.
Fire fighters and St John ambulance crews were called to the airport but were not needed.
No passengers were injured but a few were shaken by the experience, he said.
Palmerston North airport operations manager Roy Bodell said the passengers had alternative travel arrangements made by Air New Zealand.

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France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy urged Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev Friday not to deploy missiles on Europe’s border, promising to support his call for a new continental security treaty.

Moscow has reacted with fury to US plans to expand a missile defence system into Eastern Europe, seeing it as an attempt to gain the strategic upper hand, and has announced a plan to respond with new weapons of its own.

Medvedev, already at odds with the West over August’s war in Georgia, has threatened to deploy medium-range Iskander missiles in Russia’s Kaliningrad region that could strike targets across northern and eastern Europe.

I told President Medvedev how much we are concerned about his declarations, and how there should be no deployment in any enclave as long as we have not discussed the new geopolitical conditions of pan-European security, he said.

Speaking after an EU-Russia summit in Nice, Sarkozy said he had tried to assuage Russian anger by giving his backing to Medvedev’s desire to renegotiate the security agreements governing Europe since the end of the Cold War.

I propose that in mid-2009 we meet in a framework, which could be the OSCE, to lay the foundations of what could be Europe’s future security, he said, urging Moscow to refrain from unilateral measures.

Sarkozy said he would bring up the missile question at a NATO summit in April and called for a security summit with Russia under the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

It would not be a conclusive summit, but we could lay the foundations of what could be an accord between us, Sarkozy said.

Medvedev welcomed the idea of security talks, but was far from mollified.

Until then we should not talk about missile deployments which lead to nothing for security, which complicate things and rather make things go backwards, he said, standing alongside Medvedev.

Russia’s move was a response to various nations in Europe who, without consulting anyone, agreed to deploy new weapons on their soil, he said. Rather than standing down his missile threat, he insisted that it had come in response to unilateral decisions by US allies in Europe.

Washington insists its system is a defensive project designed to intercept missiles fired by so-called rogue states — such as Iran — while Moscow regards it as an attempt to undermine its strategic deterrent. Poland and the Czech Republic have agreed to host elements of the US missile shield.

Friday’s summit, which included talks on Europe and Russia’s plans to deal with the global economic crisis, also underlined tensions over the situation in Georgia, where Russian troops are deployed in two breakaway regions. .

I had an opportunity to say to Mr Medvedev that there needs to be progress on the retreat of Russian forces in two particular parts of Ossetia, I’m thinking of Akhalgori and Perevi, outside South Ossetia, he said.

But the French leader also called on Medvedev to complete the pull-out from a village in a district on the outskirts of the South Ossetia, which Russia regards as independent and Georgia as illegally occupied territory.

Under the terms of a ceasefire brokered by Sarkozy in August, Russian forces were supposed to return to their previous positions.

Medvedev reiterated Moscow’s support for the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, a second Russian-occupied Georgian region.

European Union – missile shield – Russia
. Tbilisi insists that this has not happened and Europe has called for further withdrawals

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Rwanda is poised to issue indictments and arrest warrants against 23 French military and political officials over their suspected role in the country’s 1994 genocide, judicial sources said Tuesday.

Indictments against France’s late president Francois Mitterrand and former prime minister Dominique de Villepin among others would mark a new step in the judicial escalation between the two countries.

The threat of warrants against top French officials — several of whom are still active — came as hundreds demonstrated in Kigali against the arrest by Germany, acting on a French warrant, of a top aide to the Rwandan president.

Rwandan prosecutors had spent the past three months examining a 500-page report drafted by a special commission tasked with probing France’s role in the genocide and released on August 5 by the justice ministry.

The indictments are being finalised, the arrest warrants can be issued any time from now, a senior Rwandan justice official told on condition of anonymity.

Dominique de Villepin, who was then Juppe’s top aide and later became prime minister, was also among those listed in the Rwandan report.

It names former French prime minister Edouard Balladur, former foreign minister Alain Juppe and then-president Francois Mitterrand, who died in 1996, among 13 French politicians accused of playing a role in the massacres.

It also names 20 military officials, involved notably in Operation Turquoise, a 1994 French military mission to Rwanda which Kigali charges was used to assist Hutu genocide perpetrators.

The 1994 genocide in the central African nation left some 800,000 people dead — mainly minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus — according to the United Nations.

The justice official speaking to Tuesday did not specify who were the 23 officials facing indictment.

France, which has admitted to making mistakes in Rwanda but denied any direct responsibility for the massacres, had called the report unacceptable.

The report alleges that France was aware of preparations for the genocide, contributed to planning and actively took part in the massacres.

On Monday, several thousands demonstrators marched to the German embassy in Kigali and the offices of the Deutsche Welle, Germany’s national broadcaster.

The arrest in Frankfurt on Sunday of Rose Kabuye, Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s chief of protocol, had sparked the ire of the Rwanda’s authorities, who called for a series of protests.

On Tuesday, around a thousand youths demonstrated in front of the French cultural centre in Kigali, which has been closed since Rwanda broke diplomatic ties with France in November 2006.

On Tuesday, around a thousand youths demonstrated in front of the French cultural centre in Kigali, which has been closed since Rwanda broke diplomatic ties with France in November 2006.

The assassination of the Hutu president is widely seen as the spark that set the divided country ablaze and triggered the genocide.

French anti-terrorism judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere issued warrants in 2006 against nine members of Kagame’s entourage suspected of having a hand in the attack that brought down then Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane in 1994.

Felicien Kabuga, one of the most wanted men in Africa, is accused of being one of the genocide’s main financiers.

Kagame’s Tutsi regime has retorted that France could be largely blamed for the massacres and complained that Paris and other European capitals were seeking to prosecute the victims rather than the perpetrators.

France – genocide – Rwanda
. After hiding in Kenya for years, he is thought to have been moving between several European countries in recent years

.Final preparations are taking place in Europe for commemorations to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I. .
Ms Bryce met Mr Sarkozy in Paris a short while ago.
There will also be ceremonies in Paris, London and many small communities throughout Europe including Villiers Brettoneux at the Australian memorial in northern France.
She will be in Verdun for the main service along with leaders from many other countries.
Meanwhile, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Alan Griffin will mark Remembrance Day by reading the ode at Ypres in Belgium.
Several thousand people are expected at the war cemetery for the anniversary of the end of the Great War.
“It was a place where there were a number of extremely bloody battles where Australians lost many lives,” he said.”

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“It was also the scene of one of the signature battles of World War I, Passchendaele, which really encapsulated the mud and the horror of what occurred during that war

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The shape of French politics is set for a shake-up. Supporters of the main opposition party, the Socialist Party, are set to vote on lists of candidates who’ll make up their new leadership. The party secretary will then be chosen via a direct election on November 20.

Over 3,000 active party members will choose one of six teams to attend the congress in Reims from November 14-16.

Officially, party members will decide between different lists of candidates, not individual candidates.

The Socialist Party controls most regional governments in France and has strong grass-roots support, but has been criticised at national level as not being a formidable adversary to President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The main contenders include the Mayor of Paris, Bertand Delanoe. But all eyes are on the big hitters on each list – the person who could become the Socialsts’ new leader.

Then there’s Segolene Royal, the former PS presidential candidate who lost to Nicolas Sarkozy last year. He’s the favourite for the leadership, as he attracts considerable public support.

Also in the running is Martine Aubry, the woman behind France’s famous 35-hour working week. She’s one of the best known figures in the Socialist Party. .

Despite strong grassroots support throughout France, the Socialists don’t pack much political punch at national level.

France – politics – socialism
. If the Socialists wish to continue as France’s main opposition group, the new leader needs to find a voice for the party, and be a realistic presidential contender in 2012

.Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has congratulated US President-elect Barack Obama on his election win and paid tribute to Republican candidate John McCain.
Mr Rudd says he will soon telephone Mr Obama.
“Australia looks forward to working in the closest possible way, in the closest possible partnership with an Obama administration, acting together to deal with the great common challenges we face as democracies,” he said.
“The world at present is in part fearful for its future.
“He has delivered to the world and to his country a very good message of hope,” he said.”
Federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has also warmly congratulated the new US leader and says he looks forward to working with him after his inauguration. This is I believe a great day for the American democracy and let us celebrate this day with our friends in America.
Mr Turnbull says the victory proves that America is able to rise above issues about diversity to elect its first black president.
“What it shows you is that a country that has witnessed terrible racism, terrible intolerance, terrible friction can nonetheless rise above that and choose somebody based not on the colour of their skin but on the content of their character.
“Our diversity is our strength and that is the great wonder about Barack Obama’s election,” he said.”
“Senator Obama will be taking office at a critical juncture.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark says her Government “very much looks forward to working with the new Obama administration.
“We look forward to working closely with President-elect Obama and his team to address these challenges. There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis and global warming,” she said.”
– England and France –
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown congratulated the new US leader, hailing his “energising politics.”
– England and France –
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown congratulated the new US leader, hailing his “energising politics. his progressive values and his vision for the future”..
“The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is vital to our prosperity and security.
“I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the presidency of the United States,” he said in a statement…”
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: “With the world in turmoil and doubt, the American people, faithful to the values that have always defined America’s identity, have expressed with force their faith in progress and the future. Barack Obama ran an inspirational campaign, energising politics with his progressive values and his vision for the future. France and Europe .
“At a time when we must face huge challenges together, your election has raised enormous hope in France, in Europe and beyond… will find a new energy to work with America to persevere peace and world prosperity.”
– Middle East –
Israeli-US relations face “a bright future,” Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Ygal Palmor said in reaction to President-elect Obama’s election to the White House.
“Israelis congratulate the two great friends of Israel, John McCain for his great campaign, Barack Obama for his historic victory,” he said.
“We are certain the Israeli-American friendship faces a bright future.”
A statement from the Pakistani embassy in Washington said: “President [Asif Ali] Zardari expressed the hope that Pakistan-US relations will be enhanced under the new American leadership that received a popular mandate in [the] poll.”
– China –
China’s President Hu Jintao congratulated President-elect Obama on his victory, saying he hoped bilateral ties could be raised to a new level, the foreign ministry said.
“In a new historical era, I look forward to… taking our bilateral relationship of constructive cooperation to a new level,” Mr Hu said in a written message, according to a statement on the foreign ministry’s website.
– Canada –
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: “I look forward to meeting with the President-elect so that we can continue to strengthen the special bond that exists between Canada and the United States.
“In the weeks and months ahead Canadian officials and diplomats will be working closely with members of President-elect Obama’s transition team. Ministers in our government look forward to building a strong working relationship with their counterparts in a new Obama cabinet.”
– Japan –
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso also congratulated him on his victory, pledging to work with the new leader to strengthen relations.
“I wish to strive to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance and solve various problems in the international community as a whole in cooperation with the next President Obama,” Mr Aso said in a statement, expressing his “sincere congratulations.”
– Afghanistan –
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the election took the world into a “new era.”
“The election of Senator Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States has taken the American people and the rest of the world with them into a new era – an era where race, colour and ethnicity, I hope, will also disappear… in politics in the rest of the world,” he said.
– Philippines –
The Philippines has also sent their best wishes.
“We wish to express our profound congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama for his historical and stellar win as the 44th President of the United States,” President Gloria Arroyo’s spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said in a statement. .
“America has always been the bastion of democracy and the world has always looked to the USA for direction. Obama has promised change and the American people and the world await these changes,” she added.
“We look forward to greater cooperation between the USA and the Philippines, the Democrats have always been good allies,” she added.
– Indonesia –
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono welcomed Mr Obama’s election, saying he hoped the change in leadership would help solve the global economic crisis.
“I want to congratulate Senator Obama for his success in being elected as US President. I also want to congratulate US citizens,” he said in a speech broadcast on national radio.
“Indonesia hopes that the US will continue to play a role in bringing peace and security in the world and a fair global economy.
“In particular, Indonesia hopes the US can take concrete measures to settle the global economic crisis and the financial crisis in the United States.”
– AFP/ABC

.Australian man Michael Bates will live the dream of every slightly tipsy, off-key singer, after being crowned world karaoke singing champion in Finland today.
Bates took out the title ahead of Britain’s Anthony Garcia in Lahti, about 100 kilometres north of Helsinki. .
This year dozens of competitors from almost 30 countries, including Japan, China, Germany and Ghana participated in the championships.
France’s Juliet Gonnet won the women’s competition, beating Ireland’s Elaine O’Halloran.
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.Leaders from across Asia and Europe have called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to play a critical role in helping countries seriously affected by the global financial crisis. .
They called on the international Monetary Fund to play a critical role in helping countries in financial difficulties.
In a statement, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) leaders said they would undertake effective and comprehensive reform of the international monetary and financial systems.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, says Asian countries will plan an important part in Washington.
The two-day meeting is not likely to issue concrete reform proposals, but it will lay some of the groundwork for a summit of world leaders which will meet to discuss the financial crisis in Washington next month.
“Europe wants with them, and with Japan, to try to define a common position on measures needed to end this unprecedented and serious financial crisis.
“Everyone knows that at the forthcoming summit in Washington China, India, South Korea and Indonesia will all play a key role,” he said.”
– BBC

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Euro Disney said on Tuesday it had a record number of visits to its French parks this year and a 9.0-percent jump in sales, reflecting its appeal to cash-strapped Europeans as an affordable attraction in a financial crisis.

Euro Disney, which manages Disneyland Paris, reported a jump of 800,000 visitors in its fiscal year that ended in September to a record 15.

The company said its theme parks east of Paris had slashed an annual net loss to 2.3 million.7 billion dollars) from 38.8 million euros (3.4 million in the 2006-2007 fiscal year.0 percent to 1.

Sales rose 9.

In a time of crisis, said company chief executive Philippe Gas, Disneyland Paris is a good alternative to long-distance trips. ..

It’s a short-term destination easily accessible for Europeans …

Occupancy rates at hotels connected to the parks, located in Marne-la-Vallee, rose to 90. But we remain vigilant, since everything depends on the scope of the crisis and we are not immune.3 percent in the previous fiscal period.9 percent from 89.0 percent to 211. Average spending per room rose 7.

Gas said in the coming quarter, October to December, activity should remain stable or show a slight increase, despite signs that the British and Spanish markets had weakened over the summer.4 euros.

Another promising market is Poland, Gas said.

He added that the Disneyland Paris was becoming of increased interest to visitors from Russia and the Middle East, areas that are less affected by a decline in purchasing power.

The share was showing a loss on Tuesday of 2.

The share was showing a loss on Tuesday of 2.03 percent at 5.78 euros on a generally stronger Paris exchange.