briefly world

A Briton has been penalised for racially abusing a senior Indian-origin policeman and for trying intimidate the latter....

Briton rapped for abusing NRI cop

London: A Briton has been penalised for racially abusing a senior Indian-origin policeman and for trying intimidate the latter. Chief Superintendent Dal Babu,Borough Commander for Harrow,was forced to endure the racial slurs from Michael Dimaio on May 15. Dimaio,24,who was with his friend Michael Healy and a third man,was outside a pub when Babu walked by. He launched a volley of abuse at the senior cop,attempting to intimidate Babu.

Army General among 14 killed in Iraq attacks

BAGHDAD: A series of bombings around Iraq on Tuesday claimed 14 lives,including four policemen,a Baghdad provincial council official and an Iraqi Army general. The four policemen were killed when an explosives-laden car detonated next to a police patrol in the town of Beiji,said Iraqi police officials. A Brig Gen was killed when a sticky bomb attached to his car exploded in Kazimiyah.

No Palestinian state by 2012,says Israel

TEL AVIV: Israeli Foreign Minister said on Tuesday there was no chance a Palestinian state would be established in the next two years. Im an optimistic person,but there is absolutely no chance of reaching a Palestinian state by 2012, the foreign minister,Avigdor Lieberman,said.

Berlusconi attacker found unfit for trial

MILAN: The man who hurled a statuette at Premier Silvio Berlusconi,leaving the Italian leader with a broken nose and two broken teeth,is not fit to stand trial,a judge ruled on Tuesday. Judge Luisa Savoia,however,placed Massimo Tartaglia under observation for one year in a psychiatric hospital where he has been held since February.

Woman must eat every 15 minutes to stay alive

London: Lizzie Velasquez,a 21-year-old woman from Austin in the US,eats every 15 minutes to stay alive. Velasquez,who is now part of a genetic study run by an Indian-origin researcher,Prof Abhimanyu Garg of University of Texas,has a rare condition which prevents her from gaining weight even though she eats up to 60 meals a day,The Daily Telegraph reported. Despite consuming between 5,000 and 8,000 calories daily,she weighs just over four stone. Prof Garg believes Lizzie may have a form of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome which causes accelerated ageing,fat loss from face and body,and tissue degeneration.

Vanessa Paradis scared to marry Johnny Depp

London: French singer-actress Vanessa Paradis has no plans to marry long-term boyfriend,Hollywood star Johnny Depp because the prospect of becoming his wife frightens her. The pair has been dating since 1998 and they have two children together Lily-Rose 11 and Jack 8 Contactmusic reported. But despite constant engagement rumours,Paradis isnt planning to wed the 47-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean star as shes happy with their current relationship status. There is something romantic about marriage and something scary about it. If youre happy without it,why bother? Paradis said.