InfoAnda - Spain's Queen Sofia under fire on eve of 70th birthday

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

'Serious concern' over fraud at Afghan elections | 20 September 2010
Russian rap song slams officials for Moscow metro blasts | 10 April 2010
India's Infosys Q1 profit up 17.2 pct, beats forecasts | 11 July 2009

Number of American juveniles in custody falls | 15 July 2011

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Spain's Queen Sofia under fire on eve of 70th birthday

Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Secondary Navigation Top Stories Full Coverage Most Popular Photos Search Search: Spain's Queen Sofia under fire on eve of 70th birthday AFP - Saturday, November 1 MADRID (AFP) - - Spain's Queen Sofia was Friday embroiled in controversy for opposing the word marriage to describe same-sex unions, putting her at odds both with gay groups and government policy just ahead of her 70th birthday. "If these people want to live together and dress it up as marriage, they can be within their rights, or not, according to the laws of their country," she is quoted as saying in a new biography "The Queen Up Close". But she added that this should not be called marriage "because it is not." Spain's Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (FELGTB) immediately condemned the remarks, which conflict with the socially liberal policies of Spain's Socialist government. In 2005, Spain became only the third member of the European Union, after Belgium and the Netherlands, to allow same-sex marriages giving couples the same rights as married heterosexuals. It is "unheard-of for the Royal Palace, which has never spoken out on social issues, to do so now, from the mouth of the queen, with part of the population historically suffering discrimination and with a law that guarantees equality in unions," FELGTB said. The embarrassed royal household released a statement emphasizing that the queen deplores "the inexactitude" of the remarks which were attributed to her and her "deep respect for all people, her closeness to all those who suffer, are hounded or persecuted." But the biography's author, journalist Pilar Urbano, Friday reaffirmed the accuracy of the remarks, and defended the queen's right to express her opinions on all subjects. She said the queen had "nothing to do" with Friday's royal statement. FELGTB said it is "satisfied" by the royal clarification. But the controversy over her opinions and the queen's role in a constitutional monarchy was far from over. The affair comes at a bad time for the Greek-born queen and her husband, King Juan Carlos, as the two are visiting Latin America this week and as tributes to Sofia are planned for her 70th birthday on Sunday, when the biography is to go on sale. The conservative opposition Popular Party, which has similar views to the queen's on the issue, said Friday that members of the royal family must maintain "neutrality." "I think that the (royal) institution should not speak. The king and queen are like the flag, which plays a role in officials acts without making statements," said the party's spokesman, Esteban Gonzales Pons. "Fortunately, Spain is no longer a kingdom as before," said a deputy from the lefist IU coalition. He noted that it was parliament, and not the queen, to decide if a same-sex union could be described as marriage. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega side-stepped the issue at her weekly press briefing Friday, saying only that the queen is "loved and respected" and fulfils her role "impeccably." In the book, the queen is also quoted as saying she opposes abortion and the possible legalisation of euthanasia, but said said welcomes the possible election of an African-American, Barack Obama, as president of the United States. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (1 vote) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Most Popular – Top Stories Viewed Japan joins wave of rate cuts as recession fears grow McCain, Obama step up battleground blitz Australian F1 race posts record financial loss BBC chief quits, star presenter suspended over offensive prank When men see red, they see hot: study View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology

Other News on Friday, 31 October 2008
Settlers clash with police, Palestinians in Hebron
At least 32 militants killed in Pakistan missile strikes: officials
Iraq, Iran to swap bodies from war
Twelve militants killed in second Pakistan missile strike: officials
Fears for Pakistan quake children as disease spreads
Lebanon says 12 Israeli jets fly over country
Israel's Olmert to push for more Syria talks
Libya completes payments for US terror victims
Economic woes bring early holidays for Mexicans in US
Bones found near Fossett's plane: report
Google, Yahoo may walk away from ad deal: WSJ
DRCongo crisis summit agreed as fears grow for civilians
Intel warns economic crisis may hurt business
Rwanda, DRCongo leaders agree to summit: EU official
Computer makers recall 100,000 Sony batteries
Big sky
Japan's NTT DoCoMo aims to offer custom mobile phone videos
McCain, Obama step up battleground blitz
Nintendo expects strong launch for DSi console: president
War films garner top honours at Rome film festival
Falling retail sales underscore recession fears
UN panel backs call for standards in arms trade
Spain's Queen Sofia under fire on eve of 70th birthday
West Africa rebels threaten to kill French oilmen 'one by one'
India's Tata Motors Q2 net profit plunges 34 pct
Nestle invests further in China
Japan's ANA cuts profit forecasts, reports down in H1 profits
Tata Motors quarterly profit falls 34 percent
Nissan axes jobs as profits slump
Nippon Mining slashes profit f'cast on oil slide
HK stock index slides 2.5 pct after recent gains
Hong Kong investors protest against Citic Pacific
ANA quarterly profit down 15 percent
Pakistan's Zardari to visit Saudi Arabia for help
Gunmen threaten to kill French hostages in Cameroon | International |
French, British ministers in Congo on peace drive | International |
Al Qaeda militant said killed in U.S. Pakistan strike | International |
Iraq says to show U.S. troops pact to neighbors | International |
Vietnam issues new flood alert, death toll 20 | International |
Sudan says kidnapped Chinese found, one dead | International |
Libya paid $1.5 billion to fund for terrorism victims | International |
Japan defense minister sacks general over WW2 views | International |
Zimbabweans despair as politicians battle it out | International |
Sata keeps lead in Zambia's presidential election | International |
Colombia's Uribe hits snag in re-election effort | International |
Gadgets still a centerpiece of holiday shopping | Technology |
MTV and Activision face off in battle of the brands | Technology |
Google may scrap Yahoo deal: sources | Technology |
Green gadgets aim to woo eco-aware shoppers | Technology |
Nintendo sees overseas DSi launch by next summer | Technology |
Mformation sues RIM for patent infringement | Technology |
Sony recalls PC batteries | Technology |
Split-screen settlement for dueling TV viewers | Technology |
IBM sues to block executive from moving to Apple | Technology |
Foo Fighters rock for Blackberry in L.A | Technology |
Mackenzie Phillips pleads guilty to drug charge | Entertainment |
Film on horrors of Bosnian war wins Rome festival | Entertainment |
Aguilera reinvents old hits on new collection | Entertainment |
Law and Order gripped by murder on Wall Street | Entertainment |
Author, actor, provocateur Studs Terkel dies at 96 | Entertainment |
MTV and Activision face off in battle of the brands | Entertainment |
Nielsen finds strong TV-Internet usage overlap | Entertainment |
Convicted rapper T.I. gets to vote despite the rap | Entertainment |
Nielsen finds strong TV-Internet usage overlap | Entertainment |
Most British girls prefer Joe Bland to James Bond | Entertainment |
U.S. says troops kill 25 militants in Afghanistan | International |
Gates: Afghan conflict must not be seen as 'America's war'
Virgin Atlantic sacks 13 staff after Facebook criticism
Pakistan quake relief efforts focus on bitter winter | International |
Millions remember Philippine dead
US deaths in Iraq plunge to wartime low in October
Austrian pair freed by Al-Qaeda ready to go home
Aftershock rattles Pakistan as disease spreads among survivors
Obama says top priority is unclogging capitalism
Rochette leads Skate Canada women on home ice
Twelve militants killed in second Pakistan missile strike: officials
Terminate 'skinny' Obama's White House bid: Schwarzenegger
UN peacekeepers under siege in DR Congo: Uruguay
Washington Post profits plummet
Obama says top priority is unclogging capitalism
Nine die in Tibet snowstorms: Chinese state media
Gates: Afghan conflict must not be seen as 'America's war'
Pakistan c.bank to buy T-bills in 2-day reverse-repo
Consumers curb spending, deepening recession fears
Cathay Pacific to sell 5 planes
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 554
Panasonic considering acquiring Sanyo: reports
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,189
New Zealand government offers wholesale guarantees
Poll: Latin America indifferent over US election
New Zealand to offer wholesale funding guarantee
Melamine already in global food chain: experts
British SAS chief in Afghanistan quits in equipment row: report
Indian police question Muslims for Assam bombings | International |
Chinese President calls for domestic demand boost: state media
Chinese President calls for domestic demand boost: state media
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01