Watercooler Stories

, May 17 (UPI) -- Bail granted Montreal man in Jewish arson

MONTREAL, May 17 (UPI) -- One of three people charged with arson in a fire a Jewish school in Montreal was freed on bail Monday, while his mother and another man remained in custody.

Simon Zogheib, who was granted bail Monday, and Sleiman Elmerhebi, both 18, are charged with arson and conspiracy.

The freed 18-year-old's mother, Rouba, is charged with being an accessory after the fact.

A bond hearing for Sleiman and Rouba Zogheib, will be held Wednesday.

The freed teenager's bail conditions include posting $20,000 cash, surrendering his passport, an overnight curfew and staying away from the United Talmud Torah School.

The library at the school was set on fire last month.

Transsexuals may compete in Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, May 17 (UPI) -- Transsexual athletes will be allowed to compete in the Summer Games in Athens this year, the International Olympic Committee announced Monday.

The decision came from the IOC Executive Board, which approved a recommendation made several months ago by the IOC Medical Commission.

An IOC statement said the decision applies in both male-to-female and female-to-male cases.

A sex change must be legally recognized for an athlete to compete, the IOC said.

It also must be determined that "hormonal therapy appropriate for the assigned sex has been administered in a verifiable manner and for a sufficient length of time to minimize gender-related advantages in sport competitions," the statement said.

"It is understood that a confidential case-by-case evaluation will occur," it said.

U.S. urges Israel to act with restraint

WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- The United States said Monday it has sought additional information from Israel about its decision to demolish hundreds of Palestinian homes.

"We are discussing this issue with the government of Israel, seeking additional information ... of what it is doing and what its plans are with regard to the demolition of homes in Rafah," said State Department's Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli.

Israeli forces have surrounded the Rafah refugee camp, which borders Egypt, and have threatened to carry out mass demolition.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei has pleaded for U.S. intervention to prevent the Israeli action, but has so far received no assurance.

The European Union, however, has called on Israel to cancel the demolition.

The Israeli Army said it planned first to hit Palestinian fighters and then raze hundreds of houses and possibly dig a moat to block tunnels used by Palestinian militants to smuggle arms from Egypt into Israel.

"While recognizing that the security situation on the border remains difficult," Ereli said, the United States urges "Israel (to) act with restraint."

U.S. says it trusts Greek Olympic security

WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- The United States said Monday it has full confidence in Greece's ability to hold "safe and secure" Olympic games this summer.

The August games will be the first since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the subsequent U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the past, U.S. and European officials have expressed concerns that terrorists might target Olympic participants and spectators.

But a U.S. State Department official told a Monday briefing in Washington, "The Greeks have committed to hosting a safe and secure Olympics, and we have every confidence that they will do that."

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis will be in Washington Wednesday and is expected to discuss the issue with President George W. Bush and other senior officials.

U.S. not to give up on human rights

WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- The United States released its second annual human rights report Monday after a delay most likely caused by the Iraqi prisoner scandal.

The State Department's top human rights official Lorne Craner said the Iraqi prisoner scandal should not prevent the United States from raising human rights issues with other governments because ignoring violations would only hurt the victims.

"Who would be better off if we self-consciously turned inward? ... We want to punch through the cloud (of the scandal) and say we're not going to give up on democracy and human rights promotion," he said.

The report highlights the U.S. government's efforts to promote democracy and human rights around the world. It documents human rights abuses in 101 nations, including close U.S. allies like Israel.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told a briefing in Washington that the report plays a crucial role in deciding how the United States "engages in diplomacy, policy and hands-on projects to help fix what is wrong."

To promote human rights around the globe, the U.S. administration not only "brings pressure" on other nations, but also addresses "the structural flaws that can lead to such violations in the first place," he said.