South, North Korea militaries to meet on train tests
By DPA
Seoul : High-level military officers from South and North Korea Friday agreed to hold talks next week to guarantee the safe passage of trains across the heavily-fortified border, said the defence ministry in Seoul.
To be held May 8-10 at the truce village of Panmunjom in the middle of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), the meeting will be the first general-level talks in nearly a year between military officers.
Liverpool’s oldest Indian restaurant up for sale
By IANS
London : Liverpool's oldest Indian restaurant in the city centre is closing and has been put up for sale for the price of nearly 1.3 million pounds.
The restaurant, known as Asha, first brought curry to Bold Street in 1964. Kolkata-born Dipak Choudhury, who owns the restaurant, and his wife Chandana live above the premises, but their children are pursuing careers as barristers and accountants, leaving him with no choice but to offer his beloved restaurant for sale.
British candidate flayed for targeting Muslim voters
By IANS
London : A letter-leaflet in English and Gujarati to voters by a Muslim candidate in Gloucester stirred up a controversy during the elections to local bodies in England, Scotland and Wales.
Shabbir Ahmed Bham, a Liberal Democrat leader, has come under fire for distributing leaflets throughout his prospective ward in the elections Thursday. The leaflet - in letter-like form - is printed in both English and Gujarati and begins by saying, "Dear Muslim brothers and sisters in the community".
Kolkata-born doctor who delivered Diana’s sons dead
London : Kolkata-born George Pinker, a surgeon-gynaecologist in Britain who delivered Princess Diana's two sons and attended at the birth of nine royal children, has died at the age of 82.
He is described as a kindly, discreet, charming and courteous obstetrician who deserved his appointment as surgeon-gynaecologist to the Queen, a post he held from 1973 to 1990, according to his obituary in The Guardian.
Climate talks reach consensus in Bangkok
By DPA
Bangkok : Climate experts and state representatives from 105 countries met Friday to formally adopt a 24-page report on means of mitigating the worse impacts of global warming after five days of heated debate to reaching a consensus on the document.
"The discussions ended at 3:30 a.m. Friday," said Carloa Traverso Saibante, information officer for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Once the IPCC report is formally adopted, it will be released to the public.
UK’s Labour Party braced for losses in local elections
By DPA
London : Britain's ruling Labour Party was braced Friday for heavy losses in local elections, which are the last of the Tony Blair era.
As counting began after polls closed late Thursday in large parts of England, Wales and Scotland, commentators said that Labour's national share of the vote could drop below 25 percent, with the opposition Conservatives and Liberal Democrats making gains.
Although reliable results will not be known until Friday, it is expected that the outcome will have a direct impact on national politics, given that Blair is shortly expected to step down.
Kamal Nath vows Oxford audience with focus on ‘aam admi’
By Prasun Sonwalkar
IANS
Oxford : Basking in the glory of Indian entrepreneurs striking mega deals to take over British businesses, Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath Thursday said India was committed to a strategy of calibrated economic reforms that did not lose sight of the complexities of its society.
Delivering a lecture at the University College here as part of its Global Trade Governance Project, Kamal Nath said that India's economic achievements had prompted many to declare that India could no longer be seen as a developing country.
Romania to adopt timetable of military withdrawal with US
By Xinhua
Bucharest : The withdrawal of Romanian troops from Iraq will be coordinated with American forces and not affect the international coalition, Romanian Defence Minister Teodor Melescanu said on Thursday.
"We wish to adopt a timetable together with the USA, without affecting the normal deployment in the field," Melescanu said in response to the US request for Romanian soldiers to remain in Iraq.
Local elections in Britain seen as ‘judgement’ on Blair
By DPA
London : Nearly 40 million voters went to the polls in local elections in Britain Thursday which are seen as a final judgement of the decade in power of Prime Minister Tony Blair before he steps down.
Britons in large parts of England, Scotland and Wales cast their vote to elect 312 town and city councils, as well as choose the representatives for regional parliaments in Scotland and Wales.
The two regions, Scotland and Wales, gained greater independence from the government in London through devolution in 1998.
New German attempt to break nuclear impasse on Iran
By DPA
Berlin : In an attempt to break the impasse over Iran's nuclear programme, the German government has suggested setting up a "special area" where the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can carry out uranium enrichment for newcomers to the nuclear club.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has put the proposal, which is not new to the UN's nuclear supervisory body as meetings begin in Vienna to prepare the ground for a review of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Teaching of Indian languages gets a boost in Singapore
By DPA
Singapore : Teaching of five Indian languages, other than Tamil, will receive a $1.5 million (nearly US$10 million) boost next year from the government of Singapore.
Community groups organised by the Hindi Society have been running weekend classes in five non-Tamil languages in 20 schools. Mainstream schools do not offer the classes.
In recognition of the effort, languages such as Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu will benefit. The funding will go toward teacher training and development of teaching materials, the society told The Straits Times.
Top EU official lauds Gayoom for reforms in Maldives
By IANS
Male : As Maldives braces for multi-party elections next year, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has lauded President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom for taking "significant steps" towards establishing a "liberal and democratic system" in the Indian Ocean island nation.
In a letter to Gayoom, Barroso welcomed political developments in the Maldives during 2006 and highlighted the strong bilateral relationship that exists between the European Union and the Maldives, said a press statement by the Maldives government.
Chelsea club vice president killed in helicopter crash
By DPA
London : Phillip Carter, an honorary vice president of English Premiership club Chelsea, has died along with three others in a helicopter crash.
Carter, a millionaire businessman and one of eight honorary vice presidents of the club, his 17-year-old son Andrew and pilot Stephen Holdich were all confirmed dead Wednesday, having attended the Champions League semi-final match with Liverpool.
A.Q. Khan’s network is still active, claims new report
By IANS
London : The clandestine network trading in nuclear material and technology set up by Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan is still very much in business and actively involved in proliferation, according to a report in The Independent.
Quoting a new report by the influential think-tank International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), the newspaper said only a part of Khan's worldwide organisation had been uncovered and some of the members prosecuted.
Exiled scribes say Bhutan poll farcical without free press
By IANS
Kathmandu : While World Press Freedom Day is being celebrated Thursday, Bhutan's exiled journalists say the polls promised by the Druk government in 2008 won't be free and fair till there is an independent media.
"The media sector in Bhutan has been under the absolute regime's control since years," said the Bhutan Chapter of Third World Media Network, a network of exiled journalists working from Nepal, India and other countries.
UK award for anti-trafficking activist Ruchira Gupta
By IANS
London/Kolkata : Ruchira Gupta, founder-director of Apne Aap Women Worldwide, a Kolkata-based organisation working against sex trafficking, has bagged a British award for her efforts.
The maiden Abolitionist Award was presented to Gupta Tuesday at the British House of Lords to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade in the British empire.
Dead Indian worker’s family want justice
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Family members of the Indian migrant worker who died last week after being allegedly tortured by his employer are planning to send someone from the family when the court proceedings begin.
R. Ganesh from Tamil Nadu died after being allegedly beaten and starved for eight months by his Malaysian employer. He was eventually dumped in a jungle, about 400 km from the Malaysian capital. Villagers discovered him and took him to hospital where he died last Friday.
ASEAN to liberalize civil aviation in 2008
By Xinhua
Jakarta : ASEAN will liberalize civil aviation among the 10 member countries, but the ruling to be imposed in 2008 applies only in their respective capitals, an Indonesian official has said.
"With the liberalization, airliners from member countries can carry as many passengers as they can," director of civil aviation Tri Sunoko was quoted as saying Thursday by leading news website Detikcom.
Prince Harry’s deployment in Iraq to be delayed
By Xinhua
London : Prince Harry's deployment in Iraq will be postponed until the rest of his unit are familiar with their new surroundings, British tabloid newspaper The Sun reported.
Harry will fly to the war-torn country later than the other soldiers in his unit, The Sun quoted an unidentified army source as saying.
If the soldiers can acclimatize themselves to their surroundings before Harry arrives, they will be far sharper to the dangers of the inevitable first attack, the source told the paper.
Prince Harry’s deployment in Iraq to be delayed
By Xinhua
London : Prince Harry's deployment in Iraq will be postponed until the rest of his unit are familiar with their new surroundings, British tabloid newspaper The Sun reported.
Harry will fly to the war-torn country later than the other soldiers in his unit, The Sun quoted an unidentified army source as saying.
If the soldiers can acclimatize themselves to their surroundings before Harry arrives, they will be far sharper to the dangers of the inevitable first attack, the source told the paper.
Teaching of Indian languages gets a boost in Singapore
By DPA
Singapore : The teaching of Indian languages, other than Tamil, will receive a $1.5 million (US$9.8 million) boost next year from the government.
Community groups organised by the Hindi Society have been running weekend classes in five non-Tamil languages in 20 schools. Mainstream schools do not offer the classes.
In recognition of the effort, languages such as Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu will benefit. The funding will go toward teacher training and development of teaching materials, the society told The Straits Times.
Three Indian Americans bag Truman scholarship
By IANS
New York : Three Indian Americans are among the 65 students selected from across the US for this year's $30,000 Truman scholarship.
Indra Narayan Sen of Georgetown University, North Carolina, Monica Mukerjee of Michigan State University, Michigan, and Malki Singh of George Mason University, Virginia, are among the 65 scholars who were selected from 585 candidates nominated by 280 US colleges and universities.
The scholars will be given their awards in a special ceremony at the Truman Library in Independence City, Missouri, May 20.
As veto stays, Bush seeks compromise on Iraq funding
By Xinhua
Washington : US President George W. Bush and Congressional leaders met at the White House to find common ground for a new bill over war funding in Iraq that also includes a timeframe for withdrawing US troops.
"I'm confident that we can reach agreement on a new spending bill," Bush said Wednesday.
He said that Tuesday, when he vetoed the bill, "was a day that highlighted differences" and Wednesday was "a day where we can work together to find common ground".
Describing the meeting as "very positive," Democrats, however, did not concede from their position on the war.
US House fails to override Bush’s veto
By Xinhua
Washington : The US House of Representatives has failed to override President George W. Bush's veto of a war spending bill setting a deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
The vote fell 62 votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority in the 435-seat House to override the veto, Bush's second during his presidency.
A total of 220 Democrats and two Republicans voted to override the veto, while 196 Republicans and seven Democrats voted to sustain the veto.
Scotland’s ‘granite city’ imports stone from India
By Prasun Sonwalkar
IANS
Aberdeen (Scotland) : This heritage town has been synonymous with granite for over two centuries. But winds of economic change in recent years have forced it to import granite from India to feed the booming local construction industry.
The durable stone hewn from the once great quarries at Rublislaw, Kemnay, Alford, Dunecht, Peterhead and numerous other locations was used by skilled craftsmen and architects to shape the form and character of the city over a period of two centuries.
Iraq success possible without end to violence: Bush
By DPA
Washington : Pressed by Congress to bring troops home from Iraq, US President George W. Bush defined success as reducing - not stopping - the country's deadly sectarian violence.
"There are parts of our own country that have got a certain level of violence to it," he told a Washington audience Wednesday. "But success is a level of violence where the people (in Iraq) feel comfortable about living their daily lives."
Canadian Sikh’s turban sparks online campaign
By IANS
Toronto : An incident where a Canadian Sikh was allegedly denied entry into an upscale restaurant has grown into an international campaign after details were posted on a popular social networking portal.
Gaurav Singh, an employee of a multinational bank, claims that after waiting in line for an hour to get into the Marlowe Restaurant and Wine Bar in Ontario Saturday to celebrate a friend's birthday, he was told by the doorman and the manager that he would not be allowed in because of the establishment's no-headgear policy.
Not a Disney princess – Pocahontas and Jamestown colony
By DPA
Jamestown (Virginia) : They loom large in American imagination - the explorer testing a new continent and the daughter of an Indian chief whom he later said had saved his life.
The real Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, chief of the tribes, the first permanent English settlement in America encountered it is difficult to separate from the myth perpetuated everywhere from a painting in the halls of the US Congress to a Disney feature film.
War graves in Hong Kong left riddled with spelling errors
By DPA
Hong Kong : Colonial-era war graves in Hong Kong have been left riddled with schoolboy spelling errors, including China spelt Cihna and Hong Kong spelt Honc Honc, after a renovation project, a news report said.
The tombstones in the Hong Kong Cemetery for 40 British sailors killed during the 19th century opium wars have been renovated to counter the effects of 150 years of weathering, the South China Morning Post reported.
Putin signs order to form new Russian airline
By DPA
Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday signed an order establishing a new airline that is to be the country's second biggest after Aeroflot, the Kremlin said.
The president's order will see Russian regional airlines KrasAir, Domodedovo, Samara, Omskavia and Sibaviatrans merged into AirUnion within six months, the Kremlin said in a statement.
The government will own a share of "at least" 45 percent of the new company, it added.
Rajapakse favours smaller unit for devolution
By Xinhua,
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has said that a smaller unit of devolution would be the key to resolving the island's separatist armed conflict.
The state-owned radio reported Wednesday that Rajapakse said his Sri Lanka Freedom Party's (SLFP) devolution proposals announced on May Day envisaged a smaller unit of devolution than the existing provincial councils system.
"The present provinces are too large to carry out real development," the president was quoted as saying.
US report criticizes Turkey, Russia, Iraq on religion
By DPA,
Washington : Religious freedom is lagging in Turkey, under pressure in Russia and under attack in Iraq, a US congressional watchdog group said Wednesday.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom added Iraq to its "watch list" in its 2007 report, saying the Shia-led government was contributing to violence and abuses through actions of its security forces and by tolerating armed Shia militias.
In a blunt criticism of the US-backed Iraqi government, it said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's administration bore blame for "egregious violations of religious freedom."
Georgia may consider hosting US missile shield
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Georgia Wednesday said that it may consider to host a US missile shield system on its soil if Washington puts up a request.
"If [the US] come and tell us that they want to (set up a missile base), we would certainly be willing to talk about it," Gela Bezhuashvili said in an interview with British daily The Financial Times.
"There is no formal application, not even informal talks," he said. "But if they ask for help, we will talk with them."
Berlin-Islam talks have been frank: minister
By DPA,
Berlin : Seven months of talks to ease frictions between Muslims and the German government have been "frank", but German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Wednesday he took that as a sign of sincerity.
Schaeuble was meeting 15 Muslim leaders who were chosen by Berlin last year to speak for the splintered Islamic community, mainly Turkish in origin, which is facing pressure to conform to the German way of life.
Since late September, working parties have discussed calls for free Islam classes for Muslims in German public schools.
‘Russia’s anti US intelligence operations at Cold War level’
By RIA Novosti
Washington : Russia's foreign intelligence operations against America are currently at the same level as during the Cold War, the US national intelligence chief has said.
Michael McConnell said Tuesday that Russia and China are the most aggressive countries at gathering information about American sensitive technologies, including projects under development and the scale of their intelligence activities is at Cold War levels.
Flood hit Southern Thailand, foreigner dies
By NNN-TNA,
Prachuab Khiri Kan : A foreigner was found dead and one injured from strong waves at Hat Rin in Surat Thani province where the famous full moon party is regularly held.
Meanwhile, the upper southern province of Prachuab Khiri Khan was hit by flooding after tropical depression brought strong rain to the southern provinces, leading the authorities to initiate evacuation procedures for villagers in at-risk areas.
MAS mounting additional flights for West Asian tourists in July/Aug
By NNN-Bernama,
Dubai : Malaysia Airlines is mounting an additional six flights which will transit in Dubai to cater for the increased demand from West Asian tourists wanting to holiday in Malaysia from July to August this year.
MAS's Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Africa, Halimy Mahmood, said the demand for flights to Kuala Lumpur was expected to increase as July-August was the peak summer holiday period.
Malaysian medical team leaves for western Sahara for UN mission
By NNN-Bernama,
Sepang : The Malaysian Defence Forces (ATM) are sending their third medical team for a United Nations (UN) mission in Western Sahara.
A spokesman of the ATM Medical Division said the 20-member team from the Royal Medical Corps would serve under the UN banner for six months.
The ATM despatched their first medical team to the area in May last year, replacing the one from South Korea who completed their 12-year mission from 1994.
Israeli Govt confers over winograd Lebanon war report
By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : The Israeli government will convene a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Winograd report on the Lebanon war.
The report, issued on Monday, accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Minister of Defence Amir Peretz of "serious failures" in managing the war.
Malaysian students abroad must network
By NNN-Bernama,
Nusa Dua : Malaysian students abroad, including over 3,600 in Indonesia, should forge networking with their local acquaintances as this will prove beneficial in the globalisation era, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said.
He said such a move was important for the country's future leaders as huge opportunites in globalisation could be tapped through close relations with those beyond one's own geographical boundaries.
Thailand unshaken by US priority watch list
By NNN-TNA,
Bangkok : Thailand's Commerce Minister Krirkkrai Jirapaet on Monday pledged to go ahead with amendments to the Wholesale and Retail Business Act and the Foreign Business Act although Thailand is placed on the United States’ intellectual property “priority watch list.’’
The US administration had placed 12 countries, including Thailand, on its "priority watch list" for failure to sufficiently protect American producers of music, movies and other copyrighted material from widespread piracy.
High level meeting on development information in Africa opens in Addis Ababa
By NNN,
Addis Ababa : A high-level meeting on development information opened here Tuesday with a call to tap into the emerging knowledge economy to tackle employment challenges in Africa.
In his opening address to the fifth Committee on Development Information (CODI-V), Abdoulie Janneh, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said the continent cannot ignore the basic fact that the knowledge economy is key to long term growth.
Senior officials from big powers meet to consider Iran’s nuclear crisis
By NNN-Kuna
London : Senior officials of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany were scheduled to hold talks in London on Wednesday to review Iran's nuclear crisis, it has been officially confirmed.
The Foreign Office in London said Tuesday that political directors in the foreign ministries of the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, would have an evening meeting along with EU officials following the recent talks between the EU and Tehran.
Bolivian armed forces has leading role
By NNN-Prensa Latina
La Paz : Boliviaós Army Chief Gen. Freddy Bersatti highlighted the leading role placed by the armed forces in the process of changes underway with the government of Evo Morales.
The top military official noted how the military has been at the center of transformations in all steps and policies implemented since January 2006, when the new Executive was installed.
He pointed out that the military accompanied the head of State at the announcement of the nationalisation of hydrocarbons last May, and they ratified their commitment to preserve natural resources.
Huge May day March in Cuba
By NNN-Prensa Latina,
Havana : May Day celebrations in Cuba were the most multitudinous and representative demonstrations ever held in the country on Workers" International Day.
Millions of Cubans marched on major squares chanting slogans in support of the Revolution, in condemnation of US protection of terrorism and in demand of the immediate release of five Cuban antiterrorists who have been held in US prisons over the past eight years.
In Havana, the main event was presided over by First Vice President Raul Castro, who was accompanied by trade union and Communist Party leaders.
Venezuela to quit OAS,WB and IMF
By NNN-Prensa Latina
Caracas : Venezuela might quit several international organisations that it considers illegitimate and subordinated to US interests.
The agencies are the Organisation of American States, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, institutions that are campaigning against the Venezuelan revolution, according to Caracas.
The government’s stance on those agencies was repeated by President Hugo Chavez after the Inter-American Human Rights Commission accused Venezuela of violating the freedom of expression.
Fidel Castro: Energy revolution crucial
By NNN-Prensa Latina,
Havana : Cuban President Fidel Castro alerted the world to the immediate need for an energy revolution, such as is underway in Cuba, and said the nation needs a massive recycling of high-energy using equipment.
The leader said it is painful to think of annually consuming 10 billion tons of fossil fuels that took a million years to create.
Cuba’s industries face an enormous task to accomplish such recycling that will increase employment and gain a little time, he said.
Three Indians killed in Malaysian highway crash
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Just hours after celebrating her 19th birthday, a teenager along with two of her close friends - all three of Indian origin - were killed when the car they were travelling in turned turtle.
Reshween Sonia Kaur, Koshelavani Subramaniam and Easwari Mahalinggam who were on their way to Kuala Lumpur died on the spot when the driver lost control of the vehicle after hitting a divider on a highway in Klang Monday morning.
Police fire rubber bullets at protestors in Los Angeles
By Xinhua, Los Angeles : Los Angeles police fired rubber bullets at protestors rallying to call for legalising the status of illegal immigrants. Several people were hit and crowds of people were running for cover as police opened fire at the protestors Tuesday. CNN footage showed a protestor who showed his wound in the waist by a rubber bullet. Witnesses said the situation went out of control for a while but soon returned to normal.
Bayern Munich agree to terms with Toni, Klose
By DPA,
Munich : Bundesliga club Bayern Munich have agreed to terms with international strikers Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose, according to German media reports.
The Sueddeutsche newspaper says in an article that Toni, who plays for Serie A club AC Florence, will be joining the former Champions League winners at the start of the new season, while Klose could be joining the club either at the start of the new season or for the 2008-09 season.
Manchester City suspends Joey Barton
By DPA,
London : Joey Barton has been suspended by his club, Manchester City, until the end of the season after a bust-up in training, say media reports.
The England midfielder was reportedly involved in an incident with teammate Ousmane Dabo in training that left Dabo needing hospital treatment after suffering mouth injuries.
City confirmed that one of their players had been suspended but refused to name him.
However, Barton's agent, Willie McKay, said his charge was the player concerned.
Israel in leadership crisis , US unlikely to pressure Olmert to step down
By Joe Macaron
NNN-KUNA
Washington : A US official has acknowledged that there is a crisis in the Israeli leadership in the wake of a political storm following the release of a report sharply criticizing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's handling of the war on Lebanon.
The State Department official told KUNA that Israel is a "tricky and sophisticated functioning democracy," expressing doubts that the Israeli government could function with a "leadership deficit."
Ethiopian PM holds talks with US special envoy for Sudan Natsios
By NNN-ENA,
Addis Ababa : Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held talks here on Tuesday with the United States President’s Special Envoy for Sudan, Andrew Natsios.
After the discussions, Natsios told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that he was apprised of the situation prevailing in Darfur in the western part of neighbouring Sudan during the discussion with Meles.
Andrew said Meles had also given him constructive suggestions regarding issues prevailing in the region.
Ethiopia to hold exhibitions in Europe, Us to promote millennium celebrations
By NNN-ENA,
Addis Ababa : Ethiopia’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism is undertaking preparations to stage exhibitions in various European and American cities to promote actual images of the country in connection with the forthcoming Ethiopian Millennium.
Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Tadelech Dalecho told Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) here Tuesday that the ministry attached due attention to promoting the cultural and tourism resources of the country throughout the world.
PM: Terrorist elements in Mogadishu totally defeated
By NNN-ENA,
Addis Ababa : The Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, Ali Mohammed Ghedi, says the war is over and terrorist elements in Mogadishu have been totally defeated.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in a report monitored here quoted Ghedi as saying that the situation in Mogadishu was very calm and the displaced families were going back to their houses in Mogadishu over the past few days.
Kenyan Govt. to bear cost of secondary school tuition from 2008
By Margret Kalekye
NNN-KBC
Nairobi : The Kenyan government will from next year meet the cost of tuition in all public secondary schools, President Mwai Kibaki announced in his Labour Day speech.
Speaking at a rally at Uhuru (Freedom) Park in Nairobi, he said the government would provide 4.3 billion shillings (one USD = about 68 shillings) for the programme.
President Kibaki said the government would also review the cost of running secondary schools.
Parents will, however, be required to meet other costs.
US condemns Moroccan efforts in fighting terrorism
By NNN-Map,
Washington : The United States State Department has commended Morocco's efforts in fighting terrorism, noting that such efforts have been tightened following the terrorist attacks that hit Casablanca in May 2003.
In its annual "Country Report on Terrorism 2006," issued on Monday, the State Department said many terrorist groups had been identified and dismantled in Morocco last year. It also paid tribute to the kingdom's measures related to terrorism funding and money laundering.
Sudanese, Belgian Foreign Ministers hold talks
By NNN-SUNA,
Khartoum : The Sudanese and Belgian foreign ministers Tuesday held talks and reviewed progress of bilateral relations, implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and developments in Darfur.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lam Akol, chaired the Sudanese side while Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht, headed the Belgian delegation.
In a press statement to SUNA, Dr. Akol said the talks were fruitful, with the two sides agreeing to continue consultations through their Foreign Ministries and other forums.
Ghana’s President briefed by NEPAD CEO
By NNN-GNA,
Accra : Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor met with the Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Professor Firmino Mucavele, here Monday.
The meeting was to update Kufour, who is also the current African Union (AU) Chairman, on concrete activities planned to attract investment for growth of the region in the areas of agricultural infrastructure, health, education and gender at the upcoming meeting of the African Partnership Forum and the Group of Eight Industrialized Nations (G-8) to be held in Berlin, Germany.
Foreign investors must respect Zambia’s labour laws– Minister
By NNN-ZANIS,
Kitwe, Zambia : The Zambian government says there is urgent need to put in place a mechanism aimed at educating foreign investors on the importance of respecting the country's labour laws and regulations.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Ben Kapita said Tuesday Zambia had witnessed an increase in investment from both local and foreign investors in the recent past.
Visiting S’pore President vows to help market Victoria Falls
By NNN-ZANIS,
Livingstone, Zambia : President Sellapan Rama Nathan of Singapore, who is here for a private visit, has pledged to help market Zambia's Victoria Falls to the outside world.
Speaking during his tour of the Falls in Livingstone Tuesday, President Nathan said the Victoria Falls had the potential to attract tourists from all over the world and urged the Zambian government to fully exploit the potential of the world famous tourist attraction.
Malaysia Airlines to increase flights through Dubai to meet demand
By Muammar Kamarudin
NNN-BERNAMA
Dubai : Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is mounting an additional six flights which will transit in Dubai to cater to increased demand from Middle East tourists wanting to holiday in Malaysia during July and August.
MAS Regional Vice-President for the Middle East and Africa Halimy Mahmood said the demand for flights to Kuala Lumpur was expected to increase as July-August was the peak summer holiday period.
Malaysian,Singapore leaders to hold talks May 15
By NNN-BERNAMA,
Kota Tinggi, Malaysia : Issues on bilateral ties may be discussed in talks between Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Singapore counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, when they meet in mid-May, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Tuesday.
"It's up to the prime minister to decide on the issues to be raised in his meeting with Lee," he told reporters in this town in southern Johor state.
Asked whether the two prime ministers would dwell on the outstanding issues between the two neighbouring countries, Syed Hamid said it was up to the two leaders.
Canadian temple in need of government funds
By IANS,
Toronto : A Hindu temple, which was burnt down after 9/11, was repeatedly rejected financial help from the provincial government even though millions were handed out to other multicultural groups, alleges the Ontario-based temple's outgoing secretary.
"I see everyday in the newspaper that the government is handing out money to every various organisations and I appreciate it, but why are you forgetting us?" Ram Kamath of Hamilton's Hindu Samaj Temple said.
SLFP ready to be ‘flexible’ over power sharing: Sri Lankan minister
By M.R. Narayan Swamy,
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi : A Sri Lankan minister overseeing the preparation of a power sharing formula to end the ethnic conflict says the ruling party will be "flexible" over its devolution proposal that has not enthused the minorities.
"They are prepared to accept the majority view, prepared to be flexible," Science and Technology Minister Tissa Vitarana said in a telephonic interview as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's (SLFP) made its proposals public on May Day.
Bush veto brings out fringes, from the left and right
By DPA,
Washington : Mary Lou Greenberg gripped a slotted serving spoon and took out her frustrations over the Iraq war on a cast-iron skillet.
The makeshift percussion instrument delivered a piercing rhythm to lead the chant by protestors Tuesday evening outside the White House in Washington.
Another woman tooted to the beat on a whistle, while Greenberg and about 10 other people chanted: "Impeach Bush for war crimes - stop the war now."
Considerable progress in nuclear deal talks: Menon
By Indo-Asian News Service,
Washington : India's Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon says "considerable progress" has been made in talks with US officials on the 123 agreement of the civil nuclear cooperation deal between the two countries.
Addressing a press conference Tuesday after his meetings with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, who is the chief interlocutor of the deal, Menon said they had broad-ranging discussions on the nuclear agreement as well as other topics of bilateral relations.
China urges political efforts against nuclear proliferation
By Xinhua
Vienna : China has called for political efforts to honour the principles of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), saying the international community needs to address both the symptoms and root causes of the nuclear proliferation issue.
Zhang Yan, director general of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament of the Chinese foreign ministry made the call as head of the Chinese delegation at the general debate in the first session of the preparatory committee for the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
Chavez ‘digging a hole’ for Venezuelans: US
By DPA
Washington : Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is "digging a hole" for his people by withdrawing his country's membership from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, the US State Department said.
"You can't take the shovel out of the man's hand. He just keeps on digging," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tuesday. "And sadly, it's the Venezuelan people who are victimised by this."
"I think he's digging a hole for the Venezuelan people," he added.
UN programmes to help Iraqi refugees
By DPA
New York : With up to two million Iraqi refugees living in Syria and Jordan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the UN will boost its aid programmes and increase financial assistance to refugee host countries.
Bush vetoes Iraq pullout timetable in clash with Congress
By DPA
Washington : US President George W. Bush, following through on his promise, has vetoed a war spending bill that would have forced him to start withdrawing US troops from Iraq by October.
The veto came hours after Democratic Party leaders Tuesday sent the $124-billion measure to the White House with the pullout deadlines, capping a well-choreographed showdown four years after he famously declared an end to "major combat operations" in Iraq.
Blair endorses Brown to take over as next British PM
By Prasun Sonwalkar,
Indo-Asian News Service
London : For the first time since announcing plans in September 2006 to step down from office in 2007, Tony Blair has publicly lent his support to Chancellor Gordon Brown taking over as the next British prime minister "in the next few weeks".
It will be the first time that Britain will be ruled by a prime minister who is Scottish. Brown has been the MP from the Scottish constituencies of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath since 2005 and was the MP for Dunfermline East from 1983 to 2005.
Japanese man runs library on a bicycle
By DPA
Tokyo : Kazuhiro Doi is on a one-man mission to change the world by pulling a mobile library on a bicycle around Japan.
For more than two years, the 28-year-old has been distributing books on the environment, civil disputes and other social issues on a custom-made bicycle with a waterwheel-shaped bookshelf across his native Japan.
Doi left his home in the central prefecture of Aichi in January 2005, initially to ask libraries around the country to carry a book published by a non-profit organization 'Think the Earth'.
London should remain a diverse world city: Mayor
By Prasun Sonwalkar,
Indo-Asian News Service
London : In a major boost to the campaign to protest changes to immigration rules that have adversely affected highly skilled migrants from India and other non-European union countries, London mayor Ken Livingstone has come out in their support and has urged the government to reverse the changes.
The campaign to protest the interests of people who entered Britain under the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme (HSMP) has led to several demonstrations, petitions, meetings with ministers and litigation.
Standing where America began – a visit to Jamestown
By DPA
Jamestown (Virginia) : Approaching the site where British settlers established their first permanent colony in North America, visitors feel as if they have crossed back in time.
A swampy marsh stands much as it did in 1607, when the colonists built a fort on a peninsula jutting out into the James River and named their settlement Jamestown.
Today, the Historic Jamestown site commemorates the 104 men and boys, many of who died here.
India, US hold talks on 123 pact
By IANS
Washington : Amid uncertainties about the fate of the civil nuclear deal, India and the US Tuesday held a crucial round of talks and tried to sort out differences over the 123 agreement that will lead to resumption of nuclear commerce between the two countries.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon held talks with US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, Washington's chief interlocutor on the nuclear deal, on the text of the 123 agreement.
China coalmine blast death toll rises to 14
By Xinhua, Taiyuan (China) : The death toll in a north China coalmine explosion rose to 14 Tuesday with the recovery of nine more bodies.
The accident occurred at about 3:40 a.m. Monday in an illegal mine at Liujiacun Village, of Yuxian County, Yangquan City, said a spokesman with the Shanxi Provincial Coal Mine Safety Administration.
Four miners were rescued Monday and rescuers found five bodies, according to previous reports.
The spokesman had earlier said the number of miners working underground at the time of the blast was 19, a figure he later corrected to 18.
Israeli minister resigns over harsh report on Lebanon war
By DPA
Tel Aviv : A minister of the Israeli Labour Party coalition partner announced his resignation Tuesday, becoming the first member of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet to quit over a report harshly criticizing his handling of last summer's war with Hezbollah.
Did Punjab couple commit suicide in Nepal?
By Sudeshna Sarkar,IANS, Kathmandu : A young couple from India's Punjab state was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a forest in northern Nepal, giving rise to initial fears that they could have entered into a suicide pact.
Chandra Prakash, 24, and Neelu Devi, 22, were found dead in a forested area in Chame village in remote Manang district, near Nepal's northern border with Tibet.
The couple had checked into Manang Trekkers' Holiday Hotel Friday and apparently left their room to go on a trek.
Five killed in Indonesia landslide
By Xinhua, Jakarta : Five people were killed in a landslide in Mamuju regency of West Sulawesi province of eastern Indonesia Tuesday, an official of the regency administration said.
"It was certain that five people were buried and dead," Sarman, a senior official said.
One of the bodies of the five has been found, but the others are still missing, Sarman said.
The rain has also triggered flood and inundated rice field, and cocoa plantations, said the official. Indonesia has been frequently hit by landslides, which have claimed hundreds of lives.
Cuba presents NAM stance on disarmament
By Prensa Latins, Vienna : Cuba, as president of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), has insisted on the need to comply with the treaties on nuclear disarmament and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Addressing the opening session of the preparatory committee for the conference to review the Non Proliferation Treaty in 2010 Monday, Cuban Ambassador Norma Goicochea underlined that multilateralism, according to the UN charter, is the only sustainable method to deal with multiple approaches to international disarmament and security.
Venezuela to quit IMF, World Bank
By Xinhua, Caracas: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced that his country had decided to withdraw from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Chavez made the announcement Monday at an event to celebrate workers' rights.
"I want to formalize our exit from the World Bank and the IMF," Chavez said, adding, "We will no longer have to go to Washington, neither to the IMF nor the World Bank, not to anyone."
Blair’s decade in office: a legacy of war and waste?
By Prasun Sonwalkar, London: As British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the ruling Labour party celebrate the 10th anniversary of coming to power Tuesday, critics are beginning to call his decade in office as one of "war and waste".
Blair last week outlined his 10-year legacy in a dossier to his Labour MPs, but not a few have begun to recall Enoch Powell's prophecy that all political careers end in failure.
Israeli inquiry panel blasts Olmert over Lebanon war
Jerusalem, May 1 (DPA) An Israeli commission of inquiry has slammed Ehud Olmert's "severe failure" in the opening days of last summer's indecisive offensive against the Hezbollah, casting a shadow over his future as prime minister and prompting opposition leaders to call for early elections.
But the premier said he had no intention of resigning and would remain in office to implement the recommendations of the report, which he acknowledged were "severe" and "tough" in a brief statement on Israeli television Monday evening.
Thailand joins China, India among worst copyright offenders
Washington, May 1 (DPA) Thailand has joined China, India and nine other countries that top the US list of worst offenders of international copyright rules, the US government said.
The other countries are Russia, Egypt, Argentina, Chile, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Ukraine and Venezuela.
The annual Special 301 report, issued by the US Trade Representative's office Monday, placed the countries on a special "priority watch list" that will be monitored to "encourage and maintain" effective intellectual property rights protections.
Bush urges Russian participation in missile defence
Washington, May 1 (DPA) US President George W. Bush urged Moscow to participate in plans to deploy missile defence to Eastern Europe, saying that countering threats from "rogue states" like Iran would benefit Russian security.
Ban Ki-Moon urges NPT review meeting to address crisis on Nuclear Arms front
TwoCircles Newsdesk
Spotlighting the current “crisis� in international efforts to address the world's nuclear arsenal, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on delegates attending a review conference in Vienna on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to demonstrate that progress is possible.
Archives release may reveal new Holocaust victims
Bad Arolsen (Germany), May 1 (DPA) The opening of one of the world's most extensive archives dealing with Nazi concentration camps and forced labour may reveal the names of many previously unknown Holocaust victims, according to the archives chief, Reto Meister.
Critics say Blair’s legacy is ‘war and waste’
By Prasun Sonwalkar
London, May 1 (IANS) With British Prime Minister Tony Blair set to step down after an eventful decade in office, critics are beginning to call the period he spent in office as one of "war and waste". After Blair outlined his 10-year legacy as prime minister in a dossier to his Labour MPs, not a few have begun to recall Enoch Powell's prophecy that all political careers end in failure.