Former Argentine general gets life sentence
By DPA,
Buenos Aires : One of Argentina's most feared former generals has been handed a life sentence, 31 years after crimes committed during 1976-83 military dictatorship in the country.
A court in Cordoba, Argentina's second largest city, ruled late Thursday that Luciano Benjamin Menendez, 81, was responsible for the kidnapping, torture and murder of four opposition party members in 1977 during the period known as the "Dirty War."
Booker Prize is like backward shining light on all my works: Howard Jacobson
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
LTTE attack on key military base thwarted: Sri Lanka
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : The Sri Lankan military Tuesday claimed that it had thwarted a pre-dawn assault by the Tamil Tigers on a army and air force joint base in the country's north in which at least 10 rebels and 10 soldiers were killed and one rebel aircraft destroyed.
In a statement, the defence ministry said the rebels had mounted a land attack backed by long-range artillery fire, targeting the joint headquarters of Sri Lanka's military and air force in Vavuniya town, about 254 km north of here.
South Korean president appoints new prime minister
By DPA,
Seoul: South Korean President Lee Myun Bak Sunday appointed former provincial governor Kim Tae ho as the country's new prime minister, as part of the biggest government reshuffle the country has seen since Lee became president two-and-a-half years ago.
Kim, 47, is to replace outgoing prime minister Chung Un Chan, 64, who resigned at the end of July.
He is expected to play an important role in communicating with younger generations, a presidential spokesman said Sunday in Seoul.
Polluted water kills 4,000 people daily: WHO
By DPA,
Singapore : Polluted drinking water will kill around 1.6 million people this year unless governments make a concerted effort to clean up their supplies, a World Health Organization (WHO) official warned in a report published Monday.
More than 4,000 people die every day from water-borne diseases, said James Bertram, coordinator of WHO's Water, Sanitation and Health Programme. The death toll is not confined to developing nations.
Nepal to open art treasure trove to world
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu: Want to buy exquisite, original art at an affordable price? Visit Nepal , just an hour's journey from India, where the art market, once depressed due to 12 years of violence and political turmoil, is now seeking to invite the world and be linked to global developments.
From Oct 30 Nepal will hold its first international art festival where works by Nepali artists will be displayed along with those of international artists from nearly 30 countries as diverse as Aruba, Curacao, Jordan, China, Palestine and Japan.
Abkhazia says some 7,500 Georgian troops amassed in border area
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Georgia has deployed almost 7,500 troops on its border with Abkhazia, the defense minister of the breakaway republic said on Sunday.
Merab Kishmaria said should a military operation begin, some 3,000 troops will apparently be used to seize the Kodori Gorge, in the northeast of Abkhazia.
"We are watching the movement of troops in the Kodori Gorge. According to our intelligence, up to 7,500 Georgian troops on the Georgian-Abkhaz border are on alert, with 3,000 of them to be used in attempting to take the Kodori Gorge," he said.
Pakistan tops list of journalists killed in 2007
Islamabad, Dec 31 (IANS) The year 2007 was the bloodiest for journalists in South Asia. Pakistan topped with the toll of seven journalists, followed by six in Sri Lanka, and five in Afghanistan, according to the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).
Muslims in Belgium celebrate Eid Al-Fitr
By KUNA,
Brussels : Muslims in Belgium celebrated Eid Al-Fitr which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan Sunday by offering special prayers in mosques.
The Islamic Centre in Brussels - the biggest mosque in Belgium - was packed with worshippers.
In his khutba (sermon), the director of the Centre Dr.Abdulaziz Al-Yahya called on Muslims to adhere to the noble teachings of Islam and not to be misled by materialistic and atheistic propaganda.
Cambodian PM promises non-political career for oldest son
By Xinhua,
Phnom Penh : Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Senhas said that his oldest son Hun Manet will not enter politics, the English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily reported Tuesday.
"In the future, I don't allow him to replace me as prime minister. I want him to do some charity work for his parents," Hunwas quoted as saying on Monday.
Hun denied a rumor that claimed his son would stand as a lawmaker candidate in Siem Reap province in the general election in July.
Scientist uncovers secret of nerve cell regeneration
By IANS,
Washington: Brain researcher Hiroshi Kawabe has uncovered the secret of nerve (brain) cell regeneration.
It is the working of a process that permits nerve cells to grow and form complex networks---something had been completely overlooked until now.
The study shows that an enzyme controls the structure of the cytoskeleton (cellular skeleton) and ensures that nerve cells can form the tree-like extensions that are necessary for signal transmission in the brain.
CIA withholds documents to panel, NY Times
By IRNA
New York : A review of classified documents by former members of the September 11 commission shows that the panel made repeated and detailed requests to the Central Intelligence Agency in 2003 and 2004 for documents and other information about the interrogation of operatives of Al Qaeda, and were told by a top CIA official that the agency had "produced or made available for review" everything that had been requested.
Hilton ad sparks outrage in Brazil
By IANS,
London: An advertisement featuring socialite Paris Hilton has sparked controversy in Brazil and a government official for women's affairs has called for removing the commercial due to its sexist undertones.
In the advertisement, Hilton is seen sexually rubbing a can of beer on herself in an office building as passers-by stare at her antics, reports dailystar.co.uk.
Despite being fully clothed throughout the ad, officials at Brazil's Women's Secretariat revealed that the authorities have received several complaints about the "sensual nature" of the campaign.
At least 124 killed in Mexico gang violence in one week
By ANTARA News/DPA,
Mexico City : At least 124 people have been killed in just one week in Mexico`s spiralling gang violence, according to media reports Monday.
The most violent area was the northwestern state of Sinaloa, where 43 deaths were reported. In Chihuahua, 40 people were killed over the past week, the daily La Jornada reported.
In Sinaloa`s capital, Culiacan, teachers, students and university employees, dressed in white, protested the increasing violence on Sunday.
Nine miners trapped in Peru
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Santiago : Nine miners remained trapped underground in southern Peru after a copper mine where they were working caved in two days ago.
26,000 people face food insecurity in Nepal, reports UN
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : A UN aid agency Wednesday said that about 26,000 people in Nepal's western districts are facing food insecurity due to inadequate crop yield, soaring food prices and lack of income opportunities.
The findings are based on a study in 47 districts across the country, the World Food Programme (WFP) said in its bulletin. The agency added that several areas near the mountains are moderately food insecure.
Sikh group slams Canada’s no-Singh no-Kaur rule
By IANS
Toronto : A Sikh group has slammed the long-standing Canadian immigration policy that forces Sikhs with the surname Singh or Kaur to change their last names if they want to migrate to the country.
The criticism came after an Indian Canadian Sikh woman, Tarvinder Kaur, who is pregnant, said her husband Jaspal Singh's application to become a permanent resident has been delayed because of his last name.
"He has no choice but to legally change his name in India so he can be with me before I give birth next month," she said.
Obama pledges support for Ukraine’s president-elect
Washington : US President Barack Obama Tuesday called Ukrainian president-elect Petro Poroshenko, pledging "full support" for his efforts to resolve the crisis facing the...
China concerned about emergency in Pakistan
By Xinhua
Beijing : China is concerned about the situation of emergency in Pakistan and hopes the country could maintain stability and development, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Sunday.
"We are concerned about the situation in Pakistan, and believe the Pakistani government and people are capable of solving their problems, " Liu said.
ICRC President sees historic opportunity to bring nuclear weapons era to an end
By Nor Faridah Abd Rashid, NNN-Bernama,
Kuala Lumpur : With recent positive developments pertaining to nuclear weapons, countries have an historic opportunity to bring the era of such weaponry to an end, once and for all, says International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) president Jakob Kellenberger.
Wanted in Taiwan: Crab escorts
By DPA,
Taipei: A Taiwan park is seeking 30 volunteers to help escort land crabs on their journey to the sea during the breeding season, a newspaper said Saturday.
Land crabs in the Kenting National Park, at the southern tip of Taiwan, live away from shore for most of the year. But during the breeding season, female crabs carry their fertilised eggs and migrate to the sea to release them.
The park administration is inviting volunteers to help the crabs safely cross roads and to remove any discarded fishing nets blocking the crabs' access to the sea, the Taipei Times reported.
Portuguese PM pays tribute to Benfica legend Coluna
Maputo (Mozambique) : Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho started his visit in Maputo paying tribute to Mario Coluna, former Benfica star and Portugal...
Human Rights must be at the heart of policy-making
LONDON, Dec 13 (APP): The international community has been urged to put human rights at the heart of policy making and to adopt self determination as a key driver to resolve conflicts in a democratic and peaceful manner, in accordance with international law. The call was given at a packed venue in the Houses of Parliament at Westminster where the cross party group ‘Parliamentarians for National Self-Determination’ (PNSD) marked International Human Rights Day 2007.
Indian companies unaffected by Maoist union’s strike in Nepal
By Sudeshna Sarkar,IANS,
Kathmandu : Two major Indian joint ventures operating in an industrial corridor in central Nepal remained unaffected by an indefinite strike called by the ruling Maoist-backed trade union from Friday in the area, thanks to a recent visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to that country.
Peacekeepers in Abkhazia set up additional posts
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Collective peacekeeping forces in the zone of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict have set up additional observation posts, an aide to the peacekeeping force commander said on Saturday.
"That was done to defuse tension that developed following an incident the day before, when three Abkhaz police were injured in a roadside bomb attack," Alexander Diordiyev said.
Some media reports said Georgian commandos were responsible for the attack. But Georgia denied any involvement.
Three weeks after polls, Zimbabwe holds recount
By AFP,
Murombedzi, Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe held a partial recount Saturday of votes from last month's general election as the opposition accused President Robert Mugabe and his party of trying to rig their way back to power.
The recounts in 23 of the 210 constituencies come amid rising tension and accusations of violence, with a leading human rights group charging that Mugabe followers were now rounding up opposition supporters and assaulting them in torture camps.
Russia to Review Ossetia/Abkhazia Status
By Prensa Latina,
Moscow : Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov called on Wednesday to re-examine the status of autonomous republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia while his government denied the advance of troops within Georgian territory.
Lavrov said the status of those separatist republics was not included in a peace plan made in France and submitted by the European Union (EU) to end the conflict, and the discussion about safety in South Ossetia and Abkhazia is impossible out of the context of its status.
UN documents law, order breakdown in Ukraine
Geneva : The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Wednesday issued a new report on Ukraine describing the breakdown of...
Ship crew fights off Somali pirates with fire hoses
By RIA Novosti,
Vladivostok : The Russian crew of a tanker in the Gulf of Aden prevented Somali pirates from boarding their vessel by using onboard fire hoses, a sailors' union spokesman in Russia's Far East said Wednesday.
The Russian crew was delivering a brand new tanker, the Handytankers Magic, from China to Europe when Somali pirates approached it in the Gulf of Aden Sunday, firing a mortar shell that landed on the deck but failed to detonate. The Russian sailors reacted quickly, using powerful fire hoses to deter the pirates.
Clinton, Obama Back in the Ring
By Prensa Latina
Washington : Democrat pre-candidates to the White House Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama resumed their fight on Saturday in the primary elections that will be held in Louisiana, Washington and Nebraska.
National media is focused on this new battle between the two contenders, absent from the republican process, which shows a wide advantage of Senator John McCain, the party's possible candidate.
After Super Tuesday's elections tie, those of Saturday and Tuesday will be more relevant for the Dems.
Shuttle launch cancelled due to gas leak
By DPA,
Washington : The launch of the space shuttle Discovery planned for Wednesday was abruptly cancelled just hours ahead of blast off.
NASA called off the launch after it discovered a leak in a hydrogen vent line between the shuttle and its external fuel tank. The US space agency made the decision ahead of a planned 9.20 p.m. launch.
Technicians had been filling the tank with fuel and would now have to completely drain it. A new launch time was set for 8.54 p.m. Thursday, depending on what repairs were deemed necessary. Officials were to meet to discuss the problem.
Ready to jointly combat terrorism in Middle East: Saudi minister
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has said the US and Arab allies were ready for a unified vision to combat terrorism...
Sri Lanka uses Ramayana to woo Indian tourists
By P.K. Balachandran, IANS
Colombo : Sri Lanka is going to use the Hindu epic Ramayana to attract Indian tourists in a big way.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has formed a committee to work out an ambitious scheme to develop and promote as many as 34 sites in the island associated with the Ramayana," SLTDA chief S. Kalaiselvam said.
"We want to get started on this soon," Kalaiselvam told IANS.
Nepal minister with Indian passport, Tibetan ID, forced to quit
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Chinese court upholds death penalty for drug dealer
By Xinhua
Kunming (China) : The provincial court here Wednesday upheld the death sentence given to a Taiwanese drug smuggler by an intermediate court last year.
The Yunnan Provincial Higher People's Court Wednesday endorsed the ruling of the Intermediate People's Court awarding the sentence to Chung Wan-yi, court officials said.
Chung and his 11 accomplices were arrested in February 2007 in the capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, for operating a Kunming-based drug trafficking ring.
S Korean media: DPRK, S Korean ships collide in Sea of Japan
By Xinhua,
Seoul : A ship collision between a fishing boat of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and a South Korean sand excavator early Tuesday appeared to be an accident, said South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
Tuesday's collision, leaving at least two DPRK sailors missing, appeared to be a simple accident, but it is expected to worsen the strained ties between the Pyongyang and Seoul, Yonhap said.
The collision took place early Tuesday on waters east off the DPRK's eastern port city of Jangjun, Yonhap said.
Pressed by US, China pledges to stop trade subsidies
By DPA
Washington : Under US pressure, China pledged to end by Jan 1 a wide range of subsidies that its trade partners say make Chinese industrial exports unfairly cheap and restrict Chinese imports.
The accord by Chinese and US officials, announced in Washington Thursday, aims to settle a dispute over allegedly illegal subsidies that has heightened trade tensions over Chinese exports and spurred calls by US lawmakers for punitive measures against China.
Miracle baby born after full-term ovarian pregnancy
By Neena Bhandari, IANS,
Sydney : Surviving all odds, baby Durga has become perhaps the world's first baby to be born after a full-term ovarian pregnancy at the Darwin Private Hospital in Australia's Northern Territory.
Ovarian pregnancies - where the foetus grows in the ovary instead of the uterus - are a one in 40,000 occurrence and usually terminate before 10 weeks, but a healthy 2.8 kg baby Durga arrived in the world Thursday morning after a full term 38 week pregnancy.
US now fully engaged on global warming: Clinton
By IANS,
Washington : The United States Monday assured representatives from 16 other major world economies, including India, that Washington no longer doubts the urgency or magnitude of the climate change problem.
The US is fully engaged and moving quickly to address global warming, said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opening the first preparatory session of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change announced in March by President Barack Obama.
Trial of 31 suspected terrorists begins in Belgium
Brussels : The trial of 31 men accused of being part of a terrorist recruitment network began here on Thursday in one of Belgium's...
Texas goes to McCain, Iowa to Obama
By DPA,
Washington : The southern state of Texas would vote in favour of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, US networks projected late Tuesday.
Democratic nominee Barack Obama was projected to win Iowa, a mid-western state McCain had hoped to keep in the Republican column.
Texas, a reliably Republican state, is the second largest prize in the US with 34 electoral votes.
Italian journalist, 12 others held in graft probe
By IANS/AKI,
Milan : A former newspaper editor was among 13 people arrested Tuesday in a corruption investigation in Italy.
US service sector grows in June
By IANS,
Washington: The US non-manufacturing sector expanded for the 30th straight month in June, but at a slower pace, a survey revealed Thursday.
China coalmine blast toll rises to 73
By Xinhua,
Taiyuan (China) : The toll in China's deadly coalmine blast early Sunday has risen to 73, officials said.
Earlier reports said 44 workers were killed and many more remained trapped following the blast at a coalmine in China's northern Shanxi Province.
Officials said there were 436 workers in the coalmine at the time of the blast at 2.17 a.m.
Of the 340 workers, who managed to come out of the mine after the blast, 113 were admitted to hospitals, and dozens remained in critical conditions.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State visits Nepal
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Evan A Feigenbaum arrived in Kathmandu Saturday on a three-day visit, said a press release from the U.S. Embassy.
Feigenbaum plans to meet the leaders of the four largest political parties in Nepal to discuss the formation of a new interim government, the need to end political violence, and efforts to craft a new democratic constitution.
Rajapaksa to frame new constitution
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday agreed to form a new constitution and strengthen the campaign against corruption.
Launching his election manifesto, Rajapaksa,...
Cuba to sign UN human rights agreements ‘shortly’
By DPA
Havana : Cuba will "shortly" sign two UN human rights agreements, Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said.
Perez Roque Monday further expressed the will of the communist island to cooperate more closely with the Human Rights Council of the UN.
The "political decision" to sign the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was taken, according to Perez Roque, following a "radical change" introduced by the new Human Rights Council.
Spanish aid to Cuba doubles in two years
By EFE,
Havana: Spanish aid to Cuba has climbed from 17 million euros ($25.36 million) in 2007 to 34 million euros ($50.7 million) this year, an official said.
These figures are to be touted during the upcoming visit to the island by Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos as a key aspect of the growing cooperation between the two nations.
Russian troops begin dismantling posts in Georgia
By Xinhua,
Moscow : Russian troops started dismantling posts in the buffer zone around South Ossetia and Abkhazia to meet the Friday deadline for withdrawal from Georgia's territory, Itar-Tass news agency reported Sunday.
"Indeed, we started withdrawing material property and dismantling defence barriers at peacekeeping observer posts, put up on the southern border in the security zone, adjoining South Ossetia," Igor Konashenkov, the assistant to the commander-in-chief of the land troops, was quoted as saying.
Power Surge Causes Outages Across Florida
By SPA
Washington : A malfunction in Florida’s electrical cut caused sporadic power outages to nearly 3 million people in the state on Tuesday, and caused a nuclear plant to automatically shut down.
The outages were mostly brief, and no threat was posed by the nuclear plant, authorities said.
The problem, as yet unidentified, occurred in a substation near Miami and disabled two power distribution lines, Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Kenneth Clark said.
McCain vows to close Guantanamo Bay prison
By IANS,
Toronto : US Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain has said he will close the Guantanamo Bay prison if he is elected to the White House in November.
Addressing the Economic Club of Canada in Ottawa Friday, McCain said he agreed with the public opinion in Canada against the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay prison.
"Many Canadians have objected to the policies of the United States in dealing with terrorists and enemy combatants held at the Guantanamo prison.
Rain Delays 120 Flights in Jakarta
By Prensa Latina
Jakarta : Poor visibility around the airport due to intermittent rains forced the closure of International Airport of Indonesia's capital provoking the delay of about 120 flights, reported the media.
Detiknews' web page noted that Sukarno Hatta's airport authorities reported over 120 flights were postponed.
Sources reported that the landing strip was flooded and visibility was reduced, with almost two feet of rainwater and bad weather expected until Saturday.
UK political couple in trouble over ‘gift’ to teenage lover
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : The head of the Northern Irish government in Britain was set to face intense questions Friday after claims that his 59-year-old wife - a British MP - failed to declare a gift of 50,000 pounds to her teenager lover.
Peter Robinson, Northern Ireland's First Minister - equivalent to a chief minister - came under a cloud after the BBC reported his wife, Iris Robinson, had failed to declare the amount she obtained for her lover, then 19 years old, in 2008.
Russia says oil deal with Iran is legal
Moscow: Russia said Wednesday signing a memorandum of understanding with Iran for crude oil shipments did not violate United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions...
US citizen arrested in Chicago for attempting to join IS
Washington: An US citizen has been arrested at Chicago airport for attempting to travel overseas to join the Islamic State (IS), the US Justice...
Sri Lanka dismisses video of troops committing atrocities
By DPA,
Colombo : The Sri Lankan military Wednesday rejected a video clip on British television showing soldiers reportedly committing atrocities against suspected Tamil rebels.
"The video shown has been doctored. There is no truth in the video footage seen," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.
The video showed a man in military clothing shooting naked, bound and blindfolded men in the back of the head.
The footage has been picked up by several websites and other TV stations as well.
Scientists design first see-through computer chip
By IANS,
Washington : Korean scientists have fabricated a functional computer chip that is almost completely clear - the first of its kind.
The technology could spur development of clear computer and TV screens, embedded in glass or transparent plastic.
Besides, see-through electronics would make your room or wall more spacious by allowing such devices to be stacked in small clear spaces.
Nepal parties call for probe into Maoist bribe tape
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's largest ruling party is asking for an investigation into a taped telephone conversation that purportedly records a prominent Maoist leader seeking NRS 500 million from a Chinese "friend" to buy MPs ahead of Sunday's prime ministerial election. The ex-rebels say they would conduct a probe themselves.
Moderate earthquakes hit northern, central Philippines
By Xinhua
Manila : Two earthquakes measuring 5.7 and 5.8 degrees of Richter scale were reported in northern and central Philippines separately on Saturday, according to local television network GMA News.
The quakes took place in Batanes in extreme Northern Luzon and Eastern Visayas Saturday morning, without causing damage or casualty, said the report quoting the United States Geological Service (USGS).
Sri Lanka’s ex-Army chief arrested, to face court martial
By DPA,
Colombo : Sri Lanka former army commander General Sarath Fonseka, who spearheaded the final phase of military operations against Tamil rebels, was arrested with officials accusing him of conspiring to topple the government.
News of the arrest was first divulged by a military spokesman Major General Prasa Samarasinghe, who said Fonseka was arrested Monday by military police at his political office in the capital for a military offence.
Lohan turns sober for family dinner
By IANS,
Los Angeles: Actress Lindsay Lohan, who has battled alcohol and drug addiction in the past, reportedly did not touch any drink when she went out to dine with her family.
Hooper delayed shooting, waited for Cohen’s voice recovery
By IANS,
Los Angeles: Director Tom Hooper chose to postpond shooting of musical movie "Les Misrables" when actor Sacha Baron Cohen's had bad throat.
93 mobile phones per 100 people in Brazil
By IANS/EFE,
Rio de Janeiro : The number of mobile phone connections in Brazil has climbed to 180 million - or 93.8 cell phones per 100 people, a telecommunications regulator in the country has said.
A total of 6.8 million phone lines were activated in the first four months of 2010, said a statement from the Anatel telecommunications regulator.
The heavily industrialised southeast and the central-western regions, where capital Brasilia is located, were the only parts in the country with more than one cell phone per person.
Ninteenth Indian jailed for Singapore riots
Singapore : An Indian man Tuesday was awarded 18 weeks' jail term for his involvement in the Dec 8, 2013, riots in the city.
Ravi...
Four South Asian countries agree to improve information communication
By TwoCircles.net news desk
New Delhi: Senior officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal have agreed to collaborate on a subregional information communication technology (ICT) project to improve connectivity among the four countries.
The agreement by the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) countries was reached at the fourth ICT working group meeting to discuss the proposed SASEC Information Highway Project in New Delhi, India on 8-9 October 2007.
SADC backs Mugabe over powersharing; to assist Congo Army
By DPA,
Johannesburg : The suffering of Zimbabweans looked set to continue for some time to come after a summit of Southern African leaders Sunday tried but failed to breathe life into Harare's floundering power-sharing agreement.
After more than nine hours of talks among leaders of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and prime minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai remained far apart on how to divide power.
Former Khmer Rouge leader in custody for war crimes
By DPA
Phnom Penh : Former top Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea will stay in jail for at least a year facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the court set up to bring justice to the victims of the regime said Friday.
In a lengthy press statement explaining the charges and the decision, co-investigating judges of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) You Bunleng and Marcel Lemonde issued a provisional detention order against the 82-year-old former Khmer Rouge security chief who is also known as Brother Number 2.
20 die in China explosion
By IANS,
Beijing: Twenty people were killed and 14 injured Friday in a massive blast triggered by oil that leaked from a truck in south China's Guangdong province, authorities said.
16 soldiers killed in Philippines clash
By DPA
Zamboanga City : Fifteen marines and an air force pilot were killed Saturday and seven others wounded in a clash with Islamic militants in southern Philippines, an armed forces spokesman said.
Lieutenant Colonel Bartolome Bacarro said fighting erupted early morning when government troops attacked an encampment of Abu Sayyaf rebels in Unkaya Pukan town in Basilan province, 900 km south of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
British professionals live longer than labourers: study
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
London : Britons in professional jobs live longer than those in unskilled or manual occupations, new health statistics reveal.
According to data for 2002-2005 released by the Office of National Statistics here, life expectancy has risen for all social classes in Britain over the last 30 years, but there is also evidence of long-term inequality.
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.
Russian MS-21 jetliner to use Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney engines
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia's Irkut aircraft building corporation has picked Britain's Rolls Royce and Canada's Pratt & Whitney to supply engines for its new MS-21 aircraft, the corporation's president said Wednesday.
Speaking at the international MAKS air show near Moscow, Oleg Demchenko said: "The best two firms have been chosen. The technical details are being verified at the moment, and the final decision will be announced shortly."
Languages, libraries and legacy of hatred
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net,
Last Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed a beautiful and thoughtful gift to the President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. It was a copy of the earliest illustrated Persian work on the history of Mongol tribes. The book called ‘Jame at-Tawarikh’ (Collection of Histories) was authored by Rashiduddin Fazlullah Hamdani [1247-1318CE], who was the Vazir of Mongol king Mahmud Ghazan Khan [Reign 1295-1304].
UN reports three sex cases involving Indian peackeepers
United Nations: A UN report says that Indians in its peacekeeping operations were involved three substantiated cases of sexual exploitation or abuse between 2010...
22 killed in Kenya road accident
By Xinhua,
Nairobi : At least 22 people were killed and several others seriously injured when two buses in which they were travelling collided head on near Masai Mara National Park in southwest Kenya, the police and eyewitnesses said Wednesday.
The accident occurred at around 11.00 p.m. Tuesday in Saibei, about 20 km from Narok town near Masai Mara National Park, the country's most famous tourist destination, police said.
Belgium’s Khan brothers show EU the yoga way
Brussels: Ten years back Feroze and Sameer Khan opened their yoga centre in Brussels, starting initially in the auditorium of the Indian embassy. Today,...
Sand image on Orissa beach to congratulate Obama
By IANS,
Bhubaneswar: Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik Saturday created a four-foot high sand sculpture on Orissa's Puri beach to congratulate US President Barack Obama on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
Pattnaik created images of Obama and the Nobel Prize bearing the message "Let peace prevail" on the beach in his home town Puri, 56 km from here, using about three tonnes of sand.
"I believe in peace and harmony and I take this opportunity to greet the US president for promoting world peace," Patnaik told IANS over the phone.
Former Polish Communist head critically ill in hospital
By RIA Novosti
Warsaw : Former Polish leader, Wojciech Jaruzelski, has been admitted to a military hospital in a serious condition, his wife said on Wednesday.
Jaruzelski's health deteriorated after he was again accused by Polish historians of committing crimes against the Polish people.
"It seems to me that he is unwilling to live any longer," Barabara Jaruzelska said, adding that her 84-year-old husband has pneumonia and cardiac problems.
Hillary Clinton ‘would make an excellent president’: Obama
Panama City : Hillary Clinton would make "an excellent president", US President Brack Obama said a day before Clinton's much-touted launch of her run...
North Korea has broken nuclear pledge: US intelligence
By RIA Novosti
Washington : North Korea has broken the pledge it made last year to halt all nuclear activities, the US intelligence service has said.
Mike McConnell, director of National Intelligence, Tuesday told a Senate hearing that Washington was "uncertain about Kim Jong Il's commitment to full de-nuclearization as he promised in the six-party agreement".
"While Pyongyang denies a programme of uranium enrichment and they deny their proliferation activities, we believe North Korea continues to engage in both," he said.
Australian Muslims jailed on terrorism charges
By DPA,
Sydney : An Australian cleric and six of his followers were jailed Tuesday for forming a terrorist cell that police allege plotted to bomb the 100,000 spectators at the 2005 rugby cup final in Melbourne.
The Islamists were rounded up in November 2005 and found guilty in September 2008.
Algerian-born Abdul Nacer Benbrika, 48, who told his followers it was "permissible to kill women, children and the aged" in the cause of jihad, was sentenced to 15 years for intentionally directing the activities of a terrorist organisation.
22 countries face protracted food crises: UN
By DPA,
Rome : The UN Wednesday identified 22 countries facing "protracted" food crises due to a combination of natural disasters, conflict and weak institutions.
Sri Lanka: 21,000 police officers will be deployed for provincial councils elections
By NNN-Govt Portal,
Colombo : The Department of Police will deploy 21,000 police officers on duty for the upcoming provincial council elections in the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provinces, Police media Spokesman, SSP Rajith Gunasekara said.
Mr. Gunasekara speaking to www.news.lk said that these officers will be positioned to ensure the security of both polling booths and at the counting centers adding that special mobile service will touch base with each center in every 30 minutes.
Bomb injures 28 in southern Thailand provincial capital
By DPA,
Pattani (Thailand) : An explosion Monday at a crowded morning market in Yala City of southern Thailand injured 28 people, two of them critically, army officials said.
The bomb, planted inside a motorcycle that was parked near a pork meat vendor at Yala's open-air market, exploded at 7.30 a.m., injuring the civilians and three soldiers, First Army Region chief Lieutenant General Phichit Wisaijorn said.
He blamed Muslim separatists for the latest act of violence.
"We had received a tipoff to prepare for a car bomb, but they used a motorcycle instead," Phichit said.
Germany severs partial gov’t contacts with China over violence in Tibet
By IRNA
Berlin : The German government has frozen partial official contacts with China in the wake of the Chinese security crackdown in Tibet.
German Development Aid Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul was quoted as saying Monday that a planned government meeting with China, set to take place in May, would be postponed until the violence ends in Tibet.
"Violence can never be a solution. Both sides can only reach a solution through dialogue. Under these circumstances, government negotiations are hardly imaginable," Wieczorek-Zeul was cited by her ministry.
Blast at petrol station kills four in eastern China
By RIA Novosti,
Beijing : At least four people died and another four were injured on Tuesday in a blast at a petrol station in eastern China, local media said.
The incident occurred in the Anhui province after a tanker containing 200 cubic meters of gasoline exploded, the Sina news agency said.
Local authorities said the death toll could rise as two of the injured are in a critical state. An investigation into the blast is under way.
US woefully unprepared for nuclear attack: Pentagon study
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The US is woefully unprepared for any kind of nuclear attack with the expertise needed to survive such an attack atrophied since the end of the Cold War, a Pentagon task force has warned.
The threat of an all-out nuclear exchange between Russia and the US may be less than it was during the Cold War, but the decades-long efforts to avoid a possible Armageddon has had a downside, the advisory panel noted after a comprehensive review,
Sarkozy calls for European intervention force
By DPA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy Tuesday called for the establishment of a European intervention force of 60,000 soldiers.
In a major defence address in Paris before some 3,000 French soldiers, Sarkozy called for a "modern, flexible" European rapid intervention force that will enable Europeans "to act together" and which can be deployed anywhere in the world for at least one year.
Myanmar: A new theatre of rivalry in South Asia
By Amitava Mukherjee
With the United States shifting the focus of its foreign policy to the Asia Pacific region, Myanmar has gained a tremendous...
UN court issues arrest warrant for Sudanese president
By DPA,
The Hague : The International Criminal Court (ICC) Wednesday announced an international warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for atrocities in Sudan's western Darfur region.
He faces seven counts - five of crimes against humanity and two of war crimes - over his alleged role in masterminding a counter-insurgency against ethnic groups that opposed his government in Darfur.
Al-Bashir is accused of having sanctioned the actions of government troops backed by Arab-speaking Janjaweed militias that also turned on the civilian population of Darfur.
Indian fisherman killed by Sri Lankan Navy
By IANS,
Chennai: An Indian fisherman was killed and several others were injured by the Sri Lankan Navy close to the Tamil Nadu coast, police said Thursday.
Eight Indian fishermen, belonging to Vellakuppam village near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district, around 350 km from here, were fishing in two boats when the Sri Lankan naval personnel boarded one of the boats and tried to seize the catch and the nets, a police officer said.
When the Indian fishermen protested, the Sri Lankan navy personnel attacked them, killing Chellappan and injuring seven others, the officer added.
Troubled Yahoo names Bartz new CEO
By DPA,
San Francisco : Struggling web pioneer Yahoo has named Carol Bartz, the former head of software company Autodesk, as its new chief executive.
The appointment follows a two-month search for a replacement for company founder Jerry Yang, who was widely blamed for botching merger talks with Microsoft that would have proved highly lucrative to many shareholders.
Bush plans meeting with Olmert
By DPA,
Washington : US President George W. Bush will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Monday, the first meeting between the two leaders since the White House acknowledged that a peace deal by the end of the year is unreachable.
Bush and Olmert will discuss the peace process with the Palestinians as well as bilateral and regional issues, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Thursday.
EU Entities Start 2008 with New Presidencies
By Prensa Latina
Madrid : Europe starts its work in 2008 with new presidencies in its main institutions, and Malta and Chipre joining the Eurozone.
As of this very first day of the year and for the next six months, the EU presidency is in the hands of Slovenia, replacing Portugal in the post.
The work of the Portuguese government at the helms of the continental organization was marked in its last month by the signing of the so-called Treaty of Lisbon, a reformed text which replaced the failed project of a European Constitution.
Would-be immigrants to Britain need hefty bank balances
By IANS,
London : British Home Office guidelines for the new points-based immigration system to be introduced from Nov 27 say that prospective immigrants will have to show hefty bank balances up to three months before even applying for their visas.
The funds in their banks should be such as to afford expenses for themselves and their families for their first month in Britain. Also, the funds should be in banks for a minimum of three months before applying for visas.
After Christians, ancient Nepal tribe fights for burial rights
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Illegal migrants entering Britain through bogus colleges: MPs
By IANS,
London : Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants may have entered Britain using visas obtained through bogus colleges but the government is doing little to track them down, says a group of British MPs.
The British parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee, which is chaired by ethnic Indian MP Keith Vaz, said up to 2,200 illegitimate colleges could have been operating until the government came up with stringent registration rules this March.
It said these colleges may have allowed the entry of illegal immigrants whose numbers "could be in the tens of thousands".
Will shifting geomagnetic field be Earth’s nemesis?
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The recent trouble with the International Space Station (ISS), caused by simple computer virus capable of stealing logins and passwords for computer games only, was a minor incident compared to possible environmental changes that could make space flights impossible.
They could also cripple aviation and television, and even put terrestrial life at risk.
Britain’s first state-funded Hindu school launched
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : Secular Britain's first state-funded Hindu school was launched Saturday with its head promising to promote religious harmony.
"We recognise and take our duty seriously in ensuring that we promote community cohesion, inclusion and value inter-cultural and religious diversity," promised head teacher Naina Parmar of the Krishna-Avanti Primary School Edgware, a northwest London suburb with a large ethnic Indian population.
Nepal ignores UN call on Charles Sobhraj
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Even as Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal returned to Kathmandu Monday after assuring the UN General Assembly that his government was "fully committed to the protection and promotion of human rights", the lawyer of country's best known prisoner said it had ignored a UN call about Charles Sobhraj.
British schoolboys get life for killing Asian man
By IANS,
London : Two British schoolboys with an alleged “nasty attitude” toward Asians have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the unprovoked killing of an Asian man in the town of Bolton.
Andrew Smith, now 16, and his friend Jason Bolton, 18, killed 28-year-old father of three Asaf Mahmood Ahmed in December last year in an attack that was not officially described as racist, but which police said had “racial overtones".
US teen birthrate nine times higher than Netherlands: study
By IANS,
Washington : The teen birthrate in the US is nearly nine times higher than that of the Netherlands, and four times that of France and Germany, according to a study.
Similarly, the US teen abortion rate is twice that of Germany and the Netherlands. America's teen gonorrhoea rate is 28 times greater than that in the Netherlands.
These startling statistics were in an analytical report released by Advocates for Youth, a Washington-based non-profit organisation, focusing on adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
18 terror attack suspects surrender in China
Beijing : As many as 18 suspects have surrendered to the police in connection with last month's terrorist attack in China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous...
New York’s Asian-Pacific origin students regularly harassed
By IANS,
New York : Nearly 85,000 high school students of Asian-Pacific origin in New York regularly face race-based harassment and the affect of this on their mental health is often overlooked due to the common belief that the community is a model minority group, a survey has found.
The survey of American students of Asian-Pacific origin was conducted in 12 public schools across New York. It was designed by the Asian American Student Advocacy Project (ASAP), a youth leadership project of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF).
China, US pledge to expand cooperation
By Xinhua,
Annapolis : China and the United States pledged to expand their mutual cooperation and strengthen economic and trade ties at the fourth round of their Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) here Tuesday.
"Due to the complicated, changeable nature of the current global economic and financial situation, both China and the US are facing a lot of challenges," visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan said at the opening session of the meeting, adding that the SED under such circumstances will have special significance for both the countries.
Dalai Lama not to attend session of exiles
By IANS,
Dharamsala : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is not attending a six-day special session of exiles at McLeodganj near here from Nov 17 to discuss the future of the Tibetan movement, an aide said Thursday.
The session was called by the government-in-exile that is based in northern India at the behest of the spiritual guru.
"He (the Dalai Lama) does not want to influence his opinion (on the Tibet movement) by participating or addressing the meeting," Thubten Samphel, a spokesperson for the government-in-exile told IANS.
Brazil murder suspect confesses to 41 other killings
Rio de Janeiro : A man arrested after the stabbing death of a woman in the Rio suburb of Nova Iguaçu has confessed to...
Six Ecuadorian soldiers killed in plane crash
By IANS,
Quito : Six soldiers were killed when the Ecuadorian military plane they were travelling in crashed, according to army sources.
The crash, which occurred Wednesday at around 130 km southeast of Quito, was the third air mishap in three months in the country, a Xinhua report said.
The previous two crashes did not cause any casualties.
Quake jolts Mexico
By IANS,
Mexico City : An undersea earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale rocked northwest Mexico Thursday, Xinhua reported.
NATO exercises in Georgia open provocation: Russia
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia Thursday said NATO's planned military exercises in Georgia next month are an "open provocation" and warned of negative consequences.
"NATO's plans to hold exercises in Georgia... are an open provocation. Exercises must not be held there where a war has been fought," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.
He also warned that the exercises could have negative consequences for those who made the decision to hold them.
Sri Lanka bans meetings inciting hatred among religions
Colombo : Sri Lanka Sunday announced a ban on public meetings and rallies which promote hatred among religions.
The ban will also apply to any...
New Zealand awakes to new centre-right government
By DPA,
Wellington : New Zealand awoke Sunday to the prospect of a new centre-right government to steer the country out of its worst recession for years after a general election dumped the Labour-led coalition that had ruled since 1999.
Saturday's election produced a sharp jump to the right, leaving prime minister-elect John Key, 47, leader of the conservative National Party, and his free market allies in the ACT party, to govern for the next three years.
Dissidents want EU to keep up pressure on Cuba
By IANS,
Havana : Cuban dissidents have called on the European Union (EU) not to definitively end its diplomatic measures imposed on the island's communist government in 2003, EFE news agency reported Wednesday.
"I'm glued to the radio to see what happens, and intrigued," said Oscar Espinosa Chepe, one of the 75 government opponents whose jailing in Spring 2003 prompted the EU to impose sanctions on the communist country.
Over 50,000 pregnant women affected in quake: UN
Kathmandu : Some 50,000 pregnant women were likely affected by the devastating earthquake in Nepal, a UN agency said on Tuesday.
Initial estimates by the...
Most pleasing result: New Zealand PM on third term
Wellington : New Zealand Prime Minister John Key Sunday termed the general election result that gave him a third consecutive term in parliament as...
White House celebrates Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary
By IANS,
Washington : After Diwali, the Obama White House for the first time celebrated Gurparab, Guru Nanak's birth anniversary, with about 125 Sikh men in colourful turbans and women in traditional Punjabi dress.
President Barack Obama himself was not present, but senior officials led by Christina M. Tchen, head of the White House office of Public Engagement, welcomed the guests to the executive mansion at the function last week.
Death toll reaches 13 as tropical storm “Halong” leaves Philippines
By Xinhua,
Manila : The death toll from tropical storm "Halong" reached 13 in the Philippines till Tuesday morning as it has left the archipelago, the country's national disaster relief agency said Tuesday.
In a report released on Tuesday morning, the Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said landslides and floods caused by "Halong", which at Monday noon entered the West Pacific from the Philippines, have left 13 people dead and 13 others injured, with another two children still missing.
Armed guards to protect British ships from pirates
By IANS,
London : Ships sailing under the British flag will now be able to carry armed guards to protect them from Somali pirates, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
Blast in China chemical plant kills four
By Xinhua,
Nanning (China) : At least four people were killed and about 44 injured in an explosion at a chemical plant in southwestern China Tuesday morning, officials said.
About 17 people were also missing since the blast inside the plant, owned by Guangxi Guangwei Chemical Co, in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said a source from the regional rescue headquarters.
More than 10,000 residents living within three kilometres of the plant were evacuated fearing more such explosions at the plant, the source said.
Thailand Embroiled in Political Crisis
By Prensa Latina,
Bangkok : The political crisis in Thailand increases Monday with the opposition surrounding the headquarters of the government, which refuses to resign while facing a condemnation in the Senate.
After increasing tensions since Friday, when a demonstration from the opposition alliance for Democracy reached that official headquarters, Prime Minister Samak Sundarajev stated Sunday he won't cede to those who demand his resignation.
New hotline between China and US
By Xinhua
Singapore : China will in September finalize issues concerning a hotline with the US for handling emergency situations, a senior Chinese military official told the Sixth Asia Security Summit here Saturday.
Climate summit stalled by most vulnerable countries
By Joydeep Gupta, IANS,
Copenhagen : Island nation Tuvalu led a group of developing countries in a walkout from the Dec 7-18 climate summit here Wednesday, forcing an unprecedented closure of the conference for a few hours.
Sri Lanka’s opposition alliance promises salary hike
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lanka's opposition alliance United National Front (UNF) has said it will raise the salaries of government employees if it comes to power in the April 8 parliamentary election, Xinhua reported.
The UNF is led by Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP).
In its poll manifesto, released Tuesday, the UNF pledged a hike of rupees 10,000 (about $87) in the salaries of government employees.
The salary will be increased gradually from a hike of rupees 3,500 with immediate effect, UNF leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told reporters.
Truce will end Jan 16, Sri Lanka tells Norway
By P.K. Balachandran, IANS
Colombo : Sri Lanka Thursday formally told peace facilitator Norway and the Nordic truce monitors that it would withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from Jan 16.
The mandatory 14 days' notice was given through a formal letter, which was handed over to the Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem by Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, an official statement said.
UN secretary general arrives in Sri Lanka
By DPA,
Colombo : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Sri Lanka late Friday night on a one day to assess the humanitarian needs of around 300,000 people displaced in the recent conflict with Tamil rebels in the north of the island, government officials said.
Ban arrived just after midnight local time and was due to spend Saturday visiting emergency camps for the displaced.
He will also meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, before leaving the country Saturday night.
Smokers face high fines in Hong Kong
By DPA
Hong Kong : Legislators on the city's health services panel Friday approved a proposal to impose a 1,500 Hong Kong dollar ($191) fixed fine for anyone who breaches tough new anti-smoking laws.
Office of Sri Lankan opposition news website attacked
By DPA,
Colombo : Attackers broke into the offices of an independent news website in Sri Lanka early Monday, setting fire to equipment and the premises, police said.
Congress favours ‘cessation of hostility’ in Sri Lanka
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Congress party Tuesday urged the Sri Lankan government to ensure "cessation of hostility" in the island nation and allow Tamil civilians to move out of the conflict zone.
"The Congress is deeply concerned about the fate of innocent Sri Lankan Tamils. We appeal the Sri Lankan government to ensure cessation of hostility and allow the innocent Tamils to move safely from the conflict zone to no-fire zone," Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters here.
Myanmar asks people to respond correctly to census
By IANS,
Yangon : Myanmar's Minister for Immigration and Population U Khin Yi has urged the country's people to answer questions on the 2014 national...
Pakistan among most corrupt nations: Transparency International
Islamabad, Sep 24 (IANS) The lack of anti-graft laws makes Pakistan one of the most corrupt nations in the world and is coming in the way of foreign investments in the country, global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) says.
"How can one expect from any donor to come forward to assist Pakistan from its current financial crisis, when there exists no law against corruption?" TI said in its 2009 Global Corruption Report released Wednesday.
El Salvador flood toll rises to 144
By EFE,
San Salvador : The toll in floods and mudslides caused by Hurricane Ida in El Salvador has risen to 144, officials said.
Thousands of people have been displaced after the storm hit the country last weekend.
Emergency officials said Tuesday 144 people have been killed in the deluge and 13,000 affected people have been shifted to temporary relief shelters.
Heavy rains continued in five of El Salvador's 14 provinces days after the devastating storm.