Taiwan’s top political leader starts China visit
By Xinhua,
Nanjing(China) : Wu Poh-hsiung, chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang(KMT) party, Monday arrived in the capital of China's southern province of Jiangsu as the first stop of his six-day mainland visit.
Invited by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and General Secretary Hu Jintao, Wu will also visit Beijing and Shanghai, marking the first highest ranking meeting between Taiwan and mainland China in more than six decades.
Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan work office of the Communist Party of China central committee, received him.
ITC joint venture Nepal’s second highest tax payer
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Despite growing labour trouble, tobacco giant ITC's joint venture in Nepal remains one of the top tax payers in the Himalayan republic, coming second after the state-run Nepal Telecom.
Surya Nepal, ITC's joint venture with British American Tobacco and private Nepali shareholders including members of Nepal's former royal family, was the second-highest tax payer in 2007-08, according to Nepal's apex bank Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
In the previous fiscal, too, it had the same spot.
ASEAN to help resolve Thai-Cambodian border dispute
By Xinhua,
Singapore : Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will help member states Thailand and Cambodia end the tense border dispute over an ancient temple, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said on Tuesday.
Surin said that foreign ministers will look into the real situation in the border area. ASEAN has urged Thailand and Cambodia to exercise utmost restraint and resolve peacefully their border dispute.
Flood death toll rises to 79 in northern Vietnam
By Xinhua,
Hanoi : Flash floods in some Vietnamese northern provinces caused by a storm since Friday have killed 79 local people and left 39 others missing, according to the country's Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control on Sunday.
The flash floods also injured 16 others in the eight provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Can and Lang Son.
Strong quake near Guam
By Xinhua
Tokyo : An earthquake measuring an estimated 7.1 on the Richter Scale Sunday hit areas near Guam, an island in the western Pacific Ocean, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
The quake occurred at around 11.09 a.m. (0209 GMT). Its epicentre was 30 km underground at 10.6 degrees northern latitude and 145.9 degrees eastern longitude, the agency said. No casualties were reported.
Iran, US hold nuclear talks
Geneva : Senior Iranian and US officials Thursday met in Geneva to continue negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme.
The US State Department Thursday said in...
India withdraws tsunami alert, but emergency steps stay
By IANS
New Delhi : India withdrew the tsunami warning late Wednesday evening, hours after it sounded an alert along its coastal belt in the wake of 8.1-magnitude earthquake in Indonesia. Emergency arrangements, however, continued to be in place, officials said.
"The Indonesian tsunami warning centre has withdrawn the warning and there is no point in our keeping it. The possibility of a tsunami hitting the Indian coast was over by 8.30 p.m.," said A.K. Shukla, a seismologist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here.
Obama considers levy on big banks
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama is considering a tax on large banks bailed out with government money, media reports said Tuesday.
The idea was to recover as much of the losses as possible from a $700-billion bail-out fund set up to rescue US banks in 2008, officials told The New York Times. The losses were estimated as high as $120 billion.
The new taxes, or fees, could be included in the budget Obama is to submit to Congress in early February, The Washington Post and Bloomberg financial news service reported.
Russia ready to boost energy supplies to Japan
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Russia is ready to invest in huge new infrastructure projects to help meet Japan’s growing requirements for hydrocarbon resources, President Vladimir Putin has said.
Lesotho King happy with Cuba visit
By NNN-Prensa Latina
Havana : King of Lesotho Letsie III is expected to conclude on Friday his first official visit to Cuba, where he held top-level talks with the aim of enhancing bilateral ties.
On his stay, the African monarch met with Cuban First Vice President Raul Castro, Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon, Vice President Carlos Lage and Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.
Will continue to support Europe in crisis: China
By IANS,
Beijing : China will be part of the global community's efforts to provide help to deal with European debt crisis, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Tuesday.
Serbia rejects anew Kosovo”s independence
By KUNA
Vienna : Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic Tuesday rejected anew the independence of Kosovo, saying it was illegal and a violation of the Serbian sovereighty and territorial integrity.
Jeremic, addressing an urgent meeting of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), held here at the Serbian request, said Belgrade would not recognize the independence of the province.
Vuvuzela gets entry in Oxford English Dictionary
By DPA,
London : The vuvuzela, the horn instrument which became the sound of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, has won an entry in the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary due to be published Thursday.
The dictionary, which is based on how language is really used, defines the horn as a long plastic instrument, in the shape of a trumpet, that makes a very loud noise when you blow it and is popular with football fans in South Africa.
‘Religious freedom, related human rights in India under constant threat,’ says US body
The USCIRF report examines how various policies adopted and implemented by the Indian government have cultivated an environment that is increasingly hostile toward...
Airbus denies A380 model has technical defect
By Xinhua
Paris : The European plane manufacturer Airbus has denied reports alleging the A380 model, the world's largest passenger plane, has a technical problem with its emergency evacuation chute.
All A380 evacuation chutes must be reviewed "after several flights" only, the German daily newspaper Stern reported Saturday.
Seven killed, 70 hurt in Thai bombings
By IANS,
Bangkok : At least seven people were killed and more than 70 injured Saturday in three serial bomb explosions in Thailand, officials said.
Fridges that run without electricity!
By Venkata Vemuri, IANS,
London : An Oxford electrical engineer has come up with a refrigerator that runs without electricity. Not his own idea. He has based it on a model invented by Albert Einstein in 1930.
Einstein and his colleague, Hungarian physicist Leo Szilard, patented a fridge that had no moving parts and used only pressurised gases to keep things cold.
The idea is to eventually stop using modern refrigerators, which use gas that harm the environment. They work by compressing and expanding man-made greenhouse gases called freons - far more damaging that carbon dioxide.
Nepal Maoists fail to form government within deadline
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's former Maoist guerrillas Tuesday failed to meet the seven-day presidential deadline given to them to form a new government, raising grave doubts about the possibility of a government under their stewardship.
The former rebels, who managed a stunning victory in the election four months ago, will now ask President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to extend the deadline by three more days.
The president had last Tuesday given them a week to prove their strength in the caretaker parliament and form the new government.
US excited to partner with Modi: Official
New Delhi: US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal Monday said America was excited to partner with Prime Minister...
Hyderabad-born elected co-chair of Iowa Republican party
Washington: Hyderabad-born Indian-American businessman Gopal T.K. Krishna has been elected as co-chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa state, which has traditionally held the...
28 dead, 44 hurt in Bolivia bus accident
By IANS/EFE,
La Paz : At least 28 people were killed and 44 injured when a bus plunged into a ravine in Bolivia, police said.
The bus carrying 70 passengers was travelling from the central city of Cochabamba to the southwestern city of Potosi when it went off the road near the Pongo K'asa area around 1.30 a.m. Sunday after the brakes failed, said Cochabamba police commander Col. Hernan Trujillo.
The driver's assistant told passengers to move into the back of the bus because the brakes were not working, injured passengers said.
Nikkei hits four-month low on Wall Street fall
By DPA,
Tokyo : Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average hit a four-month low Friday after Wall Street plunged overnight and the yen advanced against the US dollar.
The benchmark Nikkei index plunged 260.39 points, or 3.5 percent, to close at 7,173.1 after it gained nearly 2 percent the previous day on hopes in China's expected economic stimulus measures.
The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 20.16 points, or 2.72 percent, to 721.39.
Obama to be sworn in using the Lincoln Bible
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Barack Obama will take the oath of office as the 44th president of the US using the same Bible upon which Abraham Lincoln was sworn in at his first inauguration, the presidential inauguration committee announced Tuesday.
Obama will be the first president sworn in using the Lincoln Bible since its initial use in 1861 when Lincoln became the 16th president. It is currently part of the collections of the Library of Congress
Blair to resign on June 27; Brown set to take over
By Prasun Sonwalkar
IANS
London : Tony Blair Thursday signalled the beginning of the end of what has come to be known as the 'Blair era' during which he was hailed as a political hero as well as a villain as the prime minister for Britain's role in Iraq.
Fugitive mafia boss held after using Facebook
By IANS/AKI,
Isola Capo Rizzuto (Italy) : One of the Italian mafia's most wanted members has been arrested thanks to his use of the social networking website Facebook.
Police arrested Pasquale Manfredi, an alleged mafia killer, in the southern Calabrian town of Isola Capo Rizzuto, after they pinpointed his location via his frequent visits to Facebook using a prepaid pen drive.
Thirty-three-year-old Manfredi, knicknamed 'Scarface', had been on the run since last November and was among the country's 100 'most dangerous' fugitives.
30 people killed in Mogadishu fighting
By Xinhua,
Mogadishu : Nearly 30 people were killed and many more wounded Monday when the African Union (AU) peacekeeping forces opened fired on a minibus in the Somalian capital, an official said.
"The forces (AU peacekeepers) came under a roadside bomb attack and one of their vehicles was hit, but unfortunately they opened fire indiscriminately at the civilians, killing 30 and wounding many more," Abdelfatah Ibrahim Shaweey, deputy mayor of Mogadishu, said.
Zapatero set to win Spanish elections, exit polls show
By DPA
Madrid : Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialists were set for a clear victory in Sunday's general elections, according to three exit polls after polling stations closed.
One of the polls even said Zapatero's Socialist Party could reach the absolute majority of 176 seats.
The opposition conservative People's Party (PP) was given between 145 and 152 seats in the 350-member parliament.
Islamophobia escalating in UK prisons, says human rights group
By IRNA,
London : The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Saturday expressed deep concern about an ever-increasing complaints it as been receiving from Muslim prisons suffering from Islamophobia in British jails.
"The problem is widespread, our caseload is not limited to Whitemoor, Belmarsh and Frankland (top security prisons)," IHRC chair Massoud Shadjareh said.
Complaints ranged from the desecration of the holy Qur'an, strip searching male inmates in the presence of female guards armed with video cameras, removal of legal papers and use of dogs amongst other mistreatment.
Malta alerted Libya of 1986 US bombing: ex-premier
By DPA,
Valletta (Malta) : It was Malta, and not Italy, which tipped off Libya of the US bombing raid in April 1986, former Maltese Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici insisted Sunday.
He told Malta Today newspaper: "An hour before the bombing, we had informed Libyan air traffic controllers that unidentified, unauthorised planes were approaching their region."
The attack killed Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi's 15-month old adopted daughter and some 40 civilians, and injured 226 other people.
Obamas settle in to Washington luxury hotel
By DPA,
Washington : Barack Obama may not become president until Jan 20, but starting Sunday the president-elect and his family are at home in Washington.
Obama Sunday joined his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Malia and Sasha, at the luxurious Hay-Adams Hotel just steps from the White House. Michelle Obama and the girls moved into the hotel Saturday, one day earlier than planned, to allow them to settle in before starting school Monday, the Washington Post reported.
At least 48 killed as tornadoes strike US
By DPA
Washington : Dozens of tornadoes in the southern US have killed at least 48 people and injured dozens more on the largest election day to date in the 2008 presidential race, according to media reports.
The 67 twisters forced early closure of election stations Tuesday night across some of the worst hit states - Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi - and ploughed down power lines.
The collision of warm and cold weather fronts - unusual for the wintertime - was blamed for the havoc.
China launches emergency response after Tibet quake
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China Tuesday launched an emergency response operation in Tibet after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Himalayan region Monday killing at least 30 people.
A team of officers from meteorological and disaster relief departments under the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) has been sent to assess the level of damage caused by the quake in Damxung county near regional capital Lhasa.
Ride Manila metro to read Spanish poetry
By EFE,
Manila : The passengers on the bustling Manila metro can now read the verses of Pablo Neruda, Luis Cernuda, Lope de Vega and San Juan de la Cruz while travelling, thanks to a campaign to promote reading.
The campaign was launched in the Philippine capital by the Cervantes Institute and the Spanish Embassy.
Bush bars release of Cheney’s interview with investigators
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday blocked the release of Vice President Dick Cheney's interview with investigators probing the leak of a CIA agent's identity.
He invoked executive privilege to keep that document secret, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.
Bush asserted the privilege claim at the request of Attorney General Michael Mukasey, who has been under pressure from a congressional committee to turn over the transcript of Cheney's interview.
Myanmar president pledges lasting peace
Yangon: Myanmar President U Thein Sein has pledged to move towards lasting peace in the country, saying it is vital to bring a dialogue...
Democrats push public health insurance option in new bill
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Top House Democrats have upped the ante over President Barack Obama's healthcare reform with a new sweeping legislation that includes a highly controversial public health insurance option.
The nearly 2,000-page bill - a combination of three versions passed by House committees - unveiled Thursday would cost $894 billion over 10 years to extend insurance coverage to 36 million uncovered Americans, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
IS releases 19 abducted Christian Assyrians
Damascus: The Islamic State (IS) militants on Sunday released 19 Christian Assyrians they had kidnapped last month, a monitoring group reported.
The 19 people are...
Dutch ING Group to cut 7,000 jobs
By DPA,
Amsterdam : Dutch banking and insurance group ING Monday announced it plans to cut 7,000 jobs and that its chief executive Michel Tilmant is to step down.
ING, in a statement, said the job cuts should save 1 billion euros ($1.287 billion). The financial giant is expecting a loss of 0.4 billion euros for 2008.
The group's banking division retained a net profit of 0.5 billion euros but its insurance division is expected to post a 0.9-billion-euro loss, according to the statement.
US plans to sell arms to Iraq, Turkey
By Xinhua
Washington : The US Defence Department has notified Congress that it plans to sell small arms ammunition and explosives worth over $500 million to Iraq and missiles costing $71 million to Turkey.
EU rejects travel ban, world looks for flu measures
By IANS,
Brussels : European Union (EU) member states will share their stocks of anti-viral medicines if one of their number is hard hit by the new swine flu virus, EU health ministers decided Thursday.
But the ministers rejected a French proposal to ban all flights from the EU to Mexico, the source of the outbreak, saying that this would not be effective.
Brown sets nine conditions for use of intercept evidence
London, Feb 6, IRNA ,Prime Minister Gordon Brown Wednesday gave a tentative go ahead for the limited use in court of evidence gained from bugging suspects, provided that nine conditions were met.
The approval comes as the result of a review that said intercept evidence was needed in some cases in England and Wales for security reasons.
But it added that the material gained should not be used against the wishes of the intelligence agencies collecting it, or if it could have been gained in another way among other conditions.
Donald Trump elected 45th US President
Washington : Republican Donald Trump was on Wednesday elected the new US President, defeating forecasters who had predicted a Hillary Clinton win in one...
UNESCO puts Cuba on Sports Committee
By NNN-Prensa Latina
Paris, France : Cuba was unanimously elected as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sports of the UNESCO, during the 34th UN General Conference.
Arnaldo Rivero, director of the Cuban National Sports, Physical Education and Recreation Institute, told Prensa Latina that this is a recognition of the country's work, dedication and efforts.
"We have presented several initiatives and strategies in the course of the years to develop sports, always well received within the UNESCO," Rivero stated.
Millions in Colorado basin to face water shortage: Study
By IANS,
Washington : Warmer weather and a growing population may in a few decades cause a water shortage for 40 million people who depend on the Colorado river in the US, researchers say.
17 died in New Year fires across Russia
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : At least 17 people, including three children, died in separate fire incidents across Russia during New Year celebrations, local emergencies services said.
Zambian xenophobic victims in South Africa swell to 149
By Xinhua,
Lusaka : The number of Zambians who are homeless in South Africa following the xenophobic attacks in that country has risen to 149 from about 109 recorded on Friday last week, Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha said Monday.
He said the government is making arrangements through the Zambian High Commission in South Africa to facilitate the return of about 30 Zambians who have expressed interest in coming back.
Shikapwasha said in Central Province that the xenophobic attacks in South Africa have continued to be a source of worry.
Many feared dead in Uzbekistan blasts
By RIA Novosti,
Tashkent : Several people were feared dead or injured as a series of explosions ripped apart a Soviet-era arms depot in southern Uzbekistan overnight, the Fergana news agency reported.
The agency said the blasts at the depot situated in the town of Kagan started in the early hours of Thursday, sending artillery shells shooting into the air.
"There are fatalities and injuries but their number is not yet known," the report said.
Nepal highlights security, stronger ties at Saarc summit
Kathmandu : Nepal as the new chair of Saarc will focus on connectivity, security and eradicating extreme poverty, said Prime Minister Sushil Koirala Wednesday.
Speaking...
Iran parliament to discuss bill reducing cooperation with IAEA
By DPA,
Hamburg : The Iranian parliament is to discuss a bill on reducing cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Fars news agency reported Saturday.
Parliament deputy Hami-Reza Fouladgar told Fars that the bill will be raised Sunday in parliament with the aim of revising and reducing cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog following this week's UN resolution against the Islamic state.
The UN Security Council Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favour of its fourth sanctions resolution against Iran.
UK faces prospect of more airline disruptions
By IRNA,
London : Millions of airline passengers face the prospect of more travel disruption following a vote by firefighters, security guards and ground staff at London Heathrow and five other airports over a pay dispute.
The result of a ballot of more than 6,000 workers at airports operated by the British Airports Authority (BAA) is not expected until Thursday, but their union, Unite, has warned it will move swiftly towards industrial action if members vote in favour.
5.6 magnitude earthquake hits New Zealand’s North Island
By Xinhua,
Wellington : An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale struck New Zealand North Island's Bay of Plenty region on Sunday afternoon, GNS Science said.
The quake struck 20 km north of Rotorua at a depth of 200 km at12:13 p.m. local time (23:13 GMT Saturday), the New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) said.
It was likely to have been felt along the east coast of the North Island.
Preparatory meetings for the European summit to begin Monday
By KUNA,
Brussels : The Council of the European Union (EU) will begin here Monday its preparatory meetings for the European summit to be held on December 11 and 12.
A source from the council told KUNA that the two-day meetings of Foreign, Defense, and Development ministers will discuss international issues, the world economic crisis, and European defense and security policies.
Japan”s industrial production down 9.4 percent in February
By KUNA,
TOKYO : Japan's industrial production in February fell 9.
4 percent from the previous month due to slumping exports of cars and high-tech goods, the government said Monday.
Factory output, the measure of how many goods manufacturers are making, plunged for the fifth month in a row, the longest slump since November 2001 with indexes falling in all 16 industrial sectors except oil and coal products, according to preliminary data released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.
Hitler’s war record published online
By IANS,
London : Adolf Hitler's war record is among hundreds of thousands of First World War documents to be published on an online archive, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.
Among the soldiers named is 25-year-old Lance Corporal Adolf Hitler, described as an artist, of Catholic religion.
Ancestry.co.uk said the records detail the full military careers of 1.5 million Bavarian soldiers and were originally held by the Bavarian State Archives.
Individual records detail the name, rank, date and place of birth, service record, religion, occupation and other information.
EU Commissioner congratulates Nepalese people for clam and orderly polls
By KUNA
Brussels : EU Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, congratulated Saturday the Nepalese people For holding a "calm, orderly and well-organised elections" held on Thursday.
"I congratulate the Nepalese people for their strong commitment to the democratic process in their country. I encourage everybody to remain calm and patiently await the election results, she said in a statement.
UN Secty General: Act on Climate Change
By Prensa Latina
United Nations : United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called on Wednesday to maintain the push given by the Conference of Bali to fight climate changes, and urged practical actions.
In his message to the Monaco conference of 100 nations seekingfinancing for technologies to fight climate change, Ban Ki Moon said ó We ó ve got22 months before the convention in Copenhagen,where we hope we get a new agreement in our struggle against climate change. ó
Six killed in Malaysian chopper crash
Kuala Lumpur: Six people were killed when a civilian helicopter crashed in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Xinhua reported.
At least two bodies...
24 mn Chinese men won’t be able to find spouses in 2020
By IANS,
Beijing : Some 24 million Chinese men may fail to find spouses in 2020 due to low birth rate of women, a media report said Monday.
China Daily said that according to a report of the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS) more inter-generational marriages with wives being older than their husband will emerge.
"People's minds have changed a lot during the last 20 years. Young couples don't want to have a second child, or just live a DINK (Double Income No Kid) life," Yan Hua of CASS was quoted as saying.
My dream is to climb Everest, says Hillary’s granddaughter
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Her grandfather Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to conquer Mt Everest, the highest peak in the world, with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa more than five decades ago.
Inspired by the feat, her father, Hillary's son Peter Hillary, too ascended the 8,848m summit.
Now the third generation of the New Zealander Hillarys, whose name has become synonymous with the world's best loved mountain, says her dream is to reach the top of the peak in the footsteps of her grandfather and father.
China offers $16 mn to UN food agency for Somalia
By IANS,
Beijing : China has donated $16 million to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to support its famine-relief operations in Somalia, the WFP said.
Mobile phones may make planes crash: Study
By IANS,
London: A mobile phone when kept on during a flight can actually disrupt the plane's electronic systems and eventually lead to a crash, a study says.
Wall Street gain in last day of trading for year
By DPA,
New York : US stocks finished the year with gains Wednesday as weekly unemployment figures dropped, but Wall Street still ended the year with its steepest slide since the Great Depression.
Unemployment claims fell by 94,000 this week, the lowest level in two months, Bloomberg financial news reported.
China for closer cooperation with Russia
By Xinhua,
Washington : Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for closer China-Russia cooperation to maintain stability in their financial markets in the wake of the global economic meltdown.
Hu made the remarks Saturday during a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the G-20 summit on the global economic crisis.
Noting the severity of the financial crisis, Hu said "the situation remains grim". He said that it will have serious impact on economic growth and people's lives worldwide, Hu said.
US agrees to nuclear deal with North Korea
By DPA
Washington : The US has approved a tentative deal with North Korea that would require Pyongyang to disable its nuclear reactor and detail all aspects of its nuclear work, the US State Department said.
The deal was reached during six-nation talks over the weekend in Beijing. After two days of breaks in the talks for the countries to brief leaders on the deal back home, the US has informed China it has accepted the arrangement.
India beat Afghanistan to win SAFF title
Thiruvananthapuram: Skipper Sunil Chhetri struck in extra-time to enable India claim their seventh SAFF Championship title by defeating a spirited Afghanistan 2-1 in a...
Senior Russian politician calls US sanctions ‘blackmail’
Moscow: Moscow Monday slammed a US decision to introduce sanctions against several Russian politicians over the Ukrainian crisis, labeling the sanctions a " political...
Guatemalan court issues arrest warrant for ex-president
By IANS/EFE,
Guatemala City : A Guatemalan court has issued an arrest warrant for former president Alfonso Portillo, who is being investigated for corruption and whose extradition has been requested by the US so that he can be brought to trial there for money laundering, judicial officials said.
The arrest warrant for Portillo, who was extradited from Mexico in 2008, was issued by a criminal court judge.
Obhrai takes oath as parliamentary secretary in Canada
By IANS,
Toronto : Five-time Indian-Canadian MP Deepak Obhrai has taken oath as the parliamentary secretary to the Canadian minister of foreign affairs.
Obhrai, who represents the East Calgary constituency in the Canadian House of Commons, was holding the same position in the last cabinet.
"I am honoured and privileged that the prime minister chose once again to reassign me to this portfolio," said Obhrai.
Congratulating Obhrai after the oath-taking ceremony Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: "Deepak, you know what to do. I know you will do a good job."
One Diwali, two Malaysian Indian political organisers
By IANS,
Ipoh (Malaysia) : Two Malaysian Indian politicians here are vying to host the Diwali festival, which is the biggest celebration of the year for the Indian community.
Ipoh's Little India is emerging as a battleground for Perak state's executive councillor A. Sivanesan, who is from the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat, and an equally determined Perak chief of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) G. Rajoo.
Six children killed in bus-train collision in France
By KUNA,
Paris : Up to six children were killed and about 30 others were wounded Monday when a train crashed into a school bus in the French Alps.
According to media reports, the bus, carrying 50 children and five adults, was on a school trip to Lake Geneva when a local train crashed into it.
The reports added that three of the wounded are in critical condition.
French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau are heading for the site, as well as the head of the national railway, the reports indicated.
Sobhraj plans luxury bath, visit to gurdwara, if freed
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : With Nepal's Supreme Court informing that the final verdict on the more than 30-year-old murder case, that can put Charles Sobhraj behind bars here for life, would be delivered Sunday, the notorious criminal has started planning the things he would do if the judges pronounce him not guilty.
Seven children killed in bus-train collision in France
By DPA,
Paris : Seven schoolchildren were killed Monday when a regional train slammed into their schoolbus in the Upper Savoy region of southeast France, local police said.
In addition, 25 people were injured in the accident, which occurred at a level crossing near Mesinges, on the railway line between Annemasse and Thonon-les-Bains. Three of the injured were said to be in grave condition.
All of the injured were taken to hospitals in Thonon-les-Bains and Geneva, a spokeswoman for the local Upper Savoy government said.
MDC to attend controversial opening of Zimbabwe’s parliament
By DPA,
Harare : Newly elected legislators of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the main party opposing President Robert Mugabe's ZANU(PF), will attend the controversial opening of Zimbabwe's new parliament next week, a spokesman said Friday.
"We are gathering on Sunday and we will get sworn in on Monday at 10 a.m.," said Eddie Cross, an MDC member of parliament from the western city of Bulawayo.
"Then at the first sitting Monday afternoon, we will vote in a new speaker," Cross said.
Canadians would vote Obama than own leaders: survey
By IANS,
Toronto : In a severe indictment of their own national leadership, Canadians say they would rather vote for Barack Obama than their own leaders, according to a new survey.
Reporting the findings of the survey conducted for it by an outside organization, Canadian Television said Sunday that the US presidential candidate was more popular among Canadians than Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Opposition leader Stephane Dion.
Russia blocks UN draft on Georgia
By RIA Novosti,
United Nations : Russia has blocked a UN Security Council draft resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia, saying the document contradicts a previously agreed peace plan.
The draft, submitted Tuesday by France on behalf of the European Union and backed by the US, did not go to a vote at the Security Council, where Russia has the power of veto.
Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said: "The Russian Federation cannot support this... Putting it to a vote would be a waste of time."
In final campaign swing, McCain claims momentum
By DPA,
Washington : Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Tuesday he has regained momentum and expressed confidence that he would overtake Democrat Barack Obama when all the ballots are counted.
"I feel momentum," McCain said in one of his final rallies in Grand Junction, Colorado, before polling stations close Tuesday evening. "We are going to win this election, we are going to win it right here in Colorado."
China to maintain regional autonomy for ethnic minorities: Hu
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China said Sunday it will maintain regional autonomy for ethnic minorities on the basis of equality and unity.
Regional autonomy for ethnic minorities is basic to China's political system, and the government will continue to abide by this system, President Hu Jintao told a group of Japanese newspersons.
Hu was answering questions from reporters from 16 Japanese media organizations. He said the system of regional autonomy for ethnic minorities was prescribed in China's constitution.
13 children injured in China wall collapse
By IANS,
Beijing : Thirteen children and a teacher were injured when a wall at a privately-run kindergarten in northwest China's Shaanxi province collapsed, an official said Wednesday.
Tory Party to limit British population
By IANS,
London : The leader of Britain's main opposition party says he will check migration and keep the country's population below the 70 million level if he wins the next general election.
Conservative Party leader David Cameron said Sunday he will limit net immigration to "tens of thousands" per year. The figure reached 163,000 in 2008.
Cameron said that he thought net immigration of 200,000 a year - or two million a decade - was "too much".
"We would like to see net immigration in the tens of thousands rather than the hundreds of thousands," he told BBC television.
Raul Castro offers talks with next US administration
By Xinhua
Havana : Cuba's acting leader Raul Castro has offered to hold talks with Washington once the current US administration is gone.
"If the new US administration finally puts aside their arrogance and decides to talk in a civilised fashion, that would be very welcome," he said Thursday while addressing the country's traditional National Revolutionary Day ceremony in Camaguey, 533 km southeast of the Cuban capital.
Havana : Cuba's acting leader Raul Castro has offered to hold talks with Washington once the current US administration is gone.
"If the new US administration finally puts aside their arrogance and decides to talk in a civilised fashion, that would be very welcome," he said Thursday while addressing the country's traditional National Revolutionary Day ceremony in Camaguey, 533 km southeast of the Cuban capital.
Man charged with kidnapping 5-year girl in New Zealand
By Xinhua,
Wellington : A 25-year-old man was charged with the kidnapping of Auckland girl Cina Ma on Saturday, Radio New Zealand reported.
The five-year-old was seized while playing outside her Auckland home on Monday afternoon. She returned to her family on Friday unhurt.
The accused, a Chinese national, appeared at North Shore District Court on Saturday morning and was charged with unlawfully carrying off the girl with intent to hold her for ransom.
Memon’s execution misguided attempt to tackle terror: Amnesty
New Delhi : The execution of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon on Thursday is a "misguided attempt to prevent terrorism", Amnesty International...
Myanmar says draft constitution not to be amended
By Xinhua
Yangon : Myanmar Friday told the visiting UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari that the draft constitution will not be amended and the government is committed to continue its seven-step roadmap to democracy.
Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan, a high-ranking officer of the Myanmar government, announced the decision after meeting Gambari, who is in Myanmar in a renewed effort for the country's national reconciliation and democratic process.
India beat Bangladesh in third ODI
Mirpur : India came back strongly on Wednesday to dominate with an all-round performance and win their third One-Day International against Bangladesh by 77...
China claims smashing Xinjiang terror ring
By IANS,
Beijing: China has smashed a terror group that killed 17 people in an attack in Xinjiang region two years back, Xinhua reported Thursday quoting a security ministry official.
The group was involved in the attack targeting border police in Kashgar city in Xinjiang that killed 17 people and injured 15 in 2008, Wu Heping, a spokesman with the ministry of public security told a press conference Thursday.
Thousands stranded at Bangkok airport besieged by protestors
By DPA,
Bangkok : Thousands of travellers were stranded at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport Wednesday after their flights were cancelled by a siege on the facility by anti-government protestors.
Serirath Pasutanond, Airports of Thailand director in charge of Suvarnabhumi, estimated that 3,000 passengers had missed their flights after the airport was forced to stop departing flights Tuesday night.
Altogether, 73 flights, including 43 arriving aircraft and 30 departures, had been "impacted", Sirirath said.
Heavy rains pound Hong Kong, causing floods and landslides
By SPA,
Hong Kong : Heavy rains triggered floods and landslides in Hong Kong on Saturday, shutting down roads and air traffic in the territory, officials said.
Rescuers were still searching late Saturday for two people believed trapped after a roadside store collapsed in torrential rains in the New Territories suburb, authorities said.
The heavy rainfall has loosened the mud. There's a chance of further landslides. It makes the operation more difficult, fire commander Tam Yiu-kei said.
Life on Mars found but destroyed by mistake
By IANS,
London: Bungling NASA scientists are believed to have found tiny live microbes on Mars - but mistakenly killed them by boiling them alive, a media report said Saturday.
Clinton hammers on Obama’s gun, religion remarks
By Pat Reber, DPA,
Washington : Pennsylvania, site of the next clash over the Democratic presidential nomination, is a state of somewhat-rusting industry and farming spread among small towns where people go to church Sundays and love to hunt and fish.
In recent weeks, Senator Barack Obama, 46, has been steadily closing on the double-digit lead that Senator Hillary Clinton, 60, once held among the working-class, largely white Democratic voters of the state - one of the last hopes for rescuing her floundering candidacy.
‘Good sub-continental ties vital for South Asia’s economic development’
By IANS,
Islamabad: Good sub-continental ties are vital not only for the economic development of Pakistan and India but also for the entire South Asian region, the outgoing head of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Thursday.
Delivering his farewell address at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tariq Saeed said that though India was emerging as a strong economy, it could never become an economic power without normalising its relations with Pakistan, Online news agency reported.
Hindu prayer opens Idaho state senate session amid protest
New York : For the first time the opening prayer for the Idaho state senate was said Tuesday by a Hindu cleric amid protests...
Nikkei down five percent on concerns over global economy
By Xinhua,
Tokyo : Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower Tuesday morning with the key Nikkei index sinking 5.16 percent and falling below the 8,000 mark due to growing market concerns over the global economic outlook.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index shed 432.94 points to 7,964.28 in the first 16 minutes of trading.
The Topix index on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 35.72 points, or 4.32 percent, to 791.75.
UN begins review of its climate panel work
By IANS,
United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has announced an independent review of its Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that faced flak due to some wrong predictions in a report on the impact of global warming.
A comprehensive and independent revision of the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be carried out by InterAcademy Council, an international scientific organisation of the UN, Ban said Wednesday.
Chinese premier encourages renovation to boost industry in country’s Muslim region
By Xinhua,
YINCHUAN : Premier Wen Jiabao encouraged local workers and farmers to work harder to boost industrial and agricultural development of the landlocked Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northwest China.
During a recent inspection tour to this largest Muslim region of the country, the premier visited major industrial projects and enterprises, commodity grain, vegetable production and other farming bases.
81 dead, 19 hurt in Chile prison fire
By DPA,
Santiago : A fire at a prison in the Chilean capital of Santiago killed 81 inmates Wednesday, officials said.
PETA names Madonna as worst dressed celebrity
By IANS,
London : American pop star Madonna, who recently released her clothing line, has been named the worst dressed celebrity by the animal rights group PETA.
"When you see Madonna in fur, you realise why nobody has copied her style since 1984. We know she is on the prowl for a young cub, but someone needs to tell her that wearing fur doesn't make you big," femalefirst.com quoted a PETA spokesperson as saying.
Joining Madonna on the list are actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, rapper Kanye West, actress Liz Hurley and twin sisters - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Colombian rebels kill three police officers
By IANS
Bogota : Three police officers have been killed in an attack on a police station by leftist guerrillas in the south-western Colombian province of Cauca even as the outfit early this week freed three of their hostages in a gesture to resume peace talks.
According to authorities, the Revolutionary Armed Forces Colombia (FARC) rebels attacked the police station Tuesday in Toribio causing the fatalities, Spain's EFE news agency reported Thursday.
Nepal Maoists Out of Government
By Prensa Latina,
Katmandu : The Communist Party of Nepal Maoist (CPN-M) refused to join the new-born republic which it should have led as majority winner of the April presidential race.
CPN-M Leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal made the announcement following a meeting of the Secretariat that choose to become the opposition, climing the other three parties are colluding against it.
The CPN-M fought the monarchy from 1996 to 2006 until it joined a political agreement in 2006 and traded bullets for ballots to emerge winner of April's referendum against all odds.
Poll shows Bush’s approval rating hits new low
By Xinhua
Washington :Â The latest Newsweek poll found U.S. President George W. Bush's approval rating has hit a record low, with only 26 percent of the respondents endorsing him.
    Meanwhile, a record high 65 percent disapprove of him, including nearly a third of Republicans, according to poll results released by the Newsweek website on Thursday.
British anti-terror hunt nets Batman, rat hunter
By IANS,
London: Police have arrested 13 people on terror charges ahead of the London Olympics but also netted two unlikely suspects - a man dressed as Batman and a 71-year-old rat catcher.
Anti-War Rally against Republicans
By Prensa Latina,
Washington : Thousands of US citizens are attending on Monday an anti-war rally initiating a set of protests against the National Republican Convention to be held in St. Paul, Minnesota.
According to activists, the citizens are walking the streets of St. Paul protesting against the wars orchestrated by President George W. Bush and his aggressive foreign policy.
Child protection experts head to China
By KUNA,
London : A British-based charity is sending child protection experts to China in an attempt to help young people cope with the trauma caused by the earthquake, it was announced here Wednesday.
"Save the Children" said the advisers would be part of an international team offering expertise on how best to deal with the stress caused by the disaster and its aftermath. The charity said it had signed an agreement with the Chinese Red Cross to set up "child friendly" spaces in temporary shelters in Deyang and Mianyang, two of the worst affected areas.
30 killed in Indonesian military plane crash
Jakarta: At least 30 people were killed on Tuesday when a Hercules C-130 military cargo aircraft crashed into a residential area in Medan city...
Greek PM thanks finance minister who quit
Athens : Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras thanked Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis on Monday for his "ceaseless efforts" to defend the interests of...
‘Slumdog’ kids shine as stars arrive for big Oscar night
By DPA,
Los Angeles : Hollywood's stars turned out Sunday for the movie industry's biggest night of the year, strolling into a glittering Oscar ceremony that aimed to lift the economic gloom hanging over the film industry.
The stars started rolling up more than an hour before the late afternoon ceremony, with Australian actor Hugh Jackman as host.
Despite all the big names strutting down the most famous red carpet in the world, it was the young stars of Oscar favourite "Slumdog Millionaire", led by Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, who made the strongest impact.
North Korea speeds up its missile programme: Russian source
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : New test launches of short-range missiles by North Korea prove that the Communist regime has plans to continue with its missile programme, a high-ranking Russian defence source said.
Mexico-Venezuela Ties Rock Solid
By Prensa Latina
Mexico : Venezuelan Ambassador to Mexico Roy Chaderton said on Friday that the links between Mexico and Venezuela are strong enough to resist earthquakes.
"The relations are being built on solid bases and we are doing a fine job," he pointed out.
In his statements to the press, he said that everything is going fine, thanks to the diplomatic work by both countries.
He also mentioned a possible meeting between Presidents Hugo Chavez and Felipe Calderon next year, but a date for the meeting has not yet been set.
South Korea to take ship sinking to UN
By DPA,
Seoul : South Korea aims to take the issue of the suspected sinking of a naval vessel by North Korea to the UN Security Council, a presidential spokesman said Sunday.
The spokesman said President Lee Myung Bak was to announce this and other measures against North Korea in a speech Monday.
In recent days Lee has accused North Korea of staging a "military provocation" in the sinking of the 1,200-tonne corvette Cheonan in the Yellow Sea March 26, killing 46 South Korean sailors.
Computer glitch blamed for Russian nuclear sub accident
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The accident on the Russian nuclear submarine Nov 8 that killed 20 people could have been caused by a computer glitch, a Russian daily reported Wednesday.
The accident occurred when nuclear submarine Nerpa was undergoing sea trials in the Sea of Japan. Three submariners and 17 shipyard workers died in the accident. There were 208 people, 81 of them submariners, on board the vessel at the time.
US leveraging Pakistan aid to know where Osama is
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington: The United States is leveraging its aid to Pakistan to make it reveal the whereabouts of Al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says are known to "some elements" in the government.
"I think elements in the government do. I've said that before," Clinton told Fox News in an interview in Islamabad Monday, when asked if she believed that the Pakistani government knows where bin Laden is.
‘Most US children likely to live with unmarried mothers’
Washington : More than half of all US children will likely live with unmarried mothers at some point before they reach 18, said a...
Stunt pilots race virtual counterparts
By IANS,
London : Stunt pilots raced against virtual opponents for the first time - in a contest combining the real and the virtual at 400 kmph.
Using technology developed, in part, by a University of Nottingham spin-out company, an air-race in the skies above Spain saw two stunt pilots battle it out with a virtual plane which they watched on screens in their cockpits.
They were able to merge the virtual with the real world, using a combination of satellite navigation technology (GPS, or global positioning system) and inertial navigation system technology (INS).
Argentina Boosts Links with France
By Prensa Latina
Paris : Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said Monday her current visit to France will boost bilateral relations.
In a brief statement after having lunch with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, the Argentine head of state said that Sarkozy has promised to visit Buenos Aires in 2009.
Our links have been constantly developed for the last few years and they continue strengthening even more, as well as those with the European Union, Cristina said.
South Africa ends blockade on aid to Zimbabwe
By Xinhua,
Johannesburg : South Africa has lifted a blockade on aid to Zimbabwe because of the worsening humanitarian crisis in the neighbouring country, a South African presidential spokesman said Monday.
South Africa halted aid to Zimbabwe earlier in a bid to build pressure on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the opposition to hasten the formation of a national unity government.
Chinese court jails Rio Tinto employees
By IANS,
Beijing : A court in China Monday gave jail terms to four people, including an Australian, in the Rio Tinto case for bribery and stealing commercial secrets.
The Intermediate People's Court in Shanghai gave jail terms ranging from seven to 14 years to the four defendants, including Australian Stern Hu, in the case, court sources said.
On July 5, 2009, four employees of Rio Tinto, a multinational mining and resources group with its headquarters in London and Melbourne, were arrested in Shanghai for corruption and espionage.
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.
Argentinean junta leaders sentenced to 25 years
By IANS/EFE,
Buenos Aires : Three military officers, including an 82-year-old former president of Argentina, have been sentenced to 25 years in prison for crimes against humanity.
Retired generals Reynaldo Bignone, Santiago Omar Riveros and Fernando Verplaetsen of the 1976-1983 military regime were handed down identical sentences by a federal court in suburban San Martin Tuesday.
Three other people were given shorter sentences while a police officer charged in the case was acquitted.
Nepal election commission disqualifies 280 candidates
By DPA
Kathmandu : Nepal's election commission has disqualified 280 candidates for not meeting legal requirements to contest the constituent assembly elections, officials said Friday.
Officials said those disqualified included candidates standing for the direct elections as well as for the proportional representation.
"We have disqualified candidates who were either below legal age to become a candidate or have not provided necessary documents," Election Commissioner Nil Kantha Upreti said.
Solar plane takes off for Hawaii from Japan
Tokyo : The Swiss-made solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse 2, on Monday started its second bid at a record-breaking flight across the Pacific Ocean.
According to...
Russian steel maker Severstal to buy US mill
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia's largest steel producer Severstal said Thursday it had finalised a deal to purchase the US-based Sparrows Point steel mill from ArcelorMittal for $810 million.
The US Department of Justice demanded in February 2007 that ArcelorMittal sell Sparrows Point, located in Baltimore County, Maryland, in a bid to prevent the monopolisation of the market after the merger of Mittal Steel and Luxemburg Arcelor.
It then approved in mid-April Severstal's bid to purchase the steel mill.
Indonesia Affected by the Weather
By Prensa Latina
Yakarta : Collapses and flooding caused by recent rains in Indonesia have killed over 80, reported sources from the local authorities on Wednesday.
The weather phenomenon intensified its consequences in Java province with several houses' collapses.
Government spokesmen added that is very difficult to reach to the affected areas because the roads are blocked with mud.
In addition, 36 corpses were recovered besides other 30 that were buried with a mountain of mud in Karang district.
Barack Obama supports Tibetan cause, but didn’t meet Dalai Lama
By IANS,
Dharamsala : US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who did not meet the Dala Lama during the Tibetan spiritual leader's visit to the US this month, has expressed support for the Tibetan people.
A day before his Republican rival John McCain met the Dala Lama, Obama wrote to him, saying that "American attention to and backing for the people of Tibet is widespread", an official statement from the Tibetan government-in-exile said here Wednesday.
Indian Americans say George Floyd murder sign of systemic racism, condemn police brutality
TCN News
Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has condemned the police brutality on George Floyd and ill-treatment of minorities, especially blacks by US Police in...
Sarkozy urges US, Russia to delay missile plans
By IRNA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for a temporary moratorium on stationing US missile systems in Europe and said deployment of a planned US system would do "nothing" for security on the continent.
Speaking after a regular summit meeting of top European Union officials and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Nice, France, Sarkozy backed Russian calls for a summit in mid-2009 to discuss security arrangements in Europe.
Eurozone lends 7 bn euros bridging loan for Greece
Athens: Eurozone ministers on Thursday agreed to give Greece a 7 billion euro (over 7 billion dollars) bridging loan from an EU-wide fund to...
Snow-hit Chinese travellers spend another night stranded
By DPA
Beijing : Hundreds of thousands of snow-affected travellers were facing another night sleeping in streets, railway stations, vehicles and public buildings Thursday as the government tried to restore transport and power services.
Some 200,000 passengers were expected to board the 98 trains scheduled to leave Thursday from the southern transport hub of Guangzhou, where 800,000 people were reportedly stranded Wednesday.
Five killed in Turkey road accident
By IANS,
Ankara: A total of five people were killed and one person was injured in a road accident in Turkey Friday, Anatolia news agency reported.
1800 B.C. artefacts found in Syria
By IANS,
Damascus : Over 3,000 artefacts and 21 graves dating back to the Bronze Age (1,800-1,700 B.C.) have been discovered in Syria, media reports said.
Artefacts from the Roman era (510 B.C.-476 A.D.) were also found Saturday by researchers of the Damascus University, who worked in cooperation with the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Daraa governorate, 101 km from Damascus, Xinhua reported citing a statement published Sunday in Syrian daily Al-Watan.
Obama calls for end to foreign oil dependence in 10 years
By DPA,
Washington : Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called on the United States to end its dependence on oil from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 years as part of a broad speech laying out his energy plans on Monday.
Obama, who celebrated his 47th birthday Monday, said he would direct the "full resources" of government towards promoting renewable energy sources, investing $150 billion over the 10-year period.
Libya takes over UN Security Council leadership
By DPA
New York : Libya has taken over the hot seat of the UN Security Council presidency as the African country and four other countries Wednesday began their two-year terms in the UN body whose political decisions are binding on the 192 UN members.
Libya, Vietnam, Croatia, Costa Rica and Burkina Faso are the newest elected members on the 15-nation council. Libya became president during the first month of its tenure because of the alphabetical rotation of the post.
EU parliamentarian intends to deepen EU-GCC ties
By Nawab Khan, KUNA,
Brussels : A prominent Member of the European Parliament wants the European Union to give more attention to the relations with the Gulf countries than it has done before and to deepen EU-GCC ties.
Georgian opposition calls for second round of presidential polls
By RIA Novosty
Tbilisi : The Georgian opposition has called for a second round in the January 5 presidential elections and is set to hold a 'peaceful' protest on January 13.
"We are continuing our struggle and demand a second round of elections," recent presidential candidate, Levan Gachechiladze, announced during a live-broadcast on a Georgian national television station on Thursday evening.
"However, our fight is of an absolutely peaceful character and will be expressed in such forms as rallies, mass demonstrations or hunger strikes," he added.
Policeman jailed for seven years for raping teenager
By DPA,
Hong Kong : A Hong Kong police detective Tuesday began a seven-year jail term after being convicted of raping an 18-year-old girl.
Crime squad officer Choi Chai-him, 33, met the teenager over the internet and lured her to his home with the promise of downloading games onto her portable PlayStation games console.
The court was told that the married policeman began molesting her. When she resisted, she took her to his bedroom and raped her, Hong Kong's High Court was told.
UN special envoy ends Myanmar visit
By Xinhua
Yangon : UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari left here Tuesday afternoon after concluding his four-day mission to Myanmar.
Earlier on the day before ending his trip, Gambari, special adviser to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, met the country's top leader Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), in Naypyidaw, the capital of the junta.
Indefinite curfew in Terai as Nepal riot toll rises
By Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu, Sep 17 (IANS) The death toll in the violence triggered in south Nepal after the murder of a powerful local leader rose to four Monday, resulting in closures by his supporters and an indefinite curfew clamped by the administration.
Shops, markets and educational institutions remained closed and roads were deserted a day after unidentified gunmen shot dead Abdul Moit Khan, father-in-law of late controversial minister Mirza Dilshad Beg, who was alleged to be the front man of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Nepal.
Washington’s preemptive capitulation before China meeting
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS,
The postponement of the Dalai Lama's first meeting with President Barack Obama highlights the chalk line that the latter is forced to walk on all issues these days.
After The Washington Post broke the story about the delay in the meeting between the two as having been necessitated by Washington's "attempts to gain favor with China" the Dalai Lama's special envoy in Washington, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, issued a statement remarkably accommodating of the decision.
Southern China rainstorm death toll rises to 71
By Xinhua
Beijing : Seventy-one people have been killed in southern China by torrential rains which are expected to resume over the next couple days, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Israel not to cooperate with Gaza war crimes probe
By DPA,
Jerusalem : Israel said Friday it would not cooperate with a United Nations team appointed to investigate into alleged war crimes committed during its 22-day offensive in Gaza.
The UN announced from Geneva Friday that the four-member team, headed by South African war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone, will head to the region this weekend, and wants to begin work next week.
Goldstone has previously said the investigation would go ahead with or without Israeli cooperation.
He has also indicated he will attempt to enter Gaza via Egypt if not allowed in through Israel.