Pope calls for end to conflicts in his christmas message
By IRNA
Rome : Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday appealed for just solutions to the conflicts in Middle East, Iraq, Africa and elsewhere in his annual Christmas message.
He denounced terrorism and violence that victimized children and women.
His address came as millions of Christians around the world celebrated the traditional day of Christ's birth.
The Pope spoke from a balcony in St Peter's Basilica in Rome, overlooking the square where thousands of people had gathered in the winter sunshine.
Unilever cuts ties with key palm oil supplier to India
By IANS,
London: Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods multinational, Friday announced it was cutting ties with a major Indonesian supplier of palm oil after a campaigning environmental NGO accused the company of causing climate change.
Unilever suspended all purchases from Sinar Mas, a key supplier of palm oil to India and China, after Greenpeace accused the Indonesian company of widespread illegal deforestation and peatland clearance -- practices that release vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Oil hits new high of over 83 dollars
By Xinhua
New York : Crude futures closed above 83 dollars a barrel Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, marking another record high for a benchmark contract.
Crude oil for October delivery closed at 83.32 dollars a barrel, up 1.7 percent, or 1.39 dollars over the previous closing.
Sri Lanka gained upper hand over LTTE in 2007
By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS
New Delhi : Sri Lanka's failure to unveil a political package to end years of war and its military successes against the Tamil Tigers marked the highlights of one of the world's longest running conflicts in 2007.
After decades of seesaw fighting, Colombo took a visible upper hand vis-à-vis the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), driving it away from the country's eastern province and crippling its shipping network.
Sri Lanka denies ‘secret deals’ with India
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lanka Tuesday denied allegations in political circles here of "secret deals with India" regarding the military campaign against the Tamil Tigers in the north, and urged people not get misled by such "mischievous construction".
Answering queries raised by the opposition legislators over developments after senior presidential advisor Basil Rajapaksa's New Delhi visit last month, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told parliament Tuesday: "Successful outcome of Mr. Rajapaksa's visit has been most reassuring for the peoples of India and Sri Lanka."
US imposes curfew on troops in southern Japan
By KUNA
Tokyo : The US military imposed a curfew Wednesday on its troops in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa following a series of incidents involving US servicemen, including an alleged rape of a 14-year-old local girl on Febbruary 11 that sparked tension.
The curfew, which took effect at 7:30 a.m. (2230 GMT Tuesday) without specifying an end date, applies to all Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps personnel as well as their families and non-military staff, the US military said in a statement.
Over 300 international observers for South Africa polls
By IANS,
Pretoria : More than 300 international observers will oversee South Africa's general elections next Wednesday to ensure free and fair polls.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said the recommendations of the 333 international observers would be taken into consideration.
"We want to assure that any recommendations you make to us for improving the way we do things will be taken into consideration," IEC chairperson Brigalia Bam told the observers Friday, BuaNews reported.
Acknowledgement of wife may not damage Modi: NYT
Washington: Given India's tradition of renunciation of family life for public life, Narendra Modi's belated acknowledgment of his marriage may not damage Bharatiya Janata...
Helping kids cope better with impact of bullying
By IANS,
Sydney: Researchers have identified four factors that can help children overcome victimisation and soften the impact of bullying on their future happiness.
Russia to supply oil to China via Kazakhstan
By RIA Novosti
Astana (Kazakhstan) : Russia will start supplying up to five million tonnes (36.7 million barrels) of oil a year to China via Kazakhstan from 2008, the industry and energy minister said Monday.
"Following bilateral talks, the parties signed a protocol on Kazakhstan and Russia's oil transit in 2008. Under the protocol, Russia will for the first time start supplying five million tonnes of oil per year to China via Kazakhstan," Viktor Khristenko said.
NASA hails new era in space
By IANS,
Washington : NASA head Charles Bolden has hailed a "new era" in exploration after the launch of the first cargo delivery to the space station Tuesday by a private company, BBC reported.
UN nuclear test-ban body to meet after North Korea test
By DPA,
Vienna : The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) was set to meet Monday in Vienna, following North Korea's announcement of a second nuclear test.
The news of the test by the regime in Pyongyang was condemned by CTBTO chief Tibor Toth.
The UN's test-ban body did not confirm or deny observations by South Korea and the US of an artificial earthquake near Poongkye-ri in North Hamkyong province Monday.
15 Tamil Tiger rebels killed in Sri Lanka
By Xinhua
Colombo : At least 15 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed and 15 injured in clashes with the government troops in the northern battle fronts, the military said Saturday.
The rebels were killed Friday in Vauniya, Mannar and Welioya districts, military officials said, adding that a soldier was also killed.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph has appealed to both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government to free the Madu church area, some 279 km northeast of the capital Colombo, from the ongoing battle.
80 percent of Cuban AIDS patients since 1986 alive
By IANS/EFE,
Havana : The number of people diagnosed with AIDS in Cuba from 1986 to Oct 23, 2012 totals some 17,224, of whom 80 percent are still alive, official media said Monday.
Over 81,000 civilians flee Sri Lanka war-zone
By P. Karunakharan,IANS,
Colombo : Over 81,000 civilians have fled Sri Lanka's war-zone since Monday with the advancing troops cornering the Tamil Tigers into a 14 square kilometre coastal land strip in north-eastern Mullaitivu district, authorities said here Wednesday.
The authorities said that 81,423 people have fled the LTTE-held areas and entered into the government-controlled areas since Monday, taking the total number of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) since the beginning of this year beyond 150,000.
Lanka envoy, Tamils cross swords over Toronto restaurant fire
By IANS,
Toronto : A Saturday morning fire at a Sinhalese restaurant here further fuelled tensions between the two Sri Lankan communities in Canada.
While the Sri Lankan consul general blamed Tamil Tigers for the fire, Tamil leaders hit back by asking Canada to expel him. There are over 300,000 Sri Lankan Tamils as against about 50,000 Sinhalese in the Toronto area.
The early morning fire that gutted the Lanka Gardens restaurant in the Brampton area infuriated Sri Lankan consul general Bandula Jayasekara so much that he said Tamil Tigers were "on the rampage" in Toronto.
Britain’s home minister fined for mobile use while driving
By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS
London : Britain's Home Minister Liam Bryne, who earlier held the police portfolio in the department, was Friday penalised for talking on his mobile phone while driving in Birmingham.
Bryne, currently is in charge of immigration issues in the department and interacts with Indian groups campaigning for issues such as the Highly Skilled Migrants Permit, was stopped on July 6 on Birmingham's Tyburn Road.
30 militants killed in airstrikes in Syria
Damascus: The US-led anti-terror coalition on Sunday evening struck an oil refinery under the control of the Islamic State (IS) militants in a border...
Indians admit they fish in Sri Lanka’s troubled waters
By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS,
New Delhi : Indian fishermen under attack from Sri Lanka's navy admit they frequently fish in the island nation's waters, but argue that they have no other choice and that cross-country fishing needs to be quickly regularised.
Will John McCain trump a Democratic nominee?
By Mayank Chhaya, IANS
Chicago : Republican Senator John McCain, a Vietnam war hero whose candidacy was written off barely three months ago amid drying campaign coffers and eroding popular support, has a potential shot at becoming America's next president.
The 71-year-old Arizona politician's assertive victories in the Super Tuesday primaries could well propel him to the White House in a country still wary of making history by choosing either its first woman president in Hillary Clinton or first president of a mixed ethnic heritage in Barack Obama.
Australian FM: Aust-U.S. alliance to continue
By Xinhua,
Canberra : Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said here on Sunday that his country's alliance with the United States will continue to serve both countries under the U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's new administration.
Smith told Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he also expected the two countries to put a greater emphasis on dialogue and multilateralism when Obama takes office in January next year.
Cricket journalist Martin-Jenkins new MCC president
By IANS,
London : British journalist Christopher Martin-Jenkins has been appointed the new president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
Martin-Jenkins will begin his one-year term October 1 when he takes over from former Sussex captain and Old Etonian John Barclay.
"Christopher has a wealth of cricket knowledge and a very strong connection to the sport; quite simply, he loves the game," Barclay was quoted as saying here.
Civilians arriving at Colombo from north to be registered
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lanka Thursday made it obligatory for civilians from the war-ravaged northern districts and living in capital Colombo and its suburbs for the past five years, to register themselves with the police, a police spokesman here said.
Scientists probe nature’s most mysterious particle – neutrinos
By IANS,
London: Physicists are probing nature's most mysterious particle -neutrinos - which they hope could be the key to understanding how the universe evolved over time.
Scientists also hope that the particles will teach us more about deep-space events like supernovas, active galaxies and gamma-ray bursts.
"Trillions of neutrinos pass through our bodies every second, but you don't notice; they pass through space and the Earth with almost no effect," said Francesca Di Lodovico of Queen Mary's Particle Physics Research Centre (QMPPRC) in London.
Clegg was among last to know about Brown decision
By IANS,
London : Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats leader who holds the key to government formation in Britain, was told about Prime Minister Gordon Brown's offer to step down only 10 minutes before the announcement.
The Guardian learnt that Clegg was not formally told what Brown was set to announce until 4.50 p.m.
The Labour want to strike a deal with the Liberal Democrats. Brown was, however, told by intermediaries that his quitting would be desirable for the deal to go ahead.
President Bakiyev flies out of Kyrgyzstan
By DPA,
Bishkek : Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has flown out of the country to neighbouring Kazakhstan, following last week's bloody protests, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Thursday.
The president's leaving the country was engineered in a joint effort by leaders in neighbouring Kazakhstan, the United States and Russia, the Vienna-based OSCE said in a statement.
Moscow to present Sino-Russian space arms race control initiative
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia will submit to a UN disarmament conference a joint Sino-Russian proposal for an international treaty to ban the deployment of weapons in outer space.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will present the draft treaty to the UN-sponsored annual Geneva Disarmament Conference on February 12.
The United States has been critical of the Russian-Chinese initiative, especially following China's anti-satellite missile tests last year.
Moscow : Russia will submit to a UN disarmament conference a joint Sino-Russian proposal for an international treaty to ban the deployment of weapons in outer space.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will present the draft treaty to the UN-sponsored annual Geneva Disarmament Conference on February 12.
The United States has been critical of the Russian-Chinese initiative, especially following China's anti-satellite missile tests last year.
Malaysian PM on first official visit to Russia
By Ahmad Fuad Yahya, NNN-BERNAMA
Moscow : Abdullah Ahmad Badawi arrives here Monday for his first official visit to Russia as Malaysian Prime Minister to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in the field of economics and trade.
The visit, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-Russia diplomatic relations, will provide the opportunity for the two countries to also expand their co-operation in education, energy, science and high technology.
Polling ends in Bhutan, Himalayan state becomes newest democracy
By Syed Zarir Hussain
Thimphu, March 24 (IANS) Heavy voting was recorded in Bhutan as the Himalayan kingdom Monday held its first parliamentary elections on its way to becoming the world's newest democracy, marking the end of 100 years of monarchy.
"There was brisk voting and we expect the overall turnout to quite high," Chief Election Commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said.
Three hours before polling ended at 5 p.m., more than 60 percent of balloting had been recorded.
Stranded Thai Muslim pilgrims request extended Hajj
By NNN-TNA,
Bangkok : Requests are being made to the Saudi embassy in Bangkok to extend the annual Haj pilgrimage held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for another few more days as nearly 1,000 Thai Muslim pilgrims trying to travel there were still stuck in Thailand Saturday as Suvarnabhumi international airport is still shut down by anti-government protesters.
LTTE forced Canadian Tamils to sign pre-payment forms
By IANS,
Toronto : Canadian police have seized documents showing Tamil Tigers leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran soliciting money from Tamils here for his armed struggle in Sri Lanka.
The documents, seized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in raids on the offices of the World Tamil Movement in Toronto and Montreal, show a 2002 letter by Prabhakaran, asking Tamils in Canada to send him 15 of the ``100 crore'' rupees he needs for his armed struggle. Fifteen crore Sri Lankan rupees is equal to about three million Canadian dollars.
White is not right for young British Asians
By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS
London : White is not right for many young British Asians who prefer to marry within their own ethnic origin, according to a new survey by the BBC Asian Network as part of events related to 60 years of India and Pakistan's independence.
Young British Asians who were born and brought up in Britain may have many things in common with their white colleagues and peers. But when it comes to marriage, most prefer spouses who have the same country of origin in the Indian sub-continent.
Support grows in UK to levy windfall tax on energy companies
By IRNA,
London : Calls for the government to levy a windfall tax on the excessive profits of energy and oil companies are gathering widespread support in the UK.
A cross-section of 20 politicians, academics, think-tanks, environmentalists, trade unionists and other campaign groups said they believed "the moment is right for a one-off windfall tax to guarantee social and environmental justice."
Rice to visit Israel, Palestine next week
By Xinhua
Washington : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories Sep 18-20, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a briefing.
"The secretary will visit Jerusalem and Ramallah for meetings with officials from Israel and the Palestinian authority in order to continue the discussions on advancing the development of a political horizon and the two-state solution," McCormack said Wednesday.
US used Diego Garcia for terrorism probe: Time
By IANS,
New York : The US imprisoned and interrogated some terrorism suspects in 2002 and possibly 2003 on Diego Garcia, an island under British control in the Indian Ocean, Time magazine reported quoting a former US official.
According to the official, a "CIA counter-terrorism official twice said that a high-value prisoner or prisoners were being held and interrogated on the island", wrote Time, but said the identity of the captive or captives was not made clear.
Six killed in Panama chopper crash
By IANS,
Panama City : At least six people have been killed and scores injured when an air force helicopter crashed onto a shopping mall in the Panama capital, Spain's EFE news agency reported Friday.
The helicopter, which was travelling from the province of Colon to a hotel in Panama City with 12 people on board, including the members of a high-level Chilean delegation, crashed on two buildings Thursday.
Among the killed were the chief of Chile's military police, Gen. Jose Alejandro Bernales, his three aides and two women travelling with the delegation, the government confirmed.
Pakistani foreign minister assures US on terrorism
By DPA,
Washington : Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has assured the US that his country will work with Washington to fight terrorism.
Qureshi met US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Tuesday as part of a series of meetings this week in Washington, and as the US is engaged in a strategic review of the situation in Afghanistan and cross border raids from Pakistan.
"Pakistan is willing to work with the American administration to fight extremism and terrorism," Qureshi said. "We are determined to defeat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."
Islamic economic forum urges reduction of trade barriers
By DPA,
Jakarta : An international Islamic economic conference ended Wednesday with calls for the reduction of trade barriers, development of alternative energy sources and stricter regulations in the global financial industry.
The three-day World Islamic Economic Forum in Jakarta, attended by 1,500 delegates from 38 countries, discussed ways to deal with the global financial crisis and food security, as well as exploring possibilities for non-carbon fuels.
Register before Dec 2, New Zealand tells immigration advisers
By Amandeep Sehmi, IANS,
Hamilton (New Zealand) : New Zealand immigration advisers based in other countries should submit their application before Dec 2 for getting a licence, an official said Monday.
Barry Smedts, registrar of immigration advisers, Monday said: "We are keen to get as many applications in as early as possible, because our experience with the onshore licensing process showed that many advisers leave it to the last minute to apply."
UN chief reiterates call for immediate Gaza ceasefire
By DPA,
Tel Aviv, Jan 15 (DPA) Elements are in place for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas fighting in the Gaza Strip to come "reasonably soon", UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday.
He told a news conference in Tel Aviv that what was needed was an immediate end to the fighting, after which the parties could continue deciding on the conditions for a more durable truce.
He said a UN Security Council resolution from one week ago calling on the sides to end the fighting was binding and Israel had to abide by it.
Asean summit to be held in Thailand’s Hua Hin city
By Xinhua,
Bangkok : Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Wednesday announced that the 14th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will be held in Hua Hin town and not in the Thai capital as planned earlier.
He said the decision to shift the venue was taken in view of security reasons. The summit is scheduled to be held between Feb 27 and March 1. This was the third time Thai authorities have decided to change the venue.
Security Council fails to reach agreement on Kosovo
By IRNA
New York : The United Nations Security Council failed to reach an agreement on the future status of Kosovo.
The second session of the council's emergency meeting ended after two and a half hours without agreement on a resolution or joint statement regarding declaration of independence by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority.
Russia and China, two veto-wielding members of the Security Council, back Serbia.
The other veto members, the United States, Britain and France, have recognized Kosovo.
Tamil Tigers open branches in 12 countries: daily
By IANS
Washington : Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have quietly established a presence in a dozen countries including the US to help bankroll its secessionist campaign, the Washington Times reported Monday.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), designated as terrorists by the State Department in 1997, has established "branches" in at least 12 countries, it said citing federal law enforcement authorities.
The LTTE's expansion plans include operations in Maryland, New York and New Jersey in an effort to help raise cash and procure weapons, it said.
20 countries interested in floating nuclear plants
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : A Russian nuclear official said Monday that over 20 countries are interested in the floating nuclear power plants (NPP) Russia is building.
UNHRC to hold special session on financial crisis
By DPA,
Geneva : The United Nations' Human Rights Council (UNHRC) announced Friday it would hold a special session next week to address the financial crisis.
Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi, the Nigerian ambassador to the UN in Geneva and the president of the UNHRC, said the special session would focus on the protection of human rights in difficult economic times, particularly defending the most vulnerable.
Four killed in Brazil plane crash
By IANS,
Rio De Janeiro : Four people were killed in Brazil when a small plane they were travelling by crashed into a farm in the Sao Paulo state, Xinhua reported Sunday.
People rebuked at work buy expensive items with credit card
By IANS,
London : People feeling low after a rebuke or threat at the workplace often shop for expensive, luxurious items, paying with their credit cards.
China Criticizes Western Media
By Prensa Latina
Beijing : The Chinese press criticized again western media for distorting the separatist riots that took place in Tibet recently, saying that their coverage of the events did not match reality.
According to the China Daily, many Chinese residents in other countries emailed their indignation against the way certain media organizations have published false information about what happened in that region.
Guatemalan Farmers release 29 abducted policemen
By DPA
Guatemala City : Hundreds of Guatemalan farmers released Saturday 29 police officers, whom they had taken hostage, after their main demand to release one of their leaders was rejected.
The officials were safe, Guatemalan media reported quoting police.
Around 1,500 angry farmers had abducted the police officers Thursday in the northeastern town of Livingston on the Caribbean coast and taken them to the nearby village of Creek Maya.
Protesters call G8 leaders for action on poverty
By DPA,
Toronto : Two aid groups organised protests Thursday dressed as "pregnant" world leaders to call on the Group of Eight (G8) leading economies to take action against poverty and child and maternal mortality.
Eight World Vision demonstrators gathered in front of St James Cathedral wearing masks of politicians and black costumes with "pregnant" white bellies. The words "pregnant with promises" were emblazoned across their stomachs.
China’s GDP up 6.1 percent in first quarter
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China's economy expanded by 6.1 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, official data showed Thursday.
The quarterly growth rate was the lowest in 10 years as the global financial crisis continued to affect the world's fastest-growing economy.
It was 4.5 percentage points lower than the first quarter of 2008 and down 0.7 percentage points from the previous quarter.
Gross domestic product (GDP) reached 6.5745 trillion yuan ($939 billion) in the first quarter, Li Xiaochao, spokesman of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said at a press conference.
Canadian PM favours aggressive immigration policy
By IANS,
Toronto : Scotching fears that proposed immigration changes will reduce annual intake of immigrants, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said his government "favours an aggressive immigration policy".
Speaking at a Canada-India Foundation gala dinner here Friday night, Harper cited figures to point out how during his tenure the number of immigrants has gone to record levels.
"We are bringing in more immigrants than any previous government. You can see this has been an upward trend in the past four decades.
China, Iran sign oil deal
By Xinhua,
Tehran : Iran and China have signed a $1.76 billion deal here for the development of an oil field in Iran, media reports said.
The deal was signed between China National Petroleum Corporation(CNPC) and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in the presence of Iranian oil minister Gholam Hossein Nozari and Chinese ambassador Xie Xiaoyan, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported..
Wasted chances make 2009 Nepal’s annus horribilis
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Begun on a high note after a historic election consolidated peace and the former Maoist guerrillas led Nepal's first ultra-left government, 2009 saw the nascent republic plunge into chaos with the political parties squandering opportunities of stability.
Nepal's annus horribilis affected India as well with diplomatic and even cultural ties souring.
The Maoists, who had become newsmakers since they started their "People's War" in 1996 to overthrow Nepal's royal family, dominated 2009 too, though for negative reasons.
Sutil close to Force India contract renewal
By DPA,
Berlin: Adrian Sutil has reached an agreement in principle to renew his contract at the Force India Formula One team for the next season, the German driver's manager said Monday.
A new Modi doctrine for Indian foreign policy?
By Arul Louis,
Marking a decisive break from the slowly eroding traditional underpinnings of Indian foreign policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his United Nations speech set out a new framework marked by two elements: replacing the polemics of a bipolar era with a policy centred on dialogue and engagement and the vestiges of anti-colonialism with a focus on democratisation.
Britain introduces new points-based visa system
By IANS
New Delhi : Britain will implement from Feb 29 a new points-based immigration system for assessing visa applications of highly skilled immigrants working in that country, visiting British Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said here Wednesday.
In India, the new system for highly skilled migrants, to be now known as Tier 1, will be launched from April 1, and will be followed in the rest of the world later, the minister told reporters here Wednesday evening.
Australia recognizes Kosovo
By DPA
Sydney : Australia formally recognized Kosovo and would soon establish diplomatic relations, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Tuesday.
Belgrade is expected to respond by recalling Serbian Ambassador to Australia Milivoje Glisic.
Glisic said he did not anticipate a permanent severance of diplomatic relations between Australia and Serbia.
"We are sorry about that decision, and such hurry, since we have traditionally good relations with Australia," he said.
Fed expects contraction in US economy through mid-2009
By DPA,
Washington : Federal Reserve board members believe the US economy will contract between now and mid-2009, and suggested more interest rate cuts could be necessary, according to the minutes of the central bank's October meeting that were released Wednesday.
The minutes made no mention of a recession, though two straight contracting quarters is typically defined as a recession. The world's largest economy contracted by 0.3 percent in the third quarter, according to an initial government estimate.
Indian-American groups to campaign on immigration issues
New York : Indian-American groups have called for a campaign on immigration issues affecting the Indian diaspora including use of H-1B visa by...
Top Asian police officer files race charges against force
By IANS,
London : One of Britain's most senior police officers has sued the London Metropolitan Police on grounds he has allegedly been "harassed, degraded and humiliated" because he is Asian and a Muslim.
Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur officially lodged the discrimination claim against his own force and Commissioner Sir Ian Blair. It is the first time an officer of such seniority has sued the Met, which now has 28 days to formally respond.
National emergency called in Paraguay over yellow fever
By DPA
Asuncion (Paraguay) : The government of Paraguay has called a national emergency to help stem the growing number of cases of yellow fever.
Friday's move comes two months before presidential elections.
Six cases of the mosquito-borne illness were reported around the capital city to date, but the outbreak raises considerably the danger it will spread regionally into an epidemic, the officials said.
The government is distributing preventive medications free of charge.
Over 8,100 antiquities turned over to Mexican government
By Laura Gonzalez de Artaza, IANS,
Xochicalco (Mexico) : The Leoff-Vinot collection, made up of more than 8,100 pre-Columbian pieces bought on the black market, has been presented here by its new owner, Mexico's National Anthropology and History Institute (INAH).
Considered to be the most important antiquities collection in Mexico in private hands due to the number and age of the pieces, some of them more than 3,000 years old, the items will be catalogued and researched in the archaeological zone of Xochicalco, located in the central state of Morelos.
Somali gunmen kidnap two foreigners
By SPA
Mogadhishu : Somali gunmen on Tuesday kidnapped two foreign contractors working for a project funded by the United Nations in southern Somalia, one of their colleagues said.
"One Briton and one Kenyan working for the U.N.'s FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) were kidnapped by clan militiamen somewhere between Bule and Sakow towns in Middle Jubba
province," a Somali aid worker, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.
"We understand that the British man was wounded during an exchange of gunfire between the Somali bodyguards and the militia," he added.
Russia offers Brazil new uranium production technologies
By RIA Novosti,
Brasilia : Russia has offered Brazil new advanced technologies to produce uranium and build new nuclear power plants, a top official of Russia's nuclear corporation said Friday.
"The first direction of cooperation is the prospecting (the process of physically searching minerals or fossils) and production of natural uranium," said Rosatom's head Sergei Kiriyenko, who is in Brazil to lead the Russia Days events.
Alcohol ‘more harmful than heroin’, British study finds
London, Nov 1, IRNA – Alcohol is more harmful than heroin or crack, according to a study co-authored by the UK’s former chief drugs adviser Professor David Nutt.
Australia takes tough line on female circumcision
By DPA,
Sydney : Female circumcision is called female genital mutilation (FGM) in Australia and it's a crime.
Those performing it face a possible seven-year prison term and those who don't report it risk a stiff fine.
In Sydney's outer suburb of Auburn, there's a specialist FGM clinic that has been in operation for over 10 years and sees around 40 women a year.
The typical patient is in her 20s, is about to wed, and was operated on by a village midwife in an African or Middle Eastern country when she was young.
Olmert appoints Barak as defence minister
By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Newly elected Labor Party leader and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was appointed the new defence minister by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Friday.
US-India pact to help improve monsoon forecasts
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington: India's monsoon forecasting is expected to improve with its entering into a new collaborative agreement with the United States.
Winter storm leaves at least 5 dead
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, United States, December 23, SPA - A winter storm packing heavy snow walloped the central United States, causing at least 5 deaths and dozens of injuries as multi-car pileups forced authorities to close parts of several major highways.
The storm Saturday blew heavy snow from Texas to Minnesota. Much of the region was still recovering from a severe ice storm early last week that knocked out electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses.
1,400-year-old stone Buddha heads found in China
By IANS,
Beijing : A pair of priceless 1,400-year-old stone Buddha heads were Monday recovered by police from relics thieves in China.
US House approves lawsuit against Obama
Washington : The US House Wednesday approved a lawsuit against President Barack Obama over alleged abuse of executive power.
The 225-201 vote fell along party...
‘Pilot error caused Brazil plane crash’
By IANS
Sao Paulo : Investigators have found that the plane crash this month in Sao Paulo that killed some 200 people was the result of human error, Brazil's weekly news magazine said.
According to Veja, the investigation revealed that one of the levers that control the TAM airlines jet's turbines was in the wrong position, which meant that while one of the turbines was helping the plane slow to a halt, the other one was making it to continue accelerating, the Spanish news agency EFE said.
NATO chief on visit to Kosovo
By KUNA,
Brussels : The North Atlantic Council (NAC) led by NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is visiting Kosovo Tuesday.
The NAC is the senior decision-making body of NATO, comprising the 26 NATO ambassadors.
NATO has around 16,000 peacekeepers under its KFOR mission in Kosovo which declared independence from Serbia last February.
During the visit, NAC will meet with the head of KFOR, Lt. Gen. Giuseppe Emilio Gay, and with the Kosovo authorities. They will also meet with leaders of the Serb community in Kosovo, according to an NATO statement here today.
World entering ‘danger zone’ on prices, WB warns G-8
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick has called on leaders of the G8 as well as the major oil producers to act now to deal with surging food and energy prices, warning that the world is now "entering a danger zone."
Zoellick's call is contained in a letter to the head of the upcoming G8 summit in Japan, in which the Bank, World Food Programme (WFP) and International Monetary Fund estimate that about $10 billion is needed to meet short term needs of people hit hardest by the crisis.
Ukraine resumes search for crew of sunken ship
By RIA Novosti
Simferopol (Ukraine) : Ukrainian rescue services have resumed their search for eight missing crewmembers of a Bulgarian cargo ship that sank Thursday in the Azov Sea between Ukraine and Russia, an emergency service spokesman said Friday.
The Vanessa, carrying scrap metal, with 11 crew members, including 10 Bulgarian and an Ukrainian national, sank Thursday morning about 48 km from the Kerch Strait. One Bulgarian mechanic has been rescued, and two bodies have been found by now, emergency service officials said.
GlaxoSmithKline to cut 6,000 jobs
By IANS,
London : GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Britain's biggest pharmaceutical multinational, is to cut around 6,000 jobs around the world when it posts full-year results this week, a newspaper reported.
GSK is putting the finishing touches to redundancy plans as the pharmaceutical sector faces growing competition from generic manufacturers and doubts about company pipelines, the Sunday Telegraph reported.
ING financial sector analysts have warned of an "intellectual property meltdown" as top-selling products come off patent and sales slow dramatically, it said.
Ruling party wins presidential elections in Montenegro
By DPA
Podgorica : Incumbent Filip Vujanovic won re-election with a first-round triumph in Sunday's presidential election in Montenegro, shattering opposition hopes that the authority of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) may be crumbling.
In a repeat of the 2003 presidential vote, Vujanovic won more than 50 percent of the votes polled, according to unofficial results acknowledged by his rivals. He becomes the first president elected since Montenegro's separation two years ago from Serbia.
UN calls for ‘reinvigoration’ of agriculture
By IANS,
New York : As the world is facing a severe food crisis, agriculture needs to be reinvigorated to produce enough food to feed the burgeoning global population, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.
"After a quarter century of relative neglect, agriculture is back on the international agenda, sadly with a vengeance," the UN chief said Wednesday in an address at the start of the three-day high-level segment of the annual meeting of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD) in New York, WAM news agency reported Thursday.
Mugabe Would Kill Zimbabwe Deal By Imposing Govt: Tsvangirai
By AFP,
Strasbourg, France : Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai warned Sunday that President Robert Mugabe would cause the collapse of a power-sharing agreement if he imposes a unity government.
"He would have literally collapsed the deal," Tsvangirai told AFP in Strasbourg, northern France, during a rare visit to Europe. The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader also said negotiations on the power-sharing government with Mugabe must not be allowed to run on indefinitely.
Militants take hostate 44 peacekeepers in Golan
United Nations: At least 44 peacekeepers have been taken hostage by the militnts in the Golan Heights, a UN spokesperson said Friday.
"The United Nations...
Aung San Suu Kyi takes oath in Myanmar parliament
By IANS,
Nay Pyi Taw: Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party swept last month's by-elections, was sworn in as a member of Myanmar's parliament Wednesday.
US surfers prefer online gaming and socializing to e-mail
By DPA,
San Francisco : The Twitter generation doesn't have much time for e-mail. According to a survey released Monday by ratings firm Nielsen, internet users in the US spend more time using social networks and playing online games than they do on e-mail.
The survey found that use of online networks accounted for 23 percent of time spent on the internet, while online gaming took up 10 percent of internet time.
Large amount of cocaine seized off west African coast
By RIA Novosti
Athens : French authorities have seized a boat carrying more than three tons of cocaine off the coast of Guinea, the Greek Ministry of Merchant Marine said on Friday.
The owner of the boat, which is registered in Panama, has been arrested in Greece. The French navy vessel located the vessel 260 kilometers (160 miles) west of the port of Conakry in Guinea on Thursday, as nine members of the crew, including two Greeks, were getting ready to dump a container full of cocaine overboard.
Coalmine blast kills 46 in China
By Xinhua
Taiyuan (China) : At least 46 people were killed in a gas blast at a north China coalmine early Thursday, safety authorities said.
More than 50 miners are feared trapped in the mine in Linfen, 400 km from Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province.
N-deal goes to the wire as Manmohan meets Bush
By Arun Kumar and Manish Chand,IANS,
Washington : Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew back to New York after a meeting with President George Bush, the India-US nuclear deal was headed for a close finish Friday with an approval resolution being finally introduced in the House of Representatives with a controversial provision in the Senate version intact.
Clinton grateful Burns accepted to serve as her deputy
By KUNA,
Washington : US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said late on Thursday that she was grateful that the seasoned diplomat Bill Burns accepted to serve as her new deputy secretary.
No war crimes questions, Sri Lankan general returns from US
By DPA,
Colombo : General Sarath Fonseka, who was Sri Lanka's army commander when it defeated Tamil separatist rebels in May, returned home from US Thursday without being questioned by US authorities about alleged war crimes.
Fonseka, who is now chief of the defence staff, was on a private visit to the US to visit his daughters when the US Department of Homeland Security asked him to present himself for an interview Wednesday in Oklahoma City.
$77 million embezzled from Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail project
By IANS,
Beijing : China's auditing authorities Monday said 491 million yuan ($77.84 million) has been embezzled from the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway project.
Bush boasts accomplishments in forging U.S.-Asian ties
By Xinhua,
Bangkok : U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday applauded his government's "accomplishments" in bolstering American engagement with Asia under his running-out eight-year tenure.
Bush made the remarks in a speech Thursday morning at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok during his second stop of his Asian tour.
"Over the past six decades, Asia has gone from an area mired in poverty and recovering from world war to a thriving and dynamic region," Bush said, "America has played a role in this transformation."
Kandy’s Buddhist temple readies for pageantry – without fear
By Rahul Dass, IANS,
Kandy (Sri Lanka): The famous 17th century Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is breathing easy for the first time in many years ahead of a pageant that draws hundreds of thousands of people to this sacred Buddhist town. For, the Tamil Tigers lie vanquished.
"We are expecting nearly double the number of visitors to the annual pageant as the security has improved vastly following the defeat of the Tamil Tigers," said Pradeep Nilanga Dela, chief custodian of the shrine known as Sri Dalada Maligawa.
Thailand extends martial law in Muslim-majority deep south
By DPA,
Bangkok : Thailand will extend martial law in the Muslim-majority deep south until July 18, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Friday.
Thailand's three southernmost provinces, Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, have been under martial law since October, 2004, allowing the military to arrest suspected separatists without warrants, detain them without charges for 30 days, and face no punishment for making false arrests.
Rana, Headley also planned to blow up Danish daily
By IANS,
Chicago : Two Pakistani origin men, Tahawwur Rana and his associate David Coleman Headley, indicted for the Mumbai terror attacks, also planned to use truck bomb filled with explosives to blow up a Danish newspaer.
A fresh indictment against Rana and Headley unsealed in a Chicago court Thursday also charges retired Pakistani military officer Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed and Ilyas Kashmiri, a leader of terrorist organisation Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI) in Pakistan described as having been in regular contact with Al Qaeda's No. 3, Sheikh Mustafa Abu al-Yazid.
UAE, Britain discuss cooperation
By IANS,
London: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Britain discussed bilateral cooperation at a meeting between the British foreign minister and UAE vice president here, WAM news agency reported Monday.
UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum met British Foreign Minister David Miliband at his residence here.
The two leaders discussed cooperation between the UAE and Britain and various other issues in the Middle East and the world as well as instability in the region due to failure of the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.
Australia lifts ban on women in military combat
By IANS,
London : Australia has lifted all restrictions on the roles, including front-line combat, that women can carry out in its armed forces.
Bush to host Obama, former presidents at White House lunch
By DPA,
Washington : US President George W. Bush will host former presidents and his successor, Barack Obama, at the White House for a private meeting during lunch Wednesday, the White House said.
The meeting will mark the first gathering of all former presidents at the White House since 1981, spokeswoman Dana Perino said. Bush and Obama will hold a private one-on-one meeting before the expanded presidential gathering, she said.
Among the living presidents are Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, along with the current and future White House occupants Bush and Obama.
Three killed in Myanmar military chopper crash
By IANS,
Yangon: Three army men died after a military helicopter crashed in Myanmar's Kachin state, Xinhua reported Saturday.
Rising prices, US mortgage crisis spell financial turmoil : UNGA president
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 15 (APP) Rising oil and commodity prices, the mortgage market collapse in the U.S. and other factors could combine to hamper the economies of developing countries, the U.N. General Assembly president said Thursday.
President Srgjan Kerim recalled that in the last quarter of 2007, macroeconomic and fiscal management had improved in many developing countries, creating higher savings, investments and consumer demand.
Expenditures on social programmes went up while extreme poverty went down but globally inequality was still rising, he said.
1,000 evacuated after Sydney explosion: officials
By SPA
Sydney : A powerful explosion tore through a building in inner-city Sydney on Monday, injuring two men and forcing the evacuation of 1,000 others, Australian officials said.
Police said they were investigating the blast at the Quadrant Building in Ultimo which left a ground floor chicken shop ablaze and damaged some offices and residential apartments.
"It was really scary," one resident told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "I was awake and felt something and it was that loud, I jumped on the floor."
Gus Dur Claims Someone Trying To Assassinate Him
By Bernama,
Surabaya : Head of the National Awakening Party (PKB)'s Advisory Board KH Abdurahman Wahid alias Gus Dur admitted that he might be the target of an assassin at his house.
"Just pray for my safety, as I may be the target of the assassin. Luckily, the shooting only hit my house. Then many soldiers and policemen rushed to my house," Indonesia's ANTARA news agency quoted him as saying to executives of PKB, Nahdlatul Ulema moslem organization and some ulemas here on Sunday.
China confirms six infant deaths in tainted milk scandal
By Xinhua,
Beijing : Chinese authorities have confirmed death of six infants from consuming melamine-tainted milk powder, after the scandal that broke out four months ago hit some 300,000 infants.
Four of the six deaths occurred in eastern part of the country while two cases occurred in the northwestern province of Gansu, the country's Ministry of Health (MOH) said without giving further details.
More than 800 infants have been receiving treatment for kidney problems after they were fed with melamine tainted baby food, the ministry said.
First Hindu Baccalaureate service planned at US varsity
By IANS,
New York : Hindu Baccalaureate Service, perhaps a first in the US, will be held at University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) May 11 to bless the graduating class in the traditional style following Hindu scriptures.
Swami Vedananda, a noted Hindu monk from California, will bless the graduates with wisdom from the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagvad-Gita and apply tilak (religious mark) over their foreheads.
The first annual service - called Dikshant Utsav in India - has been organised by Hindu leader Rajan Zed in collaboration with Indian Student Organisation of UNR.
China protests Canadian premier’s meeting with Dalai Lama
By DPA
Ottawa : Stephen Harper became the first Canadian prime minister to formally meet the Dalai Lama, prompting protests from China that it was "blatant interference in China's internal affairs".
Harper received the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, who Beijing sees as a symbol of independence for Tibet, in his office Monday in Ottawa.
Myanmar’s junta stages referendum despite cyclone, world criticism
By DPA,
Yangon : Myanmar's military rulers proceeded Saturday with a referendum intended to cement their political power despite international appeals to postpone the vote in the wake of Cyclone Nargis that could have killed 100,000 people.
Voting began at 6.00 a.m. Saturday (2330 GMT Friday) as planned and was scheduled to end at 4.00 p.m.
Russia warns of retaliation against US missile shield
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia considers US plans to install a missile defence shield in central Europe an attempt to weaken its nuclear deterrent, a foreign ministry spokesperson has said.
"If a radar (in the Czech Republic) along with missiles in Poland are deployed, this will be a military operation to weaken Russia's nuclear deterrent potential," Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement
The officials also made it clear that Russia would retaliate if the US insisted on deploying the missile shield in the region.
Anti-Madhes parties shut down Nepal’s Terai plains
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's Terai plains, which emerged as the main stumbling block to the formation of a new government after the April elections, were paralysed Friday as three minor parties called a shutdown to oppose the demand for a single Madhes state.
Economy likely to dominate Obama-Bush discussion
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : US president-elect Barack Obama is already examining ways to make a quick impact upon taking office in January, his aides said on the eve of Monday's transition talks with President George W. Bush.
The Obama-Bush talks at the White House are likely to cover "a broad range of issues", but the slumping US economy is expected to dominate the discussion, John Podesta, one of the transition team's co-chairs, told CNN's "Late Edition".
US working hard to check Wall St impact on economy: Bush
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : As the US financial system reeled with the turmoil on the Wall Street, President George W. Bush assured that his administration was working to reduce disruptions and minimise the impact on the broader economy.
"As policymakers, we're focused on the health of the financial system as a whole," Bush said at the White House Monday, using the visit of Ghana President John Kufuor to reach out to the Americans "concerned about the adjustments that are taking place in our financial markets".
Mideast Quartet optimistic about peace process
By DPA
New York : Members of the Mideast Quartet have voiced optimism for the peace process, saying that "things are moving again" on several fronts in the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict including the planned autumn meeting to be hosted by the US.
US Latinos Organize Nat’l Congress
By Prensa Latina,
Washington : Groups of US-based Hispanic immigrants are seeking to strengthen their vote at the upcoming general elections, according to the organizers of a Third National Latino Congress.
The source said that the meeting, scheduled for July 18-19 in Los Angeles, would analyze the social and economic situation of that minority, which accounts for 15 percent of the US population.
We will specifically debate the migration and education reforms, environmental protection and access to public health and social security, they said.
Austrian leader Joerg Haider dies in car crash
By IRNA,
Vienna : Austrian politician Joerg Haider was pronounced dead in a hospital on Saturday shortly after his Volkswagen Phaeton veered off the road in southern Austria and overturned several times after he had passed another car.
At the time of his death, Haider was governor of the province of Carinthia and leader of the Alliance for the Future of Austria -- a party he formed after breaking away from the far right Freedom Party in 2005.
‘Unemployment to rise even as recession ends’
By DPA,
Paris : Joblessness in the US, Europe and Japan is expected to continue rising even as their economies recover, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said Wednesday.
"There is great uncertainty looking forward, but labour market conditions appear set to deteriorate further in the coming months," the OECD said in its Employment Outlook 2009, released in Paris.
EU welcomes democratic elections in the Maldives
By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The Europen Union has welcomed the holding of the first democratic multi-party parliamentary elections in the Republic of Maldives on 9 May.
"The election, which took place following the adoption of a new Constitution in August 2008, was a further step in the democratic reform process," said the EU Presidency held currently by the Czech Republic.
It congratulated the people of the Maldives for the generally peaceful atmosphere in which polling was conducted.
700 observers to monitor Russian presidential poll
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Around 700 international observers will arrive in Russia to monitor the March 4 presidential elections, a top election official said Thursday.
German parliament to take up case of alleged CIA killer commandos
By IRNA,
Berlin : The domestic affairs committee of the German parliament is to deal with the issue of alleged CIA death squads in Germany when it meets on January 27, news reports said Thursday.
The topic will be placed on the agenda following a request by the fraction of The Left party (Die Linke), the chairman of the German parliament's domestic affairs committee, Wolfgang Bosbach was quoted saying.
New Zealand to make 9.5 million NZ dollar food aid contribution
By Xinhua,
Wellington : New Zealand will contribute 9.5 million NZ dollars (7.4 million U.S. dollars) to the international response to the global food crisis, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced on Wednesday.
The money will be the largest humanitarian contribution since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and will be delivered through the government's aid agency NZAID.
"The impact of rising food prices on the world's poorest people cannot be underestimated, and it is important New Zealand does what it can to assist," Peters said in a media statement.
US asks Colombian rebels to clarify hostage release conditions
By Xinhua
Bogota : US Ambassador to Colombia William Brownfield has urged the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to clarify the conditions for the release of three US hostages they have held for five years.
"The FARC has not clarified its conditions, we are still speculating, we do not know what they want, the FARC has the obligation to clearly state what they specifically want to liberate each one of the hostages," Brownfield said Friday.
German chancellor urges people to act on child abuse
Berlin, Jan 1 (DPA) Amid New Year's Eve celebrations Monday evening, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel struck a sombre note with a television appeal for Germans to keep their eyes out for parents abusing children.
"We need a culture of paying attention, not of looking away," she said in the pre-recorded New Year message broadcast on Germany's two main public channels.
"We wish we had not had to live through some days of this past year. We are all thinking with horror of the news of child abuse, neglect and deaths," she told viewers.
Mauritanian troops to fight Al Qaeda in Sahara region
By Xinhua,
Dakar: Mauritania will send 4,000 troops to the Sahara region to combat Al Qaeda linked terrorists who have intensified their activities there, according to media reports reaching here from Mauritanian capital Nouakchott Sunday.
The decision announced by Mauritania's defence ministry Saturday was made in line with the outcome of the Wednesday meeting of defence chiefs of Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.
Cameron, Putin seek diplomatic solution of Ukraine crisis
London: British Prime Minister David Cameron and Russian President Vladimir Putin favoured finding a "diplomatic solution" of the situation in Ukraine, as they help...
Sri Lankan president revokes military news censorship
By Xinhua
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse decided to revoke with immediate effect a gazette notification issued earlier Wednesday imposing a military news censorship, a top official said.
"The president has decided to revoke the gazette. He expects the media to act responsibly," Chandrapala Liyanage, president's advisor for media, said.
The government gazette was issued Wednesday barring the media from disseminating information on military operations or information with regard to the procurement of military equipment.
Saudi Arabia tightens controls to prevent MERS, Zika during Haj
Riyadh : The Saudi Arabian Health Ministry will enforce tight border controls to prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Zika...
Chinese President Continues Tour In Western Japan
By Bernama,
Nara (Japan) : Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao continued his tour of the Kansai in western Japan on Saturday, before wrapping up his "warm spring" trip to the country, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
President Hu flew to Osaka Friday afternoon from Tokyo and met some local officials of the Kansai area, which includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga.
On Saturday morning, Hu arrived in Japan's ancient capital Nara for a tour.
Make global warming top priority: Dalai Lama to world leaders
By IANS,
Dharamsala : Ahead of the Copenhagen summit, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Monday asked world leaders to make finding a solution to climate change their number one priority.
"Protection of the global environment must take precedence over matters of national interest and politicians must make finding a solution to climate change their number one priority," the Nobel Peace laureate told reporters in Sydney, according to a post on the website of the Tibetan government-in-exile here.
Trapped Chilean miners won’t get wages
By IANS,
London : The 33 Chilean miners who are trapped inside a gold and copper mine since Aug 5 may not receive wages while they are underground, a media report said Wednesday.
The San Esteban company that operates the mine has said it has no money to pay their wages and absorb lawsuits, and is not even participating in the rescue, Daily Mail reported.
Discrimination pervading life of stateless minorities: UN
Geneva, (IANS): Discrimination, exclusion and persecution are still pervading the life of the world's stateless minorities and immediate actions are needed to secure equal rights...
Cancer-stricken Dennis Hopper gets star on walk of fame
By DPA,
Los Angeles: Cancer-stricken actor Dennis Hopper was honoured Friday with a star on Hollywood's walk of fame.
The actor, 73, is reportedly too weak to continue chemotherapy for his advanced prostate cancer. But he received permission from his doctor to attend the short ceremony recognising his contribution to more than 150 movies.
Hopper began his career in the 1955 classic Rebel Without a Cause and is most famous for his role in the 1969 counter-culture movie, Easy Rider.
Be careful while in Sri Lanka, US says
By IANS,
Colombo : The security situation in Sri Lanka has improved since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers but Americans travelling to the country should remain careful, the US said Friday.
"The Department of State warns US citizens about the risks of travel to Sri Lanka due to continued security concerns, especially in the northernmost areas and most of its Eastern Province as there are still uncleared landmines and potential for incidents by remnant members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)," a travel advisory said.
Horse’s tragic death cancels royal ceremon
By IANS,
London : A royal gun salute marking the Queen's coronation was cancelled after an Army horse died accidentally while participating in the ceremony.
Goal to clear landmines by 2010 is faltering: UN
By TwoCircles.net news desk
In 2006, landmines claimed the lives of more than 5,700 people. Three quarters of the killed were civilians.
A new report launched today by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) states that not all countries are on track to meeting the deadline of removing anti-personnel landmines by 2010 as called for in a landmark 1997 treaty banning the deadly weapons.
Georgian NGO files hundreds of human rights suits against Russia
By RIA Novosti,
TBILISI : A Georgian nongovernmental organization has sent hundreds of lawsuits to the European Court of Human Rights over Russia's actions in the August war over South Ossetia, a spokesman for the organization said on Friday.
The 42nd Article of the Constitution group has sent 391 claims to the court in Strasbourg on behalf of Georgian citizens who suffered during the five-day conflict between Russia and Georgia in August 2008.
20 killed in Bolivia accident
By IANS,
La Paz : At least 20 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a bus lost control and fell into a river canyon in Bolivia, Xinhua reported Friday.
Fire prompts evacuations at hotels, offices near White House
By DPA,
Washington : An underground transformer fire near the White House prompted the evacuation of two landmark hotels and the National Press Building in downtown Washington Saturday night. No injuries were reported.
The fire broke out at about 8 p.m. (0000 GMT) about a block from the White House, with flames and smoke shooting up through a sidewalk.
The historic Willard Intercontinental Hotel and W Hotel were evacuated. Several streets were closed to traffic and power was cut off to prevent the flames from spreading, police said.
Russia creates special force to combat terrorism
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia has created a special task force to combat crime and terrorism in the north Caucasus region, the Kremlin said Wednesday.
President Dmitry Medvedev ordered the creation of the unit, which would be operational from April 19.
The president also ordered officials to prepare a new programme to combat crime and terrorist acts in the region.
The orders were given after an emergency meeting convened by Medvedev in response to terrorist attacks in Moscow and Dagestan that killed more than 50 people last week.
Colombia denies meddling in hostage release
By IANS
Bogota : The Colombian government has denied it interfered with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group's planned release of three hostages.
"There is no military operation aimed at preventing the hostages from being set free," Luis Carlos Restrepo, the Peace Commissioner of the country, said Sunday responding to the comments made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Spain's EFE news agency reported Monday.
Jet hunt: Search resumes in cloudy weather
Canberra: The search operation for the missing Malaysian airliner resumed Sunday morning with eight aircraft being tasked to search the area in the southern...
Myanmar to host ASEAN leadership forum in May
Yangon: Myanmar will host the ASEAN Leadership Forum related to the 24th Summit of the ASEAN in its capital Nay Pyi Taw in May,...
Freedom of movement within EU not negotiable: Germany
Berlin: The freedom of movement within the European Union (EU) is not negotiable for Germany, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesperson Monday, following a...
Martial law still necessary in Thailand: Deputy PM
Bangkok : The martial law now implemented in Thailand is still necessary for security reasons, a deputy prime minister said Thursday after a high-ranking...
Flu fears turn Mexico City into ghost town
By EFE,
Mexico City : Residents of Mexico City went back to work Monday in a relatively empty city where schools, universities, restaurants, movies, museums and other establishments remained closed to prevent the further spread of the swine flu that has claimed 110 lives nationwide.
Public transport continues to operate normally in this metropolitan area of nearly 20 million people, but passengers on buses and riding the metro system wore surgical face masks to protect themselves from contagion.