Indian pilot to be freed Friday as ‘peace gesture’, says Imran
Islamabad, Feb 28 (IANS) The captured Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot will be freed on Friday "as a peace gesture", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran...
Berlusconi sworn in as Italy’s prime minister
By DPA,
Rome : Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi led Thursday the members of his new government in a swearing-in ceremony in Rome.
The 71-year-old Berlusconi was the first to take an oath of allegiance to Italy's constitution before President Giorgio Napolitano.
The premier was followed by his 21-member cabinet, each of whom repeated the oath before Napolitano in a hall at the presidential Quirinale Palace.
Rice winds up Colombian visit pledging more US support
By IANS
Medellin (Colombia) : US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has rounded off her two-day visit to Colombia, pledging more support to the country.
The US secretary of state, who arrived in Colombia Friday with an aim to promote a free trade pact between Washington and Bogota, met top Colombian leaders, including President Alvaro Uribe and other top leaders in Medellin, the country's second biggest city and business capital, EFE news agency reported Sunday.
Nepali ex-king holds last press meet in former royal palace
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : Nepal's last king of Shah dynasty of around 240 years, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, held his last press meet on Wednesday afternoon in the former royal Narayanhiti palace.
‘War is ending’ in Iraq: Obama
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to tout the end of the US combat mission in Iraq, which officially closes Tuesday, more than seven years after US-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein.
"As a candidate for this office, I pledged I would end this war. As president, that is what I am doing," he said in taped remarks broadcast Saturday. "We have brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office."
11 killed in terrorist attack in Algeria
By DPA,
Algiers/Paris : At least 11 people were killed and several others injured in an attack by suspected Islamic terrorists on police accompanying a shipment of examination papers, a media report said Wednesday.
Seven police officers and at least two teachers, taking the examination papers to the test centre at Timezrit, were killed as militants exploded a bomb and fired from automatic weapons, the online daily Tout sur l'Algerie reported.
The attack took place late Tuesday at Issers, about 30 km southeast of the city of Boumerdes.
G20 should focus on green measures for growth: UN
By IANS,
United Nations : Leaders of the group of 20 developing countries (G20) should focus on environment-friendly measures to promote global economic recovery, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said.
"Based on our collective experience, the best way to enhance the framework for strong, sustainable and balanced economic growth is to put development front and centre, and to invest in a green economic recovery for all," Ban said in an open letter to the G20 leaders.
Obama’s plan to ease student loan burden
By IANS,
Washington : US President Barack Obama Wednesday unveiled a plan that would help relieve the burden of students struggling to pay their loans.
Electronic ‘ears’ guide drills into mine shaft
By IANS,
Sydney : Australian scientists have successfully used an electronic 'ear' to track and control a drill operating 300 metres below the earth's surface.
The successful trial has demonstrated that use of 'microseismics' can potentially cut down costs and improve drilling process for exploration and mining.
The trial was carried out at a coalfield test site in Queensland as part of a programme to develop and exploit coal seam gas.
UN chief urges ‘immediate end’ to Ukraine violence
By IANS,
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon Wednesday called for an "immediate end" to the violence in Kiev, the capital city of...
At least 87,000 feared dead in China’s May 12 quake
By Xinhua,
Beijing : At least 87,000 people are feared to have perished in the deadly May 12 earthquake in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, an expert said Thursday in a revised estimate.
"The toll in the quake had topped 69,000 by mid July, with another 18,000 missing," Shi Peijun with the National Wenchuan Earthquake Expert Committee told a press conference here.
"Given that it has been three months since the deadly earthquake struck, the hope of survival for the missing is very slim," Shi said.
IMF chief seeks ‘Marshall Plan’ for Haiti
By DPA,
Washington : International Monetary Fund Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn called Wednesday for a "Marshall Plan" style effort to help rebuild Haiti, which was shattered by an earthquake last week.
Strauss-Kahn noted that Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, had already suffered massively before the quake from food and fuel shortages and a 2008 series of hurricanes.
EU sounds unemployment warning ahead of economic recovery
By DPA,
Brussels : European Union (EU) governments should be braced for more job losses, officials in Brussels said Monday as they published forecasts pointing to a slow recovery in the 27-member bloc.
According to the European Commission's latest forecasts, EU gross domestic product (GDP) was expected to grow by 0.2 percent in the third quarter and by 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter, after contracting sharply during the first half of the year.
Overall, EU GDP for the year was expected to shrink by 4 percent - in line with previous estimates.
India committed to Palestine cause, also to two-nation solution
United Nations : While supporting a two-nation solution to the burning Israeli-Palestinian conflict, India also maintained its strong commitment to the Palestinian cause,...
A ray of hope in Sri Lanka
By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS
New Delhi : Amid unending turmoil, there is a glimmer of hope in Sri Lanka. If all goes well, the government and the Tamil Tigers may be talking soon. But uncertainties remain, and all fingers remain tightly crossed.
Away from the limelight, Norway is busy trying to bridge the yawning gap between the Colombo authorities and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that has again led to terrible misery in recent years.
China bans 15 products over heart disease concern
By IANS,
Beijing: China has banned 15 weight-loss products containing a drug that could lead to increased risk of heart disease.
EU expresses disappointment over Fiji situation
By Xinhua,
Wellington : The European Union (EU) said Thursday that developments in Fiji were unacceptable and called on the interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to honour the commitments his government pledged to the international community.
EU Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel said he was "particularly disappointed" because the interim government had agreed to a plan that would have allowed the EU to provide substantial financial support.
"These developments are unacceptable for the international community," he said in a statement.
North Korea fires three short-range missiles into East Sea
Seoul: North Korea fired three short-range missiles into the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
North Korea "fired three...
Sri Lanka unveils proposals for constitutional reforms
Colombo : Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday formally released a set of proposals for key constitutional reforms which were approved by the cabinet.
The gazette...
Balle-balle: All Punjabi MPs in Canada get elected
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : It is balle-balle time for over half a million Punjabis in Canada as all the nine Indian-Canadians elected as MPs in Tuesday's election are of Punjabi origin.
In fact, the new parliament now has three turbaned Sikh MPs as Tim Uppal of the ruling Conservative Party joins Gurbax Malhi and Navdeep Bains of the opposition Liberal Party in the 308-member House of Commons.
Uppal, the 34-year-old Canadian-born property investor, has been elected from Edmonton Sherwood Park for the first time.
Indian-origin man jailed for assaulting two in Singapore
Singapore: An Indian-origin man, who was acknowledged last year for turning around his life of crime, was sent back to jail on Friday for...
LTTE’s defeat is victory for country: Sri Lankan president
By IANS,
Colombo : The victory "achieved by defeating the LTTE" is the victory of the country, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said while addressing parliament Tuesday.
"Our aim was to protect the Tamils from the clutch of LTTE. In order to protect the innocent Tamilian civilians our soldiers sacrificed their lives," said Rajapaksa.
"The victory we have achieved by defeating the LTTE is the victory of our country, our motherland. To protect the Tamil population in this country is my responsibility and duty."
Obama to publish list of White House visitors
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama announced Friday he will publicize a list of most visitors to the White House to provide more information about who has access and influences policy.
The move was meant to satisfy demands by watchdog groups who have insisted on greater public transparency about the role of lobbyists in decision-making.
Guatemalan ex-police chief gets 90-year jail for 37 killings
Guatemala City : A court in Guatemala sentenced a former police chief to 90 years in prison on charges of murdering 37 people in...
Shortage of isotopes to hit medical scans
By IANS,
London : A global shortage of medical isotopes, used in more than 80 percent of heart and bone scans and in detection of cancer, will hamper diagnostic examinations over the coming weeks.
Medical isotopes are small quantities of radioactive substances used in the imaging and treatment of disease. They are delivered directly to the site of diseased cells and can be tracked by imaging equipment.
London Evening Standard sold to ex-Soviet spy
By IANS,
London : Loss-making London newspaper the Evening Standard has been sold to Russian oligarch and former KGB officer Alexander Lebedev for a "nominal sum", its current owners announced Wednesday.
The Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) said London's traditional eveninger has been bought by Evening Press, a company formed by Lebedev and his son Evgeny Lebedev and owned by Lebedev Holdings.
DMGT's Associated Newspapers division is to retain a minority share of 24.9 percent in the new firm, called Evening Standard Ltd.
Thai Army trucks carry relief supplies to Myanmar
By Xinhua,
Bangkok : A caravan of Thai army trucks carrying relief supplies left Bangkok Tuesday for the former Myanmar capital of Yangon to provide assistance for cyclone victims in Myanmar.
Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit on Tuesday sendoff the ten trucks carrying 120 metric tons of relief supplies to Myanmar.
The trucks will enter Myanmar through a border bridge that links the Mae Sot district in Thai northwestern province Tak and Myawaddy town in Myanmar, according to a report by Thai News Agency.
Fire breaks out in Egyptian parliament, 13 injured
By DPA,
Cairo : A major fire erupted Tuesday in the building housing Egypt's Shura Council or upper house of parliament, injuring at least 13 people, security sources said.
The fire spread from the third floor of the building down to the second floor, security sources told DPA. Wind and the wood from the ceiling help fuel the flames.
Among the injured were fire workers who suffered smoke inhalation and some workers in the building who suffered fractures while trying to escape the fire.
Dogs help in hunt for genetic mutations
By IANS,
Washington : Man's most loyal and sincere friend, the dog is now helping scientists hunt for genetic mutations, the source of diseases in humans.
A new consortium called LUPA will coordinate research from 20 veterinary schools from 12 European countries to collect 10,000 DNA samples from purebred dogs, comparing healthy animals with those affected by similar diseases as humans.
Canadians Divided Even by Fate of Gitmo Inmate
By Prensa Latina,
Ottawa : Sectors of Canadian public opinion are demanding repatriation of Omar Khadr, an alleged terrorist held in Guantanamo base, while others say he must be tried in the mentioned military base, according to a survey carried out by the Toronto Star paper.
According to the poll, 38 percent of the people demanded return of the prisoner, one of the 270 people tagged as enemy combatants, a term created by the US Government to justify their confinement at the Guantanamo base.
Amazon losing 1,500 sq km each year
By IANS/EFE,
Lima : Around 1,500 sq km (579 sq miles) of the Amazon forest is lost each year due to deforestation and environmental degradation in Peru.
Peru has 68 million hectares (262,550 sq miles) of Amazon rainforest, and it is "absolutely unacceptable" that an expanse 10 times the size of Callao, a leading port city west of Lima, disappears each year "as a result of deforestation and the degradation of our natural forests", a report by the National Ombud's Office said.
Putin says Europe, OSCE cannot dictate terms to Russia
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his country will not allow anyone to dictate terms to it, but that it will honor its international commitments in full.
Putin, who is to step down as Russian president after the March 2 presidential elections, was referring to a recent row with the OSCE over monitors for the polls. He is currently holding his last annual news conference as head of state in the Kremlin.
Merkel’s coalition given thumbs down in state poll
By DPA,
Dusseldorf/Berlin : German Chancellor Angela Merkel was facing the loss of her majority in the upper house of parliament, following the poor showing by her Christian Democrat (CDU) allies in a key state election.
In North Rhein-Westphalia, which as Germany's most populous state contains around a fifth of all the country's voters, the CDU lost some 10 percent of its support.
The CDU had governed in the state, in an arrangement mirroring the national government, with the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) since 2005.
18 killed in Nepal plane crash
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : A small plane carrying 19 people Wednesday crashed in Nepal's remote mountainous north, killing all but the pilot and turning the celebration of the country's biggest festival Dashain into mourning.
The 18 victims included 12 Germans, two Australians and four Nepalis.
Co-pilot Bikash Pant and cabin attendant Sunita Shrestha were killed in the early morning crash while pilot Surendra Kunwar was the lone survivor.
Security Council condemns attack on diplomats in Somalia
United Nations: The UN Security Council has condemned an attack on a humanitarian convoy carrying diplomats from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Somalia.
A...
Bethlehem celebrates Midnight Mass
By DPA,
Bethlehem (West Bank) : The top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land prayed and called for world peace on Christmas Day early Thursday as he led the traditional Midnight Mass in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.
Speaking in his mother tongue Arabic and translating his own words into French to an audience that included Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal called for an end to "bloodshed and ill-treatment and humiliation".
Obama’s daughters offered guest spots on ‘Hannah Montana’
By IANS,
London : Disney Channel's "The Hannah Montana Show" has extended an invitation to President-elect Barack Obama's daughters - 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha to join the cast for an episode.
According to dailymail.co.uk, Billy Ray Cyrus, father of the show's star Miley Cyrus, told “The Access Hollywood” show that the young daughters of Obama and his wife, Michelle, could appear on the show.
“The invitation is there. Maybe something might happen around,” he said, adding that any guest shots would take place next spring.
Seven killed in China explosion
By IANS,
Beijing : Seven people were killed and 14 injured when an electric tricycle exploded in northwest China Thursday, authorities said.
The blast occurred on a bridge on the outskirts of Aksu city in southern Xinjiang, the autonomous regional government's information office said in a statement.
A suspect was arrested by police at the site and being questioned, Xinhua reported.
‘Obama attaches high priority to stronger ties with India’
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : President-elect Barack Obama attaches high priority to the further strengthening of relations between India and the US, his special envoy to the G-20 Summit has told a key aide of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Obama's views on relationship with India were conveyed by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright during a meeting Thursday with Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and the Indian 'sherpa' for the G-20 Summit.
US stocks fall sharply on ongoing recession fears
By DPA,
Washington : US stock indices posted steep drops Friday, plunging more than 3.5 percent to end another week of uncertainty over the state of the global economy.
The sell-off in New York followed even sharper falls in Europe, Asia and the Middle East earlier in the day on fears of a recession following the widening financial crisis.
North Korea asks foreigners in South Korea to leave
By IANS,
Pyongyang : North Korea Tuesday asked foreigners living in South Korea to consider evacuation, the official KCNA news agency reported.
Haiti president bemoans lack of coordination in aid relief
By DPA,
Port-au-Prince: Haiti President Rene Preval has criticised a lack of coordination among countries bringing aid to the Caribbean nation in the wake of the Jan 12 earthquake.
Many donor nations were helping with "all good intentions" but "without coordination", Preval said after a meeting here with Ecuador President Rafael Correa.
He said countries such as Germany, the US and France were channelling their assistance through their own institutions and bypassing the Haitian government, which is seeking to coordinate the efforts.
Thai People’s Power Party Seeks Allies
Bangkok, Dec 24 (Prensa Latina) The People's Power Party, winner of Sunday's elections in Thailand, confirmed on Monday that it won the majority of seats in the House of Representatives, after an alliance with minority parties.
General Secretary Surapong Suebwonglee said the PPP and its associates can have between 280 and 290 seats of the 480 in Parliament, enough to shape the coalition Minister Council.
Dalai Lama “optimistic” about China talks
By DPA,
Sydney : Exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama said Thursday he was optimistic peace talks with China could resume next month.
"Basically, I'm optimistic," he said in Sydney at the start of a world tour that will take him to five countries.
The monk said Beijing's response to the earthquake in Sechuan province had been "wonderful" and predicted the Tibet leg of the Olympic torch relay would be free of trouble.
Hundreds demonstrate against French retail giant in China
By Xinhua,
Beijing : Hundreds of Chinese Thursday demonstrated in front of French supermarket Carrefour here raising slogans against the retail giant and demands for Tibet's independence.
The protesters also raised slogans in suppor of the upcoming Beijing Olympics.
Carrefour and France became target of protests by Chinese nationalists after the April 7 Paris run of the Olympic torch was repeatedly interrupted by rights activists protesting what they called was suppression of Tibetan demonstrators by Chinese authorities.
Bad luck continues to dog Sobhraj in Nepal
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu, June 21 (IANS) Bad luck continued to dog crime maestro Charles Sobhraj in Nepal with his final appeal against a life term for murder failing to be heard in the apex court, even after nearly two years.
Italian President Tries to Solve Crisis
By Prensa Latina
Rome : Italian President Girogio Napolitano resumed consultation rounds on Monday aimed at seeking a solution to the political crisis yield in the country after the government's Chief Romano Prodi resigned.
Napolitano met North league leader Humberto Bossi and other leaders of the group on Monday, associated to the center-right coalition of ex Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Diarrhea kills 5 in mid-western Nepal
By Xinhua
Kathmandu : At least five people died Saturday in mid-western Nepali district Kalikot, local leading media group's website eKantipur reported on Sunday.
In Khim of Kalikot district in Mid-western Development Region, some 400 km west of capital Kathmandu, at least five died due to diarrhea.
The death toll in the village due to the outbreak of diarrhea has reached 76 in the last six months. The village is a three-day walk away from the district headquarters, Manma.
52 among the dead so far were children below eight.
Myanmar builds first liver transplant hospital
By IANS,
Yangon : Myanmar is building its first-ever liver transplant hospital, a media report said Sunday.
Nepal okays pocket money for Maoist guerrillas
By IANS
Kathmandu : Nepal's Maoist guerrillas, once carrying a price on their heads, will now be paid pocket money by the government in a move to keep the peace process on track.
Chavez wants joint military force against US aggression
By Xinhua
Caracas : Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has suggested creating a joint military force for the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) member nations to see off any possible US military aggression.
Speaking during his Sunday television show "Alo Presidente" alongside his special guest Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, he said "we are going to commission a working paper. We need a joint ALBA defence strategy."
Ortega backed the idea, adding that the US was working via Colombia to threaten "not only Venezuela but also the whole of Latin America.
We can’t afford mediocrity when competing with Indian kids: Obama
By IANS,
Washington : "We can't afford our kids to be mediocre at a time when they're competing against kids in China and kids in India," US President Barack Obama has said.
Interacting with local residents at California's Costa Mesa town hall Wednesday, Obama said, "It can't just be a single high-stakes standardized test - but we do need to have strong, powerful measures of performance, because schools are like anything else."
Norway’s mass murderer Breivik sues government
Oslo : Norway's mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik has sued the government for violating his human rights by exposing him to extreme isolation in...
Morales’ comments on gays, chickens, baldness trump climate event
By DPA,
La Paz (Bolivia) : A three-day conference on climate change in the central Bolivian town of Tiquipaya made more headlines for the striking comments by Bolivian President Evo Morales than any concrete proposals.
"The chicken we eat is full of female hormones," Morales claimed Tuesday. "That is why men, when they eat this chicken, have deviations in their being as men," in a reference to homosexuality.
Hundreds arrested after Sarkozy victory in France
By DPA
Paris : French police arrested 270 people as scattered protests took place throughout the country after the victory of conservative Nicolas Sarkozy in Sunday's presidential election, the office of the national police (DGPN) said Monday.
Sri Lanka bombs rebel targets, 37 combatants die
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankan fighter jets and helicopter gunships Monday targeted suspected Tamil Tiger bases as advancing troops killed at least 32 guerrillas in the war-torn north, the authorities said Monday.
The government said that the air force bombed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) positions at Nachchikuda in the rebel-held Kilinochchi district.
The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said that security forces also killed at least 32 Tamil Tigers while losing five troopers during sporadic gun battles Sunday in northern Wanni region.
Powerful quake strikes off Philippines
By IANS,
Beijing : A 6.0-magnitude quake Wednesday struck off the coast of the Philippines but there was no immediate report of damage or casualty, Xinhua reported.
At least 15 missing after boat accident in Peru
By DPA
Lima : At least 15 passengers have been missing after a boat capsized in northern Peru.
The Santa Elena, which was carrying 40 people and a load of wood on the Tapiche River, capsized Friday for unknown reasons, media reports said, quoting regional officials in the rain-forest province of Loreto that borders on Ecuador, Colombia and Brazil.
The reports said 25 people had been rescued. It was possible that some of the missing were trapped inside the boat as it went down.
Hitler in pink posters cause storm in Italy
By IANS,
London : Huge posters of Hitler wearing a lurid pink uniform with a love heart, instead of swastika, on his arm band have whipped up a storm in Italy.
The posters, which are 18 feet high, are for a line of clothing for young people and they have been prominently set up in Palermo city.
They show Hitler wearing a bright pink uniform above the slogan "Change Style - Don't Follow Your Leader", The Telegraph reported Friday.
Local people have found the posters offensive and demanded that they be removed.
Russian police detain 100 during freedom-of-assembly protests
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Nearly 100 protesters, including Russia's former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov, were arrested for taking part in an anti-government rally in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
An estimated 200 protesters turned out for the March of Dissent rally Saturday in downtown Moscow. At least 35 of them were hauled away in police vehicles.
The rally in Russia's second largest city, St. Petersburg, was attended by 100 people, 60 of whom were detained.
One police officer in Moscow was injured during confrontation with the protesters.
‘Birds flock together while migrating at night’
By IANS,
Washington : In a first, a new study has corroborated statistically what many ornithologists have long suspected -- that most birds fly in flocks even at night.
Researchers have spent decades trying to track how birds migrate at night, a problem compounded by their tiny size flying and the great height at which they fly.
Russia, Norway to hold joint naval drills in May
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The Russian Navy's Northern Fleet and the Norwegian Navy will conduct joint drills in the Arctic in May, a Russian defence spokesman said Monday.
British doctor ‘killed without legal justification’ in Syria: Jury
London: A doctor from south London was "killed without any legal justification" in a jail cell in Syria, an inquest jury has said.
The jury...
Embattled Arroyo warns Filipinos against mass uprising
By DPA
Manila : Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, embattled by calls for her resignation over corruption allegations, warned Filipinos Sunday against supporting a mass uprising to oust her before her term ends in 2010.
The Philippines has removed two presidents in past "people power" revolts: late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in February 1986, and former president Joseph Estrada in January 2001.
Schools should teach not hunt potential terrorists, say Lib Dems
By IRNA,
London : The Liberal Democrats Thursday criticised a government pilot scheme to extend the hunt for potential terrorists to local schools.
“The government should focus on teaching students the three Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic) not ‘spotting’ extremists’,” said Farid Ahmed, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Walthamstow in east London, where the scheme was being piloted.
Russian presidential, parliament polls on March 2
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, has officially announced presidential elections March 2, the speaker said Monday.
According to speaker Sergei Mironov, electioneering for the elections of the president and to the State Duma (lower house) will start Nov 28 after the decision of the federal council is published in the official government daily 'Rossiiskaya Gazeta' and parliament's daily 'Parliamentskaya Gazeta'.
"The election campaign will start on the day of publication," Mironov said.
Air Canada to provide in-flight internet service
By IANS,
Toronto : Air Canada may soon follow American Airlines in providing in-flight internet service for its passengers.
WestJet, Canada's biggest private airline, is also likely to follow suit.
American Airlines, which is the world's largest airline, offers in-flight internet service on its long-haul flights - New York to Los Angeles, New York to San Francisco and New York to Miami - within the country.
The service, which was introduced Aug 20, costs a passenger about $13 for the duration of the flight.
Climate change roils farming in Australia
By Sid Astbury, DPA,
Moree (Australia) : Generations of the Kirkby family have farmed the dark alluvial soils near Moree in Australia's southeast corner. Where merino sheep once grazed, there are now groves of olives and oranges. Cotton, which sustains the business now, may soon be gone as the global grain shortage makes a move further into wheat irresistible.
Don’t banish English, Amartya Sen tells Mulayam
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : Nobel laureate Amartya Sen Monday criticised Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's campaign pledge to banish the use of English in Uttar Pradesh, saying such a move would only deepen existing divisions between the haves and have-nots in the state.
"I don't know what Mulayam Singh Yadav has in mind... I don't really see what the problem is about because it's a language that's widely used," Sen told an international gathering of leading writers, publishers and academics at the London Book Fair.
Canadian PM congratulates Modi, praises Indian democracy
Ottawa: Congratulating India's prime minister-elect over his victory, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he is looking forward "to working with Mr. Modi and...
Russia sends candy, books to space station
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia has launched a cargo module to the International Space Station (ISS) to deliver over 2.5 tonnes of supplies, including chocolates and books for researchers at the ISS.
The Progress M-05M freighter lifted off on a Soyuz-U rocket at 21.15 Moscow time (2345 IST Wednesday) from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan.
Mission control said the spacecraft will deliver over 2.5 tonnes of supplies, including equipment, parcels from home, chocolate, candy, new video films and books.
Britain urges for de-escalation of violence in Israel, Gaza
London: British government Tuesday appealed for de-escalation of violence in southern Israel and Gaza, urging all sides to show restraint.
I am deeply concerned by...
Sri Lankan president promises land to people in north
By Xinhua,
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said Tuesday that his government would ensure the northern people the right to own their land.
"As much as we have given the eastern people their right to own land we will soon ensure that northern people would be free to do likewise," Rajapakse told a political gathering in Colombo.
The president was referring to his government's military thrust against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
Seven militants killed in Russia
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Seven gunmen and a security personnel were killed in an anti-terrorist operation in Russia's southwestern region of Dagestan.
10 killed, 43 hurt in China bus collision
By IANS,
Beijing : At least 10 people were killed and 43 injured when two buses collided head-on in China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in the wee hours Monday, police said.
The accident happened at 2 a.m. on a state highway in the autonomous region's Hechi town, Xinhua reported citing a statement from the regional public security department.
The injured have been sent to hospital for treatment.
While one bus was carrying 55 people, the other had 28 people on board, police said, adding that neither bus was overloaded.
Bush calls Manmohan to offer support after Mumbai attacks
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : US President George W. Bush telephoned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday to offer support to the Indian government as it works to restore order and investigate the "despicable" terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed at least 101 people.
"The president offered support and assistance to the government of India as it works to restore order, provide safety to its people and comfort to the victims and their families, and investigate these despicable acts," White House spokesperson Dana Perino said in a statement.
Call for G20 summit to focus on protectionism
By Shabtai Gold, DPA,
Geneva : Many experts feel next week's Group of 20 (G20) meeting in London needs to be focused on fighting protectionism. They warn world leaders against getting distracted.
"Economic isolationism can lead to a negative spiral of events such as those we saw in the 1930s, which made a bad situation much, much worse," said World Bank chief Robert Zoellick recently.
13 killed in Sri Lanka Independence Day blasts
By P.K. Balachandran, IANS
Colombo : At least 13 people were killed and 21 injured in two separate bomb blasts in Sri Lanka as the island nation marked the 60th year of its independence from British rule under a blanket of security.
A powerful roadside bomb ripped apart a passenger bus at the Kobbekaduwa junction near Janakapura in the Weli Oya region in the northeast at about 3.15 p.m., killing 10 civilians and two soldiers, military sources said.
Japan”s current account surplus up 45.7 percent on exports
By KUNA
Tokyo : Japan's current account surplus widened 45.7 percent in October from a year earlier to JPY 2.23 trillion (USD 20.1 billion) for the 10th consecutive monthly increase on the back of strong exports to Europe and other parts of Asia and returns on its overseas investments, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
The trade surplus alone grew 52.3 percent in the reporting month from a year ago to JPY 1.16 trillion (USD 10.5 billion), up for the third month in a row, according to the data released by the ministry.
Magnitude 5.9 quake hits Japan’s Kanto region
By IANS,
Tokyo : A magnitude-5.9 earthquake jolted Japan's Kanto region Saturday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency.
More than 1,000 forest fires burning in northern California
By SPA,
San Francisco : The normally blue skies of north California were thick with smoke Thursday as more than 1,000 forest fires burned across the region, according to DPA.
The authorities in many areas warned of "unhealthy" air quality, the San Francisco Chronicle reported under the headline "Having a Bad Air Day."
An army of firefighters with support from the neighbouring states of Oregon and Nevada were battling the flames that were ignited by a series of lightning strikes over the weekend.
Bodies of five miners recovered after Kazakh coal mine accident
By RIA Novosti,
Astana : Rescuers recovered the bodies of all five miners who died after a cave-in and methane leak at a coal mine in central Kazakhstan on June 2, the country's Emergency Situations Ministry said Sunday.
The Tentekskaya mine, located in the Karaganda Region, is owned by the world's largest steel company, ArcelorMittal.
The search operation, which began immediately after the blast, was hampered by over 1,000 tons of rubble brought down by the cave-in. A total of 95 people were evacuated from the mine after the accident.
Giant images at Liverpool of Beatles in Indian ashram
By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS
Liverpool : If you visit Liverpool as it revels in the status of the European Capital of Culture during 2008, chances are that you will be greeted by large, blown-up images of the Beatles in Rishikesh at the local John Lennon Airport (JLA).
The northwestern port city of Liverpool is better known the world over as the place where the Beatles came together in the late 1950s. The iconic group of the flower power 1960s generation had close interaction with Indian spiritual leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Depressed truck drivers more prone to accidents
By IANS,
Sydney : Depression or casual employment among truck drivers may greatly increase the chances of accident, a study based on their mental health has affirmed.
The study, conducted by Queensland University and supported by various bodies, including the National Transport Commission (NTC), have major implications for road safety.
Drivers of heavy vehicles worked 62 hours every week. Sixty five percent work longer, some more than 100 hours per week.
Authorities seize homemade submarine from Colombian drug gangs
By DPA
Bogota : Colombian authorities have seized a homemade submarine allegedly used by drug traffickers for smuggling in Pacific waters in the north western Choco province on the Panamanian border.
"This type of boat had a capacity to transport approximately four tonnes of cocaine hydrochloride in its interior," the Colombian Navy said in a statement Wednesday.
The vessel is the third submarine seized by Colombian authorities on the Pacific coast.
Bogota : Colombian authorities have seized a homemade submarine allegedly used by drug traffickers for smuggling in Pacific waters in the north western Choco province on the Panamanian border.
"This type of boat had a capacity to transport approximately four tonnes of cocaine hydrochloride in its interior," the Colombian Navy said in a statement Wednesday.
The vessel is the third submarine seized by Colombian authorities on the Pacific coast.
Self-defence, not occupation
By Sheldon Schreter
In my January 30 op-ed in The Jerusalem Post, I contended that our settlements weaken rather than strengthen us by seriously eroding both our own and the world's belief in the justice of our cause. That cause is asserting the right of the Jewish people to a sovereign state in their ancient homeland.
In over 100 "talkbacks" on jpost.com, letters to the editor, and some personal communications, my views were mostly attacked, though occasionally supported. Let me address some of the criticisms of my argument.
Both Koreas for Economic Progress
Seoul, Oct 6 (Prensa Latina) Both Koreas will talk about development of oil resources in the north of this peninsula during their planned conversations on economic cooperation, reported an official source on Saturday.
According to Yonhap agency the South Korean Finance Minister Kwon O-Kyu said that the issue was tackled during the recent summit between the two countries' political leaders.
The leader of the Democratic Popular Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Il and the South Korean President Roh Moo-hyu spoke about prospect for deposits and development of oilfields.
Ramadan saves Filipino from being beheaded by terrorists
Manila : A Filipino who was kidnapped by terrorist group Abu Sayyaf in south Philippines in early June was saved from being beheaded due...
Obama offers support to Tunisia following museum attack
Washington : US President Barack Obama called Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi to offer condolences and support following the terrorist attack that left 23...
The latest must have – sunglasses with built-in digital camera
By DPA,
New York : Want to take a photo immediately? No photo opportunity will be lost if you have a pair of sunglasses with an integrated digital camera.
A tiny lens has been built into the frame of the $100 sunglasses and uses 1.3 mega pixels to take still images. Fans just have to press a button to take a photo or use the remote control which can be kept in your pocket.
The Hanuman factor in Indian support to Barack Obama!
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Indian Americans are switching their loyalties from the Clintons to the likely Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, thanks to Hanuman, so suggests a columnist in the Washington Post. When it comes to American politicians, former president "Bill Clinton has been the darling of India," wrote Matthew Mosk in his column titled "Indian Americans Take Note of Obama, Thanks to Hanuman" - with a picture of the Hindu monkey god.
US Chamber of Commerce backs raise in H-1B cap
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : The United States Chamber of Commerce has expressed support for a proposed change in US law to raise the cap on H-1B visas for highly skilled workers like IT professionals from India.
The chamber, said to be the world's largest business federation, said in a letter Thursday to members of the US Senate that the proposed change would provide an interim solution for companies and organisations in need of highly skilled workers by raising the H-1B cap to 115,000 for 2008.
Washington : The United States Chamber of Commerce has expressed support for a proposed change in US law to raise the cap on H-1B visas for highly skilled workers like IT professionals from India.
The chamber, said to be the world's largest business federation, said in a letter Thursday to members of the US Senate that the proposed change would provide an interim solution for companies and organisations in need of highly skilled workers by raising the H-1B cap to 115,000 for 2008.
Obama declares himself the Democratic nominee
By IRNA,
New York : US Senator Barack Obama has claimed the Democratic nomination to be his party's candidate in November's presidential election.
In a victory speech to supporters, Obama paid tribute to his closest rival, Hillary Clinton: "Senator Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign, not just because she is a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she is a leader who inspires millions of Americans with her strength, her courage and her dedication to the causes that brought us here tonight."
Fukushima cleanup will take decades : Japan
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Tokyo : Decommissioning of Fukushima nuclear power plant, crippled by the March 2011 quake and tsunami, will take decades, said Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan Saturday.
School students injured in China quake
By IANS,
Beijing : A moderate earthquake that hit China's Henan province Sunday left 12 students injured, officials said Monday morning.
Mandela in London for birthday celebrations
By IRNA,
London : Former South African president Nelson Mandela arrived in London Monday for a week of events to celebrate his 90th birthday.
An outdoor music concert in honour of the former South African president, who turns 90 on July 18, is being held at Hyde Park on Friday.
Mandela was also reported to be also meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former US president Bill Clinton during his visit.
His concert coincides with the 20th anniversary of London's Free Mandela concert, which was held to demand his release from prison.
Russia hopes to strike new disarmament deal with US
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia expects to reach a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with the US by the year-end, an aide to President Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-1) was signed by the US and the erstwhile Soviet Union July 31, 1991, five months before the communist federation collapsed.
The treaty will expire Dec 5, 2009.
Sergei Prikhodko said there had been no progress of late in reaching an understanding between Russia and the US on strategic arms.
Hearing delayed on ‘Merchant of Death’ extradition to U.S.
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The lawyer for an alleged Russian arms dealer in custody in Thailand confirmed on Monday that a hearing on a request for his client's extradition to the U.S. had been postponed.
It was previously reported that a Thai court had put off the hearing to July 28 as the lawyer representing Valery Bout's interests had developed "a heart problem."
"The hearing has been postponed due to the illness of Viktor Bout's Thai lawyer," Yan Dasgupta said.
Two held while trying to take weapons to N.Korea
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: A man and his son have been held by the US authorities for trying to send machinery which could be used to produce weapon of mass destruction (WMD) in North Korea.
Google admits it scanned books under Chinese copyright protection
By IANS,
Beijing : Google has admitted to having scanned more than 20,000 books under Chinese copyright protection, a media report said Tuesday.
The world's largest internet search engine has been in negotiations with China's copyright watchdog for scanning works for its online library without permission, the China Daily reported.
The US company emphasised the Chinese books they scanned were from US libraries and some of them were available for public use.
North Ossetian deputy PM, driver fatally shot
By DPA,
Moscow : The deputy prime minister of the Russian province of North Ossetia and his driver were fatally shot in an attack Wednesday, reported the Interfax news agency, citing the North Ossetian interior ministry.
No details were available about the attack on North Ossetian Deputy Prime Minister Kasbek Pagiyev. The attack in the north Caucasian province is believed to be linked to the November murder of Vitali Karayev, the mayor of Vladikavkaz.
Pagiyev held that position before Karayev.
EU monitors gear up for vital Georgia mission
By AFP,
Tbilisi : Around 200 European observers assembled here Friday ahead of their deployment near Georgia's conflict zones to ensure compliance with a plan to stabilise the country rocked by a war last month.
As the observers arrived, both Russia and Georgia urged the EU to take a tough stance with the other party. At a welcoming ceremony at Tbilisi airport for 13 German policemen, the head of the EU mission, German diplomat Hansjoerg Haber, said the team would be ready for deployment ahead of the official deadline Wednesday.
From Ferguson to Baltimore: A problem of lawless law enforcement?
By Arun Kumar,
Washington : US President Barack Obama has called for some "soul-searching" and Hillary Clinton described it as "a tragedy that demands answers",...
BP agrees $20 bn claims fund
By DPA,
Washington : Oil giant BP has agreed to set up a $20-billion fund to compensate local Gulf Coast businesses and fishermen devastated by the ongoing oil spill, US President Barack Obama said after a meeting with BP's top executives Wednesday.
BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg also announced that the British firm was suspending all dividend payments to shareholders this year as it works to clean up the worst oil disaster in US history.
African Union peacekeeping flight attacked in Somalia
By DPA,
Mogadishu : Somali Islamist insurgents rained down mortar shells on Mogadishu airport Friday after an African Union peacekeeping plane landed despite warnings against doing so.
No planes had landed since Tuesday after insurgent group al-Shabaab said it would destroy any aircraft that attempted to touch down at the airport.
Major Barge Ba-Hoku, spokesman of African Union Mission in Somalia(AMISOM) told DPA that the plane was undamaged.
However, both sides exchanged heavy fire, killing at least six civilians and wounding many others.
Record number of Hondurans deported by US
TEGUCIGALPA, Sept 12 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) -- By the end of this week Honduras will have a record number of undocumented people expelled from the United States, the Center for Assistance to Returning Migrants (CAMR) predicted on Tuesday.
According to CAMR director Valdette Willeman, US immigration authorities have planned the repatriation of more than 1,200 Hondurans without papers before Sunday, as Hurricane Felix forced them to readjust the return.
Ex-KGB man set to buy London Evening Standard?
By IANS,
London : A Russian billionaire and former KGB spy is set to buy a 150-year-old British newspaper, according to reports Thursday.
Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev was reported to have made an offer for securing a controlling stake in the London Evening Standard, which is owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT).
Lebedev is said to have renewed an offer to acquire 76 percent of the shares for an undisclosed sum. His son Evgeny, who lives in London, is due to sign the deal with DMGT Friday, the Guardian reported.
Flower named England cricket team director
By IANS,
London : Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower has been named as the England team director by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Flower said his immediate goal is to bring England back on the winning track.
The stand-in coach was confirmed in the job on a permanent basis at a press conference at Lord's. Hugh Morris, England Cricket managing director, announced the appointment.
"I am delighted that Andy has accepted the role," Morris said.
Muslim students in Britain boycotting lectures on evolution
By IANS,
London : A growing number of Muslim students at a leading British university are avoiding lectures on evolution, saying it is contrary to the creationist ideas stated in the Quran.
Top Goldman Sachs executives forego their bonuses
By IANS,
New York : Seven top executives of Goldman Sachs, a top Wall Street investment banking firm, have decided to forego their bonuses, running into millions of dollars, media reports said Monday.
The development could be a trend-setter among other top US executives on Wall Street, who in the midst of a deep financial crisis, are being accused of taking away hefty perks and bonuses several times their base salaries, while their company is going down the drain.
Continental Airlines Fires 3,000 Employees
By Prensa Latina,
Washington : US air company Continental Airlines announced the firing of 3,000 employees and the reduction of its flights by 11 per cent Thursday, as a result of the hike in oil prices.
The measures are indispensable to face the extremely high cost of fuels, said Continental Airlines officials Larry Kellner and Jeff Smisek Thursday.
Both executives said the measures will be enforced as of September, though some people might lose their jobs even before.
The layoffs will affect 6.5 per cent of the Continental Airlines payroll, which is estimated in 45,000 jobs.
New role for Australian soldiers in Afghanistan
Sydney: Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations in Afghanistan will enter a new phase in the New Year to train, advise and assist local soldiers,...
Kerry meets Palestinian president in Jordan
By IANS,
Ramallah: US Secretary of State John Kerry has met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan, a media report said.
Diplomatic tug-of-war over Nepal begins a new
By IANS,
Kathmandu : As the new government of Nepal Tuesday remained trapped in an impasse even a fortnight after its formation, world concern began to mount with the UN being the first to send its envoy to the Himalayan republic lying under a fresh Maoist siege.
Tamrat Samuel, UN's director for Asia and the Pacific in the Department of Political Affairs, arrived in Kathmandu Tuesday for a six-day visit to discuss the peace process with the republic's key players, a UN spokesman said.
EU defies US to lift sanctions against Cuba next week: report
By IRNA,
Berlin : The European Union is expected to lift the sanctions against Cuba next week in defiance of the US, the business daily Handelsblatt said in a report to be released Friday.
The decision is to be made during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, the paper cited EU diplomats as saying.
The removal of sanctions will open the way for a comprehensive cooperation between the EU and Cuba.
The sanctions which did not include economic restrictions, were imposed in 2003 in protest to the arrest of Cuban opposition figures.
Bush to sign U.S.-India nuclear bill
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush will sign into law on Wednesday a bill approved by Congress allowing civilian U.S. nuclear trade with India, Bush's spokesman Carlton Carroll said Tuesday.
"The president looks forward to signing this bill into law and continuing to strengthen the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership," Carroll said in a statement.
"This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear nonproliferation efforts, protect the environment, create jobs, and assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in a responsible manner."
Second temblor rocks Indonesia
By IANS,
Hong Kong : A second temblor, this one measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale, struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra Wednesday, hours after a more intense earthquake shook the area.
Nepal earthquake: Over 1,800 dead
Kathmandu : The earthquake that hit Nepal on Saturday has killed at least 1,805 people, an official statement said on Sunday.
The earthquake, measuring 7.9...
Thai hit men attack leader of last year’s street protests
By DPA,
Bangkok : Gunmen early Friday attacked Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the core leaders of last year's mass protests that shut down Bangkok's two main airports, riddling his car with more than 100 bullets but failed to kill him, police said.
Unidentified gunmen in a Toyota pickup truck sprayed Sondhi's car with M-16 and AK-47 semi-automatic fire at 5.45 a.m. as the media tycoon was being driven to his ASTV television station, Police Colonel Khing Kwaengwhisetchaichang said.
"Sondhi was only slightly injured in his shoulder and by a bullet that grazed his forehead," Khing said.
Nepal records eight more tremors
Kathmandu : Eight fresh tremors were recorded on Monday in Nepal.
The National Seismological Centre (NSC) recorded a 4.4 magnitude quake with the epicentre in...
Illegal immigrants face growing backlash across US
By DPA
Nashua (New Hampshire) : Bustling around his tiny Mexican restaurant, Jesus Hernandez briefly pauses during his 10-hour workday to complain about Americans who say illegal immigrants steal US jobs.
Ostrom, Williamson, share Nobel Prize for Economics
By DPA,
Stockholm : The Nobel Prize for Economics was awarded Monday to US researchers Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced.
Ostrom of Indiana Uiversity in Bloomington, Indiana, was cited "for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons", while Williamson of the University of California at Berkeley, California, was cited for "his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm."
The two laureates were to equally share the prize worth 10 million kronor ($1.4 million).
Set clear vision for ASEAN, says Thai PM
By IANS,
Hua Hin (Thailand) : Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Friday called on ASEAN leaders to set a clear vision of what the association wants to achieve in the year 2015 and beyond, Xinhua reported.
At the opening ceremony of the 15th ASEAN Summit and Related summits here, Abhisit said: "Much has been discussed about realising an ASEAN Community - one that is a community of action, a community of connectivity, and a community of people.
"What we need to do is to collectively set a clear vision of what we want to achieve in the year 2015 and beyond."
Peru leads world in silver production
By IANS
Lima : Peru has become the world's biggest producer of silver and ranks second in copper production, Mines and Energy Minister Juan Valdivia has said, Spain's EFE news agency reported Wednesday.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), silver production in Peru crossed 109 million fine ounces in 2007, while Mexico and China occupied the second and third place with over 96 million and 86 million fine ounces respectively.
Japan’s exports fall in November
By IANS,
Tokyo : Japan's exports fell 4.5 percent in November from a year earlier, marking the second straight month of decline, the ministry of finance said in a preliminary report Wednesday.
Ceasefire talks in Myanmar put off again
Yangon : Ceasefire talks between the Myanmar government and the ethnic armed groups that were originally scheduled to resume Wednesday have been put off...
Death toll in Indonesian ferry accident rises to 27
By DPA,
Jakarta : The death toll in the ferry accident in Indonesia rose to 27 Monday as rescue workers resumed their search for dozens of people missing after an overloaded ferry sank in bad weather off the island of Sumatra, officials said.
Rescue teams had picked up about 250 survivors and 27 bodies by Monday morning, while the number of missing remains unknown.
Rustam Pakaya from the Health Ministry's crisis centre said at least 17 people were still missing.
Russia to expand Telemba military range
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The world's largest Telemba military training ground located in Siberia will be expanded as Russia readies to test its S-400 long-range missile defence system, an official said.
"We currently coordinate transferring of additional... parcels of land to the training ground," Col. Sergei Kuryshkin, Telemba's chief, said Saturday, adding that the land is 160 km long and 70 km wide.
Kurryshkin said the training ground would be used for S-400 long-range missile defence system tests as well as for other prospective missile defence systems.
Nepal maoists win 9 of the 18 seats declared
By IRNA
New Delhi : The Maoists in Nepal are racing ahead in the Constituent Assembly polls to the decide the future political system for the country, with the former rebels bagging nine of the eighteen seats declared so far and trends indicating the CPN-Maoist leading in 60 of the 240 constituencies.
The CPN-Maoist, who ended their decade-long insurgency in 2006 and contested the polls for the first time on April 10, seems to be moving towards a possible majority, with the Nepali Congress bagging three and CPN-UML four seats and both leading in 12 constituencies each, PTI reported.
Slovak Premier Slams Kosovo Secession
By Prensa Latina
Bratislava : Slovakia insisted today in disregarding the secesión proclaimed by Albanians in the Serbian province of Kosovo.
In a press conference, Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, asserted that the unilateral declaration of independence is a mistake that hightens tensions in that territory (Balkans) where nobody wants it to exist..
Fico asked the UN Security Council and the European Commission, executive organ of the Union, to adopt the corresponding decisions.
Maths helping re-design stents for better results
By IANS,
Washington : Stents are to angioplasty what blood is to life. Building better versions can ensure better results in cardiac diseases.
Stents are tiny mesh tubes made from metal alloys that hold blood vessels open after they've been clogged with disease-causing plaque.
Although they are designed to be compatible with the human body, stents sometimes cause blood clots and scar tissue formation.
Russia raises oil export duty
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia has raised export duty on crude oil to a record $495.9 per tonne, the finance ministry said Tuesday.
The new duty, effective from Aug 1, has been raised by $97.8 per tonne over the existing rate, in line with world market trends, the ministry said.
"We will reach a record export duty on Russian oil that will be fixed at $495.9 per tonne from Aug 1," Alexander Sakovich, deputy head of the customs payment department at the finance ministry, said.
Putin supporters stage massive election rally
By IANS,
Moscow : Tens of thousands of supporters of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin staged a massive rally Thursday in downtown Moscow to show solidarity with the presidential candidate.
Thousands rally against fuel price hikes in Indonesia
By DPA,
Jakarta : Anti-government rallies were held in several of Indonesia's big cities Monday, to protest against a government plan to raise fuel prices and cut subsidies.
At the capital's main roundabout, several thousand students, activists and housewives began a march to the presidential palace, causing heavy traffic jams along Jakarta's main thoroughfares.