Russia, China to set up regional disaster management centre
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia and China plan to set up a regional disaster management centre as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Russian emergencies ministry official said Friday.
The SCO, a regional bloc comprising Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, primarily addresses security issues, but has recently moved to include economic and social projects as well to their agenda..
India, South Korea to discuss nuclear cooperation Monday
By IANS,
New Delhi: After its bilateral nuclear accords with the US, France and Russia, India will explore possibilities of civil nuclear cooperation with South Korea, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), when the leaders of the two countries meet here Monday.
"Both sides are keen to cooperate in this area. We are aware of their capabilities in this area," Gautam Bambawale, joint secretary (East Asia) in the external affairs ministry, told reporters here.
"But we will have to wait for directions from the political leadership first," he added.
Russia says EU mission could fuel tensions in Kosovo
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Efforts by the European Union to take over policing in Kosovo from the United Nations in June are only fanning tensions in the region, a deputy Russian foreign minister said on Thursday.
The EU plans to deploy a 2,000-strong police and justice mission in Kosovo to eventually replace the UN mission.
The UN mission in Kosovo, stationed in the area since the end of an interethnic conflict in 1999, plans to 'reconfigure' itself in the region after June 15, when Kosovo's government is due to take over from the UN.
Baltiisky to sell Indian Navy ship parts worth $20 mn
By RIA Novosti
St. Petersburg : Baltiisky Zavod, a state-controlled shipyard in northwest Russia, will manufacture ship components for India's Navy worth over $20 million, the company said Monday.
The plant in St. Petersburg will produce three sets of shaft lines for Project 15-A destroyers, which are currently being built in India, under a contract signed in April 2007. Each set includes two shaft lines and two propellers.
The company said it will deliver the first shipment in 2008, the second in 2009, and the third in 2010.
Will Pashupatinath temple row mar India-Nepal ties?
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : As the row over the sacking of three Indian priests at the temple of Nepal's hallowed Hindu deity Lord Pashupatinath continued to grow, a former temple official warned that the dispute could hurt Nepal's relations with its southern neighbour.
Russia to sign cooperation deal with S. Ossetia
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, will sign an agreement on cooperation with the parliament of South Ossetia in Moscow on Tuesday.
Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov told journalists on Monday that his South Ossetian counterpart, Znaur Gassiyev, will arrive in the Russian capital for the signing.
The South Ossetian delegation will also include two deputy parliamentary speakers and a foreign policy advisor to the republic's President Eduard Kokoity.
Seven members of family murdered in Guatemala
By IANS/EFE,
Guatemala City : Seven members of a family, including two children, were shot dead Tuesday by unidentified individuals in a village in Guatemala, said authorities.
Ferry with over 200 people sinks in Indonesia
By DPA,
Jakarta : A ferry with 213 people on board sank off Indonesia's Riau islands Sunday after being battered by bad weather, killing at least one person, police said.
Search teams are looking for survivors from the Dumai Express 10 which was sailing from Batam near Singapore to Dumai island in Riau when it ran into massive waves, Riau police chief Puji Hartanto.
Hartanto told MetroTv that survivors were spotted floating in the sea.
Where are the babies? German birth rate sinks
By DPA
Wiesbaden : Germany's birth rate is sinking despite many years of tax breaks for parents and plans to expand kindergarten to help working parents, statistics show.
Last year's tally of live births in the nation of 80 million was 672,700, a drop from the previous year by 13,100, the Federal Statistics Office said in Wiesbaden.
The total fertility rate of a German woman today was calculated at 1.33.
Blockades, bombings, calorie counts: The burdens of life in Gaza
By Vikas Datta
Jaipur: It is possibly the unluckiest and harsh place to live, with residents not only facing a dangerous, deprived existence but added...
The murder of Qandeel Baloch and the ‘honour’ in killing
By Parvin Sultana for Twocircles.net
Of the many vices that inflict a patriarchal society, honour killing is one. It arises from the idea that women’s...
Myanmar agrees to accept ASEAN relief
By NNN-VNA,
Hanoi : Myanmar’s government leaders have agreed to accept an immediate dispatch of medical teams from all ASEAN countries, the Special ASEAN Foreign Minister Meeting Chairman said in a statement.
The agreement was reached at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Singapore on May 19, which gathered all 10 ASEAN foreign ministers to discuss how the group could assist Myanmar in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.
India not serious to hold talks on Kashmir: Pakistan
Islamabad : India's response to Pakistan's peace initiative was non-serious and it does not want to hold talks on Kashmir issue, Pakistan's Representative...
China, Maldives pledge closer cooperation on climate change
By IANS,
Urmuqi (China) : Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met Maldives President Mohammed Waheed Hassan Sunday and pledged to boost cooperation on climate change between the two nations.
52,000 flee rebel-held area as LTTE ignores surrender deadline
By IANS,
Colombo : Men, women and children, some sick and some too old to even walk... It was a mass exodus from the Tamil Tigers held area in Sri Lanka's north with an estimated 52,000 people fleeing with whatever they could carry as the rebels failed Tuesday to meet Colombo's 24 hour deadline to surrender and troops forced their way into the no-fire-zone.
Television reports showed thousands of civilians fleeing the rebel held area, a mass exodus that began Monday.
Drama in North Sea, 18 rescued after helicopter crashes
By IANS,
London : All 18 people on a helicopter that crashed in the North Sea Wednesday night were saved in a dramatic rescue which officials compared to the "miracle on the Hudson" in New York last month, the Guardian reported.
A Super Puma helicopter carrying workers to a oil production platform of British Petroleum (BP) went down some 200 km east of Aberdeen at 6.40pm in heavy seas and poor visibility.
UN envoy asks Prachanda government to free child soldiers
By IANS,
Kathmandu : A top UN envoy Tuesday asked Nepal's new Maoist government and the guerrilla army of the party to immediately free the child soldiers who are still confined in cantonments in violation of a peace pact signed by the former insurgents two years ago.
Radika Coomaraswamy, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's special representative for children and armed conflict, reminded the government of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and the Maoists' People's Liberation Army of the commitment they had made in the peace pact.
S Korea denounces Japan’s territorial claim over disputed islets
By Li Zhengyu, Xinhua,
Seoul : South Korea on Monday strongly denounced Japan's territorial claim over the disputed islets of Dokdo, which Japan calls Takeshima, in the Sea of Japan, vowing to take series of countermeasures against Japan's move.
Russia lines up new anti-missile system to counter U.S. missile shield plans
By Xinhua,
Moscow : Russia's Strategic Missile Forces are being equipped with new anti-ballistic missile systems in response to U.S. plans to deploy a missile shield in Europe, Interfax reported Wednesday.
"Considering the changing military and political situation in the world, and U.S. plans to deploy missile shield, as well as the need to adequately respond to these plans, a set of measures are being taken to develop the Strategic Missile Forces," Commander Col. Gen. Nikolai Solovtsov told Interfax news agency.
Brown calls Jade Goody ‘courageous’ as tributes pour in
By IANS,
London : British politicians led by Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined celebrities and cancer charities in paying rich tributes to reality TV star Jade Goody who died Sunday of cervical cancer.
"She was a courageous woman both in life and death, and the whole country has admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children," Brown said.
"She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer which will benefit thousands of women across the UK."
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."
US signals readiness to resolve outstanding issues over nuclear deal
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : The United States has signalled its readiness to "resolve the remaining outstanding issues" on the India-US civil nuclear deal as a team of senior Indian officials headed to Washington for critical talks on the 123 agreement.
"The United States stands ready to resolve the remaining outstanding issues on the 123 agreement," State department Spokesman Sean McCormack stated Saturday ahead of the officials' four-day visit here starting Monday.
Anti-Israel protests at UK universities
London, Jan 22, IRNA -- Students have staged a series of protests on university campuses across the UK against Israel’s slaughter of more than 1,300 Palestinians in Gaza.
Sit-ins have included three London universities, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), the London School of Economics (LSE) and King’s College, as well as in Essex, eastern England, Sussex in the south and Birmingham in the midlands.
Miliband shocked by Bhutto assassination
By IRNA
London : British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that he was "deeply shocked" at Thursday's assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi.
"My thoughts and sincere condolences go to Ms Bhutto's family at this terrible time, as well as to the families of all those who lost their lives in this senseless attack," Miliband said.
Bhutto was killed in a presumed suicide attack after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi when gunfire and an explosion occurred.
Earthquake causes panic in Bogota
By DPA,
Bogota : A moderate earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale caused panic among thousands of residents in the Colombian capital, Bogota, Saturday.
There were no immediate reports of large-scale damages or injuries from the quake, with an epicentre some 55 km southeast of Bogota. Several buildings suffered cracks and telephone service was interrupted, Interior Minister Carlos Holguin said.
Earthquake Shakes West Southeast Maluku District On Monday
By Bernama,
Ambon : An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale shook West Southeast Maluku (MTB) District, Maluku Province, on Monday at 12.15 am Western Indonesian Time (WIB), Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.
The quake's epicenter was located at 78.33 degrees southern latitude and 129.30 degrees eastern longitude, or 235 km northwest of Saumlaki, at a depth of 110 km below sea level, Benny Sipolo, head of the Ambon geophysics station, said here on Monday.
There was no immediate report of damage in the disaster, which did not have potential to cause a tsunami.
India, China, Russia oppose air strikes on Libya
By IANS,
New Delhi:India, China and Russia Sunday opposed the Western air strikes on Libya, with Moscow demanding a dialogue to end the "bloodshed".
Learn English or face denial of citizenship: Canada
Toronto, March 21 (IANS) Hinting that language skills will soon become a must for getting citizenship, Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney Friday said immigrants should either learn English or French, or face denial of citizenship.
Speaking at an immigration conference in Calgary, the minister said new immigrants must have to learn one of the two official languages (English and French) to integrate into Canada society.
Puerto Rico to invest $900mn to upgrade water system
By IANS,
San Juan (Puerto Rico) : Puerto Rico would invest $945 million over next 15 months to improve the Island country's potable water system, Spain's EFE news agency reported.
The health department and the water and sewer authority have signed an agreement Tuesday to implement the project that will ensure quality potable water for people, the report said Tuesday.
As part of the project, the water authority would build infrastructure, upgrade the existing plants and conduct training programmes for the staff.
Ban’s spokesman: Women face violence ‘in four corners of the world’
United Nations: Women face violence "in four corners of the world" and the focus should be on how to stop this, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's...
24 killed in Boko Haram attack in Nigeria
Abuja: At least 24 people were killed in the latest attack by Boko Haram in Nigeria's state of Borno, a medical source said on...
Schwarzenegger proposes tax hikes for California
By DPA,
Sacramento : California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Thursday proposed several stringent measures to curb spending and increase taxes in order to deal with a budget shortfall, this office said.
The proposals include a steep increase in state sales tax, a five cent tax on every alcoholic drink sold and an estimated $4.5 billion in welfare and other budget cuts.
The moves are meant to close a projected budget shortfall of $24 billion by the middle of 2010.
Russia completes pull-out from Georgian buffer zone
By DPA,
Moscow/Tbilisi : Russian forces quit posts in buffer zones around rebel regions of Georgia Wednesday in their final withdrawal from positions held since Russia's war with Tbilisi two months ago.
The Georgian interior ministry confirmed the complete pull-out from outside South Ossetia, ministry spokesman Shota Utyashvili said Wednesday.
He did not mention whether Russian troops had left posts around Georgia's other separatist region of Abkhazia.
Nepal quake kills six soldiers
Kathmandu : The earthquake in Nepal has killed six soldiers, the army announced on Sunday.
Army spokesman Gen Jagadish Pokhrel told the media that 90...
Nepal’s child soldiers to be freed finally
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Some of them took up arms when they were as young as 12. Some did it because their parents were dead and some to avenge a dead relative.
Now nearly three years after the end of a guerrilla war that killed over 13,000 and brought untold misery to a nation already racked by poverty, Nepal's child soldiers, who fought the 'People's War' as part of the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA), finally have a future to look forward to.
Obama travels to Mexico, Costa Rica
By IANS,
Washington: US President Barack Obama Thursday kicked off a three-day visit to Mexico and Costa Rica, with focus expected to be on trade, energy, security and immigration issues.
World’s mountains will not remain water towers forever
By Ivonne Marschall, DPA,
Vienna : The world's population and agriculture hotspots are particularly sensitive to changes in the capacity of mountains to store water, geological scientists say.
Both naturally occurring and man-made climate factors are affecting the capability of the world's mountain ranges to serve as sources for freshwater for adjacent lowlands. According to a recent study, about 7 percent of the world's mountains are essential for providing downstream supply, said Daniel Viviroli of the University of Berne.
Profs want Pope visit cancelled
University physicists can't digest Galileo comment
(ANSA) - Rome, January 14 - A planned visit by Pope Benedict to Rome's most prestigious university has sparked protests from scientists there who are offended by his position on Galileo.
In a letter to the university's rector, 67 lecturers and professors said it would be ''incongruous'' for the pontiff to open the academic year at the La Sapienza university on January 17 and called for his visit to be cancelled.
US military base contract in Ecuador not to be renewed
By Xinhua
Quito (Ecuador) : The US military's contract for renting the Manta base in Ecuador will not be renewed after it expires in 2009.
Ecuador's constituent assembly voted to outlaw the installation of foreign military bases in the country Wednesday, four days after President Rafael Correa announced that he would not allow such bases on Ecuadorian soil as of 2009.
The US has expressed interest in renewing the lease for the base, which it has been using since 1999.
Americans split on success of Obama presidency: Poll
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Americans are giving Barack Obama a split decision on his first year in office with 48 percent saying his presidency has been a failure so far and 47 percent saying Obama has been a success, according to a new poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday, just eight days before Obama marks one year in the White House, indicates that Obama's approval rating as president stands at 51 percent, down 3 points from last month, with 48 percent disapproving, up 4 points from December.
French warship carrying aid now off coast of Myanmar
By DPA,
Paris : A French warship carrying 1,000 tonnes of aid for cyclone victims in Myanmar is off the south coast of the devastated Irrawaddy delta, the French Defence Ministry said in Paris Saturday.
Negotiations were under way with the authorities in Myanmar on whether and how the aid aboard the Mistral would be brought ashore.
The aid includes food for 100,000 people for 15 days and emergency accommodation for 60,000 people.
The French move was denounced by Myanmar Friday before the UN General Assembly in New York, which charged that the French were sending a warship.
Nigerian President Yar’Adua dead
By IANS,
Abuja : Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua, who was undergoing treatment for a heart ailment, is dead, media reports have said.
A senior government official confirmed the report Wednesday.
"He passed on earlier this night between 9.30 and 10.00 p.m. (local time)," Xinhua quoted the source as saying. "He will be buried tomorrow," the source added.
India protests China-assisted dam in Pakistani Kashmir
By IANS,
New Delhi : India Friday protested against the proposed 7,000 MW Bunji hydroelectric project being built in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir with Chinese assistance.
"The government of India lodged a protest against the construction of (the) project located in a part of Jammu and Kashmir under the illegal occupation of Pakistan," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters here.
Chinese media lauds Modi, Sino-Indian ties
Beijing : After being critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi days ahead of his three-day visit to China, the Chinese media was fullsoe in...
British trekker missing in Nepal but South African saved
By IANS,
Kathmandu : While a British trekker, last seen at the foothills of the Himalayan ranges in northern Nepal in December, is still missing in Nepal, a South African was saved after he collapsed near the India-Nepal border, Nepal's tourism officials said.
Julian Alexander Wynne, a 33-year-old from Hampshire, who was travelling in Nepal with his friend Lee Aaron Jeffries, has been missing since last month when the pair went trekking in the Everest region from mountainous Jiri district.
Barak to take long-term steps against Hamas — Haaretz
By KUNA,
GAZA : Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is working to reach a ceasefire with Hamas through Egyptian mediation, and supports a long-term strategy against Hamas in case such an agreement is not reached, reported the Haaretz in its Wednesday issue.
Prabhakaran still in Sri Lanka, says LTTE
By IANS,
Colombo : The elusive Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is still in Sri Lanka and "giving leadership to our freedom struggle", the rebels have said, denying reports that he had fled.
Speaking to the BBC Sinhala radio service over telephone Monday, P. Nadesan, the political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), dismissed reports that Prabhakaran had escaped from Sri Lanka.
"It is malicious propaganda. Our leader is still with us, our leader is giving leadership to our freedom struggle. He is with our people," the BBC quoted Nadesan as saying.
First ‘Make in India’ event held in Germany
Frankfurt : A first 'Make in India' networking session was organised last week in the wake of Germany's Hanover Messe trade fair this year...
Russian terror crimes down by 50 percent
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The number of terrorism-related crimes in Russia went down by half in 2011 from the previous year's figures, a top official said Wednesday.
28 bodies unearthed from Mexico mass grave
Mexico City : Mexican authorities unearthed 28 bodies from a clandestine grave in the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz, media reported Thursday.
A prosecutor for...
Filming intimate scenes with Kidman terrified Efron
By IANS,
Los Angeles: Actor Zac Efron was left terrified on the set of his new movie "The Paperboy" by co-star Nicole Kidman's sex appeal.
US Congress passes revised Iraq spending bill
By DPA
Washington : The US Senate and House of Representatives passed a spending measure for the war in Iraq after centre left Democrats agreed to remove deadlines for troop withdrawals, knuckling under a long-running confrontation with the White House.
Russian inspectors begin surveillance flight over US
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A group of Russian military observers begin Sunday a nine-day inspection mission in the skies of the US under the Open Skies Treaty.
Maoist leader Prachanda to fight Nepal polls
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : The man who started an underground war against Nepal's all-powerful dynasty of kings and once carried a price tag on his head higher than that of Osama bin Laden will now fight Nepal's crucial April election in a bid to replace King Gyanendra.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, an agriculture graduate who shed his name - which means the lotus flower - to become Prachanda or the Fearsome One and led a relentless 10-year-long guerrilla war against the state, will be contesting the April 10 constituent assembly election.
Animal rights group protests LTTE attack on zoo
By IANS
Colombo : An international animal rights organisation has protested the bombing of a zoo in Dehiwela in Sri Lanka, allegedly by Tamil Tiger rebels earlier this month.
"In addition to injuring several human beings - which was no doubt its intent - the explosive device that was set off near the zoo's birds enclosure terrified many animals in the zoo," said Ingrid E. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a letter to the Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Canada unveils its own Victoria Cross
By IANS,
Ottawa : Canada unveiled its own version of the fabled Victoria Cross at a ceremony in the capital Friday.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined Governor General Michaelle Jean in unveiling the Canadian minted Victoria Cross at the latter's official residence of Rideau Hall.
`Today the Victoria Cross becomes fully, truly Canadian,'' the prime minister said at the unveiling ceremony.
Like Great Britain, the Victoria Cross is also Canada's highest military award for bravery in battle. All Victoria Cross medals given to Canadian soldiers till now were minted in Britain.
Over 8,000 children hug for Guinness world record
By IANS
Monterrey (Mexico) : More than 8,000 children participated in the planet's biggest hug on Valentine's Day here to set a Guinness world record, Spain's EFE news agency reported Friday.
The huge embrace was organised in Parque Tolteca in Guadalupe, a suburb of the northern metropolis of Monterrey.
Maria Olivia Chu, a government representative, confirmed the participation of 8,402 children.
The children joined arms in a long chain, in the shape of a spiral, in a park for more than a minute, so that the official could register the hug.
Nepal’s ex-crown prince denies Dawood links
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's self-exiled former crown prince Paras, who returned home from Singapore this week, has rejected reports in the Indian media alleging a nexus between him and Pakistan-based terror mastermind Dawood Ibrahim.
The 38-year-old, according to the Republica daily, issued a brief statement late Wednesday, condemning the media reports as "false and malicious". However, it was ignored by Nepal's mainstream media that had ignored the Indian allegations too.
People drowning from global warming cry out
By Joydeep Gupta, IANS
Bali : "Rising higher and higher are the waters of death," sing residents of the Pacific islands who are losing their homes and livelihoods due to global warming. "Who will take our people?" they chant.
Over 10,000 delegates from 187 countries have gathered on the seaside here for the UN conference on climate change Dec 3-14. They are discussing technical issues and funding mechanisms to address climate change. They are feuding on the degree of responsibility for global warming. They are arguing over what temperature rise would be "acceptable".
Nepal government defers crucial polls
By IANS
Kathmandu : The Nepalese people's dream of writing their own constitution after a five-decade-long wait has been thwarted yet again. The multi-party government has decided to defer the much-awaited elections a third time in a bid to stave off a confrontation with Maoist guerrillas.
Socialists poised for big win in French local elections
By DPA
Paris : Early estimates based on exit polls in a number of French cities suggest that the opposition Socialists handed President Nicolas Sarkozy a stinging defeat in Sunday's local run-off elections.
According to estimates by the TNS-Sofres, Socialist challengers defeated conservative mayors in the politically important cities of Toulouse and Strasbourg.
Socialists also ousted right-wing incumbents in the cities of Reims, Amiens, Saint-Etienne, Caen, Blois and Quimper.
Nigerian government inks deal with Boko Haram for girls’ release
Abuja: Nigerian military Friday said it has agreed a ceasefire with Islamist militants Boko Haram and the schoolgirls abducted by the group will be...
Death toll rises to 24 in Colombia goldmine collapse
Bogota, (DPA) The death toll in the collapse of a pit where miners were digging for gold was up to 24, Colombian authorities said.
Another 28 miners were reported injured in the rockslide Saturday at the illegal gold mine near Suarez in southwestern Colombia.
Rescue crews digging with heavy equipment through tons of debris had recovered 21 bodies by Sunday evening, with three more miners missing and presumed dead.
Arroyo: Philippine Government nearing peace pact with insurgent group
Manila, Sep 13 (Xinhua) Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday said the government is close to signing a peace agreement with the anti-government Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Arroyo expressed optimism in a speech that the issue of ancestral domain, a major point of contention in the peace negotiations with the MILF, may soon be resolved, paving the way for a formal peace agreement, Philippine GMA TV reported.
BP’s top-kill operation temporarily stops oil leak
By DPA,
Washington : Oil giant BP's top-kill operation was proceeding as expected Thursday and may have already succeeded in temporarily plugging the leak at a ruptured oil well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that BP had managed to stop the leak. Engineers had forced enough heavy mud into the damaged well head to reduce the upward pressure and prevent oil and gas from gushing out.
Gillard becomes Australia’s first female PM
By DPA,
Sydney : Julia Gillard became Australia's first female prime minister Thursday after incumbent Kevin Rudd stood aside in a party vote amid plunging approval ratings and a run-in with the mining industry over a proposed tax.
Treasurer Wayne Swan, who is to represent Australia at this weekend's summit in Canada of the Group of 20 of the world's largest economies, was elected unopposed as deputy party leader and would slot in as deputy prime minister.
6.0-magnitude quake hits Indonesia
By IANS,
Jakarta : A moderate quake with magnitude 6.0 on the Richter scale struck off eastern Indonesia early Sunday, officials said.
30 killed in Nigeria shooting
By IANS,
Abuja: At least 30 people were killed when gunmen opened fire in a cattle market in northeast Nigeria, Xinhua reported Thursday.
Two dead, 100 injured in China quake
By IANS,
Beijing : Two people died and about 100 others were injured in China in a 5.7-magnitude quake Sunday, the authorities said.
Former Colombian senator seeks Costa Rican asylum
By IANS,
Bogota : Former Colombian senator Mario Uribe Escobar, a cousin of President Alvaro Uribe, has sought political asylum at the Costa Rican embassy, Spain's EFE news agency reported Wednesday.
Mario Uribe's lawyer Jose del Carmen Ortega told Caracol Radio the former senator filed an asylum request with the Costa Rican government after the attorney general (AG)'s office issued an arrest warrant on him for alleged links with right wing militia.
Ortega did not disclose on what ground his client sought the asylum.
British government unveils new economic aid package
By DPA,
London : The British government announced a new aid package Wednesday to unlock the credit squeeze by offering loan guarantees to small and medium-sized businesses.
The measures, worth 20 billion pounds ($29.6 billion), are aimed at reducing the risks of banks lending to companies struggling in the current economic downturn.
Publication of the aid package coincided with a continuation of job losses in the finance sector and in the car industry, with Barclays bank and luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover announcing major job cuts.
California almond shipments to India increase 19 percent
By IANS,
New Delhi : Almond shipments from California to India increased 19 percent to 39,460 tonnes in 2008-09, says a US study.
According to the Almond Board of California report, India has become the fourth largest export market for US almonds following Spain, Germany and China.
"India is amongst the fastest-growing markets for California almonds and a top priority for long-term investment for the California almond industry," said Richard Waycott, president and chief executive of the Almond Board that is in charge of promoting almonds, California's largest tree crop.
Russia to prosecute Polish plane crash plunderers
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian investigators Tuesday confirmed that charges had been brought against four servicemen accused of stealing bank cards from a top Polish official who died in the plane crash that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski.
Russian Investigation Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said S.A. Syrov, I.V. Pustovar, A.S. Pankratov and Y.S. Sankov were charged with using the bank cards of Andrzej Przewoznik.
Gunmen hold 170 hostage at Mali hotel, three killed
Bamako : At least three people were killed on Friday as gunmen took 170 people, including 20 Indians, hostage inside a five-star hotel...
Missing journalist’s ‘remains’ found in Nepal
By IANS,
Kathmandu : A month after a Nepali journalist working for a Maoist daily went missing, what could be the remains of his body were found Friday in a remote forest.
Jagat Prasad Joshi, himself a Maoist activist, had spent eight years underground during the 10-year People's War launched by the Maoists from 1996 when the party was banned, its publications shut down and its leaders hunted down by security forces.
Muslim-born Miss USA opposes Ground Zero mosque
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The reigning Miss USA has come out against the Ground Zero mosque, saying "it shouldn't be so close" to the site of the Sep 11, 2001 terror attacks in New York.
The 24-year-old Rima Fakih, is the first Muslim winner of the Miss USA contest and is preparing for the Miss Universe Pageant, scheduled for Monday in Las Vegas.
"I totally agree with President Obama with the statement on Constitutional rights of freedom of religion," Fakih told "Inside Edition" Friday as cited by the New York Post.
Indian American community welcomes Obama’s nomination
By IANS,
New York : Welcoming Barack Obama' nomination as Democratic party's presidential candidate, Indian Americans feel it is good news for the community as well as for India.
Inder Singh, president of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), told IANS: "It is the first time that the country has chosen a candidate beyond colour, and it is a sign of growing multiculturalism."
Most Indian Americans traditionally support Democrats and had sided more with Hillary Clinton than Obama, but they will support him, said Singh who is himself a Republican.
Antarctic shipwreck poses pollution threat: Official
By Xinhua
Buenos Aires : An oil spill after a cruise vessel capsized off Antarctica has been posing a serious threat to marine ecology, Argentinean officials said.
The cruise ship Ms Explorer struck submerged iceberg off Antarctica Friday and began sinking. Some 75 people on board, who survived, arrived in southern Chile Saturday.
Argentina's Environment Secretary Romina Picolotti Saturday said the spill, which formed an 8-km pollution belt in nearby seas, was within control.
MP CM invites diaspora ‘home’, seeks investment
By Arul Louis,
New York : "Ghar aye pardesi", come home diaspora, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Sunday as he launched an ambitious "Friends...
Mumbai Police Commissioner, Ahmad Javed appointed new Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi : In a significant announcement, the Ministry of external affairs on Friday issued a press release...
Merkel spokesman reiterates commitment to clamp down on juvenile crime
By IRNA
Berlin : A spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed her commitment to step up efforts to fight juvenile crime amid the latest wave of youth crimes.
Addressing a press briefing in Berlin on Monday, chief government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm urged a "broad approach" to combat youth violence.
The strategy must include better prevention, integration and educational programs, he added, warning against "hasty decisions." A focus should also be placed on juvenile crime laws, Wilhelm said.
WFP provides Rice and Beans to 212,000 Cyclone victims in Myanmar
By SPA,
Yangon : Aid was trickling in on Sunday to an estimated 2.5 million people left destitute by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar's Irrawaddy delta as more foreign envoys tried to get the junta to admit large-scale international relief, Reuters reported.
Thousands of children could die within weeks if food does not get to them soon, non-government aid organization Save the Children said.
Cambodia marks 30th anniversary of Khmer Rouge’s downfall
By DPA,
Phnom Penh : Cambodia Wednesday marked 30 years since the downfall of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime with a carefully choreographed stadium ceremony organised and dominated by the country's powerful ruling party.
A crowd of more than 40,000 at Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium cheered throughout the ceremony, which marked the 30th anniversary of the day Vietnamese-led forces invaded Cambodia and ended the Khmer Rouge's bloody four-year reign.
EU foreign ministers push for quick deal with Serbia
By DPA
Brussels : The European Union's top diplomats Monday called for the quick signature of a pre-membership deal with Serbia in an apparent softening towards the Balkan state ahead of a key vote there.
"Today, I hope very much and I will do my best (to ensure) that Serbia receives from the European Council of Ministers a very constructive response, showing our commitment to get Serbia as close as possible to the EU," EU foreign-policy chief Javier Solana said here at a monthly meeting of the EU's 27 foreign ministers.
World Bank warns of rising protectionism amid global recession
By DPA,
Washington : The World Bank warned Tuesday that protectionism has been on the rise across the globe since the financial crisis plunged the world into recession, despite government promises to avoid moves that restrict global trade.
The World Bank said it had identified 47 national measures that restrict trade since the financial crisis exploded in September. The development lender earlier this month predicted that world trade was headed for its steepest decline in 80 years.
Wife of British hostage asks IS to free him
London: The wife of a British taxi driver kidnapped by the Islamic State (IS) Sunni extremist group last December Sunday asked the jihadis to...
Sikh school in Britain reassures parents on pupils’ safety
London:A Sikh school in Britain has reassured its students and their parents that its premises are completely safe after it was claimed that the...
Latin American countries discuss global financial crisis
By Prensa Latina,
Costa de Sauipe (Brazil) : The leaders of the Latin American countries discussed steps to deal with the global financial crisis at the 36th summit of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) here.
Ecuador President Rafael Correa Tuesday proposed the formation of a Bank of the South and a joint fund of Latin American countries' foreign exchange reserves.
The bank would strengthen fiscal policies and promote employment and public investment, he said.
US asks Pakistan to “act forcefully” to stem terror threat
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The United States has asked Islamabad to "act forcefully" in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks that have brought about a "dangerous situation" though Washington does not fear a war between India and Pakistan.
"I heard no bellicose talk from either of these governments. I heard instead a very deep concern to deal with the situation," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in an interview with CNBC TV channel Thursday.
U.N. Airlifts Food to Georgia Conflict Victims
By SPA,
United Nations : Two cargo airplanes chartered by the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) departed early Wednesday for Tbilisi, Georgia with 34 tons of high-energy food to assist thousands of people displaced by the recent conflict.
U.N. officials say about 100,000 people have been displaced since heavy fighting began last Thursday between Georgian and South Ossetian forces, with some having fled to different parts of the country and others going to North Ossetia in Russia.
Another temple attack in US spreads concern among Hindus
New York : A Sanatan Dharam temple was vandalised in Washington state with windows broken and the word “Fear” painted on it, less than...
US stocks drop on FedEx loss, financial warnings
By DPA,
New York : US stocks suffered significant declines Wednesday, after the second-largest US package company FedEx reported a loss and a financial analyst warned of more credit crisis writedowns.
FedEx reported a fiscal fourth-quarter loss of $241 million. The company had posted a $610-million profit in the year-earlier period.
China ship tragedy: Toll escalates to 396
Beijing: A total of 396 people have been confirmed dead after rescuers lifted a Chinese cruise ship that capsized on the Yangtze river on...
Whales also shout to overcome noise
By IANS,
Washington : Just like people in a noisy location, North American right whales virtually 'shout' to be heard above the levels of environmental noise, says a study.
Whales produce upcalls, sometimes called contact calls, when they are alone or in the process of joining other whales. An upcall begins low and rises in pitch. It is the most frequent call produced by right whales.
Global meet on urban infrastructure in Toronto
By IANS,
Toronto : City planners from around the world will gather here for a two-day conference to discuss funding for infrastructure in the face of the global economic crisis.
To be held in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Dec 8-9, the Toronto Forum for Global Cities will discuss issues in the areas of urban infrastructure, investment, energy and transport.
School collapses, China sends army to quake-hit areas
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China has dispatched troops to Wenchuan County in China's southwestern Sichuan Province to help in the disaster relief work after a massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted the region Monday.
Officials in the Chongqing Municipality said as per initial report four people were killed in the quake. All the victims were primary school students. Around 100 students were reportedly injured when their school collapsed in the outer Liangping County of Chongqing, a local government official said.
Pope recovers from fall to lead midnight Christmas Mass
By DPA,
Vatican City : Pope Benedict XVI late Thursday fell briefly in a scuffle when a woman trying to get to the pontiff jumped a cordon barrier as Christmas midnight Mass began in St Peter's Basilica.
Shortly after the incident, the 82-year-old pontiff, who appeared unharmed, again took hold of the golden cross he was carrying before being knocked down, and continued to lead the procession for the beginning of the Mass.
Benedict, clad in gold-embroidered robes and wearing his bishop's mitre, then presided over the rest of the ceremony and delivered his homily.
US Supreme Court upholds ban on profanity on TV
By DPA,
Washington : The US Supreme Court Tuesday ruled the government has the right to fine broadcasters for profanity on television.
But the 5-4 decision left open whether a ban on expletives by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) constitutes a violation of free speech, likely sending the case back down to a lower court.
US television networks FOX, ABC, CBS and NBC had challenged whether the government had the jurisdiction to hand down fines of up to $325,000 for "fleeting expletives" on live television broadcasts.
900 dead pigs found in Shanghai river
By IANS,
Shanghai: Over 900 dead pigs were retrieved from Shanghai's Huangpu river Saturday after a large number of bodies were found floating in the water, authorities said.
Toll from Chile’s plane crash rises to 11
By Xinhua
Santiago : The toll from a plane crash in Chile's capital rose to 11 after three more bodies were found under the aircraft's fuselage.
The police aircraft, Cessna Centurion 210, crashed Wednesday in a crowded area in Santiago, killing all six people on board and five others in the crash site.
Three more bodies were recovered later from the Penalolen Municipal Stadium by the rescue team, where the plane crashed.
Around 25 people were also injured in the incident. Nine of the victims are in serious condition.
Myanmar cyclone toll could be more than 100,000: UN
By DPA,
New York : The UN Friday estimated the death toll could reach more than 100,000 in Myanmar, a dramatic increase in the estimate of devastation caused by the cyclone Nargis in the country's low-lying delta region.
The UN dropped its reliance on the military government's casualty figures for the first time this week, saying that Nargis could be the worst cyclone to hit Asia since 1991, when 138,000 were killed in Bangladesh.
US, South Korea military exercise to snub North Korea
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Seoul : The US and South Korea will hold military exercises in the Yellow Sea next week to send a "strong signal" to North Korea, a media report said Wednesday.
The drills, to be held June 8-11, are intended to show North Korea a "firm combined defence posture" of Washington and Seoul, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a defence official as saying on condition of anonymity.
The world’s ‘G’ order – G5, G8, G14, G20
By Jaideep Sarin, IANS,
L'Aquila (Italy) : It can be termed as the new 'G' order of the world where the presence of nations proclaims their international political and economic status.
The latest to join the 'G' ranks is G14 - a term used for the first time at the G8-G5 summit being held in this quake-hit Italian town, about 100 km northeast of Rome.
G14 is the grouping comprising G8, G5 and Egypt. Egypt was specially called for the summit outreach meeting between G8 and G5.
Smoking in public now means $192 fine in Hong Kong
By DPA,
Hong Kong : Smokers in Hong Kong are soon to face a new spot fine of almost $200 for lighting up illegally in public.
Legislators in the city of 6.9 million passed late Wednesday a new law, which will allow officials to issue spot fines of 1,500 Hong Kong dollars ($192) if they breach new anti-smoking rules introduced two years ago.
Three thousand officers from the city's Leisure and Cultural Services Department have also been authorised to hand out tickets alongside the existing 85 tobacco control officers.
More than half Americans fear rise of Muslim extremism
By IANS,
New York : More than half of Americans fear the rise of Islamic extremism, says a survey taken after the shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas earlier this month.
In the worst-ever shooting at any US army base, Major Nidal Malik Hassan, an army psychiatrist, allegedly mowed down 12 fellow soldiers and a civilian when he fired on his comrades to protest his upcoming posting to the war zone.
The shooting by the Muslim soldier occurred just two months after two Muslims were arrested for bomb-making plot, raising fears of a backlash against the community in the US.
Kyrgyz opposition threatens authorities with protest rallies
By RIA Novosti
Bishkek : Participants of a Kyrgyz opposition congress in the Central Asian country's capital Bishkek said Saturday they would start protest rallies countrywide if the authorities fail to fulfill their demands.
About 2,500 delegates from fifteen parties and 10 public organizations from all regions gathered in Bishkek's Sport Palace for the annual congress, called kurultai.
Moscow to patrol forests with UAVs
By IANS,
Moscow: Moscow's Forest and Environment Protection Department will use unmanned air vehicles (UAV) systems to patrol the forested areas in the city boundaries, according to a spokesman.
Russia, EU to discuss human rights, regional conflicts
By RIA Novosti,
Khanty-Mansiisk (Russia) : Russia and the European Union (EU) Friday outlined areas of cooperation, including human rights, energy, and regional conflicts, at a summit in this west Siberian town.
The participants in the two-day summit - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia, who currently holds the EU presidency, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana - agreed to start talks on a long-overdue comprehensive cooperation agreement July 4 in Brussels.
Tibetan leader Karmapa Lama flies to the US Thursday
By IANS,
Dharamsala : Tibetan spiritual leader the Karmapa Lama, the only major monk reincarnate recognised by both the Dalai Lama and China, will leave for the US Thursday on a fortnight-long visit, a spokesman of the Tibetan government-in-exile said here Wednesday.
"His eminence the 17th Karmapa, head of the Kamtsang Kagyu sect, will go on a historic visit to the US from May 15 to June 2," the spokesman said.
Nepal fails to exorcise royal ghosts
By Sudeshna Sarkar,IANS,
Kathmandu : Eight years after the assassination of Birendra, king of Nepal, and nine more family members in the tightly guarded royal palace in Kathmandu and a year after the formal abolition of monarchy, the Himalayan republic continues to be haunted by its royal ghosts.
Nikolic, Tadic to enter Serbian presidential run-off
By Xinhua
Belgrade : Tomislav Nikolic of the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party was in lead on Sunday's Serbian presidential election, but he had to face the incumbent pro-Western Boris Tadic in a presidential run-off, first preliminary results showed on Sunday evening.
Nikolic won 38.26 percent of the votes, followed by the candidate of the Democratic Party Tadic with 35.15 percent, said Dragan Vukmirovic, director of the Serbian Statistics Office, citing initial results.
Myanmar holds landmark votes
By IANS,
Yangon : Polling began Sunday in Myanmar's by-elections that promise to be the most open contest in decades, with Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi among those standing.
Russia to call urgent conference on arms control
By RIA Novosti
Vienna : Russia plans to call an emergency meeting of the signatories to the treaty on conventional armed forces in Europe, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
Falling coconut kills Colombian man
By IANS/EFE,
Bogota : A man died after a falling coconut hit him on the head while he was relaxing in the shade of a coconut palm in the Colombian town of Melgar.
Jose Abelino Ramirez, 69, was resting in a rocking chair Thursday, as he did every afternoon, when a coconut fell from a 12-metre-tall palm tree outside his home.
The autopsy found that Ramirez suffered injuries to the skull and brain that caused his death.
Kenya’s feuding parties agree to set up truth commission
By Xinhua
Nairobi : Kenya's rival parties have agreed to set up a truth and reconciliation commission to help in ending the tumult which engulfed the nation following President Mwai Kibaki's re-election in December.
During the talks, mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, both sides Monday agreed to set up the commission that would include local and international jurists.
Lithuania blocks EU-Russia strategic deal talks
By DPA,
Luxembourg : Lithuania blocked the beginning of talks on a strategic deal between the European Union (EU) and Russia Tuesday because of ongoing disputes with Moscow, hours before EU officials were due to meet Russia's foreign minister.
The meeting between the EU's presidency, currently held by Slovenia, the European Commission and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened to be stormy, with concerns over Russia's decision to send more troops into the breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia also high on the agenda.
Northern Ireland to help ease Sikh-Muslim tensions in Britain
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
London : Sikh and Muslim leaders in Britain are to be taken to Northern Ireland - a province that is just emerging from decades of sectarian violence - to help ease religious tensions said to be rooted in events surrounding India's independence.
Faith Matters, a charity run by Fiyaz Mughal, a Liberal Democrat councillor in east London, has been given 30,000 pounds by the Department of Communities and Local Government in order to address simmering Sikh-Muslim tensions, according to media reports.
Koirala’s NC calls shutdown over ‘police brutality’
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's Maoist-led government faced its first opposition closure Friday with former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Nepali Congress (NC) party calling for a shutdown of the Kathmandu valley to protest the death of a youth leader.
Pradeep Khadka, a member of the main opposition party's student union and the son of an influential NC leader, was killed Wednesday, allegedly due to police beating as the new government stepped up security measures to improve the law and order situation.
S Korean president: U.S. positive to resolve beef problem
By Xinhua,
Seol : South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Sunday that the U.S. government has shown a "positive" stance to restrain beef exports to South Korea.
"The South Korean government's stance is firm that U.S. beef from cattle older than 30 months wont' be imported in any cases," the president was quoted as saying by his spokesman Lee Dong-kwan.
"I'm notified of a positive reply (from the U.S.)," the president said after a meeting with Lee Hoi-chang, leader of the minor opposition Liberty Forward Party.
Crane collapse kills four in New York
By DPA
New York : A massive crane came crashing down in New York Saturday, flattening residential buildings and killing at least four people.
Many residents were brought to nearby hospitals with severe injures and others were feared missing under the wreckage, according to local media. Those killed were reportedly construction workers.
"Construction is a dangerous thing," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg told reporters, promising an investigation to discover the cause of the collapse.
Raul Castro changes key figures in Cuban government
By DPA,
Havana : Cuban President Raul Castro Monday undertook a major cabinet reshuffle removing key figures like Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and Carlos Lage, secretary of the Cuban Council of Ministers.
In a statement that was read out on Cuban state television, Castro - who formally took over power from his brother, historic Cuban leader Fidel Castro, a little over a year ago - announced the mergers of several ministries and a score of changes in several portfolios.
Perez Roque and Lage had for years been key figures in the Cuban government.
US concerned over protests in Male
By IANS,
Colombo : The US Thursday expressed concern over the "disorderly protests" and the disruption of the opening of parliament in the Maldives by foes of new President Mohamed Waheed.
Chinese women now initiate majority of divorces
By IANS,
Beijing: Women in China are now taking the lead in filing for divorce, with 70 percent of cases initiated by wives in 2010.
Blast kills 23 in Sri Lanka as ceasefire ends
By P.K. Balachandran, IANS
Colombo : At least 23 people were killed and 57 others injured Wednesday when a blast ripped through a bus carrying factory workers and schoolchildren in Sri Lanka's southern Monaragala district, a military spokesman said.
The blast took place as the six-year-old ceasefire agreement (CFA) between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) officially ended.
US Mideast Envoy Talks Gaza Truce
By Prensa Latina,
Amman : The US envoy for the Middle East George Mitchell discussed Saturday consolidation of a long truce in Gaza with the Jordan King Addulah II who demanded from Washington a real commitment in the regional peace process.
Mitchell, recently appointed special envoy to the mideast by US President Barack Obama, was in the Jordan capital finishing a tour that covered Egypt, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
MIT edges closer to making fusion power real
By IANS,
Washington : The prospect of fusion as a future power source is still decades away, but MIT scientists have edged closer to making it a reality.
Fusion has enormous potential because it produces no emissions, fuel sources are abundant and it produces relatively little (and short-lived) radioactive waste. But it still faces great hurdles.
"There's been a lot of progress," said physicist Earl Marmar, division head of the Alcator Project at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Centre (PSFC). "We're learning a lot more about the details of how these things work."
19 injured in New Orleans Mother’s Day parade shooting
By IANS,
Washington: Gunmen fired shots during an informal Mother's Day afternoon parade in New Orleans in Louisiana state injuring 19 people, two of them children, according to police.
Stewart fears she might be killed
By IANS,
Los Angeles: Actress Kristen Stewart is scared that her fame might lead to someone killing her one day.
US stocks mixed amid another record day for oil
By DPA,
New York : US stock indices saw mixed results Thursday as oil prices continued climbing to record highs and the US economy shed more jobs.
The US Department of Labour said 62,000 jobs were lost in June, the sixth straight monthly decline, though the unemployment rate remained steady at 5.5 percent.
Crude oil contracts for delivery next month climbed above 145 dollars per barrel for the first time amid fears that new demands on oil from China could further strain supplies.
Journalists must do more to uncover truth, says Guantanamo internee
By Murali Krishnan, IANS,
Lillehammer (Norway) : During his over six-year-long agonizing incarceration in Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, Al-Jazeera journalist Sami al-Hajj, a graduate of Pune university, was never charged but there were several accusations levelled against him - accusations that changed from year to year.
Interrogators who questioned him over 130 times in that period levelled allegations beginning from how Sami ran a website supporting terrorism, that he sold Stinger missiles to Islamic militants in Chechnya and that he interviewed Osama bin Laden.
Cuba, Ethiopia for Fostering Collaboration
By Prensa Latina,
Havana : An Ethiopian government delegation is to start Monday a series of meetings with Cuban counterparts to foster economic, scientific and technical collaboration between both nations.
Ethiopian Finance and Economic Development Minister Mekonnen Manyazewal leads his country's delegation that will participate until Thursday in the Fifth session of the Intergovernmental Commission.
Manyazewal's agenda here includes meeting with Cuban officials in the capital's Ministry for Foreign Investments and Economic Collaboration.