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British man dies of suspected Ebola infection

Skppje: A British man with Ebola symptoms died Thursday at a health clinic in Macedonia. It is not confirmed yet if the unnamed British man...

An apple a day keeps Taiwan couple’s 50-year marriage sweet

By DPA, Taipei : A Taiwan couple has been living happily together for half a century because the husband has been giving his wife an apple a day to keep their marriage sweet, a newspaper said Monday. Lee Ta-pin, 77, and Sung Chin-yu, 74, revealed their secret for maintaining a happy marriage while celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary Sunday in Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, the Merit Times reported. A photograph printed with the story showed Lee, wearing a dark suit and tie, and Sung, wearing a wedding gown, renewing their wedding vows while each held a red apple.

Russia’s Medvedev wants greater energy ties through SCO

By RIA Novosti, Beijing : New spheres of cooperation should be developed through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), particularly the sphere of energy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Chinese students on Saturday. The president, on the second day of his official visit to Beijing, told students at Peking University: "Within the framework of this organization we are able to agree on new directions of cooperation, including on the energy issue."

Russian rocket blasts off with US satellites

By RIA Novosti, Moscow : Russia has successfully launched a Cosmos 3M rocket with six US satellites onboard from a space centre in southern Russia, a spokesman for the Russian Strategic Missile Forces said Thursday. Col. Alexander Vovk said the rocket with Orbcomm satellites blasted off at 10.36 a.m. (0636 GMT) from Kapustin Yar, in the Astrakhan region. Orbcomm is the world's first commercial global wireless data and messaging system. The system uses low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide cost-effective tracking, monitoring and messaging capabilities across the globe.

MH17 crash: Investigations to continue till 2016

Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Najib Razak on Saturday said that the investigations into the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine last...

British newspaper calls for Gordon Brown’s resignation

By DPA, London : Britain's Guardian newspaper, which has traditionally backed the Labour party, Wednesday called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to step down because he had failed in government. "The tragedy for Mr Brown and his party is that his chance to change it has gone... The truth is that there is no vision from him, no plan, no argument for the future and no support," said the paper in an editorial. "He is not obviously able to lead... Labour has a year left before an election, its current leader would waste it. It is time to cut him loose."

Report claims proof of secret CIA jails in Europe

By DPA

Paris : A Council of Europe report made public Friday said that investigators have proof that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) ran clandestine prisons for terror suspects in Europe, with the full cooperation of government leaders.

Obama has responsibility to solve financial crisis: Lula

By DPA, Rio de Janeiro : Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Friday that US president-elect Barack Obama could lose the political capital he has gained if the financial crisis extends for another year. Obama faces the "greatest responsibility" to solve the widening credit crunch, Lula said. "Obviously he will have to make moves to solve it, because that crisis cannot extend much longer. All the political capital he gained can be lost if the crisis extends for one or two years."

Save Havana’s architecture: Experts

By EFE, Barcelona : Cuban and Spanish architects in Barcelona have expressed the need to save both the colonial and modern architecture of Havana as they warned that several modernist buildings were being lost due to deterioration and unnecessary modifications. The Catalonia College of Architects organised between Dec 10-13 the 33rd edition of its International Architectural Heritage Days, called "Arquitecturas de Ida y Vuelta" (Architectures on a Round Trip).

Nepal polls likely to be postponed

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS Kathmandu : The Nov 22 election in Nepal, regarded as a key step in restoring peace and stability in the strife-torn nation, is likely to be deferred a third time with the multi-party democratic government reaching an agreement Thursday night with the Maoist guerrillas to put on hold all preparations. Nepal's official TV station, Nepal Television, said that an informal understanding has been reached between the government and the Maoists to suspend election preparations.

U.N. Peacekeepers Increasingly Committing Crimes on Their Missions

By SPA United Nations : The United Nations (U.N.) internal auditing agency is investigating around 250 cases of sexual exploitation and abuse, a majority of which involving their own peacekeeping missions. Of the cases being investigated by the U.N., 172 cases involve peacekeeping missions from around the world. The cases’ were “a black eye certainly for the U.N. They’ve taken a very serious look at it and they’ve been doing everything they can to get away from it,” U.N. Messenger of Peace George Clooney told S.P.A.

Data ruling may shelter illegal file sharers

By Jean-Baptiste Piggin, DPA Berlin : The agony of the recorded-music industry as it fights the "world of free" on the internet may have become a little more painful in Germany this month, with a court ruling that seems to restrict surveillance of web users. Following the example set by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the German music companies have been tracking down web users, mostly 15 to 30 year olds, who download music in breach of copyright. It reports them to the police.

Ruling collation leads in Macedonian parliamentary polls

By RIA Novosti, Belgrade : Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's coalition is leading in Macedonia's parliamentary polls, with 46.7% of the vote, early official results said on Monday. With 82.6% of the vote counted, the main opposition Social Democratic Union led by Radmila Sekerinska is in second place with 22.1% of the vote, according to the Central Election Commission. Macedonian lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament and call early elections for June 1 over a quarrel with Greece, which recently vetoed Macedonia's NATO-membership over a 17-year-long dispute with Athens.

Indian American gets 12 years jail term for internet drug fraud

By Arun Kumar, IANS, Washington: An Indian American has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Texas court and ordered to pay $68 million in restitution for his involvement in an elaborate rogue internet pharmacy scheme. Rakesh Jyoti Saran, 47, of Arlington, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and other federal offences; two counts of mail fraud; and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Man blows up ex-wife to win her back

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Moscow: A Russian man lured his former wife to a bomb that injured her when it exploded. He later told police he did so in order to win her back.

EU looks to boost oil security amidst soaring prices

By DPA, Brussels : European Union (EU) states should improve their strategic oil reserves policy amid concerns over soaring energy prices, its executive arm the European Commission (EC) said Tuesday. "The risk of supply disruptions is increasing. Supply is more and more concentrated in a handful of countries, many of which are exposed to high geopolitical risks," the EC wrote in a paper asking EU member states, non-governmental organizations and industry representatives to suggest how the bloc should deal with energy reserves in the future.

US regrets Russia’s plan of setting up bases in Abkhazia, South Ossetia

By Xinhua, Washington : The US has expressed regret for Russia's plan to establish military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, urging the Kremlin to respect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "The US regrets the Russian Federation's expressed intention to establish bases in the territory of Georgia," US State Department said Friday in a statement, adding that the plan "without the consent of the Georgian government would clearly violate that commitment".

Sri Lanka drought hits one million

Colombo : Over one million people in Sri Lanka have been severely affected by a prolonged drought in 14 districts, Health Minister Maithreepala Sirisena...

Terror suspect admits Al Qaeda connection: Report

By DPA, Washington : A suspect in an alleged terrorist plot in New York has told investigators he has ties to Al Qaeda and could plead guilty, US media quoted unnamed sources as saying Friday. The FBI had been questioning Najibullah Zazi in Denver since Wednesday, and he admitted his connections on Friday after two eight-hour interrogation sessions, the New York Daily News reported. He had travelled to New York earlier this week, prompting a series of raids by law enforcement. Zazi had been under investigation for nearly a year.

Efforts to Foster Peace Process in Darfur Begin

By Prensa Latina United Nations : Special envoys from the United Nations and the African Union (AU) are meeting with representatives of the Sudanese government and Darfur rebels in a crucial effort to foster the peace process in that province. UN officials in New York pointed out that the UN special envoy for Darfur, Jan Eliasson, and his AU counterpart, Salim Ahmed Salim, arrived in Khartoum on Sunday.

France to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in 2013

By IANS, Paris: France plans to withdraw its military contingent from Afghanistan in 2013, French President Nicholas Sarkozy has said.

Bush urges UN to take active role in fighting terrorism

ByIANS, New York : Asserting that terrorism poses a challenge "as serious as any since the UN's founding", US President George W. Bush has urged the world body to take an active rule in fighting the menace. Addressing the UN General Assembly at the opening of its annual high-level debate here Tuesday morning, the US president restated the "Bush Doctrine" of fighting terrorists before they strike, and argued that "bringing the terrorists to justice does not create terrorism. It's the best way to protect our people".

Canada’s Sikh woman MP faces accuser nannies

By Gurmukh Singh, IANS, Toronto : It was Indian-Canadian MP Ruby Dhalla versus her two accuser nannies before a parliamentary committee Tuesday. Dhalla's two former nannies, who have alleged exploitation at the Indian-origin MP's home in 2008, Tuesday said they were hired by Dhalla, not by her brother Neil, as claimed by the MP last week. The nannies - Magdelene Gordo and Richelyn Tongson - reiterated that they were underpaid and forced to work long hours and do non-nanny chores.

Russia to build six submarines annually from 2013

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Moscow : Russia will produce six submarines and one aircraft carrier annually starting 2013, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Thursday.

Muslims facing problems in Britain: Iranian student leader

By IANS, London: Muslim students in British university campuses suffer from many problems because of issues associated with "Islamophobia", an Iranian woman student leader has said.

US, Russia admit differences over missile shield

By IANS, London : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his US counterpart Barack Obama Wednesday admitted that there were still differences between the two nations over the issue of US-proposed missile shield in Central Europe. "While acknowledging that differences remain over the purposes of deployment of missile defence assets in Europe, we discussed new possibilities for mutual international cooperation in the field of missile defence," the two leaders said in a joint statement after their meeting in London.

Hamas using Gazans as human shield: Israeli diplomat

By RIA Novosti, Moscow : Hamas is holding civilians hostage and using them as human shields during Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip, Israel's ambassador to Russia said Tuesday. "We regard Gaza's civilian population as victims of this conflict: Hamas is effectively using them as hostages. Hamas infrastructure and ammunition depots are located in residential areas," Anna Azari told a news conference in Moscow. The diplomat also denied media reports that Israel has been using banned weapons in Gaza, in particular, white phosphorous weapons.

5.7 magnitude quake hits Taiwan

By DPA Taipei : An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted Taiwan on Thursday, but there were no reports of damage or casualties. The quake struck at 8.55 a.m. (0055 GMT), with its epicentre at Taitung on Taiwan's southeastern coast, five kilometres underground, the Seismological Observation Centre said. The quake was felt across the Taiwan Island but there was no report of any injuries or damage.

Desmond Tutu asks Israel to improve human rights record

By Prensa Latina

Geneva : Anglican Archbishop and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu has asked Israel to improve on its human rights records with Palestine before the next meeting of the Human Rights Council.

Thousands evacuated in Philippines as “Halong” hits northern Luzon

By Xinhua, Manila : Thousands of Filipinos were evacuated and several power posts were toppled in northern Philippines after tropical storm "Halong" hit the country Saturday night, reported local television network ABS-CBN News Sunday. At least one person was killed in the storm which also destroyed many houses and brought heavy downpours in Pangasinan province, northern Philippines, said the report.

Myanmar government, ethnic groups agree on 4th draft ceasefire accord

Yangon : The Myanmar government and the ethnic armed groups Friday agreed on a fourth draft nationwide ceasefire accord after five days of talks...

Obama’s star power fading as healthcare tempers flare

By Chris Cermak, DPA, Washington : The prospects for President Barack Obama's signature domestic issue, overhauling a costly US healthcare system, have taken a dangerous and nasty turn this month. Lawmakers are spending August outside of Washington, criss-crossing their home states and districts. The spectacle of senators being shouted down by angry opponents at townhall meetings has become regular fodder for television news channels.

Putin to discuss visa, energy issues in EU talks

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Brussels : Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Brussels to attend Friday a Russia-EU summit focusing on non-visa travel and energy cooperation.

Obama to work with Modi, will fulfil promise of strategic partnership

By Arun Kumar , Washington: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a landmark visit to the US, the White House declared that it highly valued...

New device helps divers find their way

By IANS, Sydney : Exitpoint, a small, wearable, safety device, helps divers find their way back to their boat or their diving buddy at any time during a dive. Exitpoint is a concept for a sonar navigation and early warning system, designed by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) industrial design graduate Tom Fraser. Exitpoint is worn on the back of the hand so as not to interfere with dive watches or dive computers.

Bush adm reaches out to Indian Americans in bid to push n-deal

By NNN-PTI, Washington : As it reaches out to the Indian American community leaders given their lobbying prowess, the Bush Administration is understood to have assured them that the recent Presidential submission on the 123 Agreement to the Congress had noting that contravened what India and the US had agreed under the nuclear deal.

Nepal-Sri Lanka air route mooted

By NNN-Govt Portal, Colombo : The possibility of connecting the two SAARC nations Sri Lanka and Nepal by air routes was focused at the discussion held between Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and the Prime Minister of Nepala, Girija Prasad Koirala when both parties met in Kathmandu. Foreign Minister Bogollagama is in the Nepali Capital to handover the formal invitation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Mr. Koirala to attend the 15th SAARC Summit to be in Colombo on 2-3 August 2008.

Hindraf not voice of majority, say prominent Malaysian Indians

By IANS Kuala Lumpur : Prominent Malaysian leaders and lawmakers of Indian origin have disputed claims by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) that it represents the ethnic Indians and have expressed fears that its campaign could hurt the community's long-term interests. One Indian origin leader has questioned Hindraf's claims of leading a Gandhian protest on Nov 25, pointing out that stones were thrown during its protest rally that the police forcibly dispersed.

Uber cabs fined $7.3 million in California

Los Angeles : A court in US' California state has imposed a fine of $7.3 million on Uber cab services for not providing...

China urges calm over Korean n-issue

By IANS, Beijing: China Monday urged all relevant parties to remain calm and restrained regarding the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, Xinhua reported.

Pilot killed in US air show crash

By IANS, Washington : A plane performing at an air show in the US crashed and exploded, killing the pilot in front of thousands of spectators, CNN reported Sunday.

Economic downturn begins in Canada

By Gurmukh Singh,IANS, Toronto : The Canadian economy shrank by 0.1 percent in October, confirming that the world's eighth largest economy is already in recession. Earlier estimates had put the decline at 0.3 percent, as the US and global slowdown hammer Canadian auto and manufacturing sectors. In a statement, Statistics Canada said Wednesday that real gross domestic product in industry declined by 0.1 percent in October after increasing 0.1 percent in September.

India, Pakistan trade heavy fire in Jammu district

Jammu: Heavy firing started early Monday between the Indian and Pakistani troopers along the line of control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu region. "Pakistan...

Spain’s recovery to start by early 2010, says PM

By EFE, Madrid : Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has said that Spain's economy would begin emerging from recession "at the end of this year or the beginning of 2010", though he acknowledged that unemployment - now nearly 18 percent - would remain high for some time. The premier discussed the measures taken by the government, noting that they served to "alleviate the crisis" but had not yet yielded net employment gains.

US lifts ban on Myanmar charity work

By IANS, Yangon : The US has lifted a ban on charity works by non-profit groups in Myanmar after the country successfully held its parliamentary elections earlier this month.

Chavez gets constitutional reform backing from Venezuelan Congress

By DPA Caracas : Venezuela's National Assembly has approved a proposal from President Hugo Chavez for a "socialist" constitutional reform, which allows among others the unlimited re-election of the president. In the last of three readings in the National Assembly, the proposal was passed late Wednesday amid applause. The controversial president said the constitutional reform - which citizens of the oil-rich country are yet to approve in a referendum - will install "21st century socialism" in Venezuela, and allow for a more effective fight against corruption.

China brings together US, Myanmar meeting

By Xinhua

Beijing  : Representatives of the US and Myanmar had met recently in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Spain to offer movies to US libraries, universities

By IANS/EFE, Miami : Spain will provide its films to US libraries and educational institutions to promote teaching of the language.

Cambodia seeks billions of dollars for 14 hydropower dams

By DPA, Phnom Penh : Cambodia is seeking private investment to build 14 new hydropower dams worth more than $3.2 billion, according to a government report obtained Sunday. The report titled Prime Investment Information in Cambodia details potential private investment opportunities around the country, including hydroelectric dam construction. According to the report, 14 dams of various sizes and capacities are estimated to be able to generate a minimum of 1,850 megawatts.

Asian nations confer on impact of population ageing at UN-backed forum

By IRNA

Tehran : United Nations-backed meeting - attended by participants from over a dozen countries in the Asia-Pacific region - on the social, health and economic consequences of population ageing kicked off in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday.

The two-day seminar is being held by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), in collaboration with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), a press release issued by the UN
Information Center (UNIC) said here Thursday.

British artist fined over two deaths caused by sculpture

By DPA, London : A British artist whose inflatable sculpture killed two women when it broke free from its moorings was Thursday fined 10,000 pounds ($14,457) by a court in Newcastle, north-east Britain. Maurice Agis, 77, from London, was convicted for the breach of Health and Safety procedures after a jury failed to reach a verdict on the original charge of manslaughter.

Russia plans to reinforce its air base in Kyrgyzstan

By RIA Novosti, Moscow : Russia's Air Force is planning to increase in the near future the number of combat aircraft and personnel deployed at the Kant air base in Kyrgyzstan, the Air Force commander said on Wednesday. The Russian base in Kant, about 20 miles west of the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, was established in October 2003, and currently deploys about 400 troops, including 250 officers and NCOs and 150 conscripts, as well as several Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft and Su-27 Flanker fighters, two Mi-8 combat transport helicopters, and four L-39 combat trainers.

Peace dividend in Northern Ireland as army pulls back

By DPA

Belfast : An era comes to an end in Northern Ireland Tuesday when the British Army officially ends its operational support for the police service, bringing to a close an often troubled relationship with the Irish Nationalist population in the British-administered province.

The British Army's official role under Operation Banner, which began in 1969, was to support the police in defeating terrorism and maintaining public order and to "assist Her Majesty's government's objective of returning Northern Ireland to normality".

Michael Moore loses 70 pounds

By IANS, London : Oscar winning filmmaker Michael Moore is on a weight-loss spree and has shed almost 70 pounds (30 kilograms). The 55-year-old claims old age inspired him to shed the pounds and he's only half-way through an epic weight loss programme, reported contactmusic.com. "I've lost 60 or 70 pounds since Christmas. I ran across this book called the Pritikin Solution, written by a doctor (Robert Pritikin). One of the things it says is don't talk about how you're doing until you're done. And I'm only half way done," he said.

Kenya talks resume after Annan threatens to quit

By DPA Nairobi : Kenya's rival political sides were forging ahead with talks to end the stalemate Tuesday, a day after mediator and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan threatened to pull out after seeing no progress. Annan cut the talks short Monday, stressing the parties were "not capable of resolving outstanding issues", and opted instead to meet President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga, telling them the decisions were in their hands.

Obama launches media blitz in final push

By Arun Kumar, IANS, Washington : As Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama launched a multi-million dollar media blitz projecting himself as an agent of age in the final days of the campaign, Republican rival John McCain questioned Obama's ability to lead. With six days to go for the Nov 4 poll, Obama's campaign spent more than $3 million to air a 30-minute infomercial on seven networks simultaneously as the White House race tightened to three points Wednesday in major opinion polls.

US greenlight to world’s first stem cell treatment on humans

By IANS, London : The world's first experiments using embryonic stem cells to treat humans have been given the go-ahead in the US. California-based biotech firm Geron will begin clinical trials on patients paralysed by spinal cord injuries. Scientists hope that injecting cells from discarded human embryos into the spines of volunteers will trigger regrowth of damaged nerve cells and eventually allow the patients to recover feeling and movement, says a Daily Mail report from the US.

Mexican man arrested 600 times in 10 years

By DPA, Mexico City : A 56-year-old man from the northern Mexican city of Matamoros has been arrested 600 times in 10 years for misdemeanours, such as roaming around drunk or disturbing the public order, the daily Reforma reported Wednesday. Since 2000, the man who sells sweets for a living, has been taken to the municipal prison at least once a week, sometimes at his own request. "Sometimes we find him really drunk in the Capilla neighbourhood, and we take him in so that he is not run over, or he himself asks us to arrest him," one police officer was quoted as saying.

Soltanieh gives stern warning to IAEA

By IRNA, Vienna : Iran's Ambassador to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh gave stern warning to the agency against violating its own constitution.

Snow storm leaves Washington battered, moves north

By Arun Kumar, IANS, Washington: A major snow storm that buried the national capital Washington and surrounding area under a thick white blanket was expected to dump up to 12 inches in the New York area as it started moving north Sunday. Authorities were forced to suspend public transportation in the capital, declare a state of emergency and plead with residents to stay home as the powerful Nor'easter blanketed the eastern United States, leaving thousands stranded at airports and bus terminals.

Rise of China no threat for India: Tharoor

By IANS, New Delhi: Noting that India does not view the rise of China as a threat, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor Sunday said the two countries cannot afford to have a relationship of "antagonism". "The government of India does not view China or China's development as a threat of any kind," Tharoor said in his valedictory address of a three-day conference on "Emerging China" organised by Indian Council for World Affairs and Association for Asian Scholars. The conference hosted at Sapru House was attended by academics from China, South East Asia and Europe.

Eight dead in attack on bus in Honduras

By DPA, Tegucigalpa : An attack on a bus in Honduras claimed the lives of eight passengers including four children, the Honduran daily El Tiempo reported Friday, citing authorities.

Toll in Japan earthquake rises to 15,500

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Moscow : The toll from the magnitude-9 earthquake and ensuing tsunami which struck north-east Japan March 11 has risen to 15,500, police said Sunday.

McCain struggles for headlines as Obama trots globe

By Chris Cermak, DPA, Washington : Republican presidential contender John McCain had to work extra hard for media coverage over the last week amid an international, headline-stealing whirlwind tour by his Democratic rival Barack Obama. Some of McCain's manoeuvres have included slamming Obama's Iraq policy and lack of military experience, hinting that he may announce his vice presidential pick and mocking the media's wall-to-wall coverage of Obama's trip to the Middle East and Europe.

Slovenian nuclear plant leak causes EU-wide alert

By DPA, Brussels : The European Union was placed on alert Wednesday as a nuclear power plant in Slovenia reported a leak in the cooling system. The plant in Krsko, in south-west Slovenia, issued the alert that it had begun to spill coolant from its primary cooling system at 1738 local time (1538 GMT), a message from the European Commission, the EU executive, said. The commission instantly informed all 27 EU member states, warning them of the situation and requiring them to inform it in turn of any anti-radiation measures they would put in place.

Kidman, Urban lock lips at US Open

By IANS, New York: Actress Nicole Kidman and her singer husband Keith Urban didn't shy away from indulging in some public display of affection at the US Open here.

Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition sweeps provincial poll

By IANS, Colombo : Sri Lanka's ruling coalition Sunday swept elections to the Western Provincial Council, that includes the capital Colombo, after a high pitched campaign seeking support for the military offensive aimed at crushing the Tamil Tigers. President Mahinda Rajapaksa's United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) secured 65 percent of the total votes cast, leaving the opposition badly battered. The United National Party (UNP) led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe came second with 30 percent.

Chinese version of Guinness gets recognition

By IANS, Beijing: Now, it's official. 'Chinness', the Chinese version of Guinness, has been recognised by the country's trademark regulator. Derived from 'Chinese' and 'Guinness', 'Chinness' has been officially approved by China's State Administration of Industry and Commerce (SAIC), Xinhua reported Wednesday. "The trademark application took three years for verification and the SAIC's three month announcement period," said 46-year-old Zhang Dayong, the founder of Chinness.net.

My first sexual experience was at 11: Sarkozy’s father

By IANS, London/Paris : Pal Sarkozy, father of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, has admitted in a new book that he had his first sexual experience with his nanny when he was 11. Pal, 81, has confessed in a new autobiography called "So Much Life" that he was a philanderer ever since seducing his childhood nanny when he was just 11, Daily Mail reported. He wrote: "Sleep! That's a joke! I innocently asked the nanny to lie down next to me as if to give me a big cuddle while whispering the story. She obeyed.

NATO turns to equipment woes as defence ministers meet

By DPA, Brussels : Problems with transport equipment and with finding men for a long-awaited expeditionary force were set to top the agenda Friday as NATO defence ministers met in Brussels. "We have to make sure that our forces are suitable to face current security challenges and ready to react to rising threats," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said as he opened the second day of the ministerial meeting.

UN secretary general ‘most concerned’ by Sri Lanka fighting

By DPA, Brussels : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is "most concerned" by the recent upsurge of fighting in Sri Lanka, he told journalists in Brussels Thursday. "I am most concerned at the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka," Ban said on the sidelines of a conference dedicated to the piracy crisis in Somalia. "I would like to take this opportunity to strongly urge all the parties concerned to respect the call of the UN Security Council, made yesterday, in full and without further delay: too many lives are at stake," he said.

South Africa wants new IMF chief from developing world

By IANS, Johanesburg: South Africa Wednesday gave a call to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to select somebody from the developing world as its new chief.

Nine killed in blasts at Jakarta luxury hotels

By DPA, Jakarta : Two powerful explosions ripped through the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels Friday morning in the Indonesian capital, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens of others, police and the security minister said. Six bodies were found in Jakarta's Marriott Hotel, two in the nearby Ritz-Carlton and another victim died in hospital after the blasts, which took place during the hotels' busy breakfast time, chief security minister Widodo Adisucipto said.

Firing at Nepal casino ahead of legal battle

By IANS Kathmandu : Nepal's casino industry, embroiled in an ownership tussle, has hit the headlines again with gunmen opening fire at one of them, ahead of a crucial court hearing. Two gunmen fired three rounds of blank cartridges on the premises of Casino Royale in Kathmandu Saturday night, adding one more incident to a string of disturbances that have rocked the popular casino since this year after two of its partners became involved in an ownership dispute.

Charlie Sheen accused of death threat

By IANS, Los Angeles: Actor Charlie Sheen has been accused of sending a death threat to a former associate.

Porsche to recall 20,000 vehicles in China

By IANS, Beijing : Luxury carmaker Porsche will recall over 20,000 vehicles in China, the country's consumer quality watchdog said.

Russia, Poland to hold U.S missile shield talks in Moscow

By RIA Novosti Moscow : Russian and Polish deputy foreign ministers will meet on Tuesday in Moscow to discuss U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile defense system in Poland, a Russian diplomatic source has said. "During the talks the Russian side will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak and Poland by Deputy Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski," the source told RIA Novosti on Monday. The Polish delegation will attempt to overcome Russia's opposition to the installation of U.S. interceptor missiles in Poland.

Iranian speaker backs 20 percent uranium enrichment

By IANS, Tehran : Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani Wednesday urged the government to start enriching uranium to 20 percent, the state-run Press TV reported. The remarks came as EU member-states Monday agreed to introduce extra measures against the Islamic republic, in addition to the sanctions resolution adopted by the UN Security Council last week. Addressing lawmakers at a parliamentary session, Larijani criticised the West for bringing new sanctions against Iran, describing the measures as "unjustified".

US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates at record low

By DPA, Washington : The US Federal Reserve Wednesday kept interest rates at their historic low of near 0 percent and noted signs that the world's largest economy is recovering from recession. The central bank's board said economic conditions "continued to pick up" since its last meeting in November but were likely to "remain weak for a time," indicating it would keep rates at their current low for some time.

Saudi king visits crane collapse site in Makkah

Jeddah, Sep 13 (IANS) Saudi Arabia King Salman visited the victims of deadly crane collapse in the Grand Mosque in Makkah that claimed at...

US nuclear experts to arrive in North Korea

By RIA Novosti Tokyo : A second group of US officials and nuclear experts is expected to arrive in North Korea Saturday to continue work on disabling nuclear facilities, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. In a six-party deal sealed earlier this month, North Korea committed itself to disclosing and disabling its nuclear programme by the end of the year, in exchange for 950,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil or its equivalent.

Bolivian president enacts new constitution

By IANS, El Alto (Bolivia) : Bolivian President Evo Morales has enacted a new constitution that he says will "refound" the country on the basis of unity, equality and dignity and put it on a path to national reconciliation, EFE reported Sunday. "Mission accomplished. For the refounding of a united Bolivia," Morales said Saturday while enacting a charter that was approved by popular vote in a referendum held Jan 25.

US company to convert Jackson’s hair into diamonds

By IANS, London: Bosses at a US company have unveiled a bizarre new plan to produce 10 sparkling diamonds from locks of late pop legend Michael Jackson's hair. Executives at LifeGem have obtained a sample of the King Of Pop's tresses from a memorabilia collector, who owned some of the hair Jackson burned off his scalp while filming a 1984 Pepsi commercial and now LifeGem founder Dean VandenBiesen plans to create a limited edition set of 10 diamonds using a laboratory process that takes carbon from hair and turns it into high-quality gems, reports contactmusic.com.

Ban condemns Ahmadinejad’s anti-Israel statement

By IANS, United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's anti-Israeli statements.

China, US discuss military ties

By IANS, Beijing : Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie Tuesday met visiting US Secretary of Navy Ray Mabus and called for deeper mutual trust between the two militaries.

Iran to hold direct talks with US, Russia

Tehran : Iran will hold bilateral talks with the United States and Russia next week ahead of the next round of its nuclear talks...

Thailand to charge crew of aircraft carrying weapons

By DPA, Bangkok : Thailand will charge five Kazakhstan and Belarus crew members who landed a cargo plane with 35 tonnes of weapons at a Bangkok airport on the weekend, the prime minister said Sunday. "We will strictly follow our own laws and UN resolutions," Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters. "Charges will soon be set."

New mass grave found in eastern Bosnia

By DPA, Sarajevo : Bosnian forensic experts started to excavate a mass grave Thursday in Kamenica near the eastern Bosnian Serb town of Zvornik, the commission on missing people confirmed. Murat Hurtic from the commission said that some 30 to 40 bodies were uncovered after the first layers of soil were removed from the top of the grave. The victims were Bosnian Muslims killed in the massacre in the former eastern Bosnian Muslim enclave of Srebrenica during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Rajapaksa takes early lead in Sri Lankan presidential poll

By IANS, Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa took an initial lead early Wednesday over his main rival former army commander General Sarath Fonseka in the counting of the votes for the presidential election. With over 1 million votes counted by 6 a.m, Rajapaksa recorded 689,261 votes against Fonseka's 442,292 votes, Xinhua reported. The island's sixth presidential election was held largely free of violence Tuesday with a turnout estimated to be over 70 percent.

Former Germany captain Ballack charged with speeding

By IANS, Madrid: Spanish Guardia Civil traffic police have confirmed that they caught former Germany captain and Chelsea star Michael Ballack speeding on a highway in Spain.

NASA probe finds second mountain range in Pluto’s ‘heart’

Washington : The New Horizons probe has found a second mountain range situated between bright, icy plains and dark, heavily-cratered terrain on the...

Texas death row prisoner given last-minute stay of execution

By DPA, Washington: A triple murderer minutes away from being executed by lethal injection in Texas has been given a temporary stay of execution after a US Supreme Court order. Hank Skinner was eating his final meal before being due to be executed for the 1993 murder of his girlfriend and their two sons, when the legal order from Washington arrived late Wednesday.

Europe needs 18,000 teachers by 2015: expert

By IANS, Chandigarh : At the present primary pupil-teacher ratio, there will be a requirement of another 18,000 primary school teachers by 2015 in Europe, an expert said here Tuesday. David Day, head of Life Long Learning, London said at a seminar on "Career for a teacher in Europe" here that British schools and colleges desperately need teachers with modern skills to enrich their curriculum and there are estimated 15-20 percent vacancies for teachers in London.

Freed Russian spy plans to return home

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Moscow : Russian scientist Igor Sutyagin, who has been living in Britian and is one of the spies exchanged as part of a Russia-US spy swap deal early this month, said Thursday that he plans to return to his home country. Sutyagin was sentenced in 2004 in Russia to 15 years in prison for passing information to the US intelligence agency CIA. "I'm going to return to Obninsk (near Moscow) and fix the rickety porch of our house," Ekho Moskvy radio quoted the scientist as saying. "Sooner or later, I don't know yet, but this will happen," he added.

Canada pulls out of NATO surveillance project

By IANS, Ottawa : Canada has decided to pull out of a NATO project that collects strategic information through unmanned aerial vehicles.

US private sector jobs increase by 110,000 in October

By IANS, Washington: The private sector in the US saw 110,000 more jobs in October, according to a report.

EU deadlocked over funding climate change fight

By DPA, Brussels : The European Union (EU) Wednesday hit a deadlock over the question of how to fund the fight against climate change in the developing world, EU diplomats said. The bloc is committed to supporting climate-change mitigation measures in poorer countries as part of a bid to win global acceptance for strict limits on emissions of greenhouse gases at a meeting in Copenhagen in December. But representatives of the EU's 27 member states meeting in Brussels failed to agree on how their countries should share the bill, diplomats close to the talks told DPA.

2010 is UN year of Millennium Development Goals

By DPA, New York : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon decided Tuesday to call 2010 the year of Millennium Development Goals, which will review progress to achieve a set of eight programmes by 2015. The goals were set by the UN General Assembly in 2000, including halving extreme poverty, universal education for children, ending child and maternal mortality and stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS. The assembly is planning meetings in 2010 to review progress made so far by governments and whether the goals can be reached in 2015.

Venezuela plans to increase oil output

Caracas, Sep 18 (IANS) Venezuela is planning to increase oil production from the current 3.2 million barrels per day (bpd) to five million barrels in 2012, President Hugo Chavez has said. "We'll take it there on pace with prices because for us it's more important to maintain the correct price of oil than to flood the market," Spanish news agency EFE quoted Chavez as saying during his weekly Sunday address. The Venezuelan leader has repeatedly said that the current price of oil was "fair" and that he did not expect the upward price trend to reverse itself.

Explosives found in Paris terror probe

By IANS, Paris : French police have found bomb-making materials and arms during investigation of radical Islamists arrested over the weekend, an official said Wednesday.

Gang war leaves 12 dead in Rio de Janeiro

By DPA, Rio de Janeiro : At least 12 people, including two policemen, were killed during shootouts between rival drug gangs in Rio de Janeiro on the weekend, officials said. Police said the gangs are battling for control of drug trafficking in the northern sector of the Brazilian coastal city recently chosen to host the 2016 Olympic Games. Gunfire also downed one police helicopter, causing the death of two officers, the report by the web portal G1 said. Armed men also destroyed at least five city buses and two schoolrooms in different neighbourhoods of the zone.

India hits back at China, PM trip to Arunachal justified

By IANS, New Delhi: India hit back at China Wednesday by asking it not to help set up projects in Pakistani Kashmir as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee rejected Chinese denunciation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's trip to Arunachal Pradesh, a region Beijing claims. "We hope the Chinese side will take a long term view of India-China relations and cease such activities in areas illegally occupied by Pakistan," the external affairs ministry said, a day after Beijing came out with an unusually strong criticism of the prime minister's visit.

Miami to have 1,000 feet observation tower

Miami : The voters of Miami in the US have approved a proposal by a real estate promoter to build a 1,000 feet high...

Defiant Tibetans start freedom march to China from Nepal

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Kathmandu : Defying the possibility of imprisonment or even death, over three dozen Tibetan monks and nuns have begun a secret "freedom march" to Tibet from Nepal to draw the world's attention to their demand for freedom and respect for human rights on the eve of the Olympic Games in China. A resolute group of 23 monks, 17 nuns and two novices began the dangerous journey under secrecy Wednesday from the outskirts of Kathmandu in a bid to evade arrest by Nepal police, who have been put on high alert to stop anti-China protests in Nepal.

CLMCI demands close of torture cells, release of Muslim youths

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net

Bhopal: The Hyderabad-based Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee India, (CLMCI), has called upon the people to come forward to protect the right to life with human dignity, which is a universally accepted right, and struggle for the protection of this right to life for their fellow human beings.

Mexico, Central America propose global Green Fund

By DPA, Tegucigalpa ( Mexico) : The summit on Climate Change and the Environment in Honduras approved a Mexican proposal for the creation of a global Green Fund. The initiative sponsor, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, said the fund seeks to help in reducing polluting gases. He further stressed his own country's progress in the defence of the environment and the generation of energy from renewable sources. The summit of Central American and Caribbean nations was held Wednesday in San Pedro Sula, 250 km north of Honduran capital Tegucigalpa.

46 mn Americans live in poverty

By IANS, Washington: About 46 million Americans lived in poverty last year, accounting for 15 percent of the population, the US census bureau announced Wednesday.

US to make Pakistan keep its word on Mumbai attacks

By Arun Kumar,IANS, Washington : Making clear that to keep its word on fighting terror Pakistan needs to act with resolve and urgency and keep communication lines open with India, the US has said it will try to "to make that happen." Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has been phoning in updates for President George W. Bush about her conversations with Pakistani leaders about last week's Mumbai terror attacks, White House spokesperson Dana Perino said Thursday.

Polish president, wife given emotional farewell

By Surender Bhutani, IANS, Krakow : Millions of Poles glued to television sets and thousand teary-eyed men and women gathered in this historic city Sunday gave an emotive farewell to Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, who died in a horific aircrash in Russia eight days ago. Several world leaders joined Poland in a national mourning not witnessed in the country since 1935, with a Church leader upstaging politicians by calling for reconciliation with Russia.

Swapo Calls Independent Media Detractors

By Bernama, Windhoek : The Swapo-Party has rubbished recent media reports about brewing political tensions and factionalism within the ruling party leadership as mere rumours and fabrications, Namibian news agency, NAMPA, reported. Swapo's Secretary-General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana told reporters at the party headquarters on Monday that the ruling party is 'solidly united like a rock' despite media reports to the contrary.

Eight miners killed in Colombia

By IANS/EFE, Bogota : The bodies of eight miners killed by FARC guerrillas were found Thursday near a gold mine in a mountainous section of the southwestern Colombian province of Cauca, Caracol Radio reported. A miner who survived the attack by pretending to be dead notified authorities of the killings. A group of armed men wearing hoods surprised the miners, told them they should not be in the area and opened fire, the eyewitness, who was wounded in the attack, said.

US boy charged with hate crime for burning Sikh’s turban

By IANS, New York : As demanded by the local Sikh community, US authorities have charged an American teenager with hate crime for setting fire to a fellow Sikh student's turban in a New Jersey school. The accused, 18-year-old Garrett Green, has pleaded not guilty to the multiple charges of aggravated assault, bias intimidation, arson and criminal mischief in the incident at Hightstown High School in central New Jersey May 5. Municipal Court Judge Gregory Williams has asked Green to appear before him May 21.

European health agency puts global flu tally at 5,100

By DPA, Stockholm : Over 5,100 confirmed cases of the influenza A(H1N1) have now been reported worldwide, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said Monday. With 2,532 cases, the United States alone accounted for almost half the global number of cases, followed by Mexico on 2,062 cases and 284 cases in Canada, the pan-European agency's updated figures indicated. The influenza has to date claimed 53 lives of which 48 are in Mexico, three in the US and one in Canada, the ECDC said.

Aid agencies suspend Congo operations following attacks

By DPA Geneva : UN humanitarian agencies said they had temporarily suspended operations in Congo after four attacks in three weeks targeting international organizations. Equipment and goods destined for relief operations had been stolen and personnel attacked in South Kivu province. In mid-March, money and equipment had been stolen in an armed hold-up of vehicles in Kashatu. Later that month, at Minova, members of the international non-governmental organization (NGO) Doctors without Borders had been injured when their base was attacked and cash and communication equipment stolen.

Five children released in Italian nursery siege

By RIA Novosti Rome : Five children were released on Wednesday several hours after a man armed with a box-cutting knife barricaded himself into a day-care centre in southern Italy. National media said however that the siege was continuing and that some 15 children and two teachers were still inside the building in Italy's southernmost city of Reggio-Calabria.

Respect human rights to solve world’s problems: Pope

By Parveen Chopra, IANS New York : Pope Benedict XVI Friday emphasised the role that respect for human rights - including right to religious freedom - can play in solving many of the world's problems. Addressing the UN General Assembly here, he, however, cautioned that international cooperation was threatened by "the decisions of a small number" of nations. Calling the UN's work in this regard as vital, the pontiff said the world's problems call for collective interventions by the international community.

Australia polls: Indian migrants come of age

By Neena Bhandari, IANS Sydney : As the countdown begins for one of the most closely contested elections in Australia in a decade, will anyone of Indian origin be elected to the federal parliament this Saturday? Time will tell. But the presence of around 12 Indian origin Australians contesting this federal election is testimony to the fact that they want to have a real say in the way their adopted country is ruled.

China makes its presence felt in Goa

By IANS, Panaji: After Chinese goods taking over the Indian market, a Chinese film will open 40th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here Monday. "Wheat", directed by He Ping, is set in 260 BC when China was mired in a long and bloody war between the Qin and the Zhao dynasties. Starring Fan Bingbing and Wang Jue, "Wheat" tells the story of women left behind after their husbands are sent to war. The film was produced for $6 million and was funded by He's own Beijing Classic Culture, along with Polybona Films, and the state-backed Xi'an Film Studio.

Mexico no longer in recession, says president

By EFE, Mexico City : The Mexican economy grew 2.7 percent in the third quarter and has therefore climbed out of its worst recession in decades, President Felipe Calderon has said. "This result is very good news because it indicates the end of the recession, of the economic contraction in the country and we're working hard so this recovery continues and broadens in the coming years," the head of state said while inaugurating the Bloomberg Mexico Economic Forum in this capital Thursday.

Putin announces new government

By SPA, Moscow : Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced an array of government changes including splitting Russia's ministry of energy and industry in two. The move appears to reflect Russia's growing emphasis on trying to resuscitate its industrial base while still relying on oil and gas export revenues, the Associated Press reported. Putin turned over the Russian presidency to protege Dmitry Medvedev last week and quickly was nominated and confirmed as prime minister. He announced the government changes on Monday after meeting with Medvedev.

ICC to beam World T20 in record 216 countries

By IANS, New Delhi: The soaring popularity of Twenty20 cricket has prompted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to expand its base and reach a record 216 countries through television coverage in World Twenty20 beginning in England from June 5. The inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007 was a huge success. India, the financial hub of the sport, won the Championship and soon Twenty20 cricket became the new flavour in the cricket mad nation.

White House Says Retail Sales Drop Reflects Auto Difficulties

By SPA, Washington : The White House said a decline in July retail sales reported on Wednesday reflected problems in the U.S. auto industry, and that fiscal and monetary stimulus would contribute to U.S. economic growth in the third and fourth quarters of this year. “Overall retail sales declined slightly in July, but most of that reflects ongoing difficulties in the auto industry,” Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman, told reporters.

New Zealand PM questions safety of players in Zimbabwe

By IANS, London : New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has questioned whether it was safe for its cricketers to tour Zimbabwe, a country undergoing political and social breakdown. New Zealand are scheduled to play a one-day series in Zimbabwe in July, but Key made his scepticism clear. He questioned why the International Cricket Council (ICC) continues to support the country. "There are security risks for our players, there is the risk of cholera, and quite frankly we don't support that regime and we have made that quite clear," Key said.

Monet’s masterpiece to be star of Sotheby’s show

By Uma Nair

IANS

London : Claude Monet's 1904 masterpiece "Nymphéas" will be the star of Sotheby's auction here next week and is estimated to fetch upto 15 million pounds.

Iran not to strike any deal compromising its rights

Tehran: Iranian government said Tuesday that Tehran will never strike a deal with the six world powers which ignores or undermines Iran's rights. "We do...

Don’t insult us, Pashupatinath priest tells Nepal

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Kathmandu : Smarting under the continuing attacks on Indian priests and the allegation that they were siphoning off the offerings made by devotees at the altar of Pashupatinath, one of the holiest Hindu shrines, the chief priest at the temple said he and his ilk were ready to go back to India.

Sarkozy, mayor receive death threats

By DPA, Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy has filed a complaint against unidentified people after a letter containing death threats against him and another politician was sent to the city hall of the southern city of Beziers, the daily Midi Libre reported Tuesday. "This is a normal procedure," Sarkozy's office said after the letter threatening the lives of the French president and Beziers Mayor Raymond Couderc, and containing a 38-mm bullet, was delivered Feb 9.

Saina, Sindhu reach World badminton quarters

Jakarta: Indian badminton queens Saina Nehwal and P.V. Sindhu earned contrasting wins to enter the women's singles quarterfinals of the World Championships here on...

Sri Lankan minister killed in blast near Colombo

By P.K. Balachandran, IANS Colombo : Sri Lankan minister D.M. Dassanayake was killed Tuesday in a claymore mine blast near Colombo, the military said. The minister's motorcade was heading towards Colombo when it was struck by a claymore mine at the Rukmani Devi junction at Ja-Ela, 19 km from the capital, at 10.35 a.m., military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara told IANS. The roadside bomb had been set off by remote control. "The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) is responsible for the blast," the spokesman said.

35 Tamil rebels, 8 Sri Lankan soldiers killed in heavy fighting

By SPA, Colombo, Sri Lanka : Heavy weekend fighting between government troops and Tamil separatists in Sri Lanka's contested north killed 35 rebels and eight soldiers, the military said Sunday. The latest battles erupted Saturday along the front lines tin the Mannar and Welioya regions, the military said.

Obama tells Myanmar to free Suu Kyi

By DPA, Singapore: US President Barack Obama used a meeting Sunday with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to urge pariah state Myanmar to free pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. In what was the first meeting in 43 years between a US president and the leaders of the military junta in Myanmar, Obama reportedly told Prime Minister General Thein Sein to release Suu Kyi.

Strong quake rocks Indonesia province

By IANS, Jakarta : An undersea earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale Thursday jolted the Papua province in eastern Indonesia, officials said. There was no report of damage or casualties in the quake that occurred at 1211 GMT, Xinhua reported citing the Disaster Management Agency.

Al Qaeda video sends warning to Germany

By DPA, Berlin : Germany was urged to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in a video believed to have been made by a member of the terrorist network Al Qaeda. A German-speaker wearing a black turban and facecloth that left only his eyes visible spoke in the 30-minute video, which was posted on the internet Saturday. The message, delivered by a man calling himself "Abu Talha, the German", was titled "Rescue Plan for Germany". It contained Arabic subtitles.

Bush offers help to China, signs condolence book

By DPA, Washington : US President George W. Bush visited the Chinese embassy here Tuesday to sign a condolence book for the families of thousands who perished in the devastating earthquake a week ago. Bush said the United States stands "ready to help" and praised the courage of Chinese rescue workers who continue to search for survivors. "We extend our deepest sympathies," Bush said.

Nigerian Militants Step Up ‘Oil War’ Claiming Sixth Attack

By AFP, Lagos : Militants in Nigeria said Saturday they had destroyed a pipeline run by Royal Dutch Shell in the sixth attack of a declared "oil war," with the armed group vowing to reduce oil exports to "zero." Shell reacted by declaring force majeure on its exports from the Bonny terminal to release it from contractual delivery obligations as a result of the latest attacks.
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