UAE, Nepal discuss cooperation on labour issues
Abu Dhabi, Jan 25 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has said it is keen to boost cooperation and coordination with Nepal and realising the benefits of the Abu Dhabi Declaration on ensuring labour rights, WAM news agency reported Friday.
UAE Minister of Labour Ali Abdullah Al-Kaabi and his Nepalese counterpart Ramesh Lekhak met Thursday on the sidelines of the Gulf Forum on Temporary Contractual Labor conference here.
The forum's meeting concluded here Thursday.
Shakira joins Obama’s education advisory board
By IANS,
London : Colombian singer Shakira has joined US President Barack Obama's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
EU concerned over humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Brussels : European Union Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner has voiced concern over the humanitarian situation and human rights violations in Sri Lanka.
"I am concerned about the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and would appeal to both the government and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) that the rights and needs of civilians and those who are internally displaced by the ongoing conflict are fully respected," EUAsiaNews quoted her as saying in a statement.
Chinese president, DPJ leader agree to bolster exchanges
By IRNA-Kyoda
Beijing : Chinese President Hu Jintao and the leader of Japan's main opposition Democratic Party of Japan agreed Friday to bolster dialogue and exchanges between the ruling Chinese Communist Party and the DPJ, a DPJ official said.
Hu and DPJ head Ichiro Ozawa, who is leading a visit to China by a delegation of about 450 Japanese legislators and party supporters, confirmed the importance of maintaining good ties between the two parties and the two countries, the official told reporters.
Putin urges final push in Sochi 2014
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Sochi (Russia): Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a big final push to complete the construction of all facilities for the Sochi 2014 winter Olympics.
Thai military junta transfers 24 more officers
Bangkok : The Thai military junta announced the transfer of 24 more officers to inactive positions and also set out an eight-point plan for...
US lawmakers ask Pentagon to welcome Sikhs in military
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington: Over 100 members of Congress from both Democratic and Republican parties have urged the US defence department to end the...
MH17 crash: UN calls for independent probe
United Nations : The UN Security Council Friday called for "a full, thorough and independent international investigation" of the downing of a Malaysia Airlines...
UN ecology experts look to new nature-given technologies
By DPA,
Bonn (Germany) : New technologies gleaned from observing nature are set to provide exciting applications in the decades ahead that will supersede current environmentally destructive practices, UN experts said Wednesday.
Ahmed Djoghlaf, general secretary of the UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), called on entrepreneurs to "wake up" to the new possibilities and to "work with nature, not against it."
Djoghlaf was speaking on the sidelines of the ninth conference of the parties to the CBD being held in the German city of Bonn.
China sends activist, daughter to labour camp
By DPA,
Beijing : China has sentenced a well-known environmental activist and his daughter to "reform through labour" after accusing them of "endangering state security" by disclosing details of radioactive pollution from a uranium mine, rights groups said Friday.
Sun Xiaodi, a former employee of the state-run Number 792 Uranium Mine in the northwestern province of Gansu, has campaigned for more than a decade to draw attention to pollution from the mine.
Canada conducts major military exercise in Arctic
By IANS,
Ottawa : The Canadian armed forces have started a major military exercise in the Arctic to showcase its sovereignty in the region, the National Defense Department said.
Kerala government website hacked by Pakistani hackers
Thiruvananthapuram: Suspected Pakistani hackers have hacked the official website of the Kerala government, www.keralagov.in.
With the cyber wing of the state police launching a probe...
Obama again slams outsourcing to India, calls it unfair practice
By Arun Kumar,
Washington: Accusing US companies outsourcing business to India of following unfair business practices, President Barack Obama says his proposal to tax firms shipping jobs overseas was only intended to provide a level playing field.
"If you are a business here, entirely located in the United States, and investing in the United States, and hiring workers in the United States, you are paying a 35 percent rate," he said in an Oval office interview with Bloomberg/Businessweek.
Japan’s white paper eyes larger peacekeeping role, missile defense buildup
By Xinhua
Tokyo : A Japanese defense white paper said Friday that Tokyo will play a more active role in global peacekeeping activities and reinforce its missile defense system.
The annual report, which was endorsed by the cabinet on the day, is the first of its kind since Japan's former Defense Agency was promoted to a ministry in January, when the international peace cooperation activities were made one of the primary missions by its Self-Defense Forces (SDF).
South Africa issues travel advisory, suspected swine flu case detected
By IANS,
Pretoria : One suspected case of swine flu has been detected in South Africa and the health department is closely monitoring the case, officials said.
Media reports said earlier that two suspected cases of swine flu have been detected in the country. However, officials later confirmed that there was just one suspected case of swine flu.
"The patient in Gauteng has been cleared of the symptoms (swine flu). The only suspect is the person in Southern Cape. But it has not been confirmed she has contracted the flu," health official Fidel Hadebe told BuaNews Thursday.
11 wounded in Vienna gurdwara clash
By DPA,
Vienna: At least 11 people were wounded, some severely, in a knife and gun attack Sunday morning involving rival Sikh groups in a gurdwara in the Austrian capital.
According to the APA news agency, the incident took place during a sermon by a guest guru from India.
It is believed that at least six members of another Viennese Sikh community stood up during the sermon and attacked the speaker with knives and a gun. At least three shots were fired, the report said.
3,600 crocodiles rescued in China
By IANS,
Beijing: Around 3,600 smuggled Siamese crocodiles have been saved by police from being served as exotic dishes in China's Guangxi Zhuang region, Xinhua reported Saturday.
Two terrorists killed in Pakistan
Islamabad: Two terrorists were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Pakistan's Karachi city, a media report said on Wednesday.
The Rangers killed the...
Rice to visit China’s earthquake-jolted region
By DPA,
Washington : US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice late this month will visit the region of China struck by a massive earthquake in May that left thousands of people dead, the State Department has said.
Rice will arrive in China June 29 to visit the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province, where more than 4,000 people died following the May 12, quake. Rice will be the highest US official to visit the region, where she will met with relief organizations.
"Obviously this has been a very tragic situation for the people of China," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.
Third undersea cable to bring faster Internet to Asia
By DPA,
Taipei : Several Asian countries plan to jointly build a third Asia-Pacific undersea cable to bring faster Internet service to the region, Taiwan media reported Thursday.
The countries plan to jointly invest $500 million to lay the Asia-Pacific Cable Network 3 (APCN3), according to the Economic Daily News and the Commercial Times, which cited unnamed Chunghwa Telecom Co sources.
The APCN3 would link Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Over 1,150 ill after drinking polluted water in China
By Xinhua,
Hohhot (China) : More than 1,150 people have sought medication for gastrointenstinal illnesses after consuming contaminated water in northern China's Inner Mongolia region, health authorities said Tuesday.
Fifteen people were hospitalised while others took medicines for their illness which is blamed on the polluted water supplied through taps in Chifeng city in southeastern Mongolia, a spokesman with the city's health department said.
He said most of the patients had mild illness and their symptoms subsided by the time they visited the hospital.
Writer donates 1675 edition of ‘Don Quixote’ to Argentine city
By EFE,
Buenos Aires : British writer Julian Barnes has donated to the Argentine city of Azul a copy of the first edition of "Don Quixote" translated into English and dating back to 1675.
Azul has been dubbed "Cervantes City" two years ago for actively promoting the works of Miguel de Cervantes.
The vice president of the Spanish Mutual Aid Society of Azul, Carlos Filipetti, said that the copy, which he described as a "real gem", is in "impeccable condition".
Georgia Lobbies to Enter NATO
By Prensa Latina
Warsaw : Georgian President Mijail Saakashvili announced Monday in Warsaw that his country expects to be invited to Bucharest to begin negotiations to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The military bloc will hold its next head of State meeting in the Romanian capital, April 2-4.
After meeting with Polish President Lech Kaczynski, the two held a joint press conference and the visitor said his two-day stay was due to Georgian interest in creating a coalition to support its entry to NATO.
Gujarati student crowned new Miss India-Canada
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : Twenty-one-year-old Rupal Lakhani, a dance instructor at the Shiamak Davar Institute here, has been crowned the new Miss India-Canada.
The local Gujarati-origin university student beat 15 contestants to win the crown for 2008. At the jam-packed gala at the city's Double Tree International Hotel over the weekend, Lakhani outscored her opponents in all rounds of the pageant.
Cabinet reshuffle in Myanmar
By IANS,
Yangon: Myanmar undertook a major cabinet reshuffle Monday, reassigning nine ministers to new posts, the country's information ministry said.
Kim Jong Il visits China
By DPA,
Beijing/Seoul : North Korean leader Kim Jong Il arrived in China on a rare trip abroad early Monday, Japanese and South Korean media reported.
A photograph from Japan's Kyodo news agency showed the reclusive Kim standing near a saluting Chinese paramilitary policeman.
The agency said the picture and three similar ones were taken outside a hotel in the north-eastern Chinese port city of Dalian Monday.
North Korea’s n-activity suspension modest first step: Clinton
By IANS,
Washington: North Korea agreeing to suspend its nuclear activities is "a modest first step", said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday.
UK faces prospect of more airline disruptions
By IRNA,
London : Millions of airline passengers face the prospect of more travel disruption following a vote by firefighters, security guards and ground staff at London Heathrow and five other airports over a pay dispute.
The result of a ballot of more than 6,000 workers at airports operated by the British Airports Authority (BAA) is not expected until Thursday, but their union, Unite, has warned it will move swiftly towards industrial action if members vote in favour.
28 Million US Citizens Need Food Aid
By Prensa Latina,
Washington : Nearly 28 million US citizens depend on coupons to eat, a situation constantly increasing because of unemployment and the high price of food, said Virginia, US newspaper USA Today Monday.
USA Today said difficulties to subsist are so many, that even people with a high cultural level cannot escape from then.
"It is inconceivable to see myself in such a condition, especially when you have a pride," said Ohio resident Philomena Gist, a woman with a Master Degree in Psychology.
New Russian president to continue Putin’s policies
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : As he cruised to victory in Russia's presidential polls, Dmitry Medvedev Monday said his presidency would be a "direct continuation" of the policies of his predecessor Vladimir Putin.
The first deputy premier of Russia, whose candidature was backed by his mentor Putin, polled 70.11 percent of the vote with about 96 percent of the ballots counted in Russia's presidential polls till Monday morning, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said.
Chemo War Victims in Vietnam Sue US
By Prensa Latina
Hanoi : The Vietnamese Association of Agent Orange Victims confirmed here that it keeps in contacts with US lawyers who have brought a lawsuit against chemical companies in that country.
With that purpose, the group demanded all social sectors to contribute to the fund allocated to help those people and make procedures easier with their US legal representatives.
They also demanded official support by developing formalities that take into account poison consequences in dioxin victims.
Shambo is confirmed killed by lethal injection
By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS
London : Welsh authorities Friday confirmed that the bovine TB-infected 'sacred' bull Shambo was put down by a lethal injection soon after it was taken from the Skanda Vale temple Thursday night.
In a joint statement with the police, the Welsh Assembly Government said it had been "an extremely difficult operation for all concerned". The animal's slaughter brings to an end what many in Britain saw as a bizarre tussle between religion and state.
London : Welsh authorities Friday confirmed that the bovine TB-infected 'sacred' bull Shambo was put down by a lethal injection soon after it was taken from the Skanda Vale temple Thursday night.
In a joint statement with the police, the Welsh Assembly Government said it had been "an extremely difficult operation for all concerned". The animal's slaughter brings to an end what many in Britain saw as a bizarre tussle between religion and state.
US Army to expand by 22,000 soldiers: Gates
By DPA,
Washington : US Defence Secretary Robert Gates announced plans Monday to temporarily increase the army by 22,000 troopers over the next three years.
The boost was needed because of the strain that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have placed on the military. The move would increase the current size of 547,000 active duty soldiers to 569,000.
"This is an important and necessary step to ensure that we continue to properly support the needs of our commanders in the field while providing relief for our current force and their families," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.
Ending conflicts must remain priority for UN and African Union : Ban
By APP,
United Nations : Preventing and resolving conflicts peacefully must remain high on the shared agenda of the U.N. and the African Union, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a high-level Security Council meeting today.
In a speech to a meeting on peace and security in Africa, attended by many heads of State and other high-level figures, Ban called for deeper cooperation between the two institutions.
He said he would “spare no effort” in making the partnership between the UN and the AU complementary, effective and inclusive.
Nepal government fails to find slain king’s legendary wealth
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : He was fabled to be as rich as Croesus, the ancient king whose wealth was legendary. But Nepal's King Birendra, who was massacred along with his entire family in the tightly guarded royal palace here six years ago, apparently had only about 35,000 pounds.
At least that is what the government has been able to ferret out almost two years after toiling to gauge the extent of the slain king's riches.
Nepal ignores Bardot’s plea to halt animal slaughter
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's coalition government has turned a deaf ear to urgent pleas by celebrated French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot to prevent the slaughter of thousands of birds and animals at a religious fair in the Terai plains next week.
World’s oldest champagne found in Baltic Sea
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A Swedish diver may have found the world's oldest drinkable sparkling wine when he recovered several bottles of champagne amid the wreckage of a 230-year-old ship in the Baltic Sea, Swedish and Finnish media reported.
Fishermen of Finland's Aland archipelago told Christian Ekstrom of the sunken ship several years ago, but the diver thought the vessel was too small and not worth the risk of a 55-metre dive. He, however, became interested in the ship later and made a dive earlier this week.
NATO urges Russia not to escalate tensions in Ukraine
Brussels: NATO Thursday urged Russia not to take any action which could escalate tension or create misunderstanding in Ukraine.
"NATO has a long-standing partnership with...
Police offers ‘arrest service’ to criminals in Chinese province
By IANS,
Beijing : Police in a Chinese province has drawn public criticism for calling on criminals to dial-free hotline to turn themselves in for family reunion, the Shanghai Daily reported.
Four bomb attacks rock Ukraine
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : At least 14 people were injured in four successive bomb attacks that took place Friday in Ukraine's Dnepropetrovsk city.
Two UN employees abducted in Karachi
Islamabad: Unidentified gunmen kidnapped two local employees of the UN in Pakistan's port city of Karachi late Friday, police said.
The gunmen abducted the employees...
US, Israel concerned, disappointed over Lakhvi’s release
New Delhi/Washington: The US and Israel have expressed concern and disappointment over the release of 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi from...
4 in 10 Voters Undecided on Presidential Vote
By SPA,
Washington : More than four in 10 U.S. voters are still unsure of which presidential candidate they favor, three months before polls open in November, according to a new poll.
Forty-three percent of registered voters have not made final decisions on whom to support, according to the Associated Press-Ipsos poll. The figure includes 15 percent who leaning towards Democratic Senator Barack Obama or say they support him but could change their minds. Another 16 percent say they generally favor McCain, 4 percent favor third-party candidates Ralph Nader or Bob Barr.
French, Colombian Presidents to discuss hostage issue
By KUNA
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to receive later Monday Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to discuss, in particular, the ongoing issue of the Franco-Colombian hostage, Ingrid Betancourt, held since 2002 by leftist Colombian guerrillas.
Official sources at Sarkozys office announced the two men will meet late Monday morning to discuss the difficult issue.
Rice to visit Georgia, Russians not moving out
By DPA,
Tbilisi : US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was en route to Tbilisi Friday, as Russia's military continued to occupy two Georgian provinces despite a ceasefire agreement obliging them to leave.
Rice was set to meet with members of the Georgian leadership to discuss the implementation of a ceasefire plan for the region, and humanitarian aid to Georgia being delivered by the US Air Force and Navy.
With just 3 weeks to go, Obama takes 8 point lead over McCain
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : With Americans worried about the global financial turmoil, Democrat Barack Obama has taken an 8-point lead over Republican rival John McCain just three weeks before the Nov 4 presidential election, polls show.
A new CNN poll of polls, comprised of six recently released surveys, ties the largest lead Obama has held over McCain this election cycle, and suggests the Republican presidential hopeful faces an increasingly difficult task to turn around voter sentiment by Election Day.
Boko Haram claims responsibility for Nigerian schoolgirls abduction
Abuja : The Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram Monday claimed responsibility for the abduction of schoolgirls in the northeast region of Nigeria, a...
Girl, 10, does a Usain Bolt to catch thieves
By IANS,
London : A 10-year-old girl in Britain helped police catch two handbag thieves Friday chasing them down just minutes after winning a sprint race at her school's sports day.
Colombian army seizes nearly two tonnes of cocaine
By IANS/EFE,
Bogota : Colombian security forces have seized nearly two tonnes of cocaine in an operation in northwestern part of the country, officials said.
Troops seized 1,786 kilograms of cocaine near the town of Puerto Escondido in Cordoba province Tuesday, the army said in a statement.
The cocaine belonged to rightwing militia group Black Eagles that was demobilised in 2006 as part of a peace process with the government.
The military said the consignment was ready for shipment. No arrests were made in connection with the seizure so far.
Cuba Seeks Changes in UN Security Council
By Prensa Latina
United Nations : Cuba reiterated on Friday that a true UN reform will be impossible without changes in the Security Council, based on a broad, comprehensive approach.
Speaking before the working group of the UN General Assembly to discuss the reform of the world body, Cuban Ambassador Rodrigo Malmierca reiterated the full cooperation of his delegation in this regard, which is a priority of the current 62nd period of sessions of the UN.
President Gayoom denied seventh term in Maldives election
By DPA,
Male/Colombo : Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has been defeated in the presidential elections ending his record as one of Asia's longest-serving leaders, officials in Male said Wednesday.
In Tuesday's run-off election, Gayoom, 71, was denied a seventh consecutive term and will be succeeded by Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed, a 41-year-old activist, who was once imprisoned by Gayoom's government.
EU wants fair trail for Sri Lanka detainees
By IANS,
Colombo: The European Union (EU) Sunday called for a fair trial for suspected Tamil Tiger rebels held in Sri Lankan prisons.
One in five marriages end in divorce in China
By IANS,
Beijing : One in every five marriages in China ends in divorce, with the rate "likely to soar" in coming years, an official report said.
The report released by China's ministry of civil affairs said 24.2 million people in the country tied the knot in 2009 and there were over 2.4 million registered divorces.
The divorce rate - the number of divorces per 1,000 people - was about 1.85 on the Chinese mainland in 2009, compared with 1.71 per 1,000 in 2008.
Money pours in for Myanmar, which creaks open door
By DPA,
New York : Money poured into the UN to help Myanmar recover from the cyclone disaster while the military government creaked open the door slightly for aid deliveries.
International aid organisations have, however, warned that diphtheria, cholera and malaria could spread in an epidemic of "apocalyptic proportions" if medical, food, water and other types of aid are not allowed to land, along with trained personnel to administer the support.
‘Even microbes at risk from climate change’
By IANS,
Washington : Not just humans, climate change will also impact the microscopic world of bacteria, fungi and other microbial populations that support life on Earth.
“Microbes perform a number of critical functions for ecosystems ... we are only starting to understand the impact that global climate change is having on them,” said Kathleen Treseder of the University of California.
Treseder studied the effect of rising temperatures and fungi on carbon stores in Alaskan boreal forests, one area of the globe that is experiencing greater warming than others.
Sarkozy visits town of 1,600 – accompanied by 700 policemen
By DPA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy, angered by protest incidents in the past, is now paying visits to local communities with protection provided by hundreds of police and gendarmes, officials confirmed Thursday.
A visit to the Loire valley town of Daumeray with a population of 1,600, took place with 700 police providing security, the gendarme office in Angers said.
Sarkozy visited a farm there, where he made remarks about modernisation taking place in French agriculture.
Chavez returns home after cancer surgery
By IANS,
Caracas : Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on his Twitter account Monday that he has returned home after a two-month cancer treatment in Cuba.
Will growing seagrass beds bring back rare sea cows to Chilika?
By Jatindra Dash, IANS,
Chilika (Orissa): Wild life experts are hoping the highly endangered dugong or sea cow could again come visiting Orissa's Chilika Lake, thanks to the expanding beds of sea grass growing in the shallow waters - a critical requirement for the big marine animal.
Seagrass meadows are the only marine flowering plants found in shallow waters. They serve as spawning and nursery grounds for a large numbers of fish and invertebrate species, and provide a critical habitat for dugongs and turtles.
Congress boosts jobless benefits as claims hit 16-year high
By DPA,
Washington : The US Congress agreed Thursday to extend unemployment benefits, a small portion of the massive fiscal stimulus sought by some Democrats, as the government said jobless claims hit a 16-year high last week.
A $6-billion measure to extend benefits by at least seven weeks was passed by the Senate in a voice vote after the lower House of Representatives passed the same bill in October. The total time that unemployed can receive benefits varies by state, but is typically 26 weeks.
Beckham to open restaurant with Ramsay
By IANS,
Los Angeles: Footballer David Beckham has revealed his plans to open up a restaurant in London with his friend TV chef Gordon Ramsay.
Greek finance minister resigns
Athens: Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis on Monday announced his resignation in a statement issued after his compatriots voted "No" in a referendum on...
China to bring 3rd generation n-reactors to service in 2013
By IANS,
Beijing: China will bring third generation nuclear reactors to service in 2013, a top Chinese nuclear company official has said.
U.S. Welcomes Kenya Power-Sharing Deal
By SPA
Washington : The United States welcomed a power-sharing agreement signed by rival Kenyan leaders on Thursday that seeks to end post-election violence that killed 1,000 people, but said much depends on the deal’s implementation.
“That’s an important and very positive step forward,” State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said of the deal signed by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Alps-like mountains found buried under Antarctic ice-sheet
By IANS,
Washington : Flying twin-engine light aircraft, logging an equivalent of several trips around the globe, scientists have not only verified the presence of a huge mountain range, buried under more than four km of ice, but also has created a detailed picture of the rugged landscape.
"Working cooperatively in some of the harshest conditions imaginable, all the while working in temperatures that averaged minus 30 degrees Celsius, our seven-nation team has produced detailed images of the last unexplored mountain range on Earth," said Michael Studinger.
US bans its doctors from travelling to Cuba
By Prensa Latina,
Havana : The US government has banned its doctors from participating in the 20th International Congress on Orthopaedics and Traumatology, which started Tuesday in the northeastern Cuban city of Bayamo.
"This decision is a new example of the validity of the US blockade against Cuba, that has been in force for almost 50 years," Cuban orthopaedist and Congress President Rodrigo �lvarez Cambras said.
At least 30 US specialists expressed their interest in participating in the Congress, but Washington denied them the permission to travel, he said.
Modi Not Welcome over shadows PM’s visit to Britain
By Raqib Hameed Naik and A Misrab, TwoCircles.net,
London: Narendra Modi's first visit to the UK has been marred by...
The less you sit the longer you live
By IANS,
Washington: Restricting the time you are seated to less than three hours daily might boost your life expectancy by two years, says an analytical study.
Sikh motorcyclist in Canada challenges helmet verdict
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS
Toronto : A Sikh motorcyclist has challenged a lower court verdict upholding the Ontario Highway Traffic Act that forbids him from driving without a helmet in Canada's largest province.
Brampton-based Baljinder Singh Badesha, 39, had challenged the helmet rule in court after he was fined $110 for driving his motorcycle without helmet in 2005.
He argued that the rule discriminated against him on religious grounds as his Sikh faith does not allow him to wear a helmet over his turban.
Indians in Berlin protest against Citizenship Amendment Act
By Najiya O, TwoCircles.net
In solidarity with the widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in India, the international community is also protesting against the...
Sudanese plane hijackers surrender in Libya: Report
By DPA,
Tripoli : Two men who hijacked a Sudanese plane in Darfur and forced it to fly to Libya have surrendered to the authorities there, Libyan state television reported Wednesday.
The two hijackers earlier released all 87 passengers but kept six of the crew hostage, according to the television.
The hijackers, members of a splinter group of the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA), had demanded the Boeing 737 be refuelled and allowed to leave for Paris.
N. Korea to discuss sale of unused nuclear rods to S. Korea
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : For the first time since South Korea's conservative government came to power, an official delegation will visit North Korea to discuss the sale of unspent nuclear fuel rods, Yonhap reported on Tuesday.
The visit is part of talks involving six countries - the two Koreas, the U.S., Russia, China and Japan - under a deal providing fuel and economic incentives to North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang giving details of its nuclear program and disabling its atomic facilities. The process recently came to a halt amid diplomatic wrangling.
UN climate chief sounds more upbeat as summit enters final phase
By Joydeep Gupta, IANS,
Poznan (Poland) : Though issues of financing developing countries or transferring technologies to help them combat global warming remained unresolved as the Dec 1-12 climate change summit entered its final phase Wednesday night, the UN's climate chief was upbeat about what had been achieved.
Over 3,000 negotiators from 186 countries struggled throughout Wednesday to agree on text that they could pass on to the ministers arriving for the "high-level segment" Thursday and Friday.
Historic cancer study project launched in Canada
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : In one of the biggest cancer research projects ever undertaken in the world, Canada has launched a $100 million long-term study called The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project to know how genetics, the environment, lifestyle and behaviour contribute to the development of the deadly disease.
Cancer is the second biggest killer in Canada, causing nearly 70,000 deaths in 2004 in this nation of 32 millions. In fact, cancer deaths will soon surpass deaths caused by heart ailments, says Statistics Canada.
Exit monarchy, but long live the king in Bhutan
By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Thimphu : Bhutan's century old monarchy may be on the way out, but the 28-year-old king will continue to wield considerable influence in shaping his Himalayan nation's future policies if the results of the historic parliamentary election this week are any guide.
Unwavering allegiance to the institution of monarchy, despite the revolutionary changes towards parliamentary democracy that it brought about, and total faith in the king's policies could be among the main reasons for the landslide win of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) in the elections.
Strong aftershock jolts quake-ravaged China province
By Xinhua,
Beijing : A strong aftershock, measuring 6 on the Richter scale, jolted Jiangyou city of southwest China's Sichuan province at 1.08 a.m. Sunday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.
The epicenter of the latest temblor was located 32.1 degrees north latitude and 105 degrees east longitude, it said.
Jiangyou, a city in north Sichuan, is situated near Beichuan county and Mianyang city, places hardest hit by Monday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake.
African development conference opens in Japan
By Xinhua,
Yokohama (Japan) : Leaders from some 40 African countries Wednesday started their three-day discussions here on a sustained growth and long-term development for the African continent.
The Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) will focus on boosting economic growth, ensuring human security and addressing environment and climate change issues in Africa.
"What we are about to do now is to open a new stage, called the "century of African growth", said Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in his opening speech at the meeting Wednesday.
Nepal’s political uncertainty casts shadow on Saarc Summit
By IANS,
New Delhi : The political instability in Nepal that has prevented a decision on the next prime minister of the country, has cast a shadow over the forthcoming Saarc Summit scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka Aug 2-3.
The Saarc charter categorically states that unless heads of governments of all the member countries are present, the summit will not be held.
"We are going ahead with all the arrangements and hoping that the political uncertainty in Nepal will be resolved by the time of the summit," a senior Sri Lankan government official in Delhi told IANS Friday.
Russia FM Criticizes EU Security
By Prensa Latina,
Moscow : The European security system in force after World War II is now inefficient, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday.
"The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is not up to the challenges and threats of the 21st century, in fact it continues collapsing", said the head of Russian diplomacy.
Lavrov said that the recent conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia confirmed the need to update the current system.
UN Security Council to vote on Iran sanctions
By DPA,
New York : The UN Security Council plans to vote Wednesday on a draft resolution that proposes additional sanctions against Iran for its advanced uranium enrichment activities, the council president said.
The council's decision was taken Tuesday during a closed-door session that let its 15 members debate the details of the revised draft submitted by the United States, which has the support of Russia, China, France and Britain.
Canada not to renew bid for UN Security Council seat
By IANS,
Ottawa : Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird has said that his government would not renew its bid for a two-year temporary seat at the UN Security Council.
McCain congratulates Obama for Democratic nomination
By IANS,
Washington : Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain put out an unusual TV ad congratulating Democratic rival Barack Obama instead of attacking him on his historic nomination.
"Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America," McCain says, looking directly into the camera. "Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed. So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations."
Two mummies found in Peru
By EFE,
Lima : Two mummies, dating back to around 1,460 A.D., were found near an archaeological site in northern Peruvian province of Amazonas.
"The tombs had been plundered, but one of the mummies was fully intact," said Maria Dolores Ramos, an official in charge of culture and tourism.
The discovery was made at a place opposite the Karajia archaeological complex in Luya Viejo district, the official said.
War on LTTE enters decisive stage after fall of Kilinochchi
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : The fall of Kilinochchi, the Tamil Tigers' political and administrative hub for the past decade, has dealt a devastating blow to the rebels - militarily and psychologically - confining them to their last bastion of the jungle district of Mullaitivu, where the fighting has now begun to rage.
With their backs to the wall, the question is how long the rebels will be able to fight the determined advancing government troops.
Lunch breaks not must for British workers
By IANS,
London : Nearly half of the British workers skip lunch, which is far more than employees doing in other countries, a new survey has found.
Hitler’s bedsheets up for auction
By IANS,
London : Adolf Hitler's bedsheets are expected to fetch up to 3,000 pounds when they go up for auction next week.
Six civilians killed by claymore mine: LTTE
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas said Tuesday that six civilians including two children were killed when a claymore mine exploded deep inside the rebel-held territory.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) accused the "Deep Penetration Unit" of the Sri Lankan military for the Monday evening attack in the Wanni region.
The LTTE Peace Secretariat said in an email statement from Wanni that the blast occurred on the Oddusuddan Road in Mankulam at 8.00 p.m. Monday. It also wounded four people including three children.
Israeli settlement activities illegal: UN chief
By IANS,
Sirte (Libya): UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Saturday Israeli settlement activities in East Jerusalem are illegal and against the international law, Xinhua reported.
In a speech at the opening session of the 22nd Arab Summit, the UN chief said the significance of Jerusalem should be respected as a capital for both Israel and the future Palestinian state.
"Whatever our concerns, there is no alternative to negotiations for a two-state solution," Ban said.
Indonesia Proposes International Meeting On Food Crisis To Un
By Bernama,
Jakarta : Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has proposed to the United Nations a high level meeting to discuss the food crisis facing the world today, Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.
The president's proposal was revealed by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda after receiving his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt here on Monday.
"The President has proposed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon a high level meeting in response to the development of food crisis in the world today," the foreign minister said.
Mass migration a post-Cold War threat: ex-British minister
By IANS,
London : A former British cabinet minister says mass migration is among the biggest post-Cold War “threats” facing Britain - along with terrorism and crime.
"Forty years ago, the Cold War meant that the borders were inviolate, extremist religious groups and ethnic tensions were suppressed, there was no internet and travel was difficult,” former Labour home minister John Reid said.
Sri Lanka military: Fighting kills 35 Tamil rebels
By SPA
Colombo, Sri Lanka : Battles between government troops and Tamil Tiger fighters killed 35 rebels and one soldier along the front lines in northern Sri Lanka, the military said Saturday.
Soldiers destroyed three rebel bunkers and killed 12 guerrillas Friday in the Mannar district, southwest of the rebels' northern headquarters, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara. One soldier was wounded in the fighting, he said.
Russian ‘killer of aircraft carriers’ starts drills in Pacific
By RIA Novosti,
Vladivostok : The Varyag, a Russian Slava-class missile cruiser dubbed 'the killer of aircraft carriers,' has started a series of live-firing exercises in the Pacific for the first time since a recent overhaul, a fleet spokesman said Monday.
Varyag, the flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, was commissioned in Russia's Pacific Fleet in 1989 and re-entered service in early 2008 following a major refit that lasted almost a year.
‘Doubters of human-caused climate change lack expertise’
By IANS,
Washington: Scientists who are not convinced that human beings have contributed significantly to climate change have far less expertise and prominence in climate research than peers who are convinced, says a new study.
In a quantitative assessment - the first of its kind to address this issue - a Stanford University team analysed the number of research papers published by more than 900 climate researchers and the number of times their work was cited by other scientists.
Argentina swine flu toll rises to 465
By EFE,
Buenos Aires : The number of people to die of swine flu in Argentina has risen to 465, the health ministry said in a report.
Till date, 8,240 people have been infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus, also called swine flu, in the country, the report said Friday.
Earlier in July, the health authorities had put restrictions on business and public activities in the country due to the swine flu outbreak.
The fatalities from the disease have decreased since June 26 and the most recent death was reported Aug 20, the report said.
Sri Lankan diplomat who advocated power sharing is sacked
By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS,
New Delhi: One of Sri Lanka's most outspoken diplomats who consistently argued for devolution of power to the country's minorities has been sacked by Colombo.
In one of the most significant developments since the Tamil Tigers were decimated in May, Dayan Jayatilleka, Sri Lanka's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, has been told to go home by Aug 20.
No reason has been given to Jayatilleka, 52, for the sudden decision. But his friends have told him that his fate has chiefly been decided by Sinhalese hardliners unhappy with his political views.
Train-bus collision kills 10 in Slovakia
By Xinhua,
Prague : At least 10 people were killed and 20 others injured Saturday when a train collided with a bus carrying 35 people at a railway crossing in central Slovakia.
The accident occurred at about 9 a.m. (0800 GMT) Saturday near Brezno town in central Slovakia, the country's state-run TASR news agency said.
Seven killed as train derails in Italy
By IANS/AKI,
Merano (Italy) : At least seven people were killed and dozens injured Monday when a train derailed in northern Italy.
Investigators said a landslide may have caused the accident, which occurred at 9.05 a.m. on the Val Venosta line near the town of Merano in the Trentino-Alto Adige region.
Workers from Italy's civil protection agency set up a field hospital, and paramilitary carabinieri police, ambulance teams and rescue workers were administering first aid to "a large number" of injured passengers.
Pentagon security fortified since 9/11: report
By Xinhua
Washington : Security changes wrought by the 9/11 terror attacks have transformed the Pentagon building into a "fortress", the Washington Post reported.
A burgeoning police force has been given state-of-the-art capabilities to protect against a chemical, biological or radiological attack, according to the report published Sunday.
Stricter access is being imposed, with fewer vehicles able to drive or park close to the building. Structural improvements allow the building to better withstand blast and fire.
New line-up of European Commission announced
Brussels : European Commission president-elect Jean Claude Juncker announced a new line-up of the European Commission Wednesday, with politicians from Britain, Germany, France, Sweden...
Bhutan MP recovers in Kolkata hospital
By IANS,
Kolkata: Bhutan MP Ugen Tenzing, admitted to a private hospital here after an arrow struck him on the head, has been operated upon and is recovering, the attending doctor said.
Tenzing was brought to Kolkata by a special flight from Bhutan Monday with the arrowhead still stuck in his head, and admitted to the Medical Institute of Neurological Diseases (MIND).
"He has been operated upon and right now his condition is better. He can talk but in a low voice. He got the injury while practising archery with some friends," said attending doctor L.N. Tripathi.
Creditor banks agree to JAL bankruptcy proceedings
By DPA,
Tokyo : The creditor banks of indebted Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) have abandoned their opposition to state-led bankruptcy proceedings.
Mizuho Corporate Bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking as well as the Development Bank of Japan had officially accepted the court-led restructuring plan, the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported Thursday.
The state-owned Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp (ETIC), which is tasked with rescuing the airline, could now put forward a restructuring plan for JAL, planned for Tuesday.
Beyonce top winner at Grammy’s with six awards
By IANS,
Los Angeles : Pop diva Beyonce Knowles took home six golden gramophones at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards and became the top winner at the star-studded event.
The singer was nominated in 10 categories and won six including song of the year, best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance awards for the song "Single Ladies" (Put A Ring On It).
American rock band Kings of Leon and teenage singing sensation Taylor Swift were the other top grabbers at the Grammys, the most prestigious event of the music industry that was held at Staples Centre Sunday.
Jain convention in New Jersey draws thousands
By Parveen Chopra, IANSÂ
Edison City (New Jersey) : Over 5,000 people attended a huge Jain convention here that brought together several spiritual leaders like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Gurudev Chitrabhanu and yoga guru Swami Ramdev.
Ronald Reagan monument unveiled in Georgia
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Tbilisi : A monument to former US president Ronald Reagan has been unveiled in Tbilisi, the capital and largest city of Georgia.
Myanmar protests into 11th day, world calls to end violence
Yangon, Sep 28 (DPA) Defying a brutal crackdown that has already claimed more than a dozen lives and led to hundreds of arrests, thousands of people in this former capital of Myanmar returned to the streets Friday on the 11th day of their protests against the military regime.
But the protests were smaller and less confrontational than those on Wednesday and Thursday, eyewitnesses said.
McCain wins Georgia, projections show
By DPA,
Washington : Republican John McCain has defeated Democrat Barack Obama in the state of Georgia, according to projections by the television networks Fox News and MSNBC Tuesday.
The projections for the battleground state with 15 electoral votes were based on exit polls and early returns in balloting Tuesday.
Obama campaign strongly in Georgia in an effort to steal the state which is solid Republican ground, but McCain managed to keep it in his camp.
Prabhakaran’s parents in government custody
By IANS,
Colombo : The parents of the now dead Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran are in the "protective custody" of the Sri Lankan government, a media report said Thursday.
Thiruvenkatam Velupillai (76) and his wife Parvathi (71) surrendered to the army several days ago, The Island newspaper quoted a government official as saying.
They were reportedly among the civilians holed up in the no fire zone along the coast in Mullaitivu district before the army launched its final assault against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Four dead in knife attack at China kindergarten
By DPA,
Beijing : At least four children died and 12 stabbed in an attack at a kindergarten in eastern China's Shandong province, reports said Wednesday.
The attacker, who was armed with a knife, burst into the unnamed kindergarten in Shandong's Zibo city Tuesday afternoon, the Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy quoted a local police official as saying.
The attacker later surrendered to police, Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao reported.
Mexico raises minimum wage
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Mexico has approved an average minimum wage hike of 4.2 percent, or about 2.51 pesos ($0.18) per day, a measure that will go into effect starting Jan 1.
Sri Lankan President vows to crush terrorism
By KUNA,
New Delhi : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Tuesday vowed to continue his government's military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a day after a powerful explosion rocked through a train coach near the capital killing nine civilians.
"Sri Lankan government and I are determined to defeat terrorism. There will be no let up in the battle against the menace because of the attacks by the LTTE," Rajapaksa told heads of the country's media houses at Colombo today, news agency Indo Asian News Service reported.
Georgian leader for probing US role in ‘rose revolution’
By RIA Novosti,
Tbilisi : The head of Georgia's Labour party urged Washington to investigate the involvement of some US officials in "bankrolling" Georgia's "rose revolution" in 2003, a report said.
Labour Party leader Shalva Natelashvili urged the US government to appoint a special prosecutor. He said that the prosecutor should look into the role of US "officials and public figures who masterminded and financed the 'rose revolution'," the report said Tuesday.
He said he hoped "the present US administration will punish those who have hurt Georgia by importing a coup."
Dalai Lama ‘disappointed’ by Sarkozy, no Paris visit
By DPA,
Paris : Tibetan religious leader the Dalai Lama will not attend a planned meeting of Nobel Prize recipients in Paris out of "disappointment" with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, French media reported Sunday.
"No visit is planned. There had never been any official invitation," Matthieu Ricard, a spokesman for the Dalai Lama, was quoted by the weekly Journal du Dimanche as saying.
Suspected bird flu patient dies in China
By Xinhua
Guangzhou (China) : A 44-year-old woman who was suspected of having bird flu died Monday in the southern province of Guangdong in China, the provincial health department said.
The woman was diagnosed as having pneumonia of unknown type and died at 9:25 a.m. after all treatment measures failed, it said.
The woman, a migrant worker, was found to have had contact with poultry that had died of bird flu. She had developed symptoms of fever and a cough since Feb 16 and was hospitalised last Friday in Haifeng county of Shanwei city in south China.
Protesters shut down oil pipeline in Peru
By IANS,
Lima : Hundreds of people Monday took over an oil station in Peru's Amazon region to protest the government's decision to implement a trade accord with the US, Spain's EFE news agency reported.
The head of the Interethnic Association for Development of the Peruvian Jungle, Alberto Pizango, said that some 800 Indians peacefully took over an oil-pump operated by the state-owned Petroperu in Loreto province.
Pizango said the group also took control of a section of the Camisea gas reserve in the southeastern province of Cuzco.
Sri Lankan Tamil separatists hail Kosovo’s independence declaration
By IRNA
New Delhi : Separatist Sri Lankan Tamils have hailed the emergence of an independent Kosovo with Western support, saying it augurs well for the liberation of "oppressed" minorities like the Tamils of northeast Sri Lanka.
Ukrainian man opens museum of brown elves
By IANS,
Kiev : A Ukrainian farmer has opened a museum featuring brownies - a tiny, good-natured brown elf in folklore who secretly helps at night with household chores.
Crimea votes ‘yes’ to reunification with Russia in referendum
Simferopol (Ukraine): Crimeans voted overwhelmingly to reunify with Russia, according to preliminary results from the controversial referendum held Sunday in the Crimean Peninsula, which...
Kosovo leaders call on UN, NATO to “restore order” in Serbian north
By SPA
Pristina : Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci on Friday asked the United Nations and NATO to impose order in the tense, Serb-dominated north of Kosovo, according to DPA.
Thaci, with President Fatmir Sjediu, asked the UN administrator in Kosovo, Joachim Ruecker, to "urgently impose law and order" in the hotspot town Mitrovica.
The two Kosovo leaders were to meet the NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, scheduled to arrive later Friday for his first visit to Kosovo after the province declared independence.
Bomb Blast in east Beirut, four killed
By Xinhua
Beirut : A bomb blast occurred Wednesday afternoon in Christian suburb east of Beirut, Lebanese TV reported.
The report said that four people were killed in the explosion in the Sin el-Fil district, a Christian suburb in east Beirut.
The cause of the blast was not immediately known.
The TV station reported that the loud explosion sent a cloud of smoke over the entire area.
In the last two years, Lebanon has been hit by a spate of mysterious bombings, the last of which killed Lebanese Parliament member Walid Eido on June 13.
Two killed, 20 injured in day’s second blast in Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Colombo : At least two people were killed and 20 more wounded when a bomb went off inside a private transport bus in the central Kandy district, Friday, the military said here. Another blast Friday morning in a bus near Colombo killed at least 21.
Military sources said that the explosion, suspected to be the handiwork of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), occurred inside a bus from Waththegama to Kandy, when it was near a teachers' training school in Polgolla, about 12 km north of Kandy.
Sikhs students allowesd to carry small daggers to school
By NNN-Bernama
Melbourne : Sikh students would be allowed to carry small daggers to school under a plan that has outraged teachers and principals, a report said.
A Victorian parliamentary committee inquiry into uniforms found all schools should accommodate clothing or other items that are religiously significant, including the hijab in state schools.
Quake rattles Indonesian province
By IANS,
Jakarta : A quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale Sunday rocked Indonesia's Aceh province but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
McCain faces uphill battle in key states as Obama surges ahead
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : As the US presidential race enters the last three weeks, a string of new state polls show Republican John McCain facing an uphill battle against Democrat Barack Obama in several key battlegrounds.
A New York Times/CBS News poll released Tuesday found that if the election were held today, 53 percent of those determined to be probable voters said they would vote for Obama and 39 percent said they would vote for McCain.
Russia starts testing anti-swine flu vaccine
By RIA Novosti,
St. Petersburg (Russia) : Russian researchers Thursday said they have begun clinical testing of a swine flu vaccine in the northwestern city of St. Petersburg.
"Today we are starting research to evaluate the safety and efficiency of a live viral vaccine," said Marina Stukova, chief researcher for molecular virology and gene engineering at the Influenza Research Institute in St. Petersburg.
The institute had received the A/H1N1 strain for vaccine research from the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 12.
Sexually-oriented ads quite a turn-off for Asians
By IANS,
Sydney : Sexual content in ads can be quite a turn-off for Asian audiences, specially women, says a new study.
Sukanlaya Sawang from Queensland University of Technology's (QUT) School of Management, specialising in cross-cultural research, surveyed 78 people from three cultural backgrounds - male and female Caucasian Americans, American-born Asians, and Asian-born people visiting the US - in the US.
The findings indicated ads with sexual content would not "work" for women in Asia.
Hindraf leaders’ wives oppose anti-government rally
By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : The wives of four detained Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders in Malaysia have urged their supporters and well-wishers to stop public protests against the government as it may jeopardise chances of the four leaders' release.
The wives of the four leaders were reacting to an SMS campaign asking ethnic Indians to gather outside the home affairs ministry Monday as a sign of protest against the Hindraf leaders' detention.
Ban on religious charms at Trinidad school upsets Hindus
By Paras Ramoutar, IANS
Port-of-Spain : A ban on Hindu students wearing a 'raksha' (religious charm) after the festival of Shivaratri at a school in Trinidad has upset the Hindu community in the Caribbean nation.
Students of the Cunupia High School in Central Trinidad were recently told by security guards to remove the raksha tied to their wrists, causing much consternation among them.
UN special envoy Gambari meets Suu Kyi in Myanmar
By Xinhua
Yangon : Visiting United Nations Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari met Aung San Suu Kyi, detained leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), here Thursday, the sixth day of the envoy's visit to Myanmar, according to diplomatic sources.
Gambari, who is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Myanmar, met the NLD general secretary after travelling back from the new capital of Naypyidaw.
No details about their meeting were immediately available.
45 missing as boat capsizes in Nepal
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : At least 45 people were reported missing after a boat capsized in a river in southwestern Nepal Sunday morning, media reports said.
The incident occurred in the Saptakoshi river in Sunsari district, some 220 km from Kathmandu, according to the Avenues TV.
The police have recovered one body so far while 11 people swam to safety following the accident, the Myrepublica.com online news portal said, quoting police sources.
Local people and police have been searching for more survivors, but the efforts have been hampered by dense fog in the region.
Kenya mobile firms switch off 1.5mn fake handsets
By IANS,
Nairobi : Kenyan mobile phone firms have said they have switched off 1.5 million fake handsets.
Abdul Hamid sworn in Bangladesh’s new president
By IANS,
Dhaka: Elected unopposed, Abudl Hamid was sworn in as Bangladesh's new president Wednesday evening at the Bangabhaban presidential palace.
Russia may treat child adoption for cash as trafficking
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Adoption of children involving payments will be considered by Russia as trafficking, according to a new bill debated in parliament.
Dams spur more invasions by new species: study
By IANS,
Washington : The growing number of dams is increasing the number of invasive species and the speed with which they spread, threatening natural lakes, said a study.
The team led by Colorado University looked at data from 4,200 lakes and more than 1,000 impoundments across Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. Besides, more than 80,000 large dams and some 2.5 million smaller impoundments sit across the US, the study said.
Facebook faces action over ’emotion contagion’ study
Washington: US privacy group Electronic Privacy Information Centre (EPIC) has filed a formal complaint with the Federate Trade Commission (FTC) over Facebook's use of...
US citizens in Australia warned of terror attack
Canberra : The first security alert to American citizens in Australia over a probable terror attack has been issued , media reported on Friday.
The...
2 moderate earthquakes hit northern Philippines
By Xinhua,
Manila : Two moderate earthquakes hit northern Philippines before dawn Wednesday without causing casualty or damage, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
A magnitude-4.8 quake was recorded at 5:48 a.m. local time (2148 GMT Tuesday) in Dinapigui town in Isabela province. The quake was tectonic in origin and its epicenter was 21 kilometers northeast of Dinapigui, said Phivolcs.
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