Obama praises South Africa for dismantling N-weapons
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama Sunday praised South Africa for voluntarily dismantling its nuclear weapons programme as he met with South African President Jacob Zuma on the eve of a major summit on nuclear terrorism.
It was the first meeting between the two leaders in Washington since Zuma's 2009 election.
Obama used the opportunity to outline the goals of the summit Monday and Tuesday, which is drawing 38 leaders and top officials from another nine countries.
Pashupatinath row: Koirala asks Maoists to reinstate Indian priests
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : The unprecedented row at Nepal's revered Pashupatinath temple has put Nepal's Maoist government under mounting pressure with former prime minister and current opposition leader Girija Prasad Koirala Monday asking for the reinstatement of the ousted Indian priests.
Koirala, regarded as the architect of the peace agreement that ended Nepal's 10-year Maoist insurgency and helped the guerrillas return to mainstream politics, Monday met Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
Ebola toll nears 7,000 in West Africa
Washington : The number of Ebola-related deaths has reached around 6,900 in the three most affected countries in West Africa --Sierra Leone, Liberia and...
Simpson criticised over daughter’s bikini dress
By IANS,
Los Angeles: Singer Jessica Simpson has been criticised by British charity Kidscape for dressing her four-month-old daughter Maxwell in a bikini.
Castro’s resignation should launch democratic transition: Bush
By DPA
Buenos Aires/Kigali(Rwanda) : US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that the decision by Cuban leader Fidel Castro to step down from power "should be the beginning of a democratic transition" on the communist-ruled island just miles off the coast of Miami.
Bush was asked, in a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda, during his six-day African tour, what he thought the latest news on Castro meant for US policy.
"The question really should be what does this mean for the people in Cuba," he countered.
African Union chief mediates in Kenya crisis
By DPA
Nairobi : Ghanaian President and current African Union (AU) Chairman John Kufuor began Wednesday mediation efforts in Kenya between rival political factions at odds since the disputed Dec 27 presidential elections.
Kufuor met with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and was scheduled to meet later with opposition leader Raila Odinga, who has rejected Kibaki's re-election.
Five dead in Guatemala landslide
By IANS/EFE,
Guatemala City : At least five people including three minors were killed in a landslide in Guatemala.
The accident occurred on the outskirts of the Guatemalan capital in an area of loose ground which shifted when the people walked over it, causing the landslide that trapped the victims, an official spokesman said Thursday.
What’s there in a name? Some embarrassment and debate
By IANS,
London : One can only speculate if poet William Wordsworth was proud of the name of the town he was born in: Cockermouth. An estate agent in Dorset certainly isn't and his advertisements conveniently don't mention where the properties are: Shitterton.
In the people's domain in Britain there is a debate on the legacies of the past, particularly when it comes to naming towns and villages.
Climatic changes hastened death of ancient empires
By IANS,
Washington : Unfavourable climatic changes might have hastened the decline of Roman and Byzantine empires more than 1,400 years ago.
Based on chemical signatures in a piece of calcite from a cave near Jerusalem, a team of American and Israeli geologists pieced together a detailed record of the area's climate from roughly from 200 B.C. to 1100 A.D.
Their analysis reveals increasingly dry weather from 100 A.D. to 700 A.D. that coincided with the fall of both Roman and Byzantine rule in the region.
Russia warns NATO against discrimination
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia's new envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin warned the 26-member alliance Friday that it cannot build its own security by ignoring other's legitimate concers.
"They (NATO countries) should understand that no one's security can be ensured to the detriment of others' safety," Rogozin told the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government daily.
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Thursday appointing Rogozin, an outspoken nationalist and former lawmaker, as Russia's permanent envoy to NATO.
‘Dirty, deadly dozen’ pathogens expand, thanks to climate change
By IANS,
Washington : Health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society have released a report that lists 12 pathogens that could spread into new regions as a result of climate change, potentially impacting human and wildlife health and global economies.
The best defence, according to the report's authors, is a good offence in the form of wildlife monitoring to detect how these diseases are moving so health professionals can learn and prepare to mitigate their impact.
India, China to ‘actively seek political settlement’ of border issue
Beijing : India and China said on Friday that an early settlement of the boundary question should be pursued as a strategic objective and...
Obama Leads US Vote Intentions
By Prensa Latina,
Washington : Democrat candidate to the US Presidency, Barack Obama, leads national vote intentions today.
RealClearPolitics poll holds Obama has 46 percent support against republican John McCain's 41.3 percent.
Obama is supported by key status like Colorado, Virginia, Michigan, Ohio and New Jersey, and new polls added Nevada, New Hampshire, Maine and Washington to the list.
British village blacklisted after postman bitten by fleas
By IANS,
London: Britain's Royal Mail has blacklisted a village after a postman was badly bitten by fleas.
15 killed in Venezuela bus accident
By IANS,
Caracas : At least 15 people were killed and 30 injured in an accident involving three vehicles early Monday in southwest Venezuela, police said.
Holborow is New Zealand’s new envoy to India
By IANS
Auckland : New Zealand Friday named Rupert Holborow, co-director of the Asia division in the foreign ministry, as its new high commissioner to India.
Holborow, also a senior official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) affairs, will be accredited to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal and will take charge in December.
He replaces Graeme Waters, who will return to Wellington.
Gordon Brown is “little tiny dot” on world stage, Mugabe says
By ANTARA News/DPA
Harare/Johannesburg : Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe had sharp words for Prime Minister Gordon Brown after the British leader issued his second call in as many days for the release of results from Zimbabwe`s March 29 elections.
"Brown is the world?" the 84-year-old Zimbabwean leader asked rhetorically following a meeting in Harare with South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Brown is a little tiny dot in this world," he said scathingly.
Court Sentences Abusers during Genoa Summit
By Prensa Latina,
Rome : An Italian court sentenced 15 of 45 defendants involved in abuses and beatings of demonstrators during the G-8 Summit in Genoa to a total of 24 years in prison.
After 12 hours of deliberations, the court of the Italian city of Bolzaneto announced the sentences handed over to the defendants, including riot police officers, prison officials and medical personnel, who were involved in the events that took place in July 2001.
Myanmar sets terms for reconciliation talks
By DPA
Yangon : Myanmar's junta Thursday announced that it was ready to start reconciliation talks with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi if she stopped her "confrontation" tactics and if western sanctions against the country were lifted.
The announcement was made on state-run television by Senior General Than Shwe, who heads the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), as the junta styles itself to be called.
Uruguay begins 10-day football ban
By IANS,
Montevideo: Uruguayan authorities enforced a 10-day nationwide football ban in a bid to stamp out violence on and off the field.
Major developing nations urge cooperative action in addressing climate change
By Xinhua,
Sapporo, Japan : Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa on Tuesday urged the international community to address the challenge of climate change through long-term cooperative action.
The leaders of the five major developing countries met here on the sidelines of the ongoing G8 Summit and issued a joint declaration.
End of an era as Nepal celebrates Republic Day
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : "We will never forget our immortal martyrs," sang hundreds of voices in Kathmandu's biggest public park, marking the end of an era as Nepal's 239-year monarchy gave way to a federal democracy with the birth of the world's newest republic.
"We have been awaiting this day for years," said Radha Gyawali, newly sworn in member of the historic constituent assembly, whose Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist had in the past spearheaded a signature campaign against the members of the royal family who committed excesses.
40 passengers injured in Qantas jet turbulence
By DPA,
Sydney : Up to 40 people were injured when a Qantas jet flying from Singapore to Perth experienced mid-air turbulence, West Australian police said Tuesday.
The Airbus A320 carrying more than 300 people made an emergency landing at Learmonth Airport near Exmouth on Australia's west coast.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said Flight QF72 had experienced a "sudden in-flight upset" while cruising in "level flight."
"The crew diverted the aircraft to Learmonth, near Exmouth in WA, where it landed without further incident," the ATSB statement concluded.
I will be President for all Americans: Trump
New York : Brushing aside fears that his victory will further divide the US, President-elect Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that he will be...
North Korea, UN Command agree on talks
By DPA,
Seoul : North Korea and officers from the US-led UN Command Thursday agreed "in principle" to hold "general-level talks", in their first meeting since the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.
Both sides made proposals in the border village of Panmunjom to hold talks between officers of the rank of general, a UN Command (UNC) statement said. "Both sides agreed to confirm details of the proposed follow-up talks after consulting with their respective superiors."
World Bank president sees risks for global economy in 2010
By DPA,
Singapore : World Bank president Robert Zoellick Wednesday said he was comfortable about the prospects for the world economy in 2009, but advised governments not to remove their stimulus packages in 2010.
"I feel relatively comfortable about the growth prospects in 2009," Zoellick said on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Singapore.
Boeing delivers its 777th 777 to Air France
By IANS,
New York : Boeing reached a milestone Friday when it delivered its 777th Boeing 777 to Air France.
The French national carrier is among the top Boeing clients, including Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airline and United Airlines.
"It is a fitting tribute to the success of the programme that an industry leader such as Air France is taking delivery of our 777th 777," a Boeing statement quoted Aldo Basile, its vice president for sales (Europe, Russia and Central Asia), as saying on the momentous occasion.
Mexico on red alert as hurricane Lorenzo approaches
Veracruz (Mexico), Sep 28 (IANS) Mexican authorities have declared a red alert in 120 municipalities in the coastal state of Veracruz after hurricane Lorenzo gathered strength in the south-western Gulf of Mexico.
The Veracruz government ordered the closure of schools Friday and Saturday, asking some 500,000 students to stay at home, reported Spanish news agency EFE.
US stocks down as Oracle and Google tumble
By DPA
New York : Major US stock indices were led lower Thursday by earnings worries at banks hit by the mortgage crisis and at technology giants Oracle and Google.
Oracle, the third largest software firm, reported disappointing third-quarter results late Wednesday, causing its shares to fall by the most since November. Internet search firm Google's stock price declined after a researcher said clicks on its advertising sponsored links fell last month.
Swedish moose and deer antlers: ingredient in Asian love pills
By DPA
Stockholm : An Austrian-born hotel operator based in northern Sweden is cashing in on the efforts of some Asian men to remain virile by selling antlers from moose, reindeer and other deer species.
"I sell the antlers whole, I just saw them up," Helmut Haidic said.
Haidic's hotel offers hunting and fishing tours in Fredrika, 100 km west of the coastal city Umea that is located some 660 km north of Stockholm.
But to make ends meet, he has for the past 10 years also bought antlers wholesale that are used as an aphrodisiac in Asia.
Student attacks: Krishna heads to Australia Aug 6 to take stock
By IANS,
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna goes to Australia on a five-day visit Aug 6 to ascertain first-hand the problems faced by Indian students, some of whom have been victims of allegedly racist attacks, and the steps taken by Canberra to ensure their safety.
This will be the first high-level visit from India to Australia since a spate of attacks on Indian students studying in that country began over a month ago, creating outrage in India and the diaspora community Down Under.
Toll in Philippine political massacre reaches 57
By DPA,
Manila : Philippine security forces Wednesday dug up three vehicles and 10 more bodies from the site of a massacre linked to a political rivalry in the country's troubled south, bringing the death toll to 57.
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Ponce, a regional military spokesman, said the vehicles and bodies were found at a second burial site in Salman village in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province, 930 km south of Manila.
Chinese political advisors submit 6,000 proposals
By IANS,
Beijing : China's national political advisors have submitted over 6,000 proposals to the government for the development of the country, an official said.
Making electronics with a twist
By IANS,
Washington : Researchers have made electronics that can bend, stretch and now twist as well, considered the ultimate in the subject.
Yonggang Huang, professor of civil engineering at Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, and John Rogers, professor of materials science and Engineering at University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), have improved their "pop-up" technology to create circuits that can be twisted.
Such electronics could be used in places where flat, unbending electronics would fail, like on the human body.
France Return to NATO Controversial
By Prensa Latina
Paris : French conservatives and center politicians joined indirectly to reject France's return to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, warning that it would frame France's freedom of choice.
At the Bucarest NATO Summit, Sarkozy announced France´s intention to recover full membership by 2009, tied to an European progress on defense by the second half of 2008, at the Summit on the Treaty's 60th anniversary co-sponsored by France and Germany.
London school sets criteria for ‘practising Hindu’
By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS
London : Britain's first state-funded Hindu school has come up with a unique definition of 'practising Hindus' as part of its admissions policy - those who pray daily, do voluntary work at temples, follow a vegetarian diet and abstain from intoxication.
The school, named Krishna-Avanti Primary School, is located in the London borough of Harrow, which has the highest concentration of Hindus in any council in Britain: 40,000. The school is promoted by a charity organisation called the I-Foundation.
US envoy pays tribute to Pune blast victims
By IANS,
Pune: Stressing that the US stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with India in its war against terror, US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer Wednesday visited the German Bakery here and condemned the Feb 13 bombing that killed 17 people and injured 50 others.
"On behalf of the people of the United States, I extend heartfelt sympathy to the government of India and the victims of the tragic terrorist blast in Pune. The US remains shoulder-to-shoulder with India in the fight against terror and will assist as needed to help bring the perpetrators of this cowardly act to justice," said Roemer.
Pandit’s Citi to return $20 billion in bailout money
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington: Ahead of a meeting with President Barack Obama, Citigroup's Indian American CEO Vikram Pandit Monday announced that the banking giant has struck a deal with the government to return $20 billion in bailout money to taxpayers.
"We are pleased to be able to repay the US government's trust preferred securities and to terminate the loss-sharing agreement," Pandit said in a statement.
"As I have stated many times over the past year, we planned to exit TARP only when we were convinced that it was prudent to do so."
Death toll from California heat wave rises to 25
By Xinhua
Los Angeles : The death toll in an eight-day heat wave in Southern California rose to 25 as temperatures started to soar to over 110 degrees Fahrenheit (more than 40 degrees Celsius), authorities said.
Temperatures have been particularly fierce in desert areas of the region, easing by only a few degrees at night.
The 25 victims range from 26 to 87 years old. The deaths are being treated as heat-related and autopsies will be carried out along with toxicology tests, coroners said Wednesday.
Weeks are needed to complete the tests, they added.
15 killed in China accident
By IANS,
Beijing : Fifteen people have been confirmed dead after a tourist bus plunged into a ravine Saturday in China, officials said.
Mugabe’s party, opposition in talks over poll outcome
By DPA
Harare : Three days after Zimbabweans went to the polls to vote on President Robert Mugabe's 28-year rule, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) was in talks with the ruling Zanu-PF party, a source close to the MDC said Tuesday.
Earlier, Britain's Guardian newspaper also quoted an unnamed senior source within the MDC as saying the party was in touch with senior members of the military.
Russia may build own space station
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Russia may use future modules of its segment of the International Space Station (ISS) to build its own orbital station, a senior space industry official said.
UN Security Council to meet on Myanmar: Spokesman
By Xinhua,
United Nations: The UN Security Council is to hold consultations on the situation in Myanmar later Tuesday, a UN spokesperson said.
The 15-member body is due to meet at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT) to discuss issues in connection with the situation in Myanmar, including the sentencing of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for another 18 months, Marie Okabe told reporters.
Putin To Visit Beijing For Talks With Chinese Leaders
By Bernama,
Moscow : Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit Beijing on August 8-9, to "hold full-scale talks with Chinese leaders", a sources in the Russian government told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.
Putin's visit is timed with the opening of the Olympic Games.
"Despite unprecedented engagement of Chinese authorities in the organisation of the Olympiad, the Chinese leaders have allocated special time for meeting with the Russian prime minister.
Nepal’s Sherpas join monks to condemn Myanmar crackdown
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : They are famous for their climbing skills and have produced some of the world's best mountaineers. Now Nepal's Sherpas, who are largely apolitical, have come out of their shell to join the growing protests against the crackdown on Buddhist monks in Myanmar by the ruling junta.
"We did not take part in the street protests against King Gyanendra's absolute rule last year because it was political," said Kripa Sura Sherpa, president of the Nepal Sherpa Association.
Impressive Valencia stay third, solid Mallorca retake fourth
By DPA,
Madrid: Valencia consolidated themselves in third place in the Spanish Liga, with an impressive 4-1 thrashing of local rivals Villarreal, with Spain striker David Villa scoring twice.
"Los Ches" now have 38 points from 18 games, three points less than second-placed Real Madrid, who surprisingly crashed 1-0 away to Athletic Bilbao Sunday.
Real, in their turn, are a worrying five points behind leaders Barcelona, who caned sixth-placed Sevilla 4-0 Saturday.
European nations scramble to prevent growing financial crisis
By IRNA,
Paris : European nations scrambled on Sunday night to prevent a growing credit crisis from bringing down major banks as troubles in financial markets spread around the world.
The spreading worries came days after the United States Congress approved a $700 billion bailout package that officials had hoped would calm financial markets globally.
The European Central Bank has aggressively lent money to banks as the crisis has grown.
It had resisted lowering interest rates, but signaled that it might cut rates soon.
Japanese PM to visit Myanmar
By IANS,
Yangon : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will pay a state visit to Myanmar soon, an official announcement said here Tuesday.
Sri Lankan president promises land to people in north
By Xinhua,
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said Tuesday that his government would ensure the northern people the right to own their land.
"As much as we have given the eastern people their right to own land we will soon ensure that northern people would be free to do likewise," Rajapakse told a political gathering in Colombo.
The president was referring to his government's military thrust against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.
Europe and Southeast Asia, a shared vision for peace and security
By Javier Solana, IANS,
Europe's long-standing relationship with Southeast Asia is shifting into a new gear this year. Our mutual engagement is growing still closer and deeper, particularly in the area of building peace, security and cooperation around the globe.
We have reached a milestone in our relations this year with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phnom Penh in May on the accession of the European Union and its member states to the ASEAN Treaty on Amity and Cooperation.
India could be “useful partner” to Vietnam: President Patil
By NNN-PTI,
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam : India today told Vietnam it could play the role of a "useful partner", offering its expertise in the fields of infrastructure development, engineering and power generation to the booming South East Asian country.
Addressing business leaders at the Vietnam-India Business Forum, President Pratibha Patil asked entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity generated by the economic reforms in both countries to boost bilateral trade and create mutually beneficial linkages.
Up to 20,000 street children living in Germany: Terres des Hommes
By IRNA
Berlin : The children's aid agency Terres des Hommes reported Tuesday that up to 20,000 runaway children, teenagers and young adults are at times living on the streets, news reports said.
Many of them are sick or left without a perspective. Every second homeless child or youth is being assisted by local aid projects, said Uwe Britten speaking on behalf of terres des hommes.
Half of those people taking part in the aid projects are under the age of 18 and three percent under 14. Around 35 percent of girls are also affected, he added.
Landslides kill nine in Nepal
By DPA,
Kathmandu : At least nine people were killed and four injured after landslides hit three districts in western Nepal, officials said Friday.
The landslides followed heavy monsoonal rains since Thursday night.
The largest death toll was seen in Syangja district, about 200 km west of Kathmandu, where five people died when their homes were smashed by falling mud and rocks, police said.
The victims, who included people in their 70s and a five-year-old, were trapped in their homes Friday by debris when the side of a hill collapsed at Chitrebhanjyang, the police said.
U.S. to follow up on nuclear talks with N.Korea
By SPA
Geneva : U.S. officials will extend talks in Geneva with North Korea over nuclear disarmament, U.S. envoy Christopher Hill said on Friday, saying considerable work was still needed before resuming six-party negotiations, according to Reuters.
"It was a very good meeting," he told reporters. Hill will leave Geneva on Friday but hand over the bilateral discussions to Sung Kim, the State Department's head of Korean affairs, in
an effort to progress toward multilateral talks, he said.
Sri Lanka to inform Norway of move to scrap truce
By DPA
Colombo : Scandinavian peace monitors prepared to leave Sri Lanka Thursday as the government in Colombo said it would formally notify Norway of its decision to pull out of a Norwegian-brokered peace deal with Tamil rebels.
Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa Thursday told journalists that the government decided to scrap the agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) because "it was non-functional and not practical" as a means of ending the country's two-decade long ethnic conflict.
Aussie PM says he admired Benazir Bhutto’s courage
By NNN-Bernama
Melbourne : Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has condemned the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, 54, who was shot by an assassin who also blew himself up, killing about 20 others, at an election rally in Rawalpindi.
Rudd said Bhutto was campaigning "resolutely" for democracy in the lead up to the country's Jan 8 polls.
Leaked memo will not affect Pope’s Britain visit: Vatican
By IANS/AKI,
Vatican City : The Vatican has said there will be no changes to Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Britain in September despite an embarrassing memo that has apparently mocked the pontiff.
Britain's Foreign Office apologised to the Pope over the memo published in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, which said the Pope could bless a gay marriage or open an abortion clinic during his visit.
Trinidad’s Hanuman fest: Learning from wisdom of monkey god
By Paras Ramoutar
Port of Spain, March 25 (IANS) Trinidad and Tobago is set to host a 'Hanuman Heritage Festival' next month that will include cultural events, religious discourses and a global Hindu conference on the popular monkey god.
"It is aimed to provide a profound and enlightening spiritual experience; to explore and benefit from the...wisdom and devotion of Lord Hanuman for the attainment of a higher level of consciousness," said Swami Brahmadeoji, spiritual leader at the Brahma Vidya Peetham.
British schools will be forced to build multicultural links
By IANS
London : To promote community relations, 'all-white' schools in Britain will have to send their children to multiethnic schools from September so they can mix with other races and religions.
Greenpeace halts whalers from refuelling in Antarctic
By DPA
Wellington : Eleven days after stopping Japanese ships catching whales in the Antarctic by chasing them in a protest boat, Greenpeace Tuesday claimed that it had prevented the factory ship from taking on fuel.
Activists on the Greenpeace ship Esperanza manoeuvred an inflatable boat between the Nisshin Maru and the Panamanian-registered tanker Oriental Bluebird, preventing them from getting alongside to refuel, according to a statement released in New Zealand.
Former Israeli president to face rape, sexual assault charges
Jerusalem, March 8 (Xinhua) Former Israeli president Moshe Katsav will be indicted over rape and other sexual assault charges, the country's attorney general Menachem Mazuz announced Sunday.
The move followed a spate of headline-making accusations by a number of women who worked under Katsav when he was tourism minister and later president, including one known as "A", who claimed that Katsav raped her.
Russia not in talks over Assad’s future: Lavrov
By IANS,
Moscow: Moscow is not holding talks with anyone over Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's future, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday.
US mass surveillance becomes routine: Snowden
Berlin: Mass surveillance of US intelligence agencies has become routine, said American whistleblower Edward Snowden while addressing the CeBIT.
"Extensive monitoring has become routine," said...
UN global warming talks weighed down by financial crisis
By DPA,
Poznan (Poland) : Negotiators from nearly 200 countries are seeking a new push to combat global warming at a UN climate change conference due to start Monday, overshadowed by the world's economic downturn and rising greenhouse-gas emissions in rich and emerging nations.
The two-week UN climate conference in Poznan, Poland, is meant to put governments on track for a new global deal to save the climate that leaders can approve in Denmark in a year's time.
Five dismembered bodies found in Mexico
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Five dismembered bodies were found on a highway near Tanhuato, a city in the western Mexican state of Michoacan, police said.
Referendum held in Myanmar’s cyclone hit areas
By DPA,
Yangon : Residents of 47 Myanmar townships hard hit by Cyclone Nargis earlier this month went to the polls Saturday to vote in a referendum on a new constitution that seeks to consolidate military rule in the country.
A national referendum was held May 10 on the military-backed charter, despite international appeals to postpone it in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, that left at least 133,000 dead or missing.
But the vote was delayed in 47 townships hardest hit by the storm, that has affected up to 2.4 million people, especially those living in the Irrawaddy delta.
Nine killed in China coal mine fire
By IANS,
Beijing : Nine people were killed when a fire broke out in a coal mine in China's northwestern Shaanxi province, Xinhua reported Friday.
Twenty-seven miners were working underground when the fire occurred around 7.00 p.m. Thursday in Quanzigou Coal Mine in Longmen township, the provincial government said.
One injured person was admitted to hospital, while 17 miners were lifted safely to the ground, an official said.
New US jobless claims rise
By IANS/EFE,
Washington : The number of people filing initial applications for unemployment benefits rose last week by 15,000 to 381,000, the US Labor Department said Thursday.
Bobby Jindal testing waters for 2016 presidential run
By Arun Kumar,
Washington : Louisiana's Indian-American Governor Bobby Jindal has taken another step towards a possible 2016 presidential run by forming an exploratory committee...
Canadian cops play midwife, help deliver baby on roadside
By IANS,
Montreal : Two Canadian cops on patrol helped a woman deliver a baby on roadside here Wednesday.
The 35-year-old woman, who was traveling in a car with her husband, suddenly went into deep labour pain early Wednesday morning. Left with no option, the husband stopped a police patrol vehicle and sought help from the two police officers in delivering the baby.
With little time left for her to take to hospital, the cops called the ambulance. But the woman had already gone into advanced labour.
Ban strongly condemns attack on the President of Timor Leste
By KUNA
United Nations : "Shocked and dismayed," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the attack in Timor Leste earlier in the day in which President Jose Ramos Horta was shot in the stomach by rebel troops, and the attack on the convoy of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
"The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms these unacceptable attacks on the legitimate institutions of the state and calls on the Timorese people to remain calm and refrain from all violent acts," his press office said early Monday.
$106 mn ADB grant for Nepal’s local self-governance
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged $106.3 million to help Nepal improve local self-governance and promote community development, the Himalayan Times reported Thursday.
According to the daily, the aid will support the active engagement of communities in local governance, and improve resource management and dispensation of service.
Local government agencies are envisaged to play a key role in implementation of the much-needed project.
Russia blocks UN statement on Georgia missile incident
By RIA Novosti
United Nations : Russia has blocked a move for a UN Security Council vote condemning Moscow for an alleged violation of Georgian airspace, calling it premature.
Georgia accused Russia last week of violating its airspace and dropping a missile at a radar station near the border with breakaway South Ossetia. Russia has denied the charges and called them provocations to disrupt peace efforts in the conflict zone, where its peacekeepers are deployed.
Nuclear swap deal, opportunity for dialogue: Iran
By DPA,
Tehran : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday termed the nuclear agreement with Brazil and Turkey as "opportunity for understanding and dialogue".
Iran will forward the nuclear agreement to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Monday. It calls for Iran to ship its low-enriched uranium to Turkey for storage until it receives medium-enriched fuel for its medical reactor.
US works on software to manipulate social media websites
By IANS,
London : The US military is making a software that will allow it to clandestinely manipulate social websites like Facebook and Twitter to spread propaganda, it was reported here Friday.
EU approves acquisition of Dutch company by ArcelorMittal
By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The European Commission , the EU’s executive boy, announced here Wednesday that it has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Dutch company Noble European Holdings B.V., a subsidiary of Noble International Ltd. of the US, by ArcelorMittal of Luxembourg.
After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.
Holocaust an example of intolerance, says Lula
By DPA
Brasilia : Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said the Holocaust must be remembered as an example of intolerance and disrespect for human rights.
"The sad and tragic memories of the Holocaust must not be erased and must be passed on to other generations," Lula said Friday in an event to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Rio de Janeiro.
"I take part in this gathering for the third year in a row, because I think it is vital to remember the terror apparatus launched by the Nazis," Lula said.
China, Russia delineate eastern border
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China and Russia Monday signed an additional protocol on their eastern border, completing delineation of the 4,300-km long stretch.
The protocol was signed by Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Yang said at a press briefing after his talks with Lavrov that the two sides exchanged views on how to further promote the strategic partnership and strengthen bilateral cooperation on international and regional issues.
Argentina railway accident toll climbs to 50
By IANS/EFE,
Buenos Aires : The toll in the railway accident in Buenos Aires has risen to 50, Argentine officials said.
Dalai Lama’s envoys leave for talks with China
By IANS,
Dharamsala : Two envoys of Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Thursday left for Beijing for the eighth round of negotiations with Chinese officials since talks began in 2002.
Besides Kasur Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, the delegation includes three senior assistants, said a statement of the Tibetan government-in-exile that is based in this Himalayan town.
"The envoys will be in Beijing for about a week as a follow-up to the seventh round of talks held in July this year," it said.
Global crisis led to record number of reforms: World Bank
By DPA,
Washington : The global economic crisis has encouraged a rash of government reforms that should make it easier to start, run and close businesses around the world, according to a World Bank report released Tuesday night.
The annual "Doing Business" survey recorded more regulatory business reforms in more countries than any time since the report began in 2004. In total, 287 reforms were adopted in 131 countries from June 2008 to May 2009.
Italian PM Berlusconi resigns
By IANS,
Rome : Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi handed in his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano Saturday, Italy's presidential palace said.
Sri Lankan government denies role in Rajapaksa’s fraud probe
Colombo : Sri Lanka's new government on Monday denied any politicisation over the ongoing fraud investigations against former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's regime, an official...
Data instead of paper and ink: E-books growing in popularity
By Janne Terfruechte, DPA,
Frankfurt : Relaxing on the couch and browsing through a weighty tome - for many, that sounds like paradise. Trying to drag that book along in your pocket is however less fun. An alternative to this is the e-books that until now have enjoyed a niche existence. That might be about to change.
Nepal Maoists reject PM’s proposal of child king
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : Nepal's Maoists Monday rejected Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's bid to save the monarchy by installing King Gyanendra's five-year-old grandson, saying their aim was to abolish the institution in all forms and that they regarded the palace as the fountainhead of the nation's woes.
Israel returns Palestinian’s bodies to families
Jerusalem: The Israeli government released bodies of two Palestinian militants from east Jerusalem who carried out a terror attack in a Jerusalem synagogue a...
German army plans to recruit foreigners: report
By IRNA,
Berlin : The German army is planning to recruit foreigners, the Munich-based weekly news magazine Focus reported Saturday.
Light aircraft crashes in London residential area
By DPA
London : A light aircraft believed to be carrying five or more people crashed in a residential area of south London Sunday, witnesses reported.
The plane exploded as it crashed into a suburban residential district, striking two houses and setting them on fire, the witnesses said.
Sky News reported the plane was a two-engine Cessna Citation business jet.
British police headquarters Scotland Yard confirmed that a crash had occurred, but did not have any details on possible deaths as a result.
Four ambulances and several fire engines were sent to the scene.
A British MP who wore a loud tie
By IANS,
London : A British MP was speaking when an unidentifiable tune rang out - and the lawmaker explained that it was from a charity tie that he had accidentally turned on.
North Korea prepared to blow up nuclear reactor: report
By DPA,
Washington : North Korea is prepared to blow up the cooling tower of its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon within a day after the US removes the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, the Washington Post reported.
The story Friday citing diplomatic sources in Washington said the assurance was made by North Korea officials during recent talks and confirmed an earlier informal pledge by North Korea to destroy the tower as part of the disablement of Yongbyon.
Ancient statue discovered in pyramid during cleaning
By DPA,
Cairo : Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old statue as they carried out routine cleaning work at one of the Giza pyramids.
The 149-centimetre-long statue was found Tuesday buried just 40 centimetres below the surface of the sand in the northern part of the King Men-Kau-Re's pyramid (2551-2523 BC).
The statue is of an unidentified person wearing a medium-length wig, sitting on a chair with his right arm stretched on his knee and holding an unidentified object in his fist, Zahi Hawas, secretary general of the Egyptian Higher Council for Antiquities, said.
US senator resigns over bathroom incident
By DPA
Washington : A US senator announced his resignation Saturday after pleading guilty to charges of disorderly conduct in a men's bathroom at an airport.
Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig said at a televised press conference in his home state that he would leave his position on Sep 30.
A number of politicians, including many from his own party, had been openly calling for Craig to resign since the details of his arrest at a Minneapolis airport emerged on Monday.
Seven people killed in fire in northwest Russia
By RIA Novosti
St. Petersburg : Seven people died and four others were injured in a fire at a factory in northwestern Russia, the regional emergencies center said on Sunday.
The blaze at the Elektropult electrical factory in St. Petersburg started early on Sunday after a wooden structure close to the factory's premises caught fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire within an hour, the emergencies center said.
Work in under way to establish the cause of the fire.
Torch relay still planned for Tibet, despite protests
By DPA
Beijing : The Olympic torch relay will pass through Tibetan areas of China despite widespread protests in the region that prompted the government to send in troops.
"The situation in Tibet has essentially stabilized, the Olympic torch relay will proceed as scheduled," Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice president of the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee, told reporters.
Chinese president hopes US moves will stabilise market
By Xinhua,
Beijing : Chinese President Hu Jintao Monday spoke to his US counterpart George W. Bush over the phone and expressed his confidence that Washington would overcome the financial market crisis being felt worldwide.
Bush briefed Hu on the latest development of the US financial market, saying his government was well aware of the scope of the problem, and had taken necessary measures to stabilize the domestic and world markets.
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Japan
Hong Kong: An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale jolted Bonin Islands in the Japan region early Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said.
The...
Air China to issue 400 mn shares for more aircraft
By Xinhua
Beijing : China's national flag carrier Air China announced Thursday plans to issue up to 400 million A-shares - 5.1 percent of its total shares - to raise funds to purchase aircraft and replenish the company's working capital.
The company intends to utilize the proceeds from the offering to finance the acquisition of 15 Boeing-787 aircraft, 24 Airbus-320 series aircraft and 15 Boeing-737 series aircraft in an effort to increase the airline's transport capacity. It will also spend up to 1.5 billion yuan ($200 million) to supplement its working capital.
Philippines storm death toll nears 100
By DPA,
Manila : Nearly 100 people were killed as tropical storm Ketsana battered a wide area in the Philippines, dumping record rainfall on the capital that caused the worst flooding in 40 years, officials said Sunday.
Fifty people were also missing in floods and landslides following rains that exceeded what Hurricane Katrina dumped on New Orleans in August 2005, local officials and military spokesmen said.
Pope in mass voices solidarity with Christians
By DPA,
Jerusalem: Pope Benedict XVI, during an open air mass in Jerusalem attended by thousands late Tuesday afternoon, expressed solidarity with the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian Christian minority.
"Standing before you today, I wish to acknowledge the difficulties, the frustration, and the pain and suffering which so many of you have endured as a result of the conflicts which have afflicted these lands," he said in English.
Medvedev appoints aide in charge of Kremlin personnel department
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has appointed Oleg Markov to the post of presidential aide in charge of personnel issues, Kremlin press service said.
Markov, 54, the former head of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring), is the seventh presidential aide to be appointed by the president this week.
He replaces Viktor Ivanov, who was named head of the state drug control service Thursday.
Raul Castro re-elected for second term
By IANS,
Havana : Cuban President Raul Castro has been re-elected for a second five-year term.
Plane crash kills four in Russia
By IANS,
Moscow: At least four people died when an SM 2000 turboprop plane crashed during a training flight in Russia, an official said.
Matryoshka dolls in bailout queue, one for Obama too
By IANS,
Washington : Matryoshkas, those Russian dolls within dolls, are the latest to be hit by the global financial meltdown and their survival depends on a bailout from the government - and a little help from the charm of US President Barack Obama!
Matryoshka makers say sales are down by as much as 90 percent, ABC News said in a report from Sergiyev Pozad, the scenic old monastery town that is the main hub of Russia's doll industry.
The rosy-cheeked, often partly hand-painted Matryoshkas, like vodka, caviar and onion domes, are a symbol of everything Russian.
Rock crushes house, kills teen in Bolivia
By IANS/EFE,
La Paz : A 14-year-old boy was killed when a huge rock dislodged by the torrential rain crushed his family home here in Bolivia, an official said Sunday.
The house was located at the foot of the Colorado hill in La Paz's Amor de Dios neighbourhood.
The rock fell on the house around 7.45 a.m. Saturday, apparently after the heavy rains in the area loosened the soil and dislodged it, La Paz's executive secretary Javier Zarate told EFE.
Four other family members were rescued and treated at a hospital for minor injuries.
Mexico oil spill: US prepares for worst
By DPA,
Washington : The US government is preparing for a months-long disaster in the Gulf of Mexico after the latest attempt by oil giant BP to plug a gushing well were declared a failure.
"What we're doing is we're going to hope for the best and prepare for the worst," Carol Browner, an Obama energy advisor, told the CBS television programme Face the Nation Sunday. "The worst is that we have oil leaking until August, until these relief wells are done. And we will be prepared for the worst".
Entire town in south India praying for Obama win
By Venkatachari Jagannathan, IANS,
Tirupur (Tamil Nadu) : If politics makes strange bedfellows, economics can make even stranger. Even as Barack Obama and John McCain slug it out in the US presidential election, the people of an entire town in southern India are desperately praying for an Obama win.
The economy of the knitwear garment exporting town of Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, almost 400 km from state capital Chennai, is driven almost entirely by exports to more than 35 countries around the world. But, as is to be expected, the exporters' biggest market is the US.
Congo opposition leader arrested in Belgium
By DPA,
Brussels/The Hague : Relations between Belgium and Congo soured Sunday as the former Belgian colony's former vice president and opposition leader Jean-Pierre Bemba was arrested near Brussels for his involvement in the Central African Republic, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague said.
Malaysian wildlife officers foil animal smugglers
By DPA
Kuala Lumpur : Malaysian wildlife officers foiled an attempt to smuggle out several protected animals and animal body parts that were believed to be destined for China, a news report said Sunday.
Officers from the wildlife department launched raids on two houses in the eastern state of Kelantan, Friday and seized three live female pangolins, two skinned pangolins, a skinned bat, the head and legs of a mountain goat, body parts and meat of wild boars and pangolins as well as python skins.
Hong Kong Plans New Checkpoint Linking China Mainland
By Bernama,
Hong Kong : Hong Kong government is studying a plan to build a new checkpoint linking the metropolis with the Chinese mainland in the next decade.
Secretary for Development of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Carrie Lam told the Legislative Council here Wednesday that the proposed Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai boundary checkpoint will offer a quick link between Hong Kong and Guangdong, boosting regional co-operation and development.
Russia says some 18,000 refugees return to S. Ossetia
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Almost 18,000 refugees have returned to South Ossetia from Russia over the last nine days, Russia's emergencies ministry said on Thursday.
"A total of 17,912 people returned in the period August 12-20," the ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry's data, 38,207 people fled South Ossetia across the Russian border after Tbilisi launched a massive ground and air offensive to retake the breakaway republic on August 8.
Time running out for McCain: Obama
By AFP,
Leesburg, Virginia : Front-running Democrat Barack Obama Wednesday mocked his White House foe John McCain as "out of touch and running out of time" after rejecting new Republican jibes on tax and national security.
But just 13 days before the presidential election, Republican McCain warned the Illinois senator not to take victory for granted, despite his mammoth financial edge and solid lead in a slew of opinion polls.
Wall Street soars as US plans $250 bn injection for banks
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Rebounding from its worst week in history, Wall Street has soared again with the US government outlining several steps to combat the financial crisis, including a likely $250 billion injection to help struggling banks.
Monday's massive rally saw the Dow Jones industrial average propelled to its largest daily point gain ever and the largest percentage increase since the depths of the Depression. Standard & Poor's 500-stock index too posted its best gain in nearly 70 years.
Quake-hit Italy to adopt tough law against looting
By Xinhua,
L'Aquila (Italy) : The Italian government will adopt a new anti-looting law which will stiffen penalties for anyone caught stealing in the quake-hit areas, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday.
The premier said that people here were extremely worried about looting in homes which had to be evacuated.
"We still don't know what name to give to the crime but I can tell you right now that penalties will be very stiff," Berlusconi told reporters after visiting quake-hit L'Aquila city, some 95 km northwest of the capital Rome.
Nepali cabinet holds 1st meeting after CA elections
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : The Nepali cabinet held its first meeting after the Constitution Assembly (CA) Sunday and decided to give authority to the Ministry of Home Affairs to set up an independent commission to investigate into the election-related violence.
The cabinet meeting also declared to provide some 24,000 U.S. dollars to the families of those killed during the CA elections.
S Asian leaders to focus on terror, energy, food security at Colombo summit
By KUNA,
New Delhi : The issue of cross-border terrorism is likely to dominate the agenda of the 15th SAARC summit at Colombo on August 2-3, which will also see the crucial issues of food security, climate change and energy crisis being deliberated upon by heads of state or government of South Asian countries.
Missing jet: Cockpit transcript reveals final 54 minutes conversation
London: The final 54 minutes of conversation between the pilots of the missing Malaysian airliner and the control tower has been revealed in a...
Prachanda fails to dam disputes, cabinet expansion put off
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Dogged by dispute from its very birth, the Maoist-led government of Nepal Friday failed to expand Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's mini cabinet with feuds now erupting in the former guerrilla party itself.
Prachanda, who had fought a successful 10-year war against Nepal's powerful royal family, however, failed for the third time in a row to stem the discord in his own party, leading to the induction of new ministers being put off till Sunday.
Sonal Shah asked to come clean on alleged right wing links
By IANS,
New York : Coalition Against Genocide, a group of Indian American individuals and organisations fighting against religious fundamentalism, has in an open letter urged Sonal Shah, a member of president-elect Barack Obama's transition team, to come clean on her alleged past affiliations with right wing Hindu outfits.
Failure to implement accord could jeopardize int”l recognition of Honduran election — US
By KUNA,
Washington : Failure to implement the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord could jeopardize recognition by the international community of the upcoming Nov. 29 election in Honduras, the US State Department said on Friday.
Everest conqueror Hillary’s ashes scattered on sea off Auckland
By DPA
Wellington : The ashes of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man atop the Everest and Antarctic explorer who died in January at the age of 88, were scattered on the Hauraki Gulf off his home city of Auckland Friday, in accordance with his wishes.
Thousands of people lined the streets of Auckland when he was given the rare honour of a state funeral last month.
Bush signs plan to boost US economy
By DPA
Washington : President George W. Bush signed a $152 billion plan to fortify the flagging US economy against a recession with tax incentives for businesses and average Americans.
Passed by Congress with unusual speed after Bush proposed an economic stimulus package last month, the temporary measures are mainly designed to put more spending money in US consumers' pockets.
"You know, I know a lot of Americans are concerned about our economic future," Bush said at a White House signing ceremony Wednesday. "The bill is large enough to have an impact."
2,000 bodies found in northeastern Japan
By IANS,
Tokyo : About 2,000 bodies were found Monday on two shores in Japan's Miyagi prefecture after last week's 9.0-magnitude quake and a massive tsunami, Xinhua reported.
Cremation ground conversion angers Malaysian Hindus
By IANS,
Kuala Lumpur : Tamil Hindus of Tupah Estate, about 10 km from Bidor in Perak state, held a peaceful demonstration after their cremation ground was illegally converted into agricultural land, Malaysia Nanban newspaper has reported.
Estate resident M. Marimuthu, 54, claimed that the Indian community in the area had been using the ground for the past 90 years.
He said "some irresponsible people" had taken control of the land and claimed ownership.
Myanmar assures fair by-elections
By IANS,
Yangon : The Myanmar election commission has urged its officers to ensure free and fair by-elections set for April 1.
Seven trapped in China mine blast
By IANS,
Beijing : Seven people were trapped following an explosion Friday at a coal mine in southwest China's Guizhou province, Xinhua quoted an official as saying.
WW-II veteran finds lost wallet after 69 years
By IANS,
Washington : This World War II veteran lost his wallet in 1941 but got it back 69 years later, complete with photographs and his Social Security card.
Robert Bell, 88, lost his wallet in 1941, when he had gone for four months of training in hydraulics repair at the Chicago Vocational School.
The wallet contained photos of Bell in his Navy uniform and of his then-girlfriend, who later became his wife and died in a car accident when their son was three years old.
Somali pirates fail to reinforce embattled comrades
By DPA,
Nairobi/Washington : Somali pirates seeking to help their comrades, who are holding the captain of a US-flagged ship hostage on a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean, have had to turn back due to a US Navy presence, media reports said Saturday.
Pirates have been holding Captain Richard Phillips hostage on the lifeboat since Wednesday, following a failed attempt to hijack his ship, the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabama, in the Indian Ocean near the coast of Somalia.
U.N. Security Council Passes Presidential Statement on Kenya
By SPA
United Nations : The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday passed a statement on Kenya expressing concern about the dire humanitarian situation and calling for the protection of civilians and U.N. personnel.
The council emphasized that the “only solution” to the current crisis is through “dialogue, negotiation and compromise” and urged Kenyan political leaders to reach a political solution. It recommended that they end “ethnically-motivated attacks, dismantle armed gangs, improve the humanitarian situation, and restore human rights.”
9,500 people unaccounted for in tsunami-stricken Japanese town
By DPA,
Tokyo: About 9,500 people are unaccounted for in one of the worst-hit areas by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake in north-eastern Japan, officials said.
Putin warns of domestic terrorism threats
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin urged his country Monday to ratchet up a fight against terrorism and extremism, saying radicals still had the chance...
Some American IS recruits are back in US: White House
Washington: The Obama administration believes that some of the roughly 100 Americans who may have travelled to the Middle East to join the ranks...
Tunisian ex-president’s trial postponed
By IANS,
Tunis : The trial of Tunisia's ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has been postponed following a request from his lawyers, a media report said.
Sri Lanka Trying for Tamil Wipe Out
By Prensa Latina,
Colombo : Despites massive casualties this week in clashes with the Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lanka government reiterated Friday it will continue with its offensive until wiping out separatist rebels in the north of the country.
The Defense Ministry said at the very beginning that 43 soldiers died and 33 others disappeared after Wednesday's bloody combats when the government troops tried to move forward to Muhamalai northern locality.
Nevertheless, military sources cited by Daily News newspaper reported Friday the mortal casualties add up to 165 and other 20 missing.
Britney Spears finds it hard to be like Kim Kardashian
By IANS,
New York: Singer Britney Spears admits it is tough for her to be dressed glamorously ala socialite Kim Kardashian, especially when she prefers a casual look.