Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago
By Paras Ramoutar, IANS,
Port-of-Spain : Thousands of Hindus thronged temples across Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with devotees observing fast and chanting Vedic hymns.
Earthen idols are prepared and devotees here pay obeisance to Lord Ganesha. After Ganesh Chaturthi ends, the idols are immersed in the river or the sea.
Ganesh Utsav, which began Aug 23 and ends Sep 3, is also being observed by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS).
Truck with dynamite explodes in Mexico, at least 30 dead
By DPA
Mexico City : At least 30 people have died in Mexico when a truck loaded with dynamite exploded in Monclova, in the northern state of Coahuila.
Mexico's Preventive Federal Police said Monday that the explosion happened late Sunday which also left over 100 injured.
The blast caused damage to buildings and vehicles and was said to have left a deep crater on the ground.
The truck exploded after crashing into a van, authorities said.
Coahuila is a mining state. An explosion in Coahuila, which is a mining state, had left 65 workers dead in February last year.
China bird flu toll rises to 11
By IANS/EFE,
Beijing: The new strain of bird flu detected last month in eastern China has taken another victim in Shanghai, raising the toll to 11, authorities said.
Obama opens 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York
Washington : US President Barack Obama Thursday dedicated a Ground Zero museum commemorating the Sep 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the site of the...
Moscow wedding party detained over shooting
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Nine people travelling in a Moscow wedding procession face charges after one of them started firing off a gun, the police said Tuesday.
Former chief of Philippines Armed Forces commits suicide
By IANS,
Manila : The former chief of Philippines' Armed Forces Angelo Reyes shot himself Tuesday in front of his mother's grave at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City.
Brazil denies large-scale arms exports to Venezuela
By Xinhua
Rio de Janeiro : The Brazilian government has refuted charges by an opposition leader that it has been exporting weapons on a large scale to Venezuela.
Defence Minister Nelson Jobim Tuesday said the government had sold ammunition "in small amounts" to the neighbouring country through the foreign ministry last year in a transparent deal.
He did not reveal the size of the arms exports to Venezuela, but said all documentation on the transactions would be tabled in the country's senate.
Medvedev calls Georgian leader a ‘political corpse’
By DPA,
Moscow : Russia escalated the war of words over the Georgian conflict Tuesday, calling the former Soviet republic's political leadership "bankrupt".
"President Mikheil Saakashvili no longer exists for us - he's a political corpse," said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in an interview with Italian television RAI. The text of his comments was released by the Kremlin late Tuesday.
Medvedev emphasized Russia's willingness to help reconstruct in the two regions that were the source of the August conflict.
Japan’s Parliament Adopts Resolution On Pyongyang’s Rocket Launch
By BERNAMA,
TOKYO : Japanese parliament unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday urging Pyongyang to abstain from launching a rocket, according to Kyodo News.
The resolution adopted by the House of Councilors and the House of Representatives states that the launch would damage peace and stability not only in Japan but also in northeast Asia.
"This launch cannot be tolerated and Japan will demonstrate its firm protest against the notice of the launch," according to Kyodo News.
Concert lifts spirits in Haiti
By Jesus Sanchis, IANS/EFE,
Port-au-Prince : To the rhythm of the music, at a huge open-air concert, several thousand Haitians temporarily forgot about the tragedy that has gripped them since the Jan 12 earthquake that devastated the capital.
"It's a way of thanking God for the fact that we're alive," one of the concertgoers, Rene Maurice, 32, told EFE at Wednesday night's show, adding that all the Haitian musical traditions were present on the stage.
Ease Travel Restriction Of Refugees, Says Myanmar Exile Leaders
By D. Arul Rajoo, Bernama,
Bangkok : With over 10,000 people feared dead and millions made homeless by the Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, neighbouring countries like Thailand and Malaysia have been asked to provide humanitarian support by easing immigration rules to possible refugees, an exile leader said Tuesday.
Soe Aung, the spokesperson of the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) based in Thailand, said he could not rule out the possibility of thousands of people seeking refuge in other countries following the tropical cyclone that struck the military-ruled country.
Thai-Cambodia border meeting fails to meet breakthrough, but both promise no force
By Zhang Qiulai, Xinhua,
Bangkok : The special meeting of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) concluded Monday evening with both Thailand and Cambodia agreed not to use force to settle their dispute over the borderline near Preah Vihear Temple.
New round of North Korea nuclear talks opens
By DPA,
Beijing : Envoys from North Korea and five other nations began a new round of talks Monday here to persuade North Korea to quit its nuclear weapons programme.
Ahead of a meeting of the chief negotiators, delegates from the United States, China, Japan, Russia, North and South Korea started a series of bilateral talks.
Russia, Venezuela to Mine Together
By Jorge Petinaud, Prensa Latina,
Moscow : Russia and Venezuela are moving towards the creation of joint ventures in their mining industries, said Venezuela Deputy Minister of Basic Industry Jesus Paredes.
In remarks to journalists before leaving for Caracas, Paredes described as very fruitful his visit to Russia as part of a delegation led by Executive Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic, Ramon Carrizales.
Lawsuit dropped against director Berg
By IANS,
London : A lawsuit filed against “Hancock” director Peter Berg, alleging he played a part in the death of a golf cart driver, has been dropped.
Imdb.com reports that Berg was a passenger in a sport utility vehicle, which his assistant was driving, when the car struck the cart driven by 25-year-old Nick Papac in Arizona in August 2006.
The director was riding on a highway closed for the filming of his movie “The Kingdom”, where Papac worked as an assistant propmaster.
US stocks surge to five year high after Fed rate cut
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : As the US central bank hoping to avert a recession, cut short-term interests by an additional three-quarters of a point, to 2.25 percent, American stocks rocketed to their biggest gains in almost five and a half years.
With the move Tuesday, the Federal Reserve as the central bank is called, has lowered interest rates by a full three points since September, bringing it to the lowest point since late 2004.
Quake-hit Chinese students spend joyous time with Medvedev in Kremlin
By Yu Maofeng, Xinhua,
Moscow : As the special guests of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, 50 students from China's quake-hit Sichuan province Wednesday visited the glittering Andrew Hall of the Kremlin, and had a joyous time with the Russian president.
"I hope that you will make friends with more Russian children during your rehabilitation in our country," Medvedev said in his speech, describing the students as "little heroes" in the relief work following the devastating earthquake.
One dead in Greek tourist ship explosion
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Athens: One person died and five were injured in an explosion on a tourist ship near the island of Kos in the Aegean Sea, a spokesperson of the Greek coast guard said.
Obama speaks on fatherhood on Father’s Day
By Xinhua,
Beijing : U.S. presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama celebrated Father's Day by calling on black fathers to become more active in raising their children.
Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia, took part in Father's Day services near their house at the Apostolic Church of God -- a large, predominantly black church in the South Side of Chicago.
In his 30-minute speech, Obama spoke about the particular struggles of African Americans and noted that more than half of all black children live in single-parent households.
Obama announces sanctions on 11 Russian, Ukrainian officials
Washington : US President Barack Obama Monday announced sanctions against seven Russian and four Ukrainian officials after a referendum in Crimea, the White House...
Russia to build balanced nuclear missile force by 2050
By RIA Novosti,
Sevastopol (Russia): The Russian Navy is developing a concept of building a balanced nuclear missile force by 2050, the Russian Navy commander said Sunday.
"In our understanding, it is important to know exactly what the navy should be by the year 2050, proceeding from two things: it must be a balanced nuclear missile force and, secondly, it must comply with the state's national interests and economic possibilities," Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said on the occasion of Russia's Navy Day celebrated Sunday.
South Korea invites North Korea for security talks
Seoul : South Korean authorities on Friday invited North Korea security talks slated for September in Seoul, authorities said.
South Korea has asked the North...
Winter storm leaves thousands without electricity in France
By DPA,
Paris : Nearly 700,000 households remained without electricity in south-western France following the weekend's winter storm which killed at least nine people, French media reported Monday.
In addition, many of the stricken homes were also deprived of drinking water because the pumps were powered by electricity.
The head of the utility EDF, Pierre Gadonneix, said electric current would be restored to 90 percent of the households within a week.
Cambodia appoints former Thai PM as advisor
By IANS,
Phnom Penh : Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was appointed as economic advisor to the Cambodian government, officials said Wednesday.
He will also be a private advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Xinhua reported.
King Norodom Sihamoni has formally appointed Thaksin to the posts on Oct 27 at the request of prime minister and in accordance with the country's constitution, a government spokesman said Wednesday.
Thaksin has been living in self-exile in foreign countries since he was toppled from power in 2006.
Pope breaks silence on Tibet violence
By DPA
Rome : Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday expressed "sadness and pain in the face of so much suffering" in Tibet - his first reference to the clashes in the region over the last several days.
Earlier this week commentators in Italy and elsewhere had criticized the failure of the pontiff - particularly during his Sunday Angelus address in St. Peter's Square - to mention the violence.
But Benedict during his traditional Wednesday general audience at the Vatican said he had been "following with great trepidation the news coming these days from Tibet.
20 mn years old ape skull found in Uganda
By IANS,
Kampala : A 20 million years old ape skull has been discovered in northeastern Uganda, an official said here Tuesday.
Singapore enhances economic ties with Myanmar
By IANS,
Singapore, April 4 (IANS) Singapore is aiming to enhance economic ties with Myanmar by opening an overseas centre in Yangon to facilitate trade and investment, it was announced Thursday.
Hillary Clinton’s emails to be made public in January 2016
Washington : The US Department of State has proposed to the US District Court in Washington to make public official emails Hillary Clinton exchanged...
Russia hails EU readiness for free trade zone
By IANS,
Moscow: Moscow has welcomed the readiness shown by the European Union (EU) to create a free trade zone between the EU and Moscow-led...
21 killed in political violence in southern Philippines
By DPA,
Manila : Twenty-one people, including journalists, were killed Monday in an outbreak of political violence in the southern Philippines, the military said.
Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, a military spokesman, said troops recovered the bodies in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province, 930 km south of Manila.
Brawner said 13 of the victims were women and eight were men, but the identities were still being confirmed.
Buluan town Vice Mayor Ibrahim Mangudadatu said the victims included his wife, two sisters, three lawyers and several local journalists.
Three sacks with $1 mn seized in Colombia
By IANS/EFE,
Bogota : Colombian military stopped a ship on the high seas and found nearly $1 million in cash stuffed in three sacks, offcials have said.
Cash amounting to $840,460, a GPS device and five cell phones were found aboard the vessel that was stopped off Providencia Island in the Caribbean, the navy said Sunday.
G8 leaders agrees to halve greenhouse gas emission by 2050
By Xinhua,
Toyako, Japan : Leaders of the G8 countries have agreed on the long-term target of at least halving their greenhouse gas emission by 2050, participants of the G8 summit said Tuesday.
"A new, shared vision by the major economies on the climate challenge within the UNFCCC framework has emerged from the G8 in Toyako," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a statement shortly after the G8 working session in northern Japan.
International Crisis Group asks LTTE to give up separatism
By P.K. Balachandran, IANS
Colombo : An international peace advocacy group has asked the Tamil Tiger rebels to eschew terrorism, formally abandon separatism, and announce an intention to negotiate a political settlement within a united Sri Lanka.
The Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) in its latest report on Sri Lanka, called upon the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to "cease all attacks on civilians, suicide bombings, forced recruitment, and repression of media freedom and political dissent, and respect fully, international human rights and humanitarian law."
Most alligators remain paired to their mates for life
By IANS,
Washington : Almost 70 percent of female alligators chose to remain with their partner, often for many years, a new study has revealed.
The 10-year-study was conducted by scientists from the Savannah River Ecology Lab (SREL) in North Carolina.
The team, led by Travis Glenn, Ruth Elsey, Tracey Tuberville and Stacey Lance, spent a decade examining the mating system of alligators living at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge (RWR).
Scrap homework, says British school, sparks debate
London, Sep 30 (IANS) How to lighten a school kid's burden? No heavy book loads, no stressful teaching, no caning, no lunch boxes thanks to free meals. And now, no homework.
The unending British search for making students' lives more profitable in schools has thrown up the suggestion of doing away with homework, sparking off a debate on where to draw the line.
More than 100 New Zealanders move to Australia daily
By DPA,
Wellington : More than 100 New Zealanders emigrated to neighbouring Australia every day in the 12 months ending March 31, according to official statistics released Monday.
A total of 38,738 citizens left the country permanently to settle in Australia, the biggest number since 2001, Statistics New Zealand said.
When the number of New Zealanders returning home from Australia is taken into account, there was a net outflow of 30,219 in the year.
Net immigration from all countries for the 12 months is 4,678, down from 12,081 in 2006-07.
Security tightened in Tibet for Olympic torch relay
By Xinhua
Lhasa : Authorities in Tibet Sunday alerted all administrative departments and asked them to take adequate security measures during the Olympic torch relay in the region.
The region's Communist Party chief Zhang Qingli during a meeting said order has been restored to the capital after violent March 14 protests by Tibetans, but warned the Dalai clique was plotting for more subversion.
He urged all departments involved to spare no efforts to pre-empt any possible incident during the torch relay through the region.
ADB pulls out of Nepal’s biggest development project
By IANS
Kathmandu : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tuesday pulled out of Nepal's largest development project, saying it would not be able to meet the deadline.
British govt silent about future of 1 bln pounds helicopter project
By ANTARA News,
Farnborough, England : The British government on Tuesday remained tight-lipped about the future of a one billion pounds military helicopter programme, which industry observers believe could become the victim of defence spending cuts.
Defence equipment & support minister Baroness Ann Taylor declined to respond to questions asked by journalists at the Farnborough Air Show about the Future Lynx battlefield reconnaissance helicopter programme.
IMF says Sri Lanka is economically strong
By NNN-Lk News
Colombo : International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed satisfaction over the present economic situation in Sri Lanka.
These observations were made at a meeting, the representatives of IMF, had with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday at the Temple Trees.
Monetary Reformative activities and multi purpose economic policies, adopted by the Government and the mutual relation prevailing between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank were also commented by them.
Environmentalists slam G8’s 50/50 deal on climate change
By DPA,
Toyako (Japan) : Environmentalist groups slammed Tuesday's Group of Eight (G8) agreement to at least halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, saying the deal was too little too late.
"The G8 have failed the world again. While the Artic is melting, the G8 are postponing action. Instead of climate protection, the world got nothing but flowery words. If this is a step forward, we will never prevent climate chaos in time," said Daniel Mittler, a climate expert at Greenpeace.
South Korea’s central bank leaves interest rates unchanged
By IANS,
Seoul : The Bank of Korea (BOK) left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.25 percent Thursday.
Half of US children will use food stamps: study
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Nearly half of American children, including some 90 percent of black children and an equal number of children growing in single-parent households, will eat meals paid for by food stamps at some point, according to a new study.
More than 35.8 million Americans used food stamps, officially known as the US Department of Agriculture's Nutrition Assistance Programme, in July - nearly 6.8 million more than a year earlier.
Prachanda’s expanded cabinet
By IANS,
Kathmandu : The following is the complete list of the members of Nepal's cabinet headed by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" and their portfolios:
1st Deputy Prime Minister: Bamdev Gautam (Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist - "UML")
Deputy Prime Minister: Baburam Bhattarai (Maoist)
Deputy Prime Minister: Upendra Yadav (Madhesi Janadhikar Forum - "MJF")
Maoist ministers:
Baburam Bhattarai: Finance
Spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara: Information and communications
Dev Gurung: Law and legislature
Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar: Defence
At Canada hearing, banned Sikh group leader denies violence
Toronto : A British Sikh man, who is facing deportation from Canada, admitted at an immigration hearing here that he was once part of...
US Senate passes historic financial overhaul bill
By IANS,
Washington : In a major victory, the US Senate has passed a sweeping financial regulatory bill, marking a milestone of the nation's biggest overhaul of financial regulations since the 1930s.
The landmark legislation, which aims to reshape both Washington and Wall Street, was passed Thursday by a vote of 59 to 39, with a few Republicans crossing the aisle to join the vast majority of Democratic senators in support of the bill, Xinhua reported.
South Africa calls on NAM to fight against slavery
By IANS,
Tehran : South Africa Wednesday called on the member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to intensify their fight against the new forms of slavery such as human trafficking.
Speaking at the 15th NAM ministerial conference in Tehran, South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said human trafficking among other forms of slavery was "totally unacceptable and we should fight it using all our might", BuaNews agency reported.
1,000 South Asian migrants reach Sumatran shores
Bangkok : Some 1,000 Rohingyas and Bangladeshi migrants arrived safely in Sumatra, Indonesia, on Friday after receiving help from fishermen, officials reported.
The director of...
US wanted tougher UK interrogation in Iraq, inquiry told
By IRNA,
London : The US wanted British forces to adopt tougher interrogation techniques in Iraq even though they were already using methods officially banned by the government, the UK's most senior military intelligence officer in Iraq has suggested.
Lieutenant Colonel Ewan Duncan said he warned that the US was expressing concern about the ineffectiveness of British interrogation methods just as an Iraqi civilian died in British custody.
Sarkozy offers Haiti millions in aid and debt relief
By DPA,
Paris/Port-au-Prince : French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince that France would give the earthquake-ravaged country 326 million euros ($450 million) in reconstruction aid.
That amount includes a cancellation of Haiti's debt to France of 56 million euros, the French president said during his brief visit to the Caribbean nation.
On his arrival, Sarkozy was greeted by his Haitian counterpart, Rene Preval, and the two leaders then flew by helicopter over the devastated areas.
Chicago Accident Causes Still Unclear
By Prensa Latina,
Washington : US authorities lack evidence of the causes of an accident in a train station in Chicago, where two people died and more than 20 resulted injured, the CNN television network reported on Saturday.
The source quoted statements by local Police Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson, who considered insufficient the information available about the incident on Friday, when a trailer truck hit the station.
We can only speak about a tragic event for now, he said.
Ukraine to host NATO-led Sea Breeze drills despite protests
By RIA Novosti,
Kiev : A NATO-led tactical exercise will be held in Ukraine on July 14-26 despite possible protests from locals opposed to the country's drive to join the alliance, Ukraine's defense minister said on Wednesday.
"Sea Breeze will take place regardless of any protests," Yuriy Yekhanurov told a government meeting.
Sea Breeze 2008 is a multinational military exercise led by the U.S. and Ukraine, which has been held annually since 1997.
South and North Koreas agree on defence talks
By Xinhua
Seoul : South Korea and North Korea Monday agreed to hold defence ministerial talks Nov 27-29 in Pyongyang, the defence ministry here announced.
The agreement came after working-level military talks between the two sides were held at the truce village of Panmunjom. Col. Moon Sung-mook leads South Korean Army delegation, and his North Korean counterpart is Col. Pak Rim-su.
However, the ministry did not disclose detailed agenda for the talks.
6.7 magnitude quake hits Indonesia
By IANS,
Jakarta: An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia's Kepulauan Aru region Friday, Xinhua reported. There were no immediate reports of any casualty or damage.
Suicide blast kills 12 police personnel amid Sri Lanka fighting
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : At least 12 police personnel were killed and 23 wounded when a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber riding a motorbike blew himself opposite the office of a senior police officer in the northern Sri Lankan town of Vavuniya, military sources said.
The bomber, from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), drove close to the police station and triggered a massive blast targeting police personnel leaving the senior superintendent's office for routine deployment around 7.10 a.m. Monday.
Seize chance for peace, Britain urges Sri Lanka
By DPA,
London : Sri Lanka has an "historic opportunity" to build a lasting peace after defeating the rebel Tamil Tigers but first it must tackle a grave humanitarian crisis, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Tuesday.
He called for aid agencies to be allowed full access to camps for civilians displaced by the conflict and said Sri Lanka's government had to be "magnanimous in victory".
Miliband rejected accusations that Britain - the former colonial power - supported the rebels, known formally as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
OPEC oil price gains $0.60
By DPA,
Vienna : The price for oil produced by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) increased by another $0.60 Monday, the cartel announced Tuesday.
Rising for the fourth day in a row, one barrel (159 litres) of OPEC-produced crude ended the day at $42.64 Monday.
OPEC calculates its basket price based on 12 brands produced by its members.
New regulations allow disabled to drive vehicles in China
By IANS,
Beijing : Around 28 million partially disabled people are heaving a sigh of relief in China as the government's new regulations will allow them to drive vehicles from Thursday.
The newly-revised regulations on driver's licence allow, for the first time, disabled people who are able to sit by themselves despite being paralysed from the waist down to acquire a licence for adapted vehicles, China Daily reported.
The regulations also permit hearing-impaired people to drive if they can hear adequately using a hearing aid.
Blast kills three in northern Sri Lanka
By Xinhua
Colombo : Three government soldiers were killed and three more injured in a claymore mine explosion triggered by Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka's northern Vavuniya district Monday morning, defence officials said.
Officials from the ministry of defence said two soldiers and a Home Guard were killed when a military vehicle was blown up in the explosion in Madukanda around 9:45 a.m.
Vavuniya is one of the major battlefields in the north witnessing escalating conflict between government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
China to resume building nuclear plants
By IANS,
Beijing : China is to resume construction of new nuclear power stations, suspended since the Fukushima disaster in Japan in March 2011, China Daily reported Thursday.
Indonesian quake kills 200
By DPA,
Jakarta : At least 200 people were killed and many were still trapped under collapsed buildings one day after a powerful earthquake struck Indonesia's West Sumatra province, officials said Thursday.
"The death toll may increase because there are many people still trapped in buildings, shops and hotels," said Priyadi Handoko from the National Agency for Disaster Management in the capital Jakarta.
"We have received reports that up to 200 people were killed in the quake in West Sumatra," Handoko said, adding that at least 500 buildings were destroyed in the quake.
Fire damages 99-year-old varsity building in China
By IANS,
Beijing : A fire broke out in a 99-year-old building at Tsinghua University that was built on the site of a former royal garden here.
Fire in German building kills nine
By DPA
Ludwigshafen (Germany) : At least nine people were killed and some 60 injured when a fire broke out in a four-storey building in the southwestern German city of Ludwigshafen, the police said Monday.
Among the dead in the fire, which broke out Sunday afternoon, were five children, the police said.
Rescue services found eight bodies when they arrived, and another person died later in hospital, the officials said, adding that some of the injured were in very critical condition.
China’s quake lake shrinks as drainage starts
By Xinhua,
Mianyang (China) : China Tuesday achieved a “decisive victory” by successfully draining water from the quake lake through the sluice channels and reducing the risk of flood to downstream areas, a senior official said.
Half of the water from the Tangjiashan quake lake has been discharged and the number of people under threat has dropped from 1.3 million to less than 50,000 by Tuesday evening, Liu Qibao, Communist Party chief of the province, said.
Six Arrested For Raising Rebellious Flag In Indonesian Province
By Bernama,
Jakarta : Indonesian police have detained six people for raising up separatist flag in easternmost province of West Papua in Indonesia at the weekend, National police spokesman Sulistyo said Monday.
The spokesman said that the six out of 46 people questioned by the police on Saturday, had been detained and allegedly involved in the hoisting of the flag known as "Bintang Kejora or Morning Star" in the province.
"The six persons were accused of involving a subversive act, by raising the flag," Sulistyo told China's Xinhua news agency on Monday.
Sri Lankans arrested for poaching
By IANS,
Chennai : Six Sri Lankan fishermen caught poaching in Indian waters were arrested Monday by the Coast Guard and remanded to judicial custody, official sources said.
Their mechanised boat was seized. The men were from Trincomalee in Sri Lanka's east.
"Preliminary interrogation reveals that they had no links to terrorist activity and were merely fishing in our waters," R. Sabaratnam, a police official who took the suspects to prison, told IANS.
US stocks plunge as Fed moves fail to calm investors
By DPA,
Washington : US stocks fell sharply again Tuesday as investors remained unconvinced that new lending avenues created by the Federal Reserve would unblock credit to the struggling US economy.
The three major stock indices each fell more than 5 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 500 points and the broader S&P 500 dropped below 1,000 points for the first time in five years.
Asian Americans face stereotyping, despite success
By IANS
New York : Being a model minority is clearly good, but it has its disadvantages too, a new study says.
A set of four studies, published in the latest issue of the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, takes a close look at the Asian American community in the US, which includes Indian Americans, to arrive at this conclusion.
Militant activity on rise in Russia’s Dagestan region
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Militant activity in southwest Russia's Dagestan region has experienced a significant upswing in the past week, according to the Interior Ministry.
Nepal army faces charge of violating peace pact
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's army, once under fire for severe human rights violations during the Maoist insurgency, is now at the centre of a raging row once more with both the Maoist guerrilla army and the UN accusing it of violating the peace pact.
The Royal Nepal Army, which was renamed Nepal Army (NA) two years ago to indicate it was no longer controlled by the disgraced royal family of Nepal, pledged to obey the new government that replaced King Gyanendra's regime in 2006 and abide by democratic norms.
India, US discuss partnership articulated by Modi, Obama
By Arun Kumar
Washington : Indian and US officials have reviewed ongoing efforts to implement the bilateral partnership that US President Barack Obama and Indian...
Al-Azhar’s Cairo Declaration for peace between Muslims & Christians must be welcomed by all
By Sufyan Abdul Sathar for Twocircles.net
A few days back, Cairo witnessed a historical and promising event. A two-day conference on ‘Freedom and Citizenship; Diversity...
Dancers beat off carbon dioxide
By IANS
Bali : The dancers were from Bali, the dance form was Brazilian Capoeira - a combat dance. And they were fighting black balloons with CO2 (carbon dioxide) written on them. And at end the dancers won.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) organised the event Saturday at the entrance to the Bali International Convention Centre where over 10,000 delegates from 187 countries are attending the Dec 3-14 UN climate change conference.
Defying stigma, holding hope, HIV positive sex workers run eatery
By Maitreyee Boruah, IANS,
Mysore : Ashodaya seems like any other Karnataka restaurant with its menu of idlis, vadas and dosas, but it is different. From cooking to serving to managing, everything is done by HIV positive male, female and transgender sex workers.
This small eatery in Mysore, about 140 km from Bangalore, is competely managed by 12 HIV positive sex workers and has been attracting a steady stream of customers since October when it began. It was, however, formally inaugurated on Dec 1 - World AIDS Day.
Kenyan Muslim cleric shot dead
Nairobi : A prominent Muslim Kenyan cleric, accused by the United States and UN Security Council of supporting the Somali rebel group Al-Shabab, has been killed on the Kenyan coast, a police officer at the scene and a witness said.
Two killed, eight wounded in renewed Somalia fighting
Mogadishu, (Xinhua) Heavy fighting between Somali government forces and insurgents have left at least two people dead and eight wounded including two children after shells landed in different neighbourhoods in the south and north of the Somali capital, witnesses said.
"Two men were killed when a shell fell onto the outdoor bar where they were having tea," said Jeilani Hassan, a taxi driver who took two of the wounded to Keysaney Hospital in the north of the city Tuesday. "Six people were wounded by the shell."
Kenya urges UN to tackle food crisis, Nigerian piracy
By Xinhua,
Nairobi : Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has asked the United Nations to mobilise resources to tackle global problems, including high food prices and rampant piracy along the coast of Somalia.
A statement from the presidential press service said Kibaki called on the UN to help in coordinating efforts to stabilise global food prices and ensure an efficient movement of food from surplus to deficit nations.
North Korea a threat to international peace: Obama
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama Monday condemned North Korea as a "threat to international peace and security", after the regime in Pyongyang announced it had conducted a new nuclear test.
The reclusive regime was also said to have test-fired a short-range missile.
The White House put out an immediate statement from Obama in which he called the country's actions "a matter of grave concern to all nations".
India’s human rights record to be discussed at US Capitol
Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2016 - 3:00pm
Location: 1334 Longworth House Office Building
By TwoCircles.net special correspondent
Washington DC: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet again...
Obama confident as BP begins final step
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama said the long struggle to cap a gushing oil well in the Gulf of Mexico appeared "just about over," as oil company BP this week embarked on its final push to permanently plug the leak.
BP Plc said Monday that a relief well, which has been drilling its way towards the leaking reservoir for more than three months, could finish its work Sunday by injecting cement near the bottom of the ruptured well.
2,700-year-old human skeletons found in Mexico
By IANS,
Mexico City : Archaeologists claimed to have discovered a tomb with four skeletal remains dating back some 2,700 years in the ruins of a Mexican pyramid.
The tomb at the ancestral site of Zoque ethnicity in southeastern state of Chiapas, "consists of the skeletons of four individuals, two of them wearing jade, along with ceramics and other objects prized by the culture of the period", the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said.
Six in Mexico get 25-30 years in jail for abortion
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Six Mexican women have been sentenced 25-30 years in prison on homicide charges for terminating their pregnancies.
The women have already served between three to eight years of their 25 to 30 year sentences handed down by state courts in Guanajuato state, activists said.
Veronica Cruz, director of the Centro Las Libres, which provides assistance to over 160 women facing abortion-related charges, said the organisation would appeal to the federal judiciary.
Philippines starts rehabilitation projects in typhoon-hit areas
By Xinhua,
Manila : Philippine government said on Sunday it has begun implementing recovery and rehabilitation projects for people hit by typhoon "Fengshen" last month, according to a report by the official Philippines News Agency.
The government will concentrate on the projects in the provinces of southern Tagalog, Bicol and Iloilo in central Philippines, which were worst hit by the typhoon, said the report.
US destroyer arrives in Georgian port with aid
By DPA,
Moscow : The first US naval vessel carrying relief supplies arrived in the Georgian port of Batumi Sunday, the Russian Interfax news agency reported in Moscow on the basis of information from Georgia.
The US destroyer USS McFaul passed the Bosphorus Friday evening, accompanied by a Polish naval vessel.
Two more US naval vessels are scheduled to pass the straits off Istanbul headed for the Georgian coast in the coming days.
The Russian military has criticized the presence of NATO naval vessels in the Black Sea given the conflict in Georgia.
China premier chides Hong Kong leader
By DPA,
Hong Kong : Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Monday publicly chided Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang over "deep-rooted conflicts" in the city and told him to be more effective in tackling them.
The remarks, made during Tsang's annual duty visit to Beijing, come as the Hong Kong government faces opposition as it tries to push through electoral reforms in the former British colony.
Pro-democracy legislators say the reforms do not go far enough towards universal suffrage and Beijing has shown increasing frustration at Tsang's hesitant handling of the issue.
Bush, Merkel discuss Russia-Georgia relations
By RIA Novosti,
Washington : A meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush Germany's chancellor on Wednesday touched on Russia-Georgia relations and the risk of instability to in region, a deputy assistant to the president told reporters.
Judy Ansley said "On Georgia, they talked about the risk of escalation in the region because of the Russian provocations since April, and talked about ways that they could work together to reduce tensions in the region."
Hariri’s allies pledge to install Lebanese president soon
By DPA
Beirut : The allies of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who gathered here to commemorate his third death anniversary Thursday, intensified their position against the opposition led by Hezbollah, and vowed that Lebanon would soon have a consensus president.
"No matter what the consequences will be, we will have a president soon," Saad Hariri, son of the late premier and head of the ruling majority, told the huge crowd at a mass rally in downtown Beirut.
Seoul hopes US-China summit can sway North Korea
By DPA,
Seoul : South Korea said Monday that it hoped upcoming Sino-US talks could help put pressure on North Korea abandoning its nuclear weapons programme and improve inter-Korean relations.
Chinese man executed for killing six police officers
By Xinhua,
Shanghai : A Chinese man, convicted in a case of killing six police officers here, was executed Wednesday by administration of a lethal injection with the approval of the Supreme People's Court.
Yang Jia, 28, an unemployed Beijing resident, stormed into a Shanghai police station July 1 and stabbed six police officers to death. Another three policemen and one security guard were injured in the attack.
Yang was sentenced to death Sep 1 by the Shanghai Intermediate People's Court. He later appealed his sentence but lost.
Fresh tug of war for power begins in Nepal
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Close on the heels of an election that saw the rout of Nepal's two big ruling parties and a stunning victory for the Maoists, a new tug of war for power has begun between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Nepali Congress (NC) and the former guerrillas.
With the Maoists winning 220 seats in the 601-member constituent assembly and the NC reduced to half of that, the former rebels have begun consultations with other parties for a coalition government to be led by their chairman Prachanda.
US retires F-117 stealth fighter after 27 years
By Xinhua
Washington : The US Air Force bid farewell to F-117, the world's first attack aircraft employing stealth technology, after it served for 27 years.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, which manages the F-117 programme, hosted an informal retirement ceremony with military leaders, base employees and representatives from Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico Tuesday.
Rajapaksa condemns minister’s killing
By P. Karunakharan, IANS
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa condemned the killing of his senior cabinet minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle in a suspected suicide attack Sunday, calling it as "an act of savagery".
At least 12 people and over 90 wounded were killed in a powerful bomb blast in Gampaha district. The incident took place at Waliweriya in the Western province, about 30 km from here.
"I emphatically and unequivocally condemn the cowardly assassination of Fernandopulle by the terrorists of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," Rajapaksa said in a statement.
Indian fisherman killed by Sri Lankan Navy
By IANS,
Chennai: An Indian fisherman was killed and several others were injured by the Sri Lankan Navy close to the Tamil Nadu coast, police said Thursday.
Eight Indian fishermen, belonging to Vellakuppam village near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district, around 350 km from here, were fishing in two boats when the Sri Lankan naval personnel boarded one of the boats and tried to seize the catch and the nets, a police officer said.
When the Indian fishermen protested, the Sri Lankan navy personnel attacked them, killing Chellappan and injuring seven others, the officer added.
AIG to get additional $30 bn aid from US government
By Xinhua,
New York : US insurance company American International Group (AIG) will receive an additional $30 billion in federal assistance as part of the latest revamp of its bailout by the US government, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
The new funding is intended to support AIG as it absorbs $60 billion in quarterly losses and operational and competitive upheaval.
Under the plan, the insurer will repay much of the $40 billion it owes the Federal Reserve loan with equity stakes in two AIG units overseas.
India condemns Israeli attacks in Gaza
By IANS,
New Delhi : India Monday condemned the Israeli attacks in Palestine saying it was "disappointing" to note that the use of "disproportionate force" has resulted in a large number of civilian casualties in Gaza.
A statement by the ministry of external affairs said: "This continued use of indiscriminate force is unwarranted and condemnable."
"It is disappointing that the use of disproportionate force was resulting in a large number of civilian casualties one one hand and escalating violence on the other.
India n-deal may support 250,000 American jobs: US chamber
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The powerful US Chamber of Commerce has come out in strong support of the India-US civil nuclear deal, saying a modest share of the potential $150 billion business could support 250,000 high-tech American jobs.
Asking the US Congress to approve the implementing 123 Agreement before its term expires by the end of this year, the "world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector and region" said the deal offered US companies a "tremendous opportunity".
China’s super-rich only second to US
By IANS,
Beijing: China's super-rich have bounced back from the financial crisis, and the country now has more known dollar billionaires than any other nation except the US, a study released Tuesday said.
The annual Hurun Report said China has 130 known dollar billionaires, up from 101 last year. The number in the US is 359, while Russia has 32 and India 24, according to Forbes magazine.
China's rich are getting richer, with the average wealth on the list $571 million, up almost one-third from last year, China Daily said citing compiler of the report Rupert Hoogewerf.
Russia, NATO fail to overcome gaps
By Zhang bihong, Xinhua
Bucharest : Russia and NATO failed to make headway in overcoming gaps on thorny issues at their first ever Council Summit on Friday, despite a transit deal was forged.
The two traditional foes have had long sharply disagreed on substantial matters such as the military alliance eastward expansion, Kosovo and a Cold War-time arms control treaty.
A U.S. plan of deploying missile defense system, which was endorsed by a NATO summit on Thursday, is another concern of Russia, which has regarded it threat to its security.
Police mutiny in west Nepal over rations
By DPA,
Kathmandu : A group of armed policemen mutinied in a barrack in west Nepal over inferior quality of rations and held several officers hostage, media reports said Monday.
About 200 lower rank policemen of the Armed Police Force beat officers and were holding them inside their barracks in the town of Nepalgunj, about 400 km west of the Nepali capital, Kantipur newspaper reported.
China gets big foothold in Canadian oil sector
By IANS,
Toronto : The Chinese got another major foothold in the Canadian energy market Thursday with a billion-dollar cash deal with the energy major Penn West Energy Trust. Canada holds the second largest reserves of oil after Saudi Arabia, and is the biggest energy provider for the US.
Penn West is one of the largest oil and natural gas producers in North America, and the China Investment Corp is wholly owned by the Chinese government.
Many Sri Lankan women are harassed in public transport
By IANS,
Colombo : Many Sri Lankan women travelling in public transport face some form of "sexual harassment" mainly in the cosmopolitan areas, a media report quoting a research study said Sunday.
According to the report, a study conducted by the Legal Aid Commission has "found that two out of every five women experienced some form of sexual harassment on buses and trains".
Venezuela accuses US of sponsoring plan to kill Chavez
By DPA,
Caracas : The Venezuelan government Thursday accused the US of sponsoring a plan to assassinate President Hugo Chavez, hours after he ordered an investigation into a military conspiracy to overthrow him.
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said Caracas had no doubt of Washington's involvement in the plot and would file formal complaints against the US in international fora.
"As investigations move on we will get to see to what extent (the US) was involved," Maduro said.
Aamir, Nepal PM discuss malnutrition in South Asia
By Anil Giri,
Kathmandu : Though some substantive achievement has been made in the region for overall development of children, compared with developed nations, South...
Ex-Georgian PM found guilty of violence against protesters
Tbilisi: The Tbilisi City Court Thursday declared Georgia's former prime minister Vano Merabishvili guilty of exceeding official power and of violently breaking up opposition...
US offers India $170 mn deal for sale of 24 harpoon missiles
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : The US has offered India a $170 million deal for the sale of two dozen Harpoon air to ground anti-ship missiles to modernise its air force anti-surface warfare mission capabilities and improve its naval operational flexibility.
The Pentagon announced the possible sale of the Harpoon missiles to India as Defence minister A K Antony met his US counterpart Robert Gates Tuesday "to discuss ways to deepen the bilateral security cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest."
Nepal’s ethnic party threatens poll boycott
By DPA
Kathmandu : An ethnic party in Nepal, the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), threatened to boycott a key election in April if its demands for autonomy were not met, media reports said Tuesday.
The warning came as an indefinite strike called by the group in southern Nepal entered its seventh day, paralysing the supply of essential goods, including fuel and food to the rest of the country.
US Army suicides peaked in 2008
By DPA,
Washington : Suicides in the US Army reached their highest level in decades in 2008, with more than 125 soldiers taking their lives despite efforts to improve psychological care.
The Army released a report Thursday showing that 128 soldiers committed suicide last year, and that number could climb because there are 15 cases that remain under investigation. There were 115 suicides in 2007.
The numbers increased for the fourth year in a row despite sweeping improvements to identify and treat soldiers exhibiting suicidal behaviour.
Rwanda genocide victims demand justice
Kigali: The survivors of the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rwanda appealed Sunday to Western countries to apprehend genocide fugitives ahead of Monday's event to...
Diplomat’s ‘Israel model’ statement exposes RSS bigotry as official Indian policy, say Indian Americans
By Newsdesk, TwoCircles.net
The Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA), a broad coalition of Indian American organizations across the United States, has called out an...
English test must for non-EU migrants who settle in Britain
By Venkata Vemuri, IANS,
London : The English language test announced by the British government for all non-European migrants applying to come to Britain to join or marry their settled partner will become compulsory from Nov 29 this year.
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) Monday announced that from this date, any migrant who wants to enter or remain in the country as the partner of a British citizen or a person settled here will need to show that they can speak and understand English, by taking an English language test with one of the test providers approved by the agency..
Indian American body raises $120,000 for child trafficking victims
By IANS
Washington : A non-profit organisation led by Indian Americans has raised over $120,000 for a shelter, 'Haven of Freedom', for victims of child trafficking.
France calls Greek proposal ‘serious and credible’
Paris : French President Francois Hollande voiced his optimism for the Eurogroup to reach an agreement over Greece's bailout based on the economic program...
3 held in Britain for ‘bomb threat’ on Dubai-bound plane
BY IANS,
London: Three British passengers aboard a Dubai-bound flight were arrested for allegedly threatening to blow up the aircraft while it was ready for take-off from Heathrow airport here, police said Saturday.
Police boarded the Emirates flight and arrested the passengers, understood to be English, after a verbal threat was made to blow up the plane as it taxied along the runway, said Cameron McLean a passenger on the Boeing 777.
Three men, aged 58, 48 and 36, have been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat, Sky News reported quoting metropolitan police.
Australia To Send More Troops To Timor-Leste: Rudd
CANBERRA, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced here Monday that he would send more troops and police to Timor-Leste after the shooting attack on the country's President Jose Ramos-Horta early Monday morning, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
Rudd said Australia would boost its Australian Defence Force deployment to Timor-Leste, where about 800 Australian troops are already on peacekeeping duties.
North Korean leader’s youngest son to succeed him
By DPA,
Seoul : North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has designated his youngest son Kim Jong Un as his successor, South Korean lawmakers were told Tuesday.
Members of South Korea's National Assembly and intelligence community were informed by the government of "such ongoings (of succession), and that they (the North Koreans) make loyalty pledges to Kim Jong Un", opposition lawmaker Park Jie Won was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency.
US abuzz with ‘wedding of the century’
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
New York: The picturesque small town of Rhinebeck, about 150 km from here, is all abuzz for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton's marriage Saturday billed as the "wedding of the decade" and "wedding of the century" by a frenzied media.
On the eve of the "top-secret" wedding of the daughter of former first couple Bill and Hillary Clinton, tiny Rhinebeck is undergoing a transformation from a sleepy little town to media Mecca.
Horse’s tragic death cancels royal ceremon
By IANS,
London : A royal gun salute marking the Queen's coronation was cancelled after an Army horse died accidentally while participating in the ceremony.
UN mulls deployment of 3,000 new troops in Congo
By DPA,
New York : The UN Security Council was considering the deployment of an additional 3,000 military and police personnel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, diplomats said Wednesday.
The extra troops were to man a separation zone between the warring parties in eastern Congo, where fighting has disrupted entire areas and displaced tens of thousands of Congolese.
The UN mission in Congo (MONUC) comprises more than 17,000 military troops, who are stretched thin in the vast Congolese territory.
Arrested suspects planned to attack Pakistani city
Islamabad: Two alleged members of a banned outfit have been arrested for planning to stage attacks in Pakistan's Lahore city, police said.
During a routine...
54 die in Venezuela prison riot
By IANS,
Caracas: At least 54 people were killed and 88 injured Friday in a prison riot in northwest Venezuela, media reports said.
Iran, US cooperation against IS unlikely: official
Tehran: Cooperation between Iran and the US in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) is impossible, a senior Iranian military commander said Friday.
"Such...
Run to support fight against kidney disease
By IANS
New York : The third Zayed International marathon to mobilise public support for the fight against kidney diseases was kicked off here Saturday.
Search for missing jet switches to human sighting
Canberra : The search for objects possibly related to the missing Malaysian airliner Friday changed from radar detection to visual sightings, the Australian Maritime...
After Kilinochchi, fall of Elephant Pass imminent: Military
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : Hot on the heels of dealing a body blow to the Tamil Tigers by capturing their politico-military power centre of Kilinochchi, the Sri Lankan troops Sunday were engaged in fierce battles with the rebels to capture the next major landmark, the Elephant Pass in the north, military sources here said.
Kilinochchi town is located 350 km north of here. And Elephant Pass, lying about 12 km away from Kilinochchi on the Jaffna-Kandy main highway, is the isthmus to the northern Jaffna peninsula.
Medvedev praises Sarkozy’s role in South Ossetia ceasefire
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday that his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy played a "big role in solving the Georgian-South Ossetian crisis", the Kremlin said in a statement.
As Russia marked the anniversary of the start of hostilities between Georgia and Russia in the former Georgian republic of South Ossetia Aug 8, Medvedev said in a message to the French leader that the Aug 12 ceasefire agreement, brokered by Sarkozy, remains the only "code of conduct" in force in the Caucasus region.
New home sales in US rose in November
By IANS/EFE,
Washington : Sales of new homes in the US rose 1.6 percent between October and November to reach an annualized rate of 315,000, authorities said Friday.
Russian “chessboard killer” sentenced to life in prison
By Xinhua
Moscow : A Russian court Monday sentenced Alexander Pichushkin, a supermarket worker known as the "Bitsa Maniac," to life in prison for murdering 48 people and attempting to murder three others.
Pichushkin, 33, pleaded guilty to 60 murders and three attempted murders. In fact, he has claimed to have killed more people as part of a bizarre fantasy of having a victim for each of the 64 squares on a chessboard.
Key senators nearing compromise on US climate legislation
By DPA,
Washington : Three key US senators has said they had the outlines of a compromise on far-reaching climate legislation that has been stalled for weeks in the Senate.
Senators John Kerry, a Democrat, Joe Lieberman, an Independent, and Lindsey Graham, a Republican, released a four-page "framework" that they said would help wean the US off its dependence on foreign energy sources and protect the economy.
Pakistan wants to involve Islamic group on Kashmir, criticises SAARC ‘regional domination’
By Arul Louis
United Nations: Pakistan launched a thinly veiled criticism of India over the functioning of SAARC as it tried to involve the Organisation...
Pakistan carries out 150 executions in 6 months
Islamabad : Pakistan has executed approximately 150 "criminals" over the past six months amidst concerns that those executed may have been tortured into making...
Vatican defends wartime pope’s beatification
By IANS/AKI,
Vatican City : The Vatican has defended its moves towards making Pope Pius XII a saint saying that they reflected the controversial wartime pontiff's piety, not his "historical impact".
Responding to widespread Jewish criticism over the moves, the Vatican Wednesday said Pius XII would not be beatified at the same time as Pope John Paul II.
Chris Brown meets domestic violence victims
By IANS,
Los Angeles: Singer Chris Brown has met parents and children affected by domestic violence during an event he co-hosted with the NGO Jenesse Center.