People sympathise when someone has same problem as a friend
By IANS,
Washington : People tend to be more sympathetic to others suffering from the same misfortune as a friend, a new study has found.
Authors Deborah A. Small and Uri Simonsohn from the University of Pennsylvania examined the driving forces behind the phenomenon where people become more sympathetic when a friend or loved one falls ill or suffers some other misfortune.
Seven die in China blast
By IANS,
Beijing : Seven people were killed and 31 injured Monday when a massive explosion rocked a fast food restaurant in northwest China, authorities said.
Indian origin woman leader in Trinidad poll fray
By Paras Ramoutar, IANS,
Port-of-Spain : A million people will vote in the general election in Trinidad and Tobago May 24 that will decide the fate of Prime Minister Patrick Manning's ruling party and opposition alliances, one of which is led by Indian-origin woman politician Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
Constitutionally, elections are due by October 2012. This is the first time that any government is going to the polls before its due date.
Expelled student leads attack on Indian priest in Nepal
By IANS,
Kathmandu: A 40-year-old priest from India's Jharkhand state, teaching underprivileged children in Nepal for almost a decade, has been attacked by a group led by an expelled student.
Sanjay Ekka, who comes from Jaspur village in eastern India's mineral-rich Chhotanagpur plateau and belongs to the underprivileged Oraon tribe, joined the Society of Jesuits, the group of Catholic priests who have played a leading role in spreading education in India and Nepal, in 1994.
Rice to Visit South Korea for Presidential Inauguration
By SPA
Washington : U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to attend next month’s inauguration of the next South Korean President-elect, a U.S. official said on Thursday.
Rice, who will attend the ceremony for Lee Myung-bak in Seoul, would also make other stops in the region during her trip, according to the official. The inauguration is scheduled to take place on February 25, 2008.
Rice’s trip comes amid an effort by the United States to revive the deal under which North Korea agreed to give up nuclear arms in exchange for economic and diplomatic aid.
Sri Lanka’s ruling party records landslide victory
By DPA,
Colombo : Sri Lanka's ruling party Friday recorded a landslide victory in local polls, further strengthening President Mahinda Rajapaksa's grip on power.
Delegates return from climate talks with more homework
By Joydeep Gupta, IANS,
Bonn: Over 4,000 delegates from 183 countries gathered for the June 1-12 conclave in preparation for a climate summit in Copenhagen this December ended their talks Friday with a draft treaty four times larger than what they started with, indicating the differences on how to tackle the global menace.
As veto stays, Bush seeks compromise on Iraq funding
By Xinhua
Washington : US President George W. Bush and Congressional leaders met at the White House to find common ground for a new bill over war funding in Iraq that also includes a timeframe for withdrawing US troops.
"I'm confident that we can reach agreement on a new spending bill," Bush said Wednesday.
He said that Tuesday, when he vetoed the bill, "was a day that highlighted differences" and Wednesday was "a day where we can work together to find common ground".
Describing the meeting as "very positive," Democrats, however, did not concede from their position on the war.
Nepal Maoists fail to form government within deadline
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's former Maoist guerrillas Tuesday failed to meet the seven-day presidential deadline given to them to form a new government, raising grave doubts about the possibility of a government under their stewardship.
The former rebels, who managed a stunning victory in the election four months ago, will now ask President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to extend the deadline by three more days.
The president had last Tuesday given them a week to prove their strength in the caretaker parliament and form the new government.
Historic G20 summit hopes to head off global recession
By Andrew McCathie and Chris Cermak, DPA,
Washington : Leaders of the world's 20 biggest economies will hold a historic meeting Saturday in a bid to head off the threat of a protracted global recession and forge a new world financial order.
Called together less than two months ago by US President George W. Bush, the emergency summit of the Group of 20 (G20) leaders amid the splendour of Washington's National Building Museum comes in the wake of the biggest crisis to engulf the world economy since the Great Depression.
Indian-origin spy’s bust to be unveiled in London
By IANS,
London: A bust of Noor Inayat Khan, the Second World War secret agent of Indian origin, will be unveiled here next week by Britain's Princess Anne.
Tibetans women activists try to storm Chinese embassy, detained
By IANS
New Delhi : A group of nearly 36 women activists, under the banner of Tibetan Youth Congress, were detained Wednesday after they tried to storm the Chinese embassy in the capital's diplomatic area.
The all-women's group started shouting slogans against China and chanted 'free Tibet', 'No Olympics in China' and 'Dalai Lama Zindabad'. They were commemorating the 49th Tibetan Women's Uprising Day. The demonstration started soon after the Chinese embassy opened for the day.
Belgian farmer damages NATO pipeline
By RIA Novosti,
Brussels : A farmer driving a tractor in his field has accidentally damaged a NATO pipeline, causing a leak of around 50 cubic meters of oil near the Walloon city of Mons, national media said.
The pipeline pumps oil to the nearby central command of NATO's military forces.
The accident occurred late on Wednesday. The leak was eventually plugged at 4:00 a.m. local time (02:00 GMT), RTBF TV reported. A special commission has been set up to assess the environmental damage caused.
Philippine President to meet Bush in June visit to U.S.
By Xinhua,
Manila : The Philippine government on Thursday announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arryo will meet U.S. President George W. Bush in her working visit to the country next month.
In a statement dispatched to media, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said on the president's June 23-29 visit, Arroyo will discuss with Bush the issues surrounding benefits given to the Filipino World War II veterans.
They will also touch on a broad range of topics including food security, environmental protection and human rights.
New footage of crashed Malaysia Airlines flight emerges
Canberra : A new footage emerged on Friday reportedly showing pro-Russian rebels at the scene of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash last year...
Russia’s finance chief to attend G7 outreach meeting in Tokyo
By RIA Novosti
Tokyo : Finance ministers from Russia, China, South Korea and Indonesia will attend a G7 outreach meeting on Saturday, Japanese Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga said on Tuesday.
Finance ministers and central bank heads from the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada will gather in Tokyo this weekend to discuss the current instability on global stock markets and high oil prices and the affect they are having on the world economy.
Colombia nabs FARC’s urban wing leader
By EFE,
Bogota : A Colombian leftist guerrilla leader, suspected to be the head of the group's urban networks, has been arrested from the southwestern city of Cali, the police have said.
Dorbey Collazos Gonzalez, best known as Sergio, was arrested Friday from a residential area in the city, the National Police News Agency (ANNP) said, adding that the rebel was preparing "terrorist acts".
Bush renews call for offshore drilling
By DPA,
Washington : US President George W. Bush Wednesday renewed his call for lifting of a federal ban on oil drilling off the US coast and placed the blame for high petrol prices squarely at the feet of the Democratic-controlled Congress.
Bush acknowledged the economic struggles plaguing the US population and said lifting the offshore drilling ban would help lower surging petrol prices.
Ship sinks off South Korea’s coast, 14 sailors missing
By Xinhua
Seoul : At least 14 sailors are missing as a ship carrying chemicals sank off South Korea's south coast early Tuesday, coastguard officials said.
The Eastern Bright, carrying 2,000 tonnes of nitric acid, sent an SOS call early Tuesday morning before disappearing in the sea off Yeosu port, 450 km south of Seoul.
The coast guard and the South Korean Navy have sent nine vessels and one helicopter to the spot for search and rescue operation.
22 countries face protracted food crises: UN
By DPA,
Rome : The UN Wednesday identified 22 countries facing "protracted" food crises due to a combination of natural disasters, conflict and weak institutions.
Britons abroad – Great Race or Disgrace?
By DPA
London : The new British government of Gordon Brown has conceded that it is faced with a "culture of drunkenness that is out of control".
Higher taxes on alcohol, and a review of 24-hour pub opening, introduced just two years ago, are among the measures being considered to counter what has been described as an "alcohol epidemic".
"In our culture getting drunk is seen as an exciting and status thing to do. We need to try to get away from that," said Liam Donaldson, the government's chief medical officer.
Peace activists demand common SAARC currency
By IANS,
Amritsar: Activists of the South Asian Foundation (SAF), who have gathered here for an India-Pakistan peace festival, Sunday demanded the introduction of a common currency for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries on the lines of the European Union's euro.
Indian Americans denounce arrests of Muslims, demolition of Muslim homes in India
Globally renowned US-based Islamic scholar Shaikh Omar Suleiman led the protest in Dallas, which was jointly organized by The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), and North Texas...
Putin says Russia-China ties enter new stage
St. Petersburg : Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this week in Shanghai marked that...
Japan”s current account surplus up 45.7 percent on exports
By KUNA
Tokyo : Japan's current account surplus widened 45.7 percent in October from a year earlier to JPY 2.23 trillion (USD 20.1 billion) for the 10th consecutive monthly increase on the back of strong exports to Europe and other parts of Asia and returns on its overseas investments, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
The trade surplus alone grew 52.3 percent in the reporting month from a year ago to JPY 1.16 trillion (USD 10.5 billion), up for the third month in a row, according to the data released by the ministry.
Jackson’s dad calls for medical records
By IANS,
London: Michael Jackson's father wants to investigate the death of his son and has filed papers in Los Angeles, demanding release of medical records.
Joe Jackson is convinced the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Centre documents will help him determine if anyone was to blame for the King of Pop's death and how much he should sue them for.
Family members, including Joe, have accused the singer's personal physician Conrad Murray of wrongful death of the star, but police have yet to charge the medic with any wrongdoing and he has maintained he's innocent.
Utah senate opens with Hindu prayer
By IANS
New York : The senate of Utah, a US state dominated by Mormons, was opened for the first time with a Hindu prayer involving the chanting of Sanskrit mantras.
Rajan Zed, a prominent Hindu chaplain who has earlier read prayers in the US senate and state senates, read the opening prayer Wednesday from ancient scriptures before the Utah senate in Salt Lake City. After first delivering the prayer in Sanskrit, he read its English translation.
Spanish clinics allege ‘witch-hunt’ against abortion
By DPA
Madrid : A 31-year-old Spanish woman was bathing her children in her Madrid home when police showed up on her doorstep.
"You had an abortion in February 2007," the officers said, handing her an invitation to be questioned as a witness at a police station investigating alleged irregularities at the Clinic Isadora, which terminated her pregnancy.
"You need to understand that there is a great social alarm over the subject of abortion," the officers said to justify why they came personally to bring a document which should normally have been sent by the mail.
Obama: troops” deployment necessary to stabilize Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (KUNA) -- US President Barack Obama said the increase of US troops in Afghanistan is necessary to stop the security deterioration in this country.
"There is no more solemn duty as President than the decision to deploy our armed forces into harms way. I do it today mindful that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan demands urgent attention and swift action," said Obama in a statement released by the White House, late on Tuesday.
USA Boosts New Bomber Buildup Plan
By Prensa Latina,
Washington : The Pentagon devoted $10 billion to support a plan to build up a new bomber that could fly 3,728 miles and carry 10 tons of bombs, military media confirmed on Tuesday.
The sophisticated fighter plane is expected to replace the old B-1B and B-52 models and begin operations by 2018. The first air tests will be performed in three years, the Military.com web site said.
Confrontations leave 20 injured in Bolivia’s referendum
By Xinhua,
Lima : At least 20 people were injured on Sunday during confrontations between sympathizers of Bolivian President Evo Morales and his opposers that are currently holding an autonomous referendum in Bolivia's eastern Santa Cruz department.
The violence occurred between Morales' sympathizers, of the Movement For Socialism (MAS), and autonomist rightwing groups, including of the rightwing Santa Cruz Youth Union (UJC).
Indian arrested for rape in Germany to be prosecuted in India
By IANS,
New Delhi : An Indian who was nabbed by the Delhi Police here for raping a teenager in Germany 12 years ago will be prosecuted in India as Germany will not be seeking his extradition, an official said Tuesday.
Jaswant Singh, 36, was arrested Sunday night from his house in Adarsh Nagar in northwest Delhi by the Delhi Police's crime branch after months of investigation. He had allegedly raped a teenager in Germany 12 years ago.
Congress must act now on debt limit: Top US official
By IANS/EFE,
Washington : There is "no way" to extend the Aug 2 deadline for Congress to raise the US debt limit, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday.
Germany to clear World War I reparations
By IANS,
London : Germany will finally pay off its final instalment of World War I reparations, imposed on it by the Allies 92 years ago, by Sunday.
Powerful earthquake strikes Indonesia
By Xinhua
Jakarta : A powerful earthquake struck the western coast off Indonesia's Sumatra island early Sunday morning, but there were immediate report of casualties and structural damages.
According to the country's Meteorological agency, the quake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale rocked Mukomuko district in Bengkulu province on Sumatra island at 09:52 a.m. local time.
11 knifed to death in Kazakhstan
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Astana : A total of 11 bodies have been found with stab wounds in Kazakhstan, police said.
Hurricane-battered Cuba refuses US aid, donation
By Prensa Latina,
Havana : Cuba has refused US donation and aid but said it was ready to buy essential goods from American firms on a commercial basis.
In a communication to the US State Department, the Cuban Interest Section in Washington asked for an authorization to buy supplies American companies place on the export market, as well as credits that are normal in all commercial operations.
Zimbabweans removed from South Africa embassy attacked
By DPA,
Harare : More than 350 people, who had sought santury in the South African embassy here from the political violence, were attacked early Monday at a government camp, where they had been relocated.
About 20 men in military fatigues and balaclavas carrying shotguns burst in on the refugees at the state rehabilitation camp near the village of Ruwa about 30 km east of Harare, where they had been assured last month by the South African embassy they would be secure, said eyewitnesses.
Kenya minister killed in chopper crash
By IANS,
Nairobi : The internal security minister of Kenya and three other people have been killed in a helicopter crash near Nairobi, Kenyan media reported Sunday.
Senate committee approves US health reform bill
By DPA,
Washington : A key Senate panel Tuesday approved a major overhaul of US health care coverage, moving President Barack Obama's top domestic priority one step closer to fruition.
The Senate Finance Committee's 14-9 vote, which was largely along party lines, comes after months of fierce disputes between lawmakers and interest groups and paves the way for the entire Senate to consider the reform plans in the coming weeks.
S Korea to build modern history museum to mark 60th founding anniversary
By Xinhua,
Seoul : South Korean Presidential Office said Monday that a modern history museum is to be built in central Seoul to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the country.
According to the Presidential Office, the decision was announced by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at a government meeting.
"I have great respect for the South Korean people's brilliant and unprecedented achievement in economic modernization and democratization in the relatively short period of 60 years," Lee was quoted by the Presidential Office as saying.
Russian woman sentenced for kidnapping daughter
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Paris : A French court has awarded a two-year suspended sentence to a Russian woman accused of kidnapping her daughter and orchestrating an attack on her ex-husband.
Man sentenced to death for killing eight people
By Xinhua,
Wuhan (China) : A man who was convicted of killing eight people, including a two-year-old boy, was sentenced to death Monday in central China's Hubei province.
The Intermediate People's Court of Suizhou also deprived Xiong Zhenlin, 35, of political rights for life.
Xiong, a junk collector, killed eight people in Luoyang Town, Suizhou, Jan 4 and was arrested a week later.
The victims include six employees of Xiong's junkyard, a 43-year-old woman whom Xiong hoped to marry and the woman's grandson.
Xiong did not say whether he would appeal.
April Fool prank leads to alien hunt in Jordan town
By IANS,
London : A newspaper's April Fool article claiming a UFO landing by 10 feet tall aliens caused panic in a Jordan town and troops were sent to look for them, a media report said.
The Al Ghad newspaper published the article that spoke of a UFO landing near the desert town of Jafr, The Telegraph reported.
The front-page newspaper article stated that the aliens lit up the town, interrupted communications and sent scared residents into the streets.
Mohammed Mleihan, the mayor of Jafr, was taken in by the prank and promptly despatched security personnel to hunt for aliens.
Sri Lanka arrests 53 Indian fishermen
By IANS,
Colombo: The Sri Lankan Navy Thursday said it had arrested 53 Indian fishermen who entered Sri Lankan waters illegally.
Obama to address joint session of Indian parliament
By IANS,
New Delhi: US President Barack Obama is likely to address a joint session of parliament when he comes on his maiden history-making visit to India in November, sources said.
While the dates for the president's visit are yet to be firmed up, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has praised Obama as a role model for "millions and millions of people all over the world", is keen that Obama addresses a joint session of the Indian parliament.
UN mission calls on Serbia to stop interfering in Kosovo
By Xinhua
Pristina : The United Nations mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) called on Serbia Wednesday to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and to stop interfering local Serbs in Kosovo.
"It is still in force, and all parties, including Serbia, should respect it," said UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko.
He urged Belgrade to cooperate in re-establishing two custom points on Kosovo's northern border.
Angry Serbs set them on fire, two days after Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on Feb. 17.
After steamy scenes, world’s ‘third hottest’ MP now in nanny row
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto: The world's "third hottest" woman politician and Indian-origin MP in Canada, Ruby Dhalla, who made headlines in March for allegedly appearing in steamy scenes in a Bollywood film, is in yet another controversy.
Rated as the third hottest woman politician by Maxim magazine, 35-year-old Dhalla has represented the Indian-dominated constituency of Brampton-Springdale on the outskirts of Toronto since 2004.
Dutch gov’t fearing int’l image loss over Wilders’ political role
By IRNA,
Berlin : The Dutch foreign ministry fears that the international reputation of its country could be tarnished over the growing political role of Dutch far-right legislator Geert Wilders, the daily Volkskrant newspaper reported Wednesday.
Dutch diplomats have been instructed to play down "international concern" over the mounting political role of the head of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) in a likely new government.
Indonesia’s bird flu deaths hit 103
By RIA Novosti
Jakarta : An Indonesian woman died of bird flu over the weekend bringing the total death toll from the H5N1 virus in the Southeast Asian country to 103, the country's health ministry said.
The 29-year-old housewife from Tangerang, west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, died in hospital on Saturday, the ministry's director general for contagious disease control, I Nyoman Kandun, said.
Another woman near Tangerang has also been confirmed with bird flu, he added.
"We are now at 126 cases of infection, 103 of them fatal," Kandun said.
ANC bemoans ‘failed leadership’ in Zimbabwe
By DPA,
Johannesburg/London : A day ahead of elections in Zimbabwe described as a "sham" by the opposition and Western powers, South Africa's ruling African National Congress echoed former president Nelson Mandela's assessment that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe had failed as a leader.
"This is a failure, a very sad failure of leadership," ANC spokeswoman Jessie Duarte told the BBC in an interview broadcast Thursday.
US in dialogue with Sikhs over ‘pat-down’ of turbans
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : US authorities have initiated a dialogue with the Sikh community to find a "workable solution" to its concerns over new airport security procedures that involve a mandatory "pat-down" of turbans.
In response to protests from the community, Kip Hawley of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Thursday "expressed understanding about the sensitivity and importance of the Sikh head dress screening.
Dalai Lama expresses sympathy with Mumbai victims
By IANS,
Dharamsala : The Dalai Lama has expressed sympathy with the families of those killed in the terrorist attack in Mumbai, officials of the Tibetan government-in-exile said Friday.
The spiritual leader of the Tibetan community has also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following the teror strikes.
"The scale of attacks in Mumbai was unprecedented in the history of India," he wrote in the letter, according to a statement by the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Voting against US Blockade on Cuba Sets Record
United Nations, Oct 30 (Prensa Latina) The vote at the UN General Assembly against the economic blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States scored a new record, when Washington"s policy towards the Island was condemned by 184 countries.
With opposition by the United States, Israel, Marshall Islands, and Palau, besides Mocronesia, the resolution that demands to end the over-40-year economic blockade on Cuba received almost unanimous support of the 192 UN members.
Malawi begins ‘epic rescue’ to save African elephants
By IANS,
Cape Town: A massive relocation of elephants has begun in the southern African nation of Malawi as part of a move that experts say would help protect some 60 pachyderms from human persecution.
The elephants will be transported by trucks, about six hours journey from the conflict-prone Phirilongwe region to Majete Wildlife Reserve, over the next few days.
The elephants moved into the populated Phirilongwe area where the Malawi Lake provided them water after their jungle habitat nearby dried up due to droughts. The pachyderms also raided crops.
Eight killed in China house blast
Beijing:At least eight people were killed and four injured when a blast occurred in a residential building in China's Shanxi province, authorities said Monday...
16 Israeli companies to attend Delhi defence expo
By IANS,
New Delhi: A delegation of 16 leading Israeli companies will participate in INDESEC Expo 2009 on homeland security to be held here Oct 11-13, a statement said Friday.
The Israeli delegation will be headed by Guy Zuri, director of aerospace, defence and homeland security at the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute, the release said.
South Korean trade pact with India going into effect
By DPA,
Seoul : An India-South Korea trade agreement going into effect Friday would immediately eliminate tariffs on 7,044 goods traded between Asia's third and fourth-largest economies.
South Korea and India signed their comprehensive economic partnership agreement in August after three years of negotiations as Seoul seeks to ink trade deals with the world's largest economies.
11 trapped in China coal mine
By IANS,
Beijing : Eleven miners remained trapped Thursday in a flooded coal mine in southwest China, authorities said.
Obama Leads US Democratic Primaries
By Prensa Latina
Washington : After winning the primaries in Virginia, Maryland and the capital, US Senator Barack Obama is leading Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
With the three wins yesterday, the legislator has had eight victories in an equal number of competitions in the last days, including the primaries in Louisiana, Washington, Nebraska, Virgin Island, and Maine.
Russian journalist killed over job
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: A journalist in Nalchik, capital of Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria region, has been shot dead because of his "professional activities", investigators said.
Mexican kills three who hurt daughter
By EFE,
Mexico City : A Mexican woman soldier has been arrested on charges of taking part in the killing of three teenagers who slashed her daughter's face during a brawl at a disco, the authorities said.
Sgt. Virginia Resendiz Rodriguez was detained at Santa Lucia airbase with assistance from the military police, Mexico City prosecutors said Friday.
The slayings took place April 20 last year after a clash between members of rival gangs at El Castillo del Abuelo, a club in the capital suburb of Reyes la Paz.
Two from Andhra including American missing in Nepal
Hyderabad : An American working for a Christian mission in Andhra Pradesh and a student were missing in earthquake-hit Nepal.
Tony B. Suckla and J....
Nigeria to conduct investigation into terrorist suspect
By DPA,
Washington/Abuja : Nigeria's Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Saturday ordered a full investigation of the circumstances surrounding an alleged terrorist attack on a US airplane by a Nigerian citizen, according to the Nigerian newspaper, ThisDay.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, the son of a wealthy Nigerian banker, was charged Saturday in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines passenger plane carrying 278 passengers as it prepared to land in Detroit.
Nepali Speaker endorses arrangement for CA venue
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : Nepal's Speaker of the Interim Parliament Subas Chandra Nembang has endorsed the final plan for logistical arrangements for the Constituent Assembly, due to meet in the main hall of the Birendra International Convention Center in capital Kathmandu in around three weeks, THT Online reported on Saturday.
"I gave final nod to the plan. Now the preparations would move ahead at a war-footing," the Speaker told the leading website.
Chinese shares plummet 3.44 percent in morning session
By Xinhua,
Beijing : Chinese shares tumbled 3.44 percent in the morning session Monday with the Shanghai Composite Index ending at 1,931.75 points, down 68.82 points or 3.44 percent from the previous close.
The smaller Shenzhen Component Index ended at 6,109.95 points, down 275.4 points or 4.31 percent.
The two major index both opened lower Monday. The Shanghai Composite Index opened at 1,978.56 points, down 22.01 points or 1.1 percent from the previous closing while the Shenzhen Component Index opened at 6,330.19 points, down 55.17 points or 0.86 percent.
Japan to cut civil servant’s pay by 7.8 percent
By IANS,
Tokyo : The salaries of Japanese government employees will be cut by 7.8 percent for two years from the 2012 fiscal year, a media report said Sunday.
Singapore set to meet recycling goal
By DPA,
Singapore : Singapore is set to meet its target of recycling 60 percent of its rubbish by 2012, environmental officials said in a published report Monday.
Nearly 54 percent of the 5.6 million tonnes of rubbish generated in 2007 was recycled, up from 40 percent seven years ago, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).
Crew in Somali pirate yacht attack alive and well
By RIA Novosti
Kiev : All 32 crew members on board a luxury French yacht captured by Somali pirates at the weekend are alive and being well treated, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday citing the country's embassy in France.
The Le Ponant owned by one of France's largest ship operators CMA-CGM was seized en route to the Mediterranean. It was not carrying any passengers, but had a crew of 22 French sailors as well as 10 Ukrainians and Koreans.
Virat Kohli bags ICC Cricketer of the Year award
By IANS,
Dubai: Indian batsman Virat Kohli was named ODI Cricketer of the Year at the International Cricket Council Awards here Saturday.
US to review Iran-Turkey nuclear swap deal
By DPA,
Washington : The United States will review Iran's proposal to ship enriched uranium to Turkey and plans to consult with France and Russia on the next steps, the US State Department said Monday.
Iran along with Brazil and Turkey submitted the letter to the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, earlier Monday outlining the deal intended to alleviate concerns about Iran's nuclear activities and stave off potential sanctions.
French company helps Indian farmers get better yield
By IANS,
New Delhi: French hypermarket chain Carrefour Tuesday launched a programme on the outskirts of the city to train farmers to increase the yield of their crops it will eventually buy for its cash and carry stores.
The first such store will come up in Seelampur in Delhi in a few months' time.
Yannick Douville, Carrefour director, opening a "green house nursery" at Palla, in north-east Delhi, said the farmers were taught how to improve the quality of their produce and increase their productivity.
Tamil of Sri Lankan origin is second richest man in Malaysia
By IANS,
New York : A Tamil of Sri Lankan origin is the second richest man in Malaysia, while a businessman of Indian origin occupies the 16th place in the list of 40 wealthiest in the Southeast Asian country published by the Forbes magazine.
T. Ananda Krishnan, 70, whose family originates from Jaffna, runs the telecom firm Maxis, with a net worth of $7.2 billion. In the list, he is behind Robert Kuok, 84, who has diverse business interests and a fortune worth $10 billion.
Chinese build airport in Mount Everest region
By IANS,
Lhasa : An airport under construction in a Tibetan region which is home to the Mount Everest is expected to be operational in October, an aviation official said.
Construction of the fifth civil airport, also called Peace Airport, in Xigaze prefecture began in April last year. It would be completed in September, making its opening in October feasible, Xinhua news agency quoted Xu Bo, director of the Civil Aviation Administration's Tibet Branch, as saying.
China cracks down on doomsday rumour-mongers, 96 held
By IANS,
Beijing: As many as 96 people were arrested in central China Saturday after police targetted the cult that spreads doomsday rumours in the country.
Revolutionary fuel cell design to make cheaper vehicles feasible
By IANS,
Sydney : A reworked design of fuel cells used in the latest hybrid cars will help make vehicles more reliable and cheaper to build in the future.
The breakthrough is based on the inclusion of a specially-coated form of popular outdoor and sporting clothing material Goretex in the fuel cell.
Monash University scientists have designed and tested an air-electrode, where a fine layer 100 times thinner than human hair of highly conductive plastic is deposited on the breathable fabric. The conductive plastic acts as both the fuel cell electrode and catalyst.
First Nepali aircraft to test-fly
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : An ultra-light aircraft built by Nepali engineers is scheduled to take off on Saturday afternoon almost one year since its builders sought permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, according to The Kathmandu Post.
"The research team is ready for the test flight as we have already fulfilled all necessary lab-safety requirements," said Bikash Parajuli, leader of the team that built the aircraft.
"We are optimistic that the flight will be successful," he was quoted by the Saturday's daily as saying.
Thailand protesters move on Army base to topple government
By DPA,
Bangkok : Tens of thousands of protesters launched a car convoy on the Thai government's peace-keeping command headquarters in Bangkok in an effort to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and call for new elections.
Tamil Tigers sink Sri Lankan naval ship in Trincomalee
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : A Sri Lankan naval logistic supply vessel was sunk in a powerful pre-dawn underwater explosion by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in the heavily-guarded Eastern Trincomalee harbour Saturday, hours before a crucial provincial poll, naval sources said.
"One of our logistic supply ships - A520 - birthed at the Ashraff harbour in Trincomalee was blasted and sunk in an underwater sea explosion around 2.15 a.m. There was no damage to the crew members," Navy spokesman Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake told IANS over phone early Saturday.
Toll in Ukraine violence 25
By IANS,
Kiev : At least 25 people died and more than 370 were injured when anti-government protestors clashed early Wednesday with riot police in...
Clinton heading to Copenhagen for climate talks
By DPA,
Washington : US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will arrive in Copenhagen on Thursday to attend the final days of a UN summit on climate change in a last push to get an international agreement on reducing greenhouse gases, the State Department confirmed Wednesday.
Clinton will join the discussion a day ahead of President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to arrive on Friday and is eager to show that the US, after years of downplaying the threat posed by global warming, is serious about reaching an accord.
Obama lauds South Asians’ support in his campaign
By IANS,
New York : Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has thanked South Asians for supporting his campaign and stressed that they played a big role in enabling the US to "overcome the politics of division and distraction".
In a letter to South Asians for Obama (SAFO), a voluntary organisation, he wrote: "I truly can't thank you enough for doing your part and for helping us get this far."
SAFO, Obama said, "has been an enormous help to our constituency outreach efforts across the country".
Obama urges China to discuss Tibet with the Dalai Lama
By DPA,
Beijing : US President Barack Obama Tuesday urged his Chinese counterpart to hold talks with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader who is denounced as a separatist by China's ruling Communist Party.
"We did note that while we recognise that Tibet is part of the People's Republic of China, the United States supports the early resumption of dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve any concerns and differences that the two sides may have," Obama told reporters.
Punish the war guilty, US tells Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Colombo : A top American official Friday asked Sri Lanka to carry out a credible investigation of "outstanding and serious allegations of human rights violations" and punish the guilty.
Russia hands out first passports to Crimean residents
Moscow: Moscow has begun issuing Russian passports to residents in Crimea as the peninsula has signed an accession treaty with Russia, head of Russian...
Hungary train crash kills one, injures 30
By SPA,
Budapest : An express train slammed into the back of a local train outside Budapest on Monday, killing a man and injuring 30 people, DPA quoted a news agency as reporting.
Rescuers were sifting through the wreckage and did not rule out further fatalities, Hungary's MTI agency said.
The intercity train was heading toward the Hugarian capital when it collided with the other train at the Monorierdo station, MTI said.
Paris Hilton mourns death of best friend
By IANS,
London: Socialite heiress Paris Hilton is grieving over the tragic death of her best friend Casey Johnson.
Socialite Casey - heiress to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune - was found dead in her Los Angeles home Monday.
Hilton, a close friend of Johnson since childhood, along with her sister Nicky, was among the first mourners to react to the news, reports thesun.co.uk.
"In bed crying, looking at baby pictures of Casey, Nicky and I. I feel so upset. I feel like I've lost a sister. My heart is broken. Miss her," she wrote on her Twitter homepage.
North Korea to choose new leadership next week
By DPA,
Beijing : North Korea's ruling party will meet next week to choose a new leadership circle, the state news agency KCNA reported.
Australia to spend $394 mn on diabetic care
By IANS,
Canberra : Australia will spend over 430 million Australian dollars ($394 million) for a new diabetic care programme, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said here Wednesday.
Unveiling the government's plans to reform the health system, Rudd said hospitals will struggle to treat around two million diabetics over the next decade if there is no alternative plan.
The new programme expected to take off by 2012-13 will help diabetics manage their health and keep them out of hospital.
SriLankan Airlines to join global airline alliance
By IANS,
Beijing : Global airline alliance 'Oneworld' Monday said the Colombo-based SriLankan Airlines would join its ranks towards the end of 2012.
Pre-Candidate McCain Attacks Bush
By Prensa Latina,
Washington : US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain called President George W. Bush's response to the destructive effects of Hurricane Katrina terrible and shameful.
The New York Times reported on Friday that Arizona Senator McCain, likely Republican candidate, mentioned a long list of government mistakes in handling the Katrina catastrophe, including incapable people, errors in assessing the size of the tragedy and poor communication.
Work Environments Can Cause Hearing Loss Among Workers: Study
By BERNAMA,
HANOI : A new study conducted by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, raises an alarm on increasing number of workers suffering from hearing loss due to their work environments, reports the Vietnam news agency (VNA). The department conducted a survey on noise levels in the workplace at 2,400 enterprises in the textile and garment, steel and mechanical, footwear and printing sectors, said doctor Nguyen Dang Quoc Chan from the department.
McCartney surprises Clinton on birthday
By IANS,
London : Former US president Bill Clinton was treated to a musical surprise on his 64th birthday as Paul McCartney called him up to serenade him.
The Democrat was delighted after picking up the phone to hear the former Beatle on the line Thursday, reports mirror.co.uk.
And he was stunned when McCartney began an impromptu rendition of the Beatles' 1967 love song, "When I'm Sixty-Four".
UN chief to visit Sri Lanka Friday
By DPA,
Colombo: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is to visit Sri Lanka Friday to assess the humanitarian situation after an estimated 250,000 civilians fled the Tamil rebel controlled areas in the north of the country, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Monday.
Ban is due to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and is expected to tour refugee camps, following the declaration of victory Monday by the Sri Lankan military over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Split emerges at Security Council over Kosovo, Ban urges all sides to keep to...
By IRNA
New York : A split emerged at the United Nations Security Council when Russia said Kosovo's declaration of independence should be null and void.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on all sides to keep to their commitments and refrain from violence.
A second emergency session of the Security Council is due to be held on Monday.
A number of European countries are expected to recognize Kosovo as an independent state after EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday.
Large protest outside Madison Square Garden ask Modi to end repression of minorities; erosion...
By TCN News,
New York, NY: They came in large numbers, represented different faiths and ideological persuasions, and from across the United States. Protesters outside the Madison Square Garden event today in New York City, came to stand up for seclarism, and to convey some firm and simple demands to visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under the banner of "Alliance for Justice and Accountability."
Spokeswoman: Bush can not remember CIA tapes
By Xinhua
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush "has no recollection" of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) videotapes that showed CIA agents interrogating terrorism suspects, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Friday.
The CIA has confirmed Thursday's reports that in 2005, its members destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogations of suspected al-Qaida operatives.
‘US secret unit training Pakistan Army to fight Al Qaeda, Taliban’
By IANS,
New York : Over 70 US military advisers and technical specialists are secretly working in Pakistan to help its armed forces battle Al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the country's lawless tribal areas, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The Americans, not involved in combat operations, are mostly Army Special Forces soldiers who are training Pakistani Army and paramilitary troops, providing them with intelligence and advising on combat tactics, the Times quoted US military officials as saying.
Mexico renews diplomatic ties with Honduras
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : The Mexican government has said that its ambassador to Tegucigalpa will return to Honduras next week, as it wants to renew diplomatic ties with the Central American nation.
Saturday's announcement came hours after the Chilean government decided to send back its ambassador to that country.
Mexico's Foreign Relations Secretariat (SRE) said there was a "significant progress" in the situation in Honduras after the June 2009 coup against the then president Manuel Zelaya. Porfirio Lobo is the current president of Honduras.
Britain rejects former generals’ view on multiculturalism
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
London : The British government and senior Asian MP Keith Vaz have strongly rejected a report that is said to reflect consensus by a group of retired generals that Britain's multicultural society is to blame for problems of terrorism and extremism.
The report by the Royal United Services International, the country's oldest military think tank, says Britain is becoming a soft touch and a "fragmenting, post-Christian society" with a "misplaced deference to multiculturalism", all of which undermined the fight against extremists.
Documentary hails North Korea’s new leader
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : North Korea's state television Sunday aired a documentary about the country's new leader Kim Jong-un, in which he is shown inspecting troops and manoeuvring a tank.
China’s growth powers world economy: vice premier
By IANS,
Beijing : Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said Sunday that China's development will provide more opportunities and stronger impetus for the world economy.
At least 18 inmates die in prison riot in Honduras
By ANTARA News/Xinhua,
Mexico City : At least 18 inmates were killed in a riot in Honduras` largest prison, according to reports reaching here from the country`s capital Tegucigalpa.
Knives and machetes were used during the riot and several inmates were even beheaded, said a prison spokesman.
An investigation into the causes of the riot is still underway, he said.
The riot, which began late on Friday at the National Penitentiary north of Tegucigalpa, was the second such incident in a Honduran prison in a week.
EU threatens to suspend talks on pact with Russia
By DPA,
Brussels : European Union leaders fired a warning shot at Moscow Monday by threatening to suspend talks on a deeper relationship with Russia until its troops withdrew from Georgia.
"The European Council considers that given the interdependence between the European Union and Russia, and the global problems they are facing, there is no desirable alternative to a strong relationship, based on cooperation, trust and dialogue," EU leaders said at an emergency meeting in Brussels.
Colombian president contracts swine flu
By EFE,
Bogota : Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has contracted the influenza A (H1N1) , also known as swine flu, officials said Sunday.
Presidential press secretary Cesar Mauricio Velasquez read a government communique in which it was announced that Uribe has swine flu. In Bogota, officials with the National Health Institute, or INS, confirmed the diagnosis.
Venezuela gets $36 bn in oil investment from Russia, China
By EFE,
Caracas : Chinese and Russian companies have agreed to invest a combined $36 billion in oil projects in the Orinoco Belt, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said.
The president said state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. will have a majority stake in the projects involving the Chinese and Russian firms.
Child poverty costing UK economy over Pnds 25 bn each year – report
By IRNA,
London : Child poverty is costing the British economy at least Pnds 25 billion (Dlrs 40 bn) each year, according to a new report published Thursday.
Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) estimated that about Pnds 12 bn of public funds went on services to help children from low-income families. It also put losses to UK GDP at about Pnds 11 bn through reduced earnings, and Pnds 3 bn in lost taxation.
Of the 13,233,320 children in the UK, it is estimated that 5,559,000 - more than a third - live in low-income families or families in poverty.
Bolt has class to become an icon like Owens, feels Diack
By DPA,
Berlin: Usain Bolt has the class to rewrite athletics history in a hyped 100 metres world championship showdown with Tyson Gay and can reach the status of the legendary Jesse Owens, according to world athletics supremo Lamine Diack.
In an exclusive interview with the DPA, Diack said the 100m world record may well fall in next Sunday's blue riband final in the Olympic Stadium where Owens famously won four golds at the 1936 Olympics.
G20 summit is turning point for world economy, says Obama
By Xinhua,
London : The G20 summit which concluded here Thursday would be "a turning point" for the global economy, as unprecedented and comprehensive steps were taken to improve the financial system, US President Barack Obama said.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Obama said G20 have made "enormous strides" to improving financial regulation, adding that G20 needs to "reform failed regulatory systems and must put an end to bubble and bust economy".
Japan: Massive Recall of Pot Pies
By Prensa Latina
Tokyo : Japanese food companies announced a massive recall of pot pies coming from one of its factories in China, after 10 cases of food poisoning from pot pies elaborated there.
Japan Tobacco Inc assured its subsidiary JT Foods Co. would make a massive recall of the pot pies with insecticide poisoning agents, according to a report from Police, which does not specify if the food poisoning was found in China or in Japan.
Georgian opposition leader Patarkatsishvili dies in London
By RIA Novosti
Tbilisi : Georgian opposition leader Badri Patarkatsishvili, accused by Georgian authorities of instigating a coup, has died in London, his party activist said on Wednesday.
His death is thought to have been as result of a heart attack.
Patarkatsishvili, 52, was one of the most influential opposition leaders in the South Caucasus state and Georgia's richest man. He came third in the January 5 presidential polls garnering 7.1% of votes.
Fire breaks out at Japan’s n-power plant after quake
By IANS,
Tokyo : A fire broke out at a nuclear power plant in Japan's Miyagi prefecture after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck the northeastern part of the country Friday, Xinhua reported.
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim first woman president of Mauritius
Port Louis: The Mauritius parliament on Thursday appointed Ameenah Gurib-Fakim as the island nation's new president, making her the first woman to hold the...
Chavez’s referendum defeat not to affect oil policy: minister
By IANS
Abu Dhabi : There will be no change in Venezuela's oil policy following rejection of President Hugo Chavez's proposed constitutional overhaul in Sunday's referendum, Venezuelan energy minister has said.
"People's rejection of constitutional changes wanted by Chavez will not affect the country's oil policy," Rafael Ramirez told reporters here Tuesday on the fringes of a meeting of the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC), Spanish news agency EFE reported.
‘Khobragade incident led to misunderstanding with US’
New Delhi: The Devyani Khobragade incident caused a certain "misunderstanding" in relations but India has "insulated" that issue from the rest of its relationship...
Indefinite curfew in Terai as Nepal riot toll rises
By Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu, Sep 17 (IANS) The death toll in the violence triggered in south Nepal after the murder of a powerful local leader rose to four Monday, resulting in closures by his supporters and an indefinite curfew clamped by the administration.
Shops, markets and educational institutions remained closed and roads were deserted a day after unidentified gunmen shot dead Abdul Moit Khan, father-in-law of late controversial minister Mirza Dilshad Beg, who was alleged to be the front man of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Nepal.
Crash-landing to birth: story of an ‘Indian’ duck
By Venkata Vemuri,IANS,
London : Houdini, an Indian Runner duck, was still in his egg when a sea gull scooped him up and threw him from a height of 30 feet. But the lucky bird managed to survive and was happily reunited with his mother and four siblings.
Barrie Tolley, a Devon farmer, saw a sea gull swoop down on his duck farm and lift off with a duck's egg. The bird couldn't keep a grip and dropped the egg. It plummeted 30 feet to the ground.
EU proposes biometric border checks for visitors from third countries
By EuAsiaNews
Brussels: The European Commission unveiled plans Wednesday which include biometrics - facial image and fingerprints – for visitors from third countries to the European Union's border-free Schengen area.
Announcing the "border management package,'' to the press in Brussels, EU Commissioner for justice, freedom and security, Franco Frattini said the aim of the proposals are to fight illegal immigration, terrorism and organised crime. .
"This package designs a completely new way of controlling our borders", Frattini said.
Russia remains in Georgia with diplomacy stalled
By DPA,
Tbilisi : Georgian officials have alleged that Russian military and irregular forces were grinding on into the Caucasus republic, while international efforts to halt the conflict continued fruitlessly.
Russian troops "are in control of about one-third of Georgia's sovereign territory", Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said late Thursday.
In addition to Russian army troops, a "huge number of irregulars" were committing killings, rapes and looting against the Georgian population, he told US broadcaster CNN.
Employees who surf web may be doing their bosses a favour
By IANS,
Sydney : Employees who use the net at the office for sending or receiving e-mails or browse the web may be doing their bosses a favour because they are more amenable to working after office hours or from home, according to a new study.
The border between work and personal life created by the Internet is a boon for employees and employers, said Massey University student Andrea Polzer-Debruyne, who conducted the study for her psychology thesis.
Britain presents territorial claim to UN
By Xinhua,
London : Britain Wednesday formally presented its territorial claim over south Atlantic Ascension Island to the UN.
The Island is already part of the British overseas territory of St Helena.
According to international law, countries have rights over their resources, including oil and gas reserves, up to 200 nautical miles from the shoreline.
Britain said the island's landmass reaches much further underwater, BBC reported.
The success of its claim would depend whether it could prove that fact scientifically, the report said.
China’s top judicial officials admit graft serious problem
By Xinhua
Beijing : The work reports by China's top judge Xiao Yang and top presecutor Jia Chunwang Monday said that even though the country has intensified its campaign against corruption, the overall situation remains grave.
The work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, China's highest agency responsible for prosecution, said 35 officials at the provincial level, 930 at the municipal level and nearly 14,000 at the county level were investigated for embezzlement, bribery and misappropriation of public funds in the past five years.
Rath Yatra held in Bulgaria
By IANS
Warsaw : A Ratha Yatra (chariot festival) organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) along a main boulevard in the Bulgarian capital Sofia drew huge crowds.
Musharraf leaves for London on one-week tour
By Xinhua,
Islamabad : Former Pakistan military president Pervez Musharraf Sunday left for London on a one-week tour, the first trip abroad since he resigned in August.
Accompanied by his wife Begum Sehba, Musharraf left from the airport here for London by Pakistan International Airline flight PK-785, private TV channel Geo reported.
Newspaper The News quoted sources as saying that Musharraf would address the Cambridge University Students Union and hold meetings with the members of various think tanks.
Doubts Mount over Darfur Mission
By Tomas A. Granados, Prensa Latina
United Nations : UN authorities have expressed deep concern over the peace mission in Darfur's inability to operate as an effective dissuasive force in the seriously violent panorama in that Sudanese province.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) ó needs to demonstrate it can help improving the life of Darfur locals or it will run the risk of losing its trustworthiness. ó
Russia slams US for double standards over Ukraine
Moscow: Russia Thursday accused the US of applying double standards to Moscow's assertions about the developments in Ukraine.
"The (US) State Department is trying to...
Magnitude-6.1 quake hits Andaman
By IANS,
New Delhi : An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale hit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 4.39 a.m. Saturday, but there was no immediate report of any casualty or damages.
The quake struck 159 km northeast of Port Blair at a depth of 22 km, Xinhua reported citing a statement from the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Sri Lanka’s top minister, 10 others killed in blast
By IANS
Colombo : A top Sri Lankan minister and ten others were killed in a powerful bomb blast in Sri Lanka's Gampaha district, just outside Colombo, Sunday morning, defence sources here said.
"Latest reports said that MP Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was also among the many killed in the cowardly LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) attack among a large gathering at a Hindu-Sinhala festival event," the defence ministry said.
According to initial reports, 11 people were killed and many injured, it said.
US sanctions will not improve relations with Iran, says UK MP
By IRNA,
London : Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn has criticised US President Barack Obama for imposing extraterritorial sanctions against Iran, suggesting that they will be counter-productive.
“Sanctions against Iran are not going to bring about any improvement in relations. They’re going to make it worse,” warned Corbyn, who also expressed hopes that the EU would be more independent and not follow suit.
“The US is going way beyond what the UN is trying to do,” he told IRNA. “It seems to me to be building up to isolating and attacking Iran which is wholly wrong.”
US, Europe must impose sanctions on Russia: Obama
Kuala Lumpur : President Barack Obama said Sunday the US and European countries should act collectively to impose sanctions on Russia for its actions...
Zimbabwe election commission allows vote recount: Minister
By DPA
Johannesburg/Harare : Zimbabwe's election commission has accepted the recount of votes in five of the country's election districts, South African radio quoted Zimbabwe Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa as saying.
The Zanu-PF party of current President Robert Mugabe has been demanding a recount of the March 29 presidential vote and has challenged the party's defeat in elections to the 210-seat House of Assembly (lower house of parliament), claiming the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) bribed voters.
Sarkozy, Obama hold first conversation since inauguration
By KUNA,
Paris : US President Barack Obama called his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy Monday night to discuss a variety of topics including the Middle East, the world financial crisis, Afghanistan, and NATO, Sarkozy's office announced.
The French leader's office said that the call was "warm" and it lasted 30 minutes during which there were "substantial exchanges" on major international issues.
World Bank warns of rising protectionism amid global recession
By DPA,
Washington : The World Bank warned Tuesday that protectionism has been on the rise across the globe since the financial crisis plunged the world into recession, despite government promises to avoid moves that restrict global trade.
The World Bank said it had identified 47 national measures that restrict trade since the financial crisis exploded in September. The development lender earlier this month predicted that world trade was headed for its steepest decline in 80 years.
Three Policemen, A Government Employee Killed In Southern Thailand
By D. Arul Rajoo, Bernama,
Bangkok : Four people, three of them policemen, were killed in two attacks in the southern Thailand province of Pattani Wednesday.
A police spokesman said the policemen were killed after insurgents detonated a bomb by the roadside in Mukim Cerong, Yarang, at about 12.20 pm.
He said the incident happened when six policemen went to investigate a telephone booth which was set on fire last night.
Upon reaching the area, a bomb exploded, hitting the six policemen and two civilians who were passing by the area.
Three of the policemen died in hospital.
Chinese president hopes for Pakistan’s stability, development
Beijing:China sincerely hopes that Pakistan will achieve stability and development, President Xi Jinping said Wednesday as he met with Pakistan's Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar...
‘Be vigilant against threat of biological weapons’
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged the whole world to continue to remain vigilant against the threat of biological weapons...