Mideast peace deal still possible this year: US
By DPA,
Tel Aviv/Ramallah : A peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is still possible by the end of the year, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday after further talks with the two sides.
Expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which affected confidence-building between Israel and the Palestinian Authority remained "problematic", she said.
Rice was speaking in Ramallah after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas - a meeting which in turn had followed talks she had with Israeli leaders late Saturday and early Sunday.
Global warning spells increased hospitalisations for respiratory problems
By IANS,
London : High summer temperatures, pushed higher by global climate change, may increase hospitalisations for respiratory problems, according to an analysis of data from 12 European cities from Dublin to Valencia.
The data comes from the "Assessment and Prevention of Acute Health Effects of Weather Conditions in Europe" (PHEWE), a multi-centre, three-year collaboration between epidemiologists, meteorologists and experts in public health collaboration that investigated the short-term effects of weather in Europe.
PM Modi gifts miniature painting of Bedil tomb to Tajik Prez
By TwoCircles.net, Staff Reporter
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday presented to President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon a specially commissioned...
Biden ‘uniquely suited’ to be running mate: Obama
By DPA,
Washington : Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has praised Joe Biden, his pick for vice president, as a man capable of changing the culture of politics in Washington despite his 36 years in the national legislature.
"For decades, he's brought change to Washington but Washington hasn't changed him," Obama said Saturday, introducing Biden at their first joint rally in Springfield, Illinois. "He's uniquely suited to be my partner as we work to bring our country back on track."
Belgian king approves new government
By DPA
Brussels : Belgium's King Albert II Thursday approved the appointment of Flemish conservative Yves Leterme as the country's new prime minister, backing his five-party coalition government and accepting the resignation of acting prime minister Guy Verhofstadt.
"The king received the prime minister, Verhofstadt, in audience this morning... (He) accepted Verhofstadt's resignation from his prime ministerial functions and on his proposal nominated Yves Leterme as prime minister," a statement from the royal palace read.
Four Belgian tourists taken hostage in Guatemala
By IANS
Guatemala City : Four Belgian tourists and their guides have been taken hostage by a group of Guatemalan peasants demanding the release of a jailed activist, Spain's EFE news agency reported Sunday.
According to the police, members of the Peasant Encounter Organisation took hostage the tourists near Dulce River, some 250 km northeast of Guatemala City.
Guayacan Tours, the company that organised the trip, said the captives were two couples from the Belgian city of Ghent. A guide from the company and a local boat operator were also taken hostage along with the tourists.
Six-storey building collapses in Norway
By DPA
Oslo : At least five people were believed to be missing after a six-storey apartment building collapsed early Wednesday in the western Norwegian city of Alesund, triggering a rescue operation, authorities and media reports said.
About 20 people were believed to have been in the building and 15 were ferried to hospital with minor injuries, police and hospital spokesmen said.
The ground floor of the building was badly damaged and made search and rescue efforts dangerous.
‘US focused on bringing India n-deal to fruition’
By Arun Kumar,
Washington : The United States has reiterated its priority right now is to bring into fruition the India-US nuclear deal and that's where its policy was focused presently.
"...With regard to civil nuclear cooperation, as I said a few days ago, the priority for the administration right now is to try to bring into fruition the 123 Agreement with India," US state department deputy spokesman, Robert Wood, told reporters Thursday.
"And that civil nuclear cooperation agreement, that's where our focus is right now," he added.
Nepal’s lawmaker arrested in connection with bomb blast
Kathmandu : Nepal Police have arrested a lawmaker for his alleged involvement in a powerful bomb blast in a public place in 2012 which...
Aniston invests in hair care company
BY IANS,
London: Seems like actress Jennifer Aniston is set to launch her own hair care line after becoming a celebrity spokeswoman and investor in a beauty brand.
Colombia authorises second mission to receive freed hostages
By IANS
Bogota : Colombia has said that it has authorised Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the Red Cross to launch fresh efforts to receive the two hostages to be freed by the country's largest insurgency group.
Colombian Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo made the announcement Wednesday hours after Chavez said that he had information from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) about the locations where they could receive two of the three hostages the rebel group was to set free, Spain's EFE news agency reported Thursday.
Don’t wear burqa, says British leader
By IANS,
London : A British leader said he would prefer if Muslim women "didn't wear a burqa" in the country, but added "you can't ban it".
Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he wished Muslim women would not wear burqa in Britain, Daily Express reported Monday.
"I would prefer if people didn't wear a burkha but you can't ban it. It might work in France but it won't work here," Straw was quoted as saying.
Italy earthquake toll reaches 207
BY DPA,
Rome: The toll from the earthquake that struck central Italy early Monday, rose to 207 Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Berlusconi turned down offers of help from abroad. "We thank foreign nations for their solidarity, but we invite them not to send us their aid," he said at a news conference in Abruzzo's capital, L'Aquila.
The city has been badly damaged together with other towns located not far from the earthquake's epicentre.
Cuban social workers set to improve life of the elderly
By NNN-Prensa Latina
Havana : A total of 43,000 Cuban youths are incorporated into a nationwide community social work programme first fostered by Cuban President Fidel Castro seven years ago.
Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde dedicated its cover to this news, as a result of current transformations in Cuba to improve quality of life of the population.
Currently, Cuban social workers are investigating the care of the elderly people, which has now reached about 1.8 million.
Japan urges Iran to show more transparency in Saberi case
By DPA,
Tehran : Japan called on Iran to have more transparency in the case of jailed Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, whose mother is Japanese, informed sources in Tehran said Sunday.
Visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone told Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a meeting Saturday that although Tokyo respected the judiciary's independence but still expected more transparency in the Saberi case.
Due to the Japanese nationality of Saberi's mother, the issue of the jailed journalist was raised during the talks.
Top Boko Haram commander arrested in Nigeria
Abuja: Police in Nigeria have arrested Mohammed Zakari, a senior commander of the Boko Haram sect, blamed for killing hundreds of people since 2009,...
China’s oil consumption to rise by 63 percent in 2020
By Xinhua
Beijing : China's oil consumption is estimated to go up by 63 percent in 2020 as compared to 2006 in the wake of fast economic growth, says a government think tank.
The country's oil consumption would rise from 346.6 million tonnes in 2006 to 407 million tonnes in 2010 and 563 million tonnes in 2020, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences forecast in a new report.
Oil demand would grow by an annual average of 4.5 percent from 2007 to 2010 and an annual average of 3.3 percent from 2010 to 2020, it said.
Tamil refugees in Sri Lanka to return home from Thursday
By IANS,
Chennai: Sri Lanka has assured a team of 10 MPs from Tamil Nadu that 58,000 Sri Lankan Tamils currently staying in fenced-off camps will be taken back to their homes from Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said here Wednesday.
"There are 253,000 Tamils living in the camps and they will be sent back to their original places in phases - that is the assurance the MPs team got from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa," the DMK chief told reporters here.
China prosecutes four for Kunming terrorist attack
Beijing : Four people will face trial for their involvement in a terrorist attack at a railway station in Kunming March 1, China's top...
Russia starts large-scale military exercises
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: Russia has started large-scale military exercises in the disputed Kuril islands in the country's far east, a military official said Tuesday.
Abuse Of Relief Donations In China Quake
By Tham Choy Lin, Bernama,
Beijing : Fake invoices, used clothes and purchase of Nike sneakers for employees of a bank have been uncovered by government auditors monitoring misuse of relief funds in China's worst earthquake in three decades.
The abuses involving 300,000 yuan (RM143,000) were committed by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce office in central Henan province and a branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, one of the country's top four banks, in quake-hit Mianyang, state media reported Friday.
Half of India’s under-18 population lives in poverty: Study
London, (IANS): At least half of India's under-18 population lives in acute poverty, reveals a "deeply disturbing" study from Oxford University.
Across the 103 low...
Newspaper run by Indian Canadian bags journalism award
By IANS,
Vancouver : The South Asian Post, a newspaper published by an Indian Canadian, has been awarded the Jack Webster Award for best community reporting for a story that led to the release of a man who was wrongly jailed on charges of rape.
The 22nd annual Jack Webster Awards, recognizing the best in journalism in the province of British Columbia, were presented here Thursday.
"This is a momentous day," said South Asian Post publisher Harbinder Singh Sewak. "Not only for our newspaper, but for the entire South Asian community."
Thai navy suspends search for missing Malaysian jet
Bangkok: The Thai navy Saturday suspended its search over the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea for the Malaysian jet that went missing March...
9 killed in Philippine bank robbery, mostly bank employees shot in head
By SPA,
Manila : At least eight bank employees and a security guard were lined up and shot dead in the head Friday in one of the bloodiest bank robberies in the Philippines, AP quoted police as saying. One employee was in critical condition in a hospital.
The victims were found sprawled on the floor of a branch of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. in Cabuyao town in Laguna province, south of Manila, after the bank failed to open as scheduled at 9 a.m. and suspicious customers alerted authorities, Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla said.
Prabhakaran may be dead: Sri Lankan official
By IANS
Colombo : Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has hinted that Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran might have been killed in the air raid on his bunker Nov 26.
"Our intelligence sources believe that he (Prabhakaran) was seriously injured or killed. It is obvious that the LTTE will not divulge this for a long period," Rajapaksa told the government-run Sunday Observer.
Two-Seat Rocket Planned for Space Tourism
By SPA
Washington : A U.S. aerospace company plans to enter the space-tourism business with a two-seat rocket capable of suborbital flights to altitudes more than 60 kilometers above the Earth.
The Lynx, about the size of a small private airplane, is expected to begin flying in 2010, according to developer Xcor Aerospace. The company also said the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded it a research contract to develop and test features of the Lynx.
Nepal peace pact slides towards new abyss
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : Nepal's fragile peace process is sliding towards a new abyss with confrontation between the ruling parties and the Maoists looming large and still no indication that the long festival break has forged a reconciliation.
"As of now, chances of a compromise are not bright," senior Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai told IANS Wednesday, four days before a critical debate on his party's key demands resumes in parliament.
"Efforts are still on to reach an understanding. But if they fail, the peace process will be in grave jeopardy."
Bear shot dead after it mauls 70-year-old man
By IANS,
Washington : A grizzly bear was shot dead after it mauled a 70-year-old man near Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming state in the US, officials said.
The adult male bear attacked and fatally wounded Erwin Frank Evert, authorities said Saturday.
Officials tracked it down via a radio collar and killed it near the site of the attack, Eric Kezsler, spokesman for the Game and Fish Department was quoted as saying by the CNN.
At least 45 wounded in blast in Sri Lankan capital
By RIA Novosti,
New Delhi : At least 45 people, including women and children, were wounded when a bomb exploded in a busy market area in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo on Saturday, a health ministry spokesperson said.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, although the military suspect the blast was the work of Tamil Tiger militants, who have been fighting for an independent state for 25 years.
Fighting has intensified recently with government troops conducting a large-scale ground operation against the Tamil Tigers in northern Sri Lanka.
US stocks fall on Federal Reserve chief’s warnings
By DPA,
New York : Most major US stock indices fell slightly Monday as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned of "formidable headwinds" to the country's economic recovery.
Bernanke, in a speech before the Economic Club of Washington, suggested that a "self-sustaining" recovery was not yet assured and said unemployment would remain high for some time to come.
President Barack Obama was expected to unveil a package of measures Tuesday to revive job growth in the United States. The unemployment rate is currently at 10 percent.
Sri Lankan troops advance despite rain as casualties mount
By DPA,
Colombo : Sri Lankan troops advanced Monday into Tamil Tiger rebels-held areas in northern Sri Lanka despite heavy rain after losing at least 33 soldiers in weekend fighting, the defence ministry said.
The troops were trying to consolidate their positions and advance in the Akkarayankulam and Maniyankulam areas in Kilinochchi district, 370 km north of Colombo.
The defence ministry said 33 soldiers were killed and three more were missing, while 48 more were injured in the fighting over the weekend in the same areas.
1,000-year-old tombs found in Mexico
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Mexican archaeologists have discovered a group of millennium-old basalt tombs in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit, said authorities.
Nepal court sentences Sobhraj to legal labyrinth
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Charles Gurmukh Sobhraj's hope of freedom were dashed Tuesday by Nepal's Supreme Court, which sent him to a legal labyrinth by ordering a trivial case dismissed almost six years ago by a lower court to be returned there for fresh trial.
Russian Air Force rejects home-made UAVs as inferior
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow: The Russian Air Force considers the unmanned aerial vehicles offered by domestic manufacturers to be inferior in quality, the force commander said Thursday.
Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said the Russian-made UAVs delivered to the air force failed to meet the required specifications.
"To put such drones into service is simply a crime," he said.
"I am, therefore, refusing to sign any acceptance papers."
Russia recently bought 12 UAVs from Israel in a deal worth $53 million.
Strong aftershock jolts quake-ravaged China province
By Xinhua,
Beijing : A strong aftershock, measuring 6 on the Richter scale, jolted Jiangyou city of southwest China's Sichuan province at 1.08 a.m. Sunday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.
The epicenter of the latest temblor was located 32.1 degrees north latitude and 105 degrees east longitude, it said.
Jiangyou, a city in north Sichuan, is situated near Beichuan county and Mianyang city, places hardest hit by Monday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake.
Bush Remarks at Naturalization Ceremony on Independence Day
By SPA,
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush on Friday welcomed new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony at Monticello, Virginia.
Bush’s welcoming remarks came on July 4, which is the day of independence for the United States. Bush welcomed the 72 people getting their naturalization, from 30 different countries, saying “I’ll be proud to call you a fellow American.”
Michael Moore loses 70 pounds
By IANS,
London : Oscar winning filmmaker Michael Moore is on a weight-loss spree and has shed almost 70 pounds (30 kilograms).
The 55-year-old claims old age inspired him to shed the pounds and he's only half-way through an epic weight loss programme, reported contactmusic.com.
"I've lost 60 or 70 pounds since Christmas. I ran across this book called the Pritikin Solution, written by a doctor (Robert Pritikin). One of the things it says is don't talk about how you're doing until you're done. And I'm only half way done," he said.
Soldiers briefly seized Guinea Bissau premier, army chief
By DPA,
Lisbon/Dakar: Dissident soldiers Thursday seized the armed forces chief of Guinea Bissau and also briefly detained the prime minister, diplomatic sources in the west African nation said.
Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior was detained in the morning and held at the military's main headquarters in the capital Bissau. He was released a few hours later. Armed forces chief Zamora Induta was also arrested.
Bhutan lifts vehicle import ban
Thimpu : Bhutan has lifted a ban on import of vehicles imposed a year ago, with dealers saying that most clients were interested in...
Georgia says Russia increasing peacekeepers in Abkhazia
By RIA Novosti,
Tbilisi : Georgia's Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that Russian military hardware and troops had already crossed the border into the breakaway republic of Abkhazia and called the move "an act of aggression."
Georgia urged the international community to intervene in the escalation in tensions, which have been building up between the two countries, since Russia's outgoing President Vladimir Putin called for closer ties between Moscow and Georgia's two breakaway regions and Tbilisi accused Russia of shooting down a drone last week.
Chennai-born Indian-American scientist to get rare honour
By Arun Kumar ,
Washington: Chennai born Indian-American engineer and scientist Subra Suresh is set to be inducted into the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on...
Sarkozy out of hospital
By DPA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy was discharged from hospital Monday after suffering a fainting fit while jogging at the weekend, French media reported.
Sarkozy was shown leaving the hospital on foot and smiling, although it was not known if he was returning to work or taking leave.
Presidential staff said that the 54-year-old had been exhausted due to his workload.
Sarkozy was admitted to the Val-de-Grace military hospital Sunday after having suffered a suspected attack of vasovagal syncope.
Three rebels killed in northern Sri Lanka
By Xinhua
Colombo : Three Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in an attack launched by the army in Sri Lanka's north, the military said Thursday.
The Media Centre for National Security said in a statement that the army carried out an attack against a group of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels attempting to breach the Forward Defence Lines at Killali in the northern Jaffna peninsula Wednesday night.
Three rebels were killed and two others were injured in the battle, said the statement, adding that two soldiers were also injured.
Somali radio quiz winners offered grenades, guns and ammunition
By DPA,
Nairobi/Mogadishu : Winners of a Somali radio quiz show testing knowledge of the Koran are being offered prizes including grenades, Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition, according to a local report.
The prizes offered by an Islamic broadcaster in the port of Kismayo were designed to "encourage the population to fight", according to the report by independent Radio Garowe radio station.
It quoted Sheikh Abdiwali Mohammed Aden, financial head of the radical Islamic al-Shabab militia, which seeks to depose the moderate Islamic interim government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.
Namibia detonator was just a test, says Germany
By DPA,
Berlin : A suspicious parcel containing a detonator that was found at an airport in Namibia and destined for Germany was a harmless test device, the German government revealed Friday.
EU condemns Russia’s decision on Abkhazia, South Ossetia
By Xinhua,
Brussels : The European Union (EU) Tuesday condemned the Russian decision to recognise Georgia's two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent countries.
The EU in a statement said Russia's move is "contrary to the principles of Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, recognised by the UN Charter, the conference on security and cooperation in Europe and UN security council resolutions".
Nepal government moves to seize former king’s property
By IANS
Kathmandu : Under growing pressure from the Maoists, Nepal's government Monday moved to seize the property of slain king Birendra and his family, marking yet another blow for King Gyanendra who faces an election in 93 days that will decide whether he gets to keep his crown.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who had been delaying the step though directed by parliament almost a year ago, finally held a meeting of his cabinet Monday and decided to start the process to take over the property in 15 days.
Business as usual in Times Square as search for bomber continues
By SPA
New York : Police believe they may have found the bicycle that carried a hooded, solitary bomber to a high-profile target: a military recruiting center at the heart of Times Square, AP reported.
But they have yet to close in on a suspect in Thursday's pre-dawn attack, which damaged the landmark recruiting station but hurt no one.
As Times Square returned to business as usual Friday, police released a photo of the bicycle, looked at dozens of security videotapes and scoured Times Square for possible witnesses.
A three-way tie for first lady at Zuma’s inauguration: Report
By DPA,
Johannesburg : After months of speculation over who will be South Africa's next first lady, local media reported Thursday that president-elect Jacob Zuma, a polygamist, will be accompanied by both his wives and a third female companion at his inauguration Saturday.
The Star newspaper reported that Zuma, 67, had invited his first wife Sizakele, 69, his second wife, Nompumelelo, who is in her mid-30s, and a third woman, Thobeka Mabhija, for whom he has reportedly paid lobola (bride price) to the lavish ceremony in Pretoria.
US warns of more sanctions against Zimbabwe
By DPA,
Washington : The US will consider more sanctions against Zimbabwe if President Robert Mugabe does not follow through on commitments to set up a power-sharing government, the US State Department said Monday.
"Should Mugabe renege on this power-sharing agreement, the US... is prepared to impose additional sanctions," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said.
Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition leader and head of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, have traded blame for the lack of progress in establishing power-sharing government.
Eight confirmed dead in China landslide
By IANS,
Beijing: Eight villagers have been confirmed dead in China's Guizhou province following a landslide Saturday, after the last body was retrieved Monday afternoon.
Yahoo case puts spotlight on human rights in China
By DPA
San Francisco : Leading US Internet site Yahoo has strongly denied allegations that it "aided and abetted" torture in China by releasing information that led to the imprisonment of four dissidents and anti-government bloggers in the communist state.
The allegations were made in a lawsuit filed in April by the Washington-based World Organization for Human Rights USA.
BJP congratulates Obama, looks forward to warm relations
By NNN-PTI,
New Delhi : The BJP today congratulated Barack Obama on his election as the US President and said it looked forward for his illustrious tenure and warm relations with India.
"We congratulate Barack Obama for being elected as the 44th President of the US," BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told PTI.
"We look forward to an illustrious tenure and hope that he will fulfill his election promise of a warm relations with India," Naqvi said.
Bush daughter’s wedding is low key affair
By DPA,
Washington : The secrecy wrap around US President George W. Bush's daughter Jenna's wedding was so tight that even the restaurant owner for Friday's rehearsal dinner wasn't told until a day before, media reports said Saturday.
Jenna Bush, 26, and Henry Hager, 30, were to tie the knot at the president's Crawford, Texas, ranch Saturday evening at 23:30 GMT.
The press was strictly kept at arm's length - but the White House was expected to release one photograph on Sunday, Laura Bush's press secretary Sally McDonough told reporters in Texas, the Dallas News reported online.
Hyderabadi student shot dead in US
Hyderabad: A student from Hyderabad has been shot dead by unidentified gunman in the US, according to his family.
Sai Kiran Goud was killed by...
US Thinktank on Guantanamo, Leak
By Prensa Latina
Havana : After a top commander admitted this week that there is a hidden prison on an illegal US Navy base in Guantanamo, Cuba, the director of a tireless watchdog group tells Prensa Latina about how it exposes lawless violations of human rights in the alleged War on
The University of California at Davis Center for the Study of Human Rights in the Americas has built up since fall 2005 a massive data base on the darker side of US policy in this part of the world, and its director Almerindo Ojeda bravely agreed to share on this theme with Cuban media.
Obama joins India in celebrating ‘great soul’ Mahatma Gandhi
By IANS,
Washington/New Delhi : "The America of today has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi," US President Barack Obama said Friday while expressing appreciation for the life and lessons of the global peace icon on his 140th birth anniversary.
"This is an important moment to reflect on his message of non-violence, which continues to inspire people and political movements across the globe," Obama said in a statement released by the White House.
Eight killed in shooting at US retirement home
By DPA,
Washington : Eight people were killed in a shooting at a health and rehabilitation centre in the city of Carthage in the US state of North Carolina, CNN reported Sunday.
Earlier reports had put the death toll at six.
The number of injuries stood at five, after one person was treated and released from a local hospital, CNN reported, citing a nurse at the hospital.
The shooter, who was among those injured and being treated at the hospital, was not a patient, CNN and local broadcasters reported, citing local officials.
China’s first lunar probe Chang’e-1 blasts off
By Xinhua
Xichang (China) : China Wednesday launched a lunar probe, the first of its three-stage moon mission, from a launch centre in southwestern Sichuan province.
The circumlunar satellite Chang'e-1 blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket at 6:05 p.m. from the No. 3 launching tower in the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.
Chinese space experts, technicians and other work staff, joined by experts from Japan, Germany and other countries as well as millions others from across the country, watched the launch.
UN chief meets with incoming Russian President Medvedev
By SPA
Moscow : Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday that no country should try to resolve international disputes outside of the United Nations.
Medvedev spoke as he met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who was on his first visit to Russia as head of the world body.
The incoming president also said there was no crisis in the U.N. operations.
US arrests hundreds in crackdown on Mexican drug gang
By DPA,
Washington : More than 750 members of a Mexican drug-trafficking cartel were arrested during a 21-month operation by US, Mexican and Canadian police, the US Justice Department said Wednesday.
The department said it had dealt a "crushing blow" to the Sineloa cartel, also known as the Federation and one of the biggest drug gangs in Mexico.
"International drug trafficking organizations pose a sustained, serious threat to international safety and security," said US Attorney General Eric Holder in a press conference. "They are a national security threat."
It’s war now: mother of Sobhraj’s fiancée
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : "It's all out war now," said Shakuntala Thapa, a steely look in her eyes, as she spoke on her mobile telephone.
"Since I have become the publicly announced mother-in-law of Charles Sobhraj from today, you must help my son-in-law.
"Now I am going to stake body and soul in getting him acquitted."
The frail Nepali lawyer, though well-known in Nepal's legal circles, became a public figure overnight Monday when a local daily carried her photograph on its front page.
EU approves tough austerity program for Greece
By IRNA,
Berlin : The European Union has approved a drastic austerity program for Greece, the German press agency dpa reported from Brussels on Tuesday.
As part of the plan, Athens will be required to reduce its budget deficit by four percentage points and to bring public finances under control within the next three years, unnamed diplomats were quoted saying on the sidelines of a meeting of EU finance ministers in the Belgian capital.
World leaders congratulate China for 2022 Beijing Olympics
Beijing : Leaders of some countries and international organisations have sent messages to China congratulating Beijing on its successful bid to host the...
Indian Muslims against ISIS: After fatwas against terror, Muslims take to streets, launch major...
By IndScribe,
First, there were fatwas against terrorism and ISIS.
Now, Indian Muslims have taken to the streets, to raise their voice against the outfit.
The...
German politics in upheaval on rise of the Left
By DPA
Berlin : The arrival of the Left Party has radically altered the German political landscape and forced Germany's two main parties to seek unusual coalition partners at the state level.
The possibility that the Left could play a decisive role at federal level when elections are held in 18 months even prompted a former president to call for constitutional change to cope with the unexpected situation.
Ahmadinejad urges Russia to rethink support for UN sanctions
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Russia Wednesday to reconsider its support for UN sanctions against Tehran, saying it is unacceptable, the Ynetnews service said.
"We shouldn't see, at sensitive times, our neighbour (Russia) supporting those who have been against us, have shown animosity to us for 30 years. This is not acceptable for the Iranian nation. I hope they will pay attention and take corrective action," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech.
Chinese artist fights concrete with erotic art
By Madhusree Chatterjee, IANS,
New Delhi: Erotic art with a social message literally hit the Indian streets when leading Chinese performance artist Han Bing performed "Dreams of Lost Homes" - a live erotic act - in the heart of the capital.
The one-hour act by bare bodied Bing, clad in just a loin cloth, making meditative love to a building construction rubble on a bed of cotton was "strangely arousing and spiritual" to some bystanders at the New Friends Colony market where it was performed.
Four activists share 2009 ‘Alternative Nobel’
By DPA,
Stockholm : Four activists were Tuesday named co-winners of the 2009 Right Livelihood Award, or so-called "Alternative Nobel", for their work in campaigning against nuclear weapons, protecting the rain forests of Congo and raising awareness about climate change.
Alyn Ware of New Zealand, Rene Ngongo of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and David Suzuki of Canada share the award with Australian-born physician Catherine Hamlin who for 50 years has helped treat women in Ethiopia suffering from obstetric fistula.
Get paid 24,000 pounds just to eat
By IANS,
London : TV character Homer Simpson would have loved this job. A company in Britain is looking for a worker who has to do nothing, except eat - and the pay will be nearly 24,000 pounds a year.
Daily Mail Monday reported that the firm Proactol Ltd wants the worker to have a hearty appetite; the candidate should be happy to eat 400 extra calories every day - to test the fat-binding properties of a weight loss product.
The candidate will have their calorific intake and weight closely monitored by medics.
The firm said their fat binder was clinically proven.
Australian stocks open sharply lower
By DPA,
Sydney : Australian stocks tumbled 3.5 percent on the opening bell Wednesday in the wake of a further steep fall on Wall Street.
In early trading the ASX 200 dropped 166 points, or 3.5 percent, to 4,452.
The Australian dollar fell again in early trade, dropping 2 US cents to 70 US cents as the flight out of commodities-linked currencies continues. The Aussie dollar was sold off along with the South African rand, the Canadian dollar and the New Zealand dollar.
Russia to seek dismissal of UN Kosovo mission chief
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia will ask for the dismissal of the United Nations' chief representative in Kosovo over his plans to end the UN mission in the province, a foreign ministry statement said Thursday.
Russia continues to view Kosovo as a part of Serbia, and has warned that any transfer of the UN Kosovo mission's authority to the European Union (EU) would contravene international law.
One killed, five injured in Indonesia’s earthquake
By Xinhua
Jakarta : One person was killed and five others wounded after a 7.9-magnitude powerful earthquake rocked Bengkulu in Sumatra Island of Indonesia Wednesday, Indonesian Disaster Management Agency said.
"Temporarily we got a report that one person was killed and five others were injured in Bengkulu city," said an official of the agency.
Telecommunication and electricity facilities have been paralyzed in the region hampering rescue efforts, officials said.
North Korea may miss year-end deadline
By SPA
Seoul, South Korea : North Korea may miss a year-end deadline to declare all its nuclear programs, South Korea's foreign minister said Thursday.
The timing may go past the target date _ the end of December, Foreign Minister Song Min-soon told reporters.
North Korea agreed earlier this year to disable its main nuclear complex and give a declaration of all its nuclear programs by the end of the year in return for international aid, according to a report of the Associated Press.
Mass grave discovered in Peru
By IANS,
Putis (Peru) : The Peruvian government has excavated the remains of at least 60 people, including 15 children, killed in a massacre led by the military in 1984, Spain's EFE news agency reported.
The mass grave was discovered in Putis, some 650 km south-east of the Peruvian capital Lima, where 120 peasants were slaughtered in 1984, the report said Friday.
This was the biggest extra-judicial burial ever discovered in Peru, said prosecutor Cristina Olazabal, who is overseeing the excavation.
No emergency OPEC meeting before March 15 – official source
By NNN-WAM,
Vienna : An authorised source at the Secretariat General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Friday said oil ministers of the 12 member countries will not hold an emergency meeting ahead of the organisation's ministerial meeting scheduled on March 15, 2009.
The source who spoke on condition of anonymity said he did not see enough justification for such extraordinary or emergency meeting.
The source anticipated a significant decrease of around 200,000 bpd in global demand on crude oil this year.
18 killed in Nepal plane crash
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : A small plane carrying 19 people Wednesday crashed in Nepal's remote mountainous north, killing all but the pilot and turning the celebration of the country's biggest festival Dashain into mourning.
The 18 victims included 12 Germans, two Australians and four Nepalis.
Co-pilot Bikash Pant and cabin attendant Sunita Shrestha were killed in the early morning crash while pilot Surendra Kunwar was the lone survivor.
Mongolia integral part of India’s Act East Policy: Modi
Ulan Bator : Mongolia is an integral part of India's Act East policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Sunday and also announced...
State of emergency declared in Armenia
By DPA
Yerevan : A state of emergency has been declared in Armenia after one person was killed in continuing clashes between police and supporters of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian.
Itar-Tass news agency said outgoing President Robert Kocharian declared the state of emergency late Saturday after violent protests in the capital Yerevan, which followed police action Friday night.
Police moved in to clear dozens of tents used by demonstrators loyal to Ter-Petrosian who claim the Feb 19 presidential election he lost had been rigged.
Chinese astronauts return to Earth
By IANS,
Beijing: Three astronauts who completed China's first manned space docking safely returned to Earth Friday morning.
Kazakhstan set for long-term cooperation deal with Russia
By RIA Novosti,
Astana : Kazakhstan hopes to sign a long-term cooperation and integration deal with Russia, and has proposed that the sides draw up a draft agreement, the Kazakh president has said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, speaking at a joint news conference with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev, Thursday said: "We have proposed to Russia the drafting of a long-term agreement on cooperation and integration between our countries."
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).
Sangay blames China for self-immolations in Tibet
By IANS,
Dharamsala : Blaming China for self-immolations in Tibet, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Monday said "if Beijing ends repression, the self-immolations will abate".
Global beer sales down
By DPA,
London : Consumers from Latin America to eastern Europe have apparently resisted drowning their economic sorrows in a glass of beer, trading figures from SABMiller, the world's second-largest brewer, showed Thursday.
The group's trading update for its third quarter up to the end of December showed that lager shipments in Europe dropped by one per cent as a result of the "impacts of the global financial crisis on consumer disposable income."
The decline was led by Russia, where volumes were 22 percent down, while supplies to Romania and the Czech Republic also slowed.
Castro chides summit secrecy, but likes Obama’s sleep habits
By DPA,
Havana : Cuban leader Fidel Castro Monday complained that the weekend Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago was held in "secret".
But at the same time, amid a dawning - though as yet far from complete - thaw in US-Cuban relations, Castro had some praise for US President Barack Obama.
"His predecessor (George W. Bush) went to sleep early and slept many hours. It seems that Obama works a lot and sleeps little," he quipped in an article posted on the website Cubadebate.
Russia’s upper house recognizes Georgia’s rebel regions
By DPA,
Moscow : Russia's upper house of parliament voted unanimously to recognize Georgia's rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia Monday.
After an emergency meeting of the house, lawmakers issued a statement to President Dmitry Medvedev urging recognition of the two provinces that are ethnically separate from Georgia.
Turk attacked with gunfire in Germany
By KUNA
Berlin : A 39-year-old Turkish resident of Germany was fired upon and suffered injuries in the northern city of Braunschweig, police said on Friday.
Police said the Turk was targeted with gunfire shooting when he emerged from a mosque in the town, late on Thursday, where he performed prayers. The attacker opened fire in the direction of Turk from a passing car.
The Turkish national wounded in the face and had to be hospitalized.
Sri Lankan Muslim party under pressure on budget vote
Colombo(Xinhua) : Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), an ally in the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse, has come under pressure from its membership not to support the government in the key vote to take place Dec 14, party officials said Sunday.
"A majority of our executive committee members feel that we should abstain from voting," said a party official who wanted to remain unnamed.
Two US nationals killed in Dominican chopper crash
By IANS/EFE,
Santiago (Dominican Republic) : The two US nationals were killed when the helicopter in which they were travelling crashed in a mountainous area in Dominican Republic.
The accident occurred in the northwestern town of Restauracion. The US nationals were returning from a humanitarian mission in neighbouring Haiti.
The chopper burst into flames before it crashed into a mountain Thursday night, police and civil defence officials said Friday.
The victims were identified as pilot John Ward and co-pilot James Jalovec.
Teenaged blogger jailed in Singapore for posting offensive videos
Bangkok : A 16-year-old blogger was sentenced to four weeks in prison in Singapore for posting offensive videos on YouTube in a trial that...
UN to probe human rights violations by Israel
Geneva : A special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution Wednesday to launch an inquiry into human rights...
Seven kids killed in Germany building fire
By IANS,
Berlin : At least seven children and another person were killed Sunday in a fire that broke out at an apartment building in Germany, police said.
US Army plans to lay off 40,000 military posts
Washington: The US Army is set to cut 40,000 military and 17,000 civilian posts, between 2015 and 2017, due to budget constraints, US media...
Drugs, sex and corruption in Philippines’ largest prison
By Helen Cook,
Manila : Drugs, sex, internet and even electric mopeds are few of the luxuries enjoyed by some of the prisoners in exchange...
Turkmen government puts an end to rock-bottom gasoline prices
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Turkmenistan's government has moved to end ten years of virtually free gasoline in the impoverished Central Asian state, raising the price eightfold on Monday from a mere 2 cents per liter.
Cheap fuel was one of the social subsidies introduced by the ex-Soviet republic's late autocratic leader Saparmurat Niyazov, along with free water, natural gas and salt, which remain free to Turkmen citizens.
Brown calls Jade Goody ‘courageous’ as tributes pour in
By IANS,
London : British politicians led by Prime Minister Gordon Brown joined celebrities and cancer charities in paying rich tributes to reality TV star Jade Goody who died Sunday of cervical cancer.
"She was a courageous woman both in life and death, and the whole country has admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children," Brown said.
"She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer which will benefit thousands of women across the UK."
Obama urged to lead world on Tibet rights
By DPA,
Washington : With Tibetan national and US flags rippling in heavy winds, "Free Tibet" activists rallied Monday outside the White House to pressure President Barack Obama to take up the cause of China's oppression in Tibet.
The noontime rally was timed to coincide with midnight in Tibet, which marks the 50th anniversary of the failed uprising against Chinese rule and the flight of the Dalai Lama into exile.
Fresh fighting kills 25 Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka
By SPA,
Colombo, Sri Lanka : Government forces and Tamil separatists fought separate battles across northern Sri Lanka, leaving 25 rebels dead, the military said Wednesday.
The latest round of fighting took place throughout Tuesday in the Welioya, Vavuniya and Mannar areas, the Associated Press reported.
US reiterates nuclear fuel assurances not legally binding
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : A top US official has reiterated Washington's controversial assertion that nuclear fuel supply assurances were "political commitments" and not "legally binding" saying American firms could not be legally compelled to sell a particular product.
"The commitments that the President (George W. Bush) made that are recorded in the (implementing) 123 agreement are firm, solemn commitments...," Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns told a key Senate panel Thursday.
Maoists to rejoin government as Nepal deal axes king
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : Three months after they walked out of the government and dealt a blow to elections and the peace process, Maoists in Nepal are ready to return to the cabinet following the inking of a pact with the ruling parties that will axe the kingdom's two-century-old monarchy.
After protracted negotiations that often turned acrimonious, the rebels and the six ruling parties finally signed a 23-point agreement Sunday night, following more than seven hours of negotiations between the top leaders.
Pandit’s Citi, Sanjay Jha’s Motorola among top losers
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Citigroup led by Indian-American chief executive Vikram Pandit and Motorola, headed by Sanjay Jha also of Indian origin, figure in the Fortune 500 list of firms posting some of the biggest losses last year.
Citi clocked an annual loss of $27.7 billion while Motorola incurred a loss of $4.2 billion, the US business magazine's list released online Monday said.
Profits among Fortune 500 companies saw the worst declines in the list's 55-year history, falling 85 percent in 2008 compared to 2007, for total losses of $99 billion.
Submarine rams into ship as navigator listens to iPod
By IANS,
London/Washington : A US nuclear submarine rammed into a ship causing damage worth nearly 60 million pounds as its navigator was listening to his iPod - a portable media player, a media report said Sunday.
The Sun Sunday cited an official report as saying that sailors on the USS Hartford were also using loudspeakers so they could play music while on duty.
Fifteen sailors on the Hartford were injured when it collided with the transport ship USS New Orleans in the Persian Gulf in March 2009.
What has changed one year since the Tallinn riots?
By Aleks Tapinsh, DPA
Tallinn (Estonia) : ( After thousands of Russian-speaking youths looted stores, smashed windows and rioted in this Estonian capital last April, the Baltic nation of 1.35 million people became Russia's enemy number one.
The Estonian government's decision to relocate a Soviet-era World War II memorial along with the remains of 12 Red Army soldiers from the city centre to a military cemetery had sparked the riots and a diplomatic row abroad, leading to 900 arrests and the death of one Russian citizen.
Managing Internet Explorer plug-ins
By DPA
Washington : Everyone knows the story: When Internet Explorer (IE) is first installed, it flies. The browser itself opens quickly, and pages load without incident.
But after a while, things start to break down. The browser crashes, freezes, or loads slowly. Sometimes it won't load at all. Typically the blame falls on security holes in IE. But there can be other causes too - plug-ins.
You could ditch IE altogether and move to Mozilla's Firefox, but most Firefox users swear by plug-ins, so there's really no escape from plug-in issues there, either.
Amnesty International condemns killing of Israelis
By DPA
London : The Amnesty International Friday condemned the shooting of eight Israeli civilians in Jerusalem, but warned against retaliatory action.
"We absolutely condemn this deliberate attack on Israeli civilians as a gross abuse of international humanitarian law," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Amnesty demanded that all armed groups immediately stop "targeting of civilians", while calling on Israel to refrain from carrying out attacks that would endanger Palestinian civilians in response to these killings.
ANC wins South Africa’s general election
Johannesburg: The African National Congress (ANC) has won a commanding victory in South Africa's general election with a majority of 249 seats in the...
Nepal royals jittery as president to replace king
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : After putting up an impassive front ahead of the assembly meeting that will Wednesday end Nepal's 239-year-old reign of the Shah dynasty, the royal family Tuesday showed first signs of jitters as the ruling parties finally agreed that a president would replace King Gyanendra as head of state.
Indonesia cancels tsunami warning issued after quake
By DPA
Jakarta : Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning Tuesday following a 6.4-magnitude earthquake off the western coast of Sumatra Island, but it was later cancelled after no giant waves materialised.
The quake struck at 10:43 a.m. (03.43 GMT), 159 km southwest of Bengkulu province and at a depth of 20 km, said Budi Waluyo, an official at the National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency in Jakarta.
"It was strongly felt in Bengkulu, but so far there are no reports of damage," he told DPA.
Four killed in Ukraine coalmine accident
By RIA Novosti
Kiev : Four miners were killed and three others were injured in a rockslide at a coalmine in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian Emergencies Ministry said Monday.
The mine accident occurred about 4.00 p.m. Moscow time (1:00 p.m. GMT) Sunday.
The injured miners were hospitalised with various injuries, the ministry said.
In another incident Sunday, 555 miners were urgently evacuated following a fire in a mine in the Lugansk region. There were no casualties in the incident, the local rescue service said.
Kyrgyzstan extends state of emergency to June 25
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Bishkek : Kyrgyzstan has extended a state of emergency in a number of districts in the Osh region to June 25, an official statement of the interim government said.
The emergency, imposed after ethnic clashes which claimed about 200 lives, was due to expire Sunday.
Violent clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek groups in southern cities of Osh and Jalal-Abad broke out June 11, leaving at least 191 dead and more than 2,000 injured, according to official figures. Kyrgyz leaders admit that the real toll could be 10 times higher.
Merkel secures victory with new coalition partner
By DPA,
Berlin : German Chancellor Angela Merkel secured victory at the head of a new centre-right coalition she said was needed "to move our country forward".
"We've achieved our goal of forming a new government," she said Sunday after her Christian Democrats (CDU) and their preferred allies won a safe parliamentary majority in federal elections.
After a low-key campaign focussed on a promise of moderate tax cuts, Merkel's CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), saw their vote share ease slightly.
Might of powerful nations cannot prevail: Sri Lanka
By IANS,
United Nations: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called upon the UN to build a more equal international order, saying that "the might of powerful nations cannot prevail".
Thai gov’t to set up special cabinet council to deal with violence
By Xinhua,
Bangkok : Thailand's weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday decided to set up a special cabinet council in an attempt to deal with the insurgent violence in some southern provinces of the country.
Thailand's restive far South mainly comprises the southernmost provinces -- Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and some parts of Songkla province.
The new cabinet council will be chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and is comprised of 16 cabinet members and two representatives of the National Economic and Social Development Board and the Budget Bureau.
Maoists write a different script for film industry
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : In the 1950s, when the kings of Nepal ruled the country with an iron hand and political parties were banned, the palace nurtured the birth of the fledgling Nepali film industry to use it for propaganda. Almost six decades later, fate is writing a different script for the industry.
Royalists are on their way out and the Maoists, who after a 10-year guerrilla war from the jungles took their battle against monarchy to Nepal's parliament, have invaded the silver screen with a string of tales to glorify their "People's War".
Mexico says it n-plant is safe
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Mexican officials inspected the country's only nuclear power plant following the nuclear crisis in Japan. They said the facility was safe.
International weapon smuggler faces charges, extradition
By DPA
Bangkok : Thai police Friday charged Viktor Bout, 41, one of the world's most notorious weapons traffickers who was arrested here Thursday, with arms dealing in Thailand, postponing his anticipated extradition to the United States.
"If he is found guilty of the charge he will spend two to 10 years in jail here," said Lieutenant-General Adisorn Nonsri, Commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau.
UK on brink of recession, study finds
By IRNA,
London : The UK is in serious danger of heading into recession as the credit crunch tightens its hold on the economy, according to a survey of businesses across the country published Tuesday.
The survey found an increase in the number of firms reporting fewer orders, more job cuts and less investment, indicating that the British economy is suffering from the effects of the global credit crunch and steep rises in fuel, food and other raw materials.
Nigeria mourns plane crash victims
By IANS,
Abuja : Nigeria Monday began a three-day national mourning for the 193 people who died in one of the country's worst plane crashes that occurred Sunday.
G20 labour ministers stress job creation
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Labour ministers of the G20 group of leading economies, including India, have stressed the need for their governments to keep job creation and preservation high on the agenda as the global economy recovers.
In recommendations drafted ahead of the ministerial meeting that began here Tuesday, the ministers recommended that as some countries experience economic recovery "continued attention be paid to job creation and job preservation, including vigorous implementation of existing policies and consideration for additional employment measures".
Secret Dalai agent fomenting Nepal unrest: Chinese envoy
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Beijing has accused exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama of fomenting the Tibetan protests that have been rocking Nepal's capital city Kathmandu through a leader holding "secret meetings with the ringleaders of some organisations".
In an exclusive interview to Nepal's official media, China's ambassador to Nepal Zheng Xianglin accused the Nobel laureate and his India-based Tibetan government in exile of sending a leader to Kathmandu to incite the protests.
Death toll in boat sinking in Philippines now 46; eight missing
By DPA,
Manila : The death toll in the sinking of a passenger vessel off the northern Philippines has risen to 46 while eight people remained missing, the coast guard and police said Thursday.
Forty-five people survived the accident Sunday off the coast of Ballesteros town in Cagayan province, 420 km north of Manila.
The MB Maejan was already near the dock of nearby Aparri town when it capsized as huge waves battered it and strong currents dragged it away.
The coast guard said search operations for the eight missing were continuing despite bad weather.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in China
By Xinhua,
Beijing : US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived here Friday evening on her first visit to China since she took office.
Clinton was greeted by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi at the airport.
During her stay in China, Clinton is scheduled to meet Chinese state leaders to exchange views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
Australia concerned about troops’ safety following Musharraf’s resignation
By Neena Bhandari, IANS,
Sydney : Australia Tuesday expressed concern over the safety of its troops in Afghanistan following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf and recent political developments in Pakistan.
Musharraf, who was considered as a major ally in the fight against terrorism by the US and Australia, resigned Monday after moves from the coalition government to impeach him.
Colombian earthquake death toll rises to 14
By Xinhua,
Bogota : The death toll from a 5.5-magnitude earthquake that jolted Meta province in central Colombia has risen to 14, authorities said Sunday.
More than 300 people were injured and 2,000 families were affected. The quake also caused varying degrees of damage to hundreds of buildings including schools and churches.
Among the victims were six people killed by boulders shaken loose by the quake and fell on their cars that were running on a highway linking Bogota and Villavicencio, the provincial capital of Meta, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
Clinton discusses North Korea with Asian counterparts
New York, Sep 22 (DPA) US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday met foreign ministers from Japan, South Korea and Australia to weigh action on North Korea's nuclear programme and Tokyo's call for a shake-up in the US-Japanese relationship.
The meetings came at the start of a week of major diplomacy in New York as world leaders gathered for the annual opening of the UN General Assembly. US President Barack Obama arrived late Monday for his first visit to the UN headquarters since taking office in January.
North Korea threatens military action over possible UN censure
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
United Nations : North Korea will retaliate militarily to any condemnation of Pyongyang by the UN Security Council over the alleged sinking of a South Korean warship, a North Korean official said.
British arms exports to Israel continue unabated
By IRNA
London : British arms sales to the Zionist regime continued unabated last year despite Israel's month-long reinvasion of Lebanon, according to the latest annual report on strategic export control published by the Foreign Office.
The report revealed that 112 Standard Individual Export Licences, (SIELs) were issued to British companies applying to sell military equipment to Israel in 2006 and that a further 17 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were approved or amended.
London : British arms sales to the Zionist regime continued unabated last year despite Israel's month-long reinvasion of Lebanon, according to the latest annual report on strategic export control published by the Foreign Office.
The report revealed that 112 Standard Individual Export Licences, (SIELs) were issued to British companies applying to sell military equipment to Israel in 2006 and that a further 17 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were approved or amended.
Japan mourns on quake anniversary
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Tokyo : Japan Sunday marked the first anniversary of the devastating 9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami which killed almost 15,000 people.
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...
First criminal trial in England without jury in over 400 years
By IRNA,
London : England’s first criminal trial without a jury in more than 400 years is set to start on Tuesday in the fourth attempt to prosecute 62-year old John Twomey over a bungled robbery at Heathrow airport in 2004.
The historic trial, being held under provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 2003, comes after the court of appeal examined secret evidence and ruled last year that "the danger of jury tampering and the subversion of the process of trial by jury is very significant".
Evicted Tamils to return to Colombo
By Xinhua
Colombo : Sri Lankan police said Friday that some 186 minority Tamil civilians, who had been sent out of the capital Colombo in a security operation, are to be brought back.
Chile finds 23 survivors in Haiti hotel rubble
By DPA,
Santiago de Chile : The Chilean government said Friday that international rescue workers had located 23 survivors in the rubble of a hotel in Haiti.
Chile's presidential envoy to Haiti, Juan Gabriel Valdes, told Cooperativa radio that the survivors were located in the rubble of the Hotel Montano, where most international functionaries to Haiti stay.
"We found them during the night," the diplomat said, while not specifying the nationalities of the survivors. He said rescue workers from different nations were working in the area.
Over 1 mn Mexicans involved in drug trade
By EFE,
Mexico City : Over one million Mexican people are involved in the illegal drug trade including "about 200,000" women, according to Mexico police estimates.
The president of an umbrella organisation of peasants, Jose Jacobo Femat, said Friday that the situation is "an alarming phenomenon" and, in the case of women, is the result of "gender inequality and the lack of opportunities to find legal employment".
Moscow hails Mali political settlement
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia Monday hailed the conclusion of an agreement on restoring constitutional order in the west African nation of Mali, where a military junta has seized power.
Almost 500,000 viewed Alejandro Sanz concert online
By IANS/EFE,
Miami : Nearly half a million people viewed the live online broadcast of Alejandro Sanz's Dec 6 concert in Miami, the web site Terra reported Monday.
Premier revisits AIDS-suffering central China villages
By Xinhua
Zhengzhou : Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid his second visit to China's worst AIDS-hit villages in Henan Province, a day before the 20th World AIDS Day.
It was Wen's fifth face-to-face talks with AIDS patients or their family members since 2003.
"What's your name?"
"Zhang Shuwan."
"Do you remember how your parents were dying?"
"No, I don't."
Castro writes about his lack of longevity
By DPA,
Havana : Former Cuban president Fidel Castro said in an online essay that he doubts he would have the "privilege" to observe world events in four years and said he wanted to reduce his influence in Cuba's government.
The revolutionary leader posted the essay Thursday on a government website, writing about the inauguration of President Barack Obama in the United States, Cuba's long-time ideological rival.