Time to punish parties who use or abuse children in armed conflicts UN envoy
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 13 (APP) The Security Council must “take concrete and targeted measures” against those parties that persistently use or abuse children during armed conflicts around the world, the U.N. envoy on the issue said Tuesday.
Addressing the 15-nation council during a day-long open debate, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy noted the ongoing impunity for those persistent violators that use or abuse children during wars.
US court rules out indecency ban on live shows
By IANS,
Washington : A US court has struck down a government policy on indecency on live television and radio, saying it is a violation of the constitution and the law allowing free speech.
The ruling Tuesday was a major victory for television networks, which jointly sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), after the Bush administration cracked down on foul language on broadcast television and radio.
Former generals held in Venezuela for alleged coup bid
By IANS,
Caracas : Several former Venezuelan generals have been taken into custody in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow or kill President Hugo Chavez, EFE news agency reported Friday.
"Several people are under arrest and the minister of defense (Gustavo Rangel) has ordered an inquiry by the military prosecutor's office," the agency quoted Chavez as saying Thursday at a political rally here.
Beijing police now do blogging, podcasts
By IANS,
Beijing : Police in the Chinese capital will now offer interactive services through blogs and podcasts in a country where the number of internet users is multiplying.
The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau officially launched its new media services at the news portals sina.com, sohu.com and 163.com and video-sharing site ku6.com, in a move that would enhance transparency in the police department's relations with the common people, Xinhua reported.
Lowest white, highest black turnout helped Obama in US elections
By IANS,
New York : The lowest white turnout and record black women and youth ballots in the historic November election put Barack Obama in the White House, according new poll research.
An analysis of poll data by the Pew Research Center shows that blacks, Hispanics and Asians voted in unprecedented numbers to give Obama a huge edge over John McCain.
Though the whites still accounted for 76.3 percent of the record 131 million Americans who voted in the Nov 4 election, their turnout of 66.1 percent was the lowest in presidential elections.
President Medvedev To Start Three-day Asian Tour On Thursday
By Bernama,
Moscow : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will on Thursday leave for a three-day Asian tour.
The new Russian head of state, who took office earlier this month, will pay his first foreign visits to Kazakhstan (May 22-23) and China (May 23-24), Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported.
"I am keeping my promise that I gave the night after the elections. I will first go to Kazakhstan, which is a very close country to us and from there to China. This is going to be my first international tour," Medvedev said back in April.
World Bank chief economist proposes new ‘Marshal Plan’
By Xinhua,
Washington : World Bank's chief economist Justin Lin has called for the establishment of a $2-trillion Global Recovery Fund to help the low-income countries to cope with the current financial crisis.
Lin, who proposed for the setting up of the massive fund Monday, said it was in "the spirit of Marshall Plan for the development" that would help the low-income economies to invest in the bottleneck areas and achieve sustained growth.
Former Shaanxi Freeway Executive Gets Death Penalty For Bribery
By Bernama,
Xi'an : The former board chairman of a northwest Chinese freeway construction company received a death sentence, with a two-year stay, after being convicted for bribery on Wednesday, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
The ruling was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, against Chen Shuangquan, who formerly was chairman of the Shaanxi Freeway Construction Group Company (SFCGC).
German teenager jailed for foiled bid to massacre schoolmates
By DPA,
Bonn (Germany): A 16-year-old girl who attempted to kill teachers and fellow pupils at her German co-ed high school was sent to youth prison Tuesday for five years.
She was foiled when another girl observed her in the school toilets preparing her pistol, sword and firebombs for the assault. The other girl was seriously wounded in the hands and arms with the sword as the would-be attacker fled.
A youth court convicted her of attempted murder, causing serious bodily harm and weapons offences, ruling that she was sane.
Brazil’s sports minister quits
By IANS/EFE,
Brasilia : Brazil's sports minister resigned Wednesday after being assailed by corruption complaints that cost him the confidence of President Dilma Rousseff, officials said.
Obama stand on outsourcing is politics, says US expert
By IANS,
Bangalore: US President Barack Obama's announcement to end tax sops to those US firms outsourcing jobs to countries like India has come under flak from Phil Harkins, a leading US management expert and chief executive of Linkage Inc, a global firm specialising in leadership development
Myanmar developments will not stop Asean charter signing
By DPA
Singapore : Developments in Myanmar will not stop the signing of the Asean charter at the annual summit next month, the bloc's Secretary General Ong Keng Yong said Saturday.
"Earlier I thought it was possible, but not now," Ong said on the sidelines of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) civil society conference.
The violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar last month triggered calls for action among the country's neighbours, but Asean has ruled out economic sanctions or expelling Myanmar.
Yahoo co-founder, chief Yang to step down
By DPA,
San Francisco : Jerry Yang, who helped kick start the internet revolution as co-founder of web portal Yahoo, is stepping down as the company's chief executive.
The announcement by the ailing internet giant came after months of falling revenue, fierce proxy battles and a series of botched negotiations that scuttled what now seems to have been an exceedingly generous buyout offer from Microsoft.
Yahoo said that the search for a successor had already started and that Yang will leave after his replacement is found.
Chinese bidder of looted sculptures refuses to pay up
By Xinhua,
Beijing : A Chinese man, who successfully bid for two looted bronze sculptures auctioned in Paris last week, says the winning bid will not be paid.
Cai Mingchao, a collection adviser of National Treasures Fund, bid 31.49 million euros ($39.63 million) by telephone during the auction at Christie's Feb 25, Niu Xianfeng, deputy director of the fund, said at a press conference Monday.
"What I want to stress is that this money cannot be paid," Cai said at the press conference.
British bailout: banks asked to freeze executive bonuses
By Dipankar De Sarkar, iANS,
London : The British government Monday poured a massive 37 billion pounds ($65 billion) into three of the country’s biggest banks and wrested guarantees of a freeze on executive bonuses.
In a move that was described as the biggest shakeup of British banking, leading to the effective nationalisation of one of them, the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), the Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) and Lloyds TSB were expected to submit to strict new government regulations.
U.S. Criticizes ‘Politically Motivated’ Violence in Zimbabwe
By SPA,
United Nations : The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Wednesday expressed concern about the “escalating politically motivated violence” in Zimbabwe and urged a joint role by the world body and the African Union to resolve the election crisis.
“We are gravely concerned about the escalating politically motivated violence perpetrated by [Zimbabwean] security forces and ruling party militias,” Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told a high-level meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
Global rice production to rise by 1.8 percent: UN
By DPA
Rome : The world's production of rice is set to increase by 12 million tonnes or 1.8 percent in 2008, "easing the current very tight supply", the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Wednesday.
But international trade in rice, one of the globe's main food sources would continue to decrease "mainly due to restrictions in the main exporting countries", including China, India, Egypt and Vietnam the Rome-based FAO said in a statement.
After wowing the Big Apple, Modi off to win Washington
By Arun Kumar,
Washington : After wowing the Indian-American community and wooing the big business in the Big Apple, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is...
Ex-Georgian defense minister released on bail
By RIA Novosti
Paris : A Paris court ruled on Wednesday to release former Georgian defense minister Irakly Okruashvili on bail, a senior counselor of the Georgian Embassy in France said.
Vissarion Zhgenti did not specify the bail sum.
Lawyers representing Okruashvili, accused by Tbilisi of corruption-related crimes, demanded his release on Tuesday and called for Georgia's extradition request to be turned down.
Paris : A Paris court ruled on Wednesday to release former Georgian defense minister Irakly Okruashvili on bail, a senior counselor of the Georgian Embassy in France said.
Vissarion Zhgenti did not specify the bail sum.
Lawyers representing Okruashvili, accused by Tbilisi of corruption-related crimes, demanded his release on Tuesday and called for Georgia's extradition request to be turned down.
Putin urges Ukraine militants to open humanitarian corridor
Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday urged militants in southeastern Ukraine to open a humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian soldiers to allow them to...
South Korean court orders chemical castration of child rapist
By IANS,
Seoul: A South Korean court Thursday ordered chemical castration of a repeat child sex offender in a first such decision given in the country.
World’s smallest silicon sensor to monitor environs
By IANS,
London : Researchers are fabricating the world's smallest silicon sensor that will be extremely powerful and yet consume very little power.
The sensor, with applications in bio-sensing and ecological monitoring, is being developed by researchers at the University of Southampton.
“Power consumption is a big issue at the moment as devices use current whether they are switched off and on,” said Hiroshi Mizuta, project head.
An adhesive inspired by the gecko’s grip
By IANS
New York : Inspired by the gecko's legendary grip - which allows it to scale sheer walls and hang upside down from ceilings - scientists have developed what is probably the mother of all adhesives.
Researchers at the University of California at Berkeley, who developed the adhesive, copied the easy-attach, easy-release mechanism of the reptile's padded feet.
The material, according to their study, could prove useful in a range of products - from climbing equipment to medical devices.
Somalia clashes leave 30 dead
By DPA,
Nairobi/Mogadishu : Clashes between Somali Islamists competing to seize areas abandoned by departing Ethiopian troops left around 30 people dead and 30 injured over the weekend, reports said Monday.
Main insurgent group al-Shabaab and a local militia group clashed in Guriel, some 500 km north of the capital Mogadishu, the BBC reported.
Ethiopian forces invaded Somalia in late 2006 to help kick out the hardline Islamic Courts Union (ICU) regime.
China quake toll rises to 34,000
By Xinhua,
Beijing : The toll in last week's devastating earthquake in China rose to 34,073 Monday, relief headquarters of the State Council said.
The quake, measuring eight on the Richter scale (according to a latest government report), jolted the south-western Sichuan Province May 12, killing and wounding thousands of people in the aftermath.
Officials said around 245,108 people were injured in the quake.
According to the health ministry, some 52,934 people have been treated and 3,304 people died in hospitals.
‘Lettuce ladies’ urge Filipinos to become vegetarians
By DPA,
Manila : Three animal rights activists stopped traffic in the Philippine capital Friday when they urged Filipinos to become vegetarians at a public plaza while wearing only lettuce leaves.
The "sexy lettuce ladies" of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) visited Plaza Miranda in downtown Manila as part of the group's campaign for Earth Day.
Holding signs that read "Save the Planet. Go Vegetarian," the scantily clad activists greeted people at the plaza and explained to them why going vegetarian would help save the planet.
Indonesia to host Asia-Europe labor ministers conference
By Xinhua,
Jakarta : Indonesia will host the Asia-Europe labor ministers conference on Oct. 14 to 15 in Bali island, a release from the foreign ministry said here Friday.
The meeting will be attended by 19 European Union nations, 14 Asian countries and European Commission.
The International Labor Organization or ILO, World Bank, IOM and Asian Development Bank or ADB are also invited.
Russia to get first Muslim TV channel in August
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The first Muslim TV channel in Russia, Al-RTV, will go on air in August, an official said Wednesday.
Quake-tsunami may cost Japan $235 bn, says World Bank
By IANS,
Tokyo : The devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan March 11 may cost the country's economy $235 billion, the World Bank said Monday.
19,000 Colombian kids involved in prostitution: Report
By IANS,
Bogota: Nearly two million children are working as child labourers in Colombia and about 19,000 of them are involved in prostitution, a media report said.
Will monitor Mumbai situation closely: Obama
By IANS,
Chicago : US-president elect Barack Obama said Monday he would closely monitor the investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks that killed 183 people and injured many more.
"I will be monitoring the situation closely," Obama said at a press conference here at his president-elect's office, where he introduced his national security team. Hilary Clinton, whom Obama Monday formally named as his Secretary of State, stood to his left.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of India," he said while replying to the question on India that kicked off the press conference.
Three fire incidents in capital, no casualties
By IANS,
New Delhi : Two factories were damaged in separate fire incidents in the capital Saturday night, while another blaze in a high-rise also destroyed valuable property, police said. However, no casualties were reported.
The first fire was reported in Narela Industrial area in northwest Delhi in a leather factory. The blaze damaged the stored goods, according to the fire department.
As many as 30 fire tenders were rushed to the spot and fire officials faced a tough time in putting out the fire.
US officials charge Headley for involvement in 26/11
By IANS,
Chicago: The US law enforcement authorities have filed charges against suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and Chicago resident David Coleman Headley of involvement in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
Gunmen hijacks Chinese ship off Kenyan coast
By Xinhua,
Beijing : A group of gunmen suspected to be Somali pirates Friday hijacked a Chinese fishing ship off the Kenyan coast, a source with China's transport ministry said.
According to the official, the suspected pirates captured the ship, Tanyo 8, at around 2 a.m. while it was fishing off the Kenyan coast and forced it to sail towards the coastal area off southern Somalia.
There were 24 crewmembers, including 16 Chinese, one Japanese, three Filipinos and four Vietnamese, on board the ship, the source said.
Two militant leaders killed in Russia
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The alleged leaders of two insurgency groups in Russia's Dagestan republic have been eliminated, officials said.
Thai Prime Minister Samak ‘Note’ Sent To Khmer Prime Minister Hun Sen
By Bernama,
Bangkok : Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given Cambodian Ambassador Ung Sean a letter from Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in response to the Khmer premier's July 17 diplomatic 'Note', Thailand News Agency (TNA) reported.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited Ung Sean to receive the letter on Friday.
Samak reaffirmed the Royal Thai Government's resolve to seek a just and peaceful solution to the situation in the area immediately adjacent to the Temple of Preah Vihear.
AirAsia crash: Three more bodies found
Jakarta : Three more bodies of those who perished in the AirAsia plane crash Dec 28 in the Java Sea while it was flying...
Job surge in Australia: Positive uptick or rogue figures?
By DPA,
Sydney : Shocked Australian economists didn't know whether to jeer or cheer Thursday when official figures showed unemployment falling to 5.4 percent in April from 5.7 percent in March.
Most had been tipping a sharp rise, pointing to plunging job ads and a slew of big lay-offs in the mining industry as harbingers of more economic misery.
Full-time positions surged by a whopping 49,100, balanced by a slide in part-time employment of 21,800.
New Zealand foreign minister opposes China trade pact
By DPA
Wellington : New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Tuesday he would vote against a free trade pact with China that the government signed in Beijing this week because there was "simply not enough in the deal for this country."
Peters said his nationalist New Zealand First party's seven members of parliament decided to reject the agreement after reviewing details of it at a caucus meeting.
Six killed in Venezuelan plane crash
By IANS/EFE,
Caracas : All six people aboard a twin-engine Cessna 340 died when the plane crashed in eastern Venezuela near the Colombian border, authorities said.
Medvedev says compromise with U.S. on missile shield possible
By RIA Novosti,
Lima : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has expressed hope that the new Washington administration could abandon its plans to place elements of a U.S. missile shield in Central Europe.
U.S. president-elect Barack Obama has yet to state his position on the George W. Bush administration's controversial plans to deploy a missile-tracking radar in the Czech Republic and a missile interceptor base in Poland.
US must drop European missile shield plans: Russian source
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia's new defence proposals could be implemented only if the United States abandoned plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Europe, a Russian delegation source at the informal Putin-Bush talks said Tuesday.
Five people killed in attack on deputy mayor in Philippines
By DPA,
Manila : Five people were killed when unidentified gunmen attacked a convoy of a town deputy mayor in the southern Philippines, officials said Saturday.
Vice Mayor Wilson Nadang was unhurt in the ambush which happened Friday in Santo Nino village near Tukuran, a town in the province Zamboanga del Sur, 810 kms south of the capital here.
Nadang, who is deputy mayor of the nearby town Labangan, told a local radio station that five of his security escorts were killed in a gunbattle with the attackers.
China pledges full efforts to curb worsening offshore pollution
By NNN-Xinhua
Changsha : China will go all out to check ever worsening damage to offshore ecology caused mainly by the discharge of land-borne pollutants this year, according to a top Chinese marine official.
The pledge was made by Sun Zhihui, director of the State Oceanic administration (SOA), while addressing an ongoing annual conference held in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.
Industry experts blame people's poor awareness of the harm done to marine ecology by pollutants discharged by coastal cities.
Animal rights activists protest bullfighting in Colombia
By IANS/EFE,
Bogota : Some 180 half-naked people in the northwestern city of Medellin positioned themselves to form the word "stop" to demand an end to bullfighting in Colombia.
British couple with Somali pirates fears death ‘in days’
By DPA,
Nairobi/London : A British man held hostage by Somali pirates has said his captors have threatened to kill him or his wife "within four or five days" if they do not receive a ransom.
Paul and Rachel Chandler disappeared while sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania Oct 23 near waters teeming with Somali pirates, who regularly seize ships for ransom.
Their yacht, the Lynn Rival, was later found abandoned, and Somali pirates confirmed they were holding the couple hostage.
Chinese journalists urge CNN to apologize for ‘insulting’ remarks
By Xinhua,
Beijing : The All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) Saturday asked US-based news network CNN and its commentator Jack Cafferty to apologise for his "insulting" remarks regarding China.
Cafferty said in the TV show April 9 that Chinese products were "junk" and China was "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years" when the Olympic torch relay was going on in San Francisco.
‘Bhagvad Gita’ faces ‘extremist’ branding, legal ban in Russia
By N.C. Bipindra, IANS,
NATO defence ministers meet on Afghanistan after public spat
BRUSSELS (AFP) - NATO defence ministers will hope to put recent public displays of disunity behind them when they meet in Vilnius on Thursday, following open US criticism of its allies' efforts in Afghanistan.
"This is a critical week for the alliance," said Christopher Langton of the International Institute for Strategic Studies on Tuesday. "There is a big question over countries' ability to sustain operations for what is now coming to a seventh year, and that is a weakness in NATO which perhaps it had not foreseen when it set out on this venture," he said.
Sri Lanka’s highest court rules out impeachment
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lanka's highest court Thursday ruled the impeachment process of the chief justice as unconstitutional, deepening a crisis between parliament and judiciary.
Obama plan for public health insurance gets a boost
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : President Barack Obama's preference for a public health insurance option as part of his proposed health care reforms received a boost with the Senate majority leader backing a bill allowing states to opt out.
Senator Harry Reid, who has been melding legislation from five different committees, announced Monday that he intends to move forward next week with a health care bill that includes the 'opt out' version of the public health insurance option.
U.S. to tighten control of security contractors in Iraq
By Xinhua
Washington : The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that it has stroke a deal with the Defense Department to increase control over private security contractors working in Iraq.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the deal is centered on a new system designed to increase communication between State Department security agents, the U.S. military, Iraqi security forces and private contractors.
UN officer reported kidnapped in Somalia
By DPA,
Mogadishu (Somalia) : The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHRC) 's top representative was abducted overnight at Elesha Biyaha, south of the Somalian capital, residents said.
Hassan Mohamed Ali, popularly known as Keynaan, was abducted around 9 p.m. from his home when a group of heavily-armed men in two vehicles stormed his home.
"They knocked on the door of his home and then entered, taking the officer by force," Seleh Hussein, a resident, told DPA.
Russian military doctor held for taking bribe
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A top military medical officer in Russia has been arrested after being caught red-handed accepting a hefty bribe, officials said.
Petrobras Predicts More Expensive Oil
By Prensa Latina,
New York : Brazilian state oil company president Jose Sergio Gabrielli said Tuesday the prices of oil will keep increasing, so PETROBRAS will considerably increase the number of its drilling machines and ships in the next years.
Gabrielli intervened in a meeting organized by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, and said the escalade is due to a strong demand and reduced offer.
But the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said the markets are well supplied so OPEC is not considering any oil bombing increase.
China’s president dons Mao suit for National Day
By Xinhua,
Beijing : On a sunny Thursday morning, Chinese President Hu Jintao made his first appearance in a high-collared dark Mao suit at a grand national ceremony, following the dress code which has prevailed when Chinese leaders review National Day military parades.
Austria announces 290 mn euros for fight against terrorism
Vienna: The Austrian government Tuesday announced it would spend up to 290 million euros (about $335 million) in the fight against terrorism over the...
UN announces environment education programme for students
By IANS,
New Delhi: In order to spread awareness about the environment and develop young leaders in the field, the United Nations Thursday announced a global environment educational programme for students.
The Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Programme (BYEEP) organised by healthcare company Bayer and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will help young people learn about trends and perspectives in the field of environmental protection and sustainability, said a statement from Bayer.
China’s snowstorms claim over 100 lives
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : China's worst snowstorms in 50 years have killed a total of 107 people in the past month, the country's Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.
The extreme weather has wreaked havoc on the country's economy causing damage of about $15.3 billion, said Civil Affairs Minister Li Xueju. So far the government has allocated $73.79 million in emergency funding for 19 disaster-stricken provinces.
Facebook faces privacy probe in Canada
By IANS,
Toronto : Facebook is under the scanner in Canada following allegations by intern law students at the Ottawa-based Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic that the social networking website is violating the nation's privacy laws.
In their complaint to the Canadian privacy commission, the students alleged that the website was passing on users' personal information to advertisers without their permission.
Half of British armed forces want to quit
By IANS,
London : Nearly half of the soldiers and officers of the British armed forces have considered quitting more than once due to poor pay and morale, a new study has revealed.
The defence ministry carried out this survey for the first time and found over 47 percent saying they came to near quitting because they were paid less and their morale was low on account of poor equipment and transportation and extended foreign duties.
Illegal migrants entering Britain through bogus colleges: MPs
By IANS,
London : Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants may have entered Britain using visas obtained through bogus colleges but the government is doing little to track them down, says a group of British MPs.
The British parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee, which is chaired by ethnic Indian MP Keith Vaz, said up to 2,200 illegitimate colleges could have been operating until the government came up with stringent registration rules this March.
It said these colleges may have allowed the entry of illegal immigrants whose numbers "could be in the tens of thousands".
Prison escape attempt in chopper foiled in Ukraine
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: A daring Hollywood-style attempt to spring two inmates from a penal colony in Ukraine was foiled by prison guards, the country's penitentiary service said.
‘BBC controlled by white cultural elite’
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : A senior Indian-origin director at the BBC has accused the corporation of packing the television screen with black and Asian faces while reserving positions of “real power” for a white cultural elite.`
Panda diplomacy, the new symbol of Australia, China ties
By Neena Bhandari, IANS
Sydney : Two giant pandas are all set to become the new symbol of Australia-China friendship as a pair of the endangered animal will be travelling from China for the first time across the equator to Australia to make the Adelaide Zoo their new home.`
Emphasising the importance of China-Australia bilateral relationship, Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is here to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, said: "I believe that this will certainly become a new symbol of our friendship."
Cuban revolution ‘stronger than ever’ at 50: Raul Castro
By DPA,
Santiago de Cuba : At a subdued celebration far away from the capital Havana, President Raul Castro declared that the Cuban revolution after 50 years was "stronger than ever" despite the "unhealthy and vindictive hatred" of the "powerful US".
Despite the current difficult times, the revolutionary movement had moved barely a millimetre from its principles, the younger brother of the ailing revolutionary leader Fidel Castro said Thursday at the formal celebration of the anniversary.
McCain congratulates Obama for Democratic nomination
By IANS,
Washington : Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain put out an unusual TV ad congratulating Democratic rival Barack Obama instead of attacking him on his historic nomination.
"Senator Obama, this is truly a good day for America," McCain says, looking directly into the camera. "Too often the achievements of our opponents go unnoticed. So I wanted to stop and say, congratulations."
G8 foreign ministers start meeting in Kyoto Eds: epa photos
By SPA,
Kyoto, Japan : The foreign ministers of the Group of Eight (G8) on Thursday started a two-day meeting in Japan as international attention focused on North Korea's long-expected declaration of its nuclear programme and facilities, according to DPA.
The United States, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada, Russia and Japan were expected to send a "very strong message" to North Korea and Iran on non-proliferation issues from their meeting in Kyoto, officials said, as China announced Pyongyang would submit its declaration later Thursday.
Three more bodies recovered in Air France crash
By DPA,
Paris/Sao Paulo: The Brazilian Air Force said Sunday that three more bodies from the Air France Airbus plane crash had been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean.
An air force spokesman in Recife announced the find, coming a day after the first two bodies - those of two male passengers - had been recovered.
The Airbus A330-200 plane with 228 people on board went down early Monday on a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.
The gender of the three bodies recovered Sunday was not immediately disclosed.
US critical of Russian decision to create buffer zones in Georgia
By IRNA,
Moscow : The US and France have criticized Russia for creating buffer zones and checkpoints in Georgia violating the terms of ceasefire agreement with Georgia.
Russia announced the full withdrawal of combat forces from Georgia proper on Friday but insisted hundreds of other troops could stay under the ceasefire.
France brokered the ceasefire to end fighting over Georgia's pro- Russian breakaway province of South Ossetia.
IRNA reporter in Moscow said that the terms of the ceasefire are vague about the extent of any buffer zones.
International aid push for Myanmar sputters on visa restrictions
By DPA,
Bangkok/Yangon : A massive international disaster-relief programme for cyclone-devastated Myanmar was being hindered Thursday, five days after the catastrophe, by red tape for UN aid workers' visas, officials said.
"A few visas are coming through, but the general picture is that a significant number of the key staff have not got their visas approved," said Richard Horsey, spokesman for the UN disaster response office in Bangkok.
NATO and UN formalize their cooperation
By DPA,
Brussels/New York : An agreement was signed Friday formalizing the existing political cooperation Between NATO and the UN, NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.
The paper was signed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York by the secretary generals of both organizations, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer for NATO and Ban Ki Moon for the UN, Appathurai said.
The agreement did not bring about any "dramatic changes" for the cooperation in crisis regions like Afghanistan or Kosovo, where NATO acted on behalf of the UN, he added.
India abstains in UNHRC vote against Israel
New Delhi: Marking a significant change in stance, India abstained on a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution condemning Israel over a UN...
Singapore man gets jail for beating toddler to death
By DPA,
Singapore : A Singapore court sentenced a man to 12 years in jail for Viciously beating his girlfriend's three-year-old son to death, a media report said Wednesday.
Firdaus Abdullah, 27, had originally been sentenced to seven years in jail in May, but will have to spend five more years in prison after an appeal by the prosecution.
Firdaus, who will also get 12 strokes of the cane, "acted like an animal", the Straits Times newspaper quoted the judge as saying.
Huntington-Whiteley wanted to be fashion designer
By IANS,
London: Actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley reveals that she always wanted to be a fashion designer but got carried away by modelling world.
Sacked Nepal king gets a roof over his head
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Stripped of his crown and asked to leave the palace by next week, Nepal's deposed king Gyanendra had fortune smile on him for the first time since the fall of his government, with the ruling parties, including the Maoists, agreeing to let him move into another old palace.
Peace a mockery, polls a mirage in Nepal
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : On the day that Nepal would have taken a major step towards lasting peace and progress by holding a historic election to write a people's constitution, peace has become a mockery with the poll reduced to a mirage and the Maoists waging a fresh war on the government.
Russia to create special military operations unit
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: The Russian defence ministry is set to create a special operation unit, the chief of the General Staff said.
Are India, Myanmar slowing Bangladesh’s oil exploration bids?
By IANS,
Dhaka : India and Myanmar are hindering Bangladesh's exploration bids by raising objections on oil and gas exploration in several blocks bordering their maritime boundaries, say officials here.
This may slow down state-owned Petrobangla's bid to find hydrocarbon resources offshore in the Bay of Bengal, The Daily Star said Wednesday.
Petrobangla and Bangladesh foreign ministry sources said while India categorically objected to exploration in eight offshore blocks close to its maritime border, Myanmar had raised objections in general terms earlier this year.
Gaddafi tries to pitch tent in New York suburb
By DPA,
New York : Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi tried to set up a tent in a New York suburb but was blocked by city officials, US media reported.
Gaddafi, who is famous for staying in his large Bedouin tent during foreign visits, was getting the tent erected in the city of Bedford on an estate owned by US billionaire Donald Trump, ABC News reported Tuesday.
But city officials sought to stop its construction, arguing it violates town regulations. It was unclear if the eccentric Libyan leader ever planned to stay in Bedford.
Iraq becomes issue in UK Labour leader elections
By IRNA,
London : Two former British ministers Saturday joined two left-wing candidates in the race to become the country’s new Labour leader in criticising the 2003 Iraq war in separate newspaper interviews.
Former children’s secretary Ed Balls described the decision to invade Iraq as “wrong” and “a mistake.” Former energy secretary Ed Miliband said the way the decision to go to war was taken "led to a catastrophic loss of trust in Labour".
10 dead as Dominican boat capsizes
By IANS,
Santo Domingo : As many as 10 people died when a boat carrying about 60 Dominican migrants capsized off the country's eastern coast, an official said.
Belarus president in Russia for talks
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visits Moscow on Saturday for talks with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, the Kremlin's press service said.
"Talks between the two heads of state will be held," the statement read, adding that the visit had been agreed on at an earlier date.
Medvedev and Lukashenko last met on October 10 in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, at a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit and a Eurasec meeting.
Menon to meet Obama team next week
By IANS,
New Delhi : India will make its first high-level contact with the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama when Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon goes to the US next week to meet key figures of the transition team.
Menon is likely to meet influential figures in the transition team that includes Wendy Sherman, the co-chair of the state department's Agency Review Team, which is tasked with preparing policy and personnel for the soon-to-be-named secretaries.
Russia wants new nuclear contracts in India
By RIA Novosti
St. Petersburg : Moscow is seeking new contracts to continue civil nuclear construction work in India, Russia's first deputy prime minister has said.
Russia has been building the 1,000 MW Kudankulam nuclear power plant in southern India's Tamil Nadu state since 2002, and has already delivered two nuclear reactors to the facility.
"We expect contracts to build nuclear facilities at this location -- in Kudankulam, as well as new ones," Sergei Ivanov said Monday.
US cops get desk duty for beating Chinese diplomat
By IANS,
Washington : Three American police officers have been restricted to desk duty after they chased a Chinese diplomat, arrested and handcuffed him in Houston, media reports said Saturday.
The officers will be on desk duty until the investigation into the arrest and injury caused to China's Deputy Consular Boren Yu is completed, Houston Mayor Annise Parker said Thursday night.
According CBS News, the incident occurred a week ago when Yu, 53, was driving and a marked Houston Police car attempted to pull him over for a missing license plate.
London Mayor wants to close Heathrow and build new airport
By IANS,
London : London Mayor Boris Johnson was never fascinated by Heathrow. He has called it "a planning error of the 1960s" on many an occasion and is now proposing its closure to build a new airport.
His officials are drawing up plans for a new, 24-hour airport located on an artificial island in the Thames estuary.
Sri Lankan jets attack LTTE base
By IRNA
New Delhi : Sri Lankan Air force fighter jets attacked a tiger base in their stronghold in Northern Sri Lanka on Friday even as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) asked priests of the historic Mannar church in North-west to evacuate the premises.
The fighter jets bombed an LTTE training base in Pulopalai area at Muhamalai on Friday morning. The pilots confirmed that targeted training facility was completely destroyed due to the bombardment, PTI reported here quoting Sri Lankan Air Force the official.
National leaders watchful as Britons vote in local polls
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : Millions of people voted in London and the provinces of England and Wales Thursday in local elections that most analysts said were a key test of the British government's popularity.
After 12 years in power, the Labour government was bracing to meet a stiff challenge thrown by the main party of opposition, the Conservative party, at Thursday's polls.
Elections are being held for the key high-profile job of London Mayor, as well as for the London Assembly that helps run one of the world's largest cities.
Foreign adoption last resort for Haiti quake orphans: Unicef
By IANS/EFE,
Geneva : The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) said Tuesday that international adoption should be the "last resort" for children orphaned by last week's catastrophic earthquake in Haiti.
"Unicef's position has always been that whatever the humanitarian situation, family reunification must be favoured," spokeswoman Veronique Taveau said during a press briefing in Geneva.
"The last resort is inter-country adoption," she said.
Meteors injure over 150 in Russia
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : More than 150 people have sought medical help in one of three Russian regions hit by a meteorite shower Friday, the interior ministry reported.
Nepal: Political parties meeting inconclusive; may result in election postponment
By NNN-Nepal News
Kathmandu : A meeting of the top leaders of the seven political parties held in Baluwatar Wednesday evening ended inconclusively.
Leaders were engaged in bilateral and multilateral parleys, but could not arrive at a consensus on the two main demands of the Maoists - fully proportional representation-based election system and announcement of republic from the interim parliament.
The meeting will resume in Baluwatar at 9 am Thursday.
Criminal involved in 200 burglaries across India held
New Delhi : A most wanted criminal involved in over 200 burglaries across India has been arrested here, police said on Friday.
Nadeem Qureshi, a...
Medvedev names new deputy premier
By DPA,
Moscow : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Tuesday named a new deputy premier to oversee the country's preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Regional Development Minister Dmitry Kozak was promoted to deputy prime minister for the job.
Kozak warned last week that the financial crisis pushed Russian shares to their lowest point since the national default in 1998 and could force the state to fork up more cash for constructing Games venues.
All 16 aboard British helicopter dead in North Sea crash
By DPA,
London : British police Thursday said that there was no hope of finding any survivors from the helicopter that crashed into the North Sea off the coast of Scotland the day before.
Coastguards and the Royal Air Force launched a major search-and-rescue operation shortly after the oil-platform helicopter crashed with 16 people aboard.
As of late Wednesday, police in the port city of Aberdeen confirmed that eight bodies had been recovered and that another eight were unaccounted for.
12 cars collide in China, three dead
By IANS,
Beijing : At least 12 vehicles collided in icy conditions on a highway in China, killing three people and injuring three others, officials said.
Bargain-hunting BASF buys yet another firm
By DPA,
Berlin : BASF, the world's biggest chemicals company, unveiled yet another takeover Tuesday, prolonging a string of acquisitions in the midst of the current market slump.
A day after announcing a 581-million-euro ($726 million) bid for Revus Energy, a Norwegian company with 60 oil and gas concessions under the North Sea, BASF said it has agreed to acquire a polyurethane business belonging to Recticel of Belgium.
Analysts say they expect Ludwigshafen-based BASF to report a modest profit increase when it publishes third-quarter figures this Thursday.
Brazil’s economy contracts after 17 years
By DPA,
Rio de Janeiro : The Brazilian economy contracted for the first time in 17 years in 2009, falling by 0.2 per cent, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) said Thursday.
It was the first annual contraction of gross domestic product since 1992.
Brazil's GDP fell to 3.1 trillion real ($41.77 trillion), leaving the country of 199 million with a per capita GDP of $9.263, the institute said. In 2008, Brazil's GDP stood at 2.9 trillion real ($1.8 trillion).
UN approaches India, others for more troops for Congo
By IANS,
United Nations : The UN has approached India and several other nations to send more troops to the conflict-prone African nation of Congo, where the world body has a peacekeeping mission. India is now the largest troop contributor to the UN's mission in Congo, accounting for more than one-fourth of the over 17,000 UN peacekeeping forces in Congo.
The request for additional troops was sent after the UN Security Council Thursday authorised a temporary increase of more than 3,000 personnel for the UN's mission in Congo.
Cruise ship with 280 aboard runs aground in Aegean
By DPA
Athens : Greek coast guard officials were conducting a major rescue operation after a cruise ship carrying 280 passengers ran aground off the Greek Aegean island of Poros Thursday.
Three rescue helicopters and three coast guard vessels were reportedly in the area to assist in the evacuation of the "Giorgos", which ran aground three nautical miles off Poros in the Saronic Gulf.
The Merchant Marine Ministry said the ship ran aground near the rocky islet of Platia and that weather conditions in the area were good, and there was no immediate danger.
UN special envoy arrives in Sri Lanka
By Xinhua
Colombo : A top UN official Wednesday arrived in Sri Lanka for a weeklong fact finding mission, foreign ministry officials said.
Angela Kane, UN assistant secretary general for political affairs, is to hold talks with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona and envoys from the European Union, Norway, India and the US and will meet leader of the main opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Hundreds of youths face charges after clashes with police
COPENHAGEN, Oct 7, SPA -- The 437 youths who were detained after overnight clashes with police in Copenhagen have been released, but will all be charged later, AP quoted police spokesman Flemming Steen Munch as saying Sunday.
Munch said he did not know all the specific charges yet, but said some demonstrators could face jail sentences. Rock-throwing youths clashed with police Saturday after officers prevented a crowd of several thousand people from reaching a vacant waterworks, which they have sought to use as a place for parties and concerts.
Two dead in Spain train crash
By IANS,
Madrid : At least two people were killed and a boy and a woman were injured Tuesday due to a train crash in Madrid, local media reported.
EU dismisses ‘sham’ Zimbabwe election
By DPA,
Brussels : The European Union (EU) Friday dismissed as a "sham" Zimbabwe's presidential election in which the incumbent, Robert Mugabe, is the only candidate.
"We are aware that a so-called election is taking place today. Let me be clear: the European Commission, like the UN, does not consider this election legitimate or valid," a spokeswoman for the EU's executive in Brussels said.
The latest must have – sunglasses with built-in digital camera
By DPA,
New York : Want to take a photo immediately? No photo opportunity will be lost if you have a pair of sunglasses with an integrated digital camera.
A tiny lens has been built into the frame of the $100 sunglasses and uses 1.3 mega pixels to take still images. Fans just have to press a button to take a photo or use the remote control which can be kept in your pocket.
Nude Ganesh idols to be removed after Hindus protest
By IANS
Toronto : After strong protests by the Hindu community in the Canadian city of Edmonton, a series of sculptures depicting Hindu god Ganesh in the nude will finally be removed from display.
Edmonton's Mayor Stephen Mandel ordered the removal Wednesday after receiving a signed petition from 16 Hindu community leaders and priests.
Four statues of Ganesh, particularly a nude infant and one showing the god decapitated but with a woman's breast, has upset the Hindu community, Globe and Mail reported.
Myanmar activists launch ‘vote no’ campaign for referendum
By DPA
Yangon : Myanmar pro-democracy activists Friday launched a "vote no" campaign, urging the population to reject the military-drafted constitution in a referendum planned in May.
A statement issued by The 88 Generation Students urged Buddhist monks, students and the people to vote against the constitution in the referendum planned for a still undisclosed date in May, on the grounds that the country's new charter was drafted without public participation and will perpetuate military rule in the country.
North Korea announces satellite launch in early April
By DPA,
Seoul : North Korea informed an international shipping organisation that it intends to launch a satellite at the beginning of April, South Korean media reported Thursday.
The International Maritime Organisation was told that the carrier rocket of the Kwangmyongson-2 satellite would be fired between April 4 and 8, the Yonhap News Agency reported, citing intelligence sources.
UN urges wealthy nations to boost development aid
By DPA,
New York : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on wealthy nations to increase thier development aid to $18 billion a year if they wish the world to remain on track to achieving a set of anti-poverty goals by 2015.
Ban's comments came ahead of the Sep 25 high-level meeting in New York on stepping up global efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which countries have committed to achieve by 2015,
China recruits new astronauts
By IANS,
Beijing : China has recruited five new astronauts, Xinhua reported Friday.
The recruits, five males and two females, are pilots between 35 and 30 years old. The male recruits were previously fighter pilots, while the women were transport plane pilots.
They all have excellent skills with good psychological qualities and are qualified both in clinical and space medicine, officials of the General Armament Department of Chinese People's Liberation Army said Friday.
Their training will begin soon to help them accustom with the space programme.
Belgian trade delegation to visit India
By IANS,
Brussels : A Belgian delegation is scheduled to begin a six-day visit to India Sunday to explore ways to boost bilateral trade and economic ties, EU News reported Friday.
The delegation, headed by Jean-Claude Marcourt, the economy and foreign trade minister of the Wallonia regional government, will visit New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore and meet captains of Indian industry to discuss commerce and investment.
Belgium is linguistically divided into the French-speaking Wallonia region in the south and the Dutch-speaking Flanders region in the north.
Third minister steps down from Brown’s government
By DPA,
London : A third British minister resigned from Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government late Thursday and called on the leader to step down.
Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell announced his resignation in a letter to Brown sent to several newspapers after polls had closed in European and local elections.
Purnell wrote that Brown should quit his position for the good of the Labour Party and that his leadership made a victory by the opposition Conservatives likely in the next election.
Novel therapy could cut hepatitis C prevalence by 80 percent
New York : Recently approved antiviral medications for hepatitis C could reduce the prevalence of the blood-borne infection by more than 80 percent, researchers...
Police: abducted 5-year-old girl still in New Zealand
By Xinhua,
Wellington : New Zealand police looking for abducted Auckland girl Cina Ma said on Thursday there is nothing to suggest that she has been harmed or taken from the country.
The five-year-old, of Chinese origin, was bundled into a car by a masked man outside her home Monday.
A team of about 40 police continued to work around the clock with help from local and overseas experts and agencies.
Alerts have been issued at international airports, though police believed the girl was still in New Zealand, but did not say if they thought she was in Auckland.
UN chief hails US’ same-sex marriage ruling
United Nations : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has hailed the US decision to legalise same-sex marriage in all 50 states, a media...
Kenyan president signs new constitution into law
By DPA,
Nairobi : Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki Friday signed into law a long-awaited new constitution, weeks after it was passed in a national referendum.
A massive crowd gathered to watch the president sign the document, which is part of a reform process aimed at preventing a repeat of the violence that followed disputed presidential elections in December 2007, at a ceremony in the city centre Uhuru Park.
20 killed in LTTE attack on key military base: Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Colombo : A pre-dawn assault by Tamil Tiger rebels at a military base in northern Sri Lanka left at least 20 dead and a rebel aircraft destroyed, the government said Tuesday, while a pro-LTTE website claimed two Indians had been wounded.
The Sri Lankan military claimed it had thwarted the assault by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the joint headquarters of Sri Lanka's military and air force in Vavuniya town, about 254 km north of here. At least 10 rebels and 10 soldiers were killed.
France clears technology transfer for Rafale fighter: Dassault
By Vishnu Makhijani, IANS,
Paris : The French government has cleared the full transfer of technology for the Rafale combat jet that is one of the six aircraft in contention for an Indian Air Force (IAF) order for 126 fighters in a deal worth $10 billion, its manufacturer Dassault Aviation says.
"When we talk about technology transfer, we mean full technology transfer and not in bits and pieces," J.P.H.P. Chabriol, Dassault's senior vice president for military sales, told a group of visiting Indian journalists at the company's headquarters here.
Japanese party walks out of government over Okinawa base
By DPA,
Tokyo : Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama came under increased pressure Sunday as a party in his coalition government walked out, in the wake of a row over the relocation of a controversial US military base on a Japanese island.
The coalition had been in government since September.
The Social Democratic party (SDP) accused Hatoyama of breaking his election promise to move the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma off the southern island of Okinawa.
China’s local government debts over 10 trillion yuan
By IANS,
Beijing : China announced the size of its local governments' debts for the first time Monday -- it totals 10.72 trillion yuan ($1.66 trillion).
Desmiente China ser un gran vendedor de armas a Sudán
By Prensa Latina
Beijing : China desmintió hoy haber vendido grandes cantidades de armas convencionales a Sudán, tal como afirmó una organización norteamericana.
Según el portavoz de la cancillería, Qin Gang, la nación asiática sólo exportó armas a ese país africano en cantidades muy limitadas.
De acuerdo con la versión difundida por la organización Human Right First, China es el mayor suministrador de armamento al ejército sudanés, las cuales habrían sido empleadas en la región de Darfur.
Pope warns educators against contradicting church teachings
By DPA,
Washington : Pope Benedict XVI warned US educators Thursday against contradicting the church's positions at religious universities, which have drawn criticism for diverging from official teachings on issues such as abortion.
In a speech at the Catholic University of America, Benedict affirmed the role of academic freedom on the church's university campuses but said that such freedom should not be used to "justify positions that contradict the faith".
Bombers target Nepal’s vice-president again
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's embattled Vice-President Paramananda Jha, who had survived unscathed a bomb attack near his residence Friday, had a second narrow escape Saturday after police unearthed another bomb and defused it.
Kathmandu police said the second bomb had been found hidden in shrubs near the vice-president's residence in Gaurighat here and was defused without any casualty.
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.
Opposition represents minority: Ousted Ukraine president
Moscow : Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych emerged Friday in a border town of Russia after hiding for a week, saying the opposition represents...
US for long-term cooperation with Pakistan: Kerry
By IANS,
Islamabad : The US considers Pakistan a key ally in the war on terror and is committed to long-term cooperation with it, visiting US Senator John Kerry said here Monday.
"Extremism and terrorism are common threats and enemies to Pakistan and international community, therefore joint efforts are needed to face these challenges," Kerry said in a joint press conference with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi after their meeting at the Foreign Office.
Six foreign hostages executed in Nigeria
By IANS,
London : Seven "Christian foreigners" taken hostage by a Nigerian Islamic terror group are feared to have been executed, a British daily said Sunday.
China Internet Users at 210 Million
Beijing, (Prensa Latina) China finished 2007 with 210 million internet users, the second worldwide after the US, announced Internet Information Center in this Asian nation.
This makes us think that China will soon exceed the number one for the number of users online, since the difference is only five million.
According to the Center, around 73 million Chinese citizens began to use internet last year.
Forty percent of them, that is nearly 30 million, live in rural areas where the total has already reached up to 52.6 million in 2007.
EU to send delegation to Pakistan for talks
By IANS,
Brussels : A Troika of EU ministers for foreign affairs will shortly be going to Islamabad with a view to stepping up political dialogue and strengthen relations with Pakistan, a diplomat from the EU presidency said in Brussels Friday.
The diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to EuAsiaNews, could not say when exactly the EU delegation will go and who will be part of the Troika. France currently holds the EU rotating presidency.
U.S. condemns vandalism of West Bank mosque
By KUNA,
Washington : The United States condemned the burning and vandalism of a mosque in the West Bank, the State Department said in a statement.
North Korea fires artillery shells near maritime border
By DPA,
Seoul : North Korean forces fired over 100 artillery rounds into the Yellow Sea near the disputed border with the South Monday, a media report said.
About 110 rounds were fired on North Korea's side of the maritime border, the Yonhap news agency reported citing South Korean military officials.
The firing followed five days of South Korean naval exercises near the sea border. North Korea had threatened "strong physical retaliations" to the manoeuvres.
US scared of Modi becoming PM: Shiv Sena
Mumbai: The Shiv Sena Monday said the US was "scared" at the prospect of BJP leader Narendra Modi becoming India's next prime minister.
An editorial...