Kenya to partner with US against terrorism
Nairobi: Kenya will partner with the US to fight against terrorism that has affected some sectors of the East African country's economy.
Principal Secretary in...
UN, World Bank to jointly address global challenges
By IANS,
United Nations : The UN and the World Bank agreed Thursday to work more closely in addressing global challenges, including sustainable development, health and education.
MH17 crash: Malaysia to hold memorial service
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is scheduled to hold a memorial service in Kuala Lumpur next month to remember the 298 people who were onboard the...
Mexico shocked after 12 decapitated bodies found in Yucatan
By DPA,
Mexico City : The discovery of 12 decapitated bodies in the southeast Mexican state of Yucatan has shocked Mexico, Yucatan Governor Ivonne Ortega has said.
Over the last three months, officials had received threats that bodies would begin to appear in the state if security checkpoints were not removed, Ortega said Friday. She added, however, that she had no plans of giving in to the blackmail.
The checkpoints are part of a widespread effort to curb organised crime and were introduced by President Felipe Calderon in late 2006.
Quake-ravaged Chinese province now battles flood threat
By Xinhua,
Chengdu (China) : China's southwestern Sichuan province, which was hit by a 8.0-magnitude quake May 12 killing more than 80,000 people, is now battling a severe flood threat.
The meteorological department in the province Friday issued a flood warning, forecasting that the summer flood is likely to be the biggest in a decade and will come at the beginning of July.
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.
Minister escapes suspected LTTE suicide assassination bid
By IANS,
Colombo : A Sri Lankan cabinet minister Thursday escaped an assassination attempt by a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber, who was the only one to die in the daring attack on the outskirts of Colombo.
Seven people, including a deputy minister, were wounded in the deafening blast at Pirivena Junction in Boralasgamuwa, located about 10 km east of Colombo, around 1.15 p.m.
France urges Europe to arm Kurds in Iraq
Paris: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius Tuesday urged the European Union (EU) to arm Iraqi Kurds to fight Islamist militants who have overran country's...
Two cruisers collide near Dubrovnik, no injuries
By ANTARA News/DPA,
Zagreb : Two cruise ships collided Friday in the Adriatic Sea near the Croatian tourist town of Dubrovnik, but no one was injured, media reported.
"Two cruisers collided in the old town harbour. One of them had to make a full circle around the isle of Locrum before returning for the passengers waiting in boats, "an eye witness told the Croatian daily 24 Sata.
According to the first assessments, the damage was minimal and the accident occurred when cruiser Poesia`s anchor loosened and caused her to hit cruiser Costa Classica.
Russia gives Poland documents on plane crash probe
By DPA,
Moscow : Russian investigators gave Poland 11 volumes of documents from their probe into the April 10 plane crash in Smolensk, Russia, that killed president Lech Kaczynski and 95 others.
The materials include witness testimony, photos from the scene of the accident and descriptions of personal objects of victims found at the crash site.
Russia and Poland are cooperating on two separate investigations into the crash that killed Kaczynski and dozens of other politicians and military brass.
US Navy tests laser to shoot down drones
By IANS,
London : Laser beams have been used for the first time in naval warfare to shoot down aircraft.
The weapon, mounted on a warship’s missile, shot down four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in secret testing carried out off the California coast, The Daily Telegraph has learnt.
In a joint enterprise between US Navy and Raytheon Missile Systems the technology has now got to the stage where lasers will be deployed on warships as part of their short-range defence.
India asks Sri Lanka to evacuate civilians
By IANS,
New Delhi : India Tuesday urged Sri Lanka to work out "appropriate and credible procedures" to evacuate civilians from the war zone and said it was ready to provide medical help to the wounded.
The external affairs ministry also said that it was willing to help transport the civilians, thousands of who remain trapped in a small chunk of territory still held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The Indian statement came a day after the cornered LTTE appealed for a ceasefire Monday, a plea Colombo promptly turned down.
Amnesty International asks Chattisgarh govt to investigate rape complaints of Adivasi women
By TwoCircles.net, Staff Reporter
Chhattisgarh: Two weeks after rapes and assaults were reported from Chhattisgarh while security forces were conducting anti-Maoist operations, Amnesty...
Children in violent households likely be violent as adults
By IANS,
Washington : Children who grow up in aggressive or violent households are more likely to become violent or aggressive in future relationships.
What has been unclear is the link between witnessing aggressive behaviour as a child and carrying it out as an adult. What changes occur in a child that affect whether he or she will choose to deal with conflict in aggressive or violent ways?
India, Malaysia sign labour agreement
By IANS,
New Delhi : After nearly two years in negotiation, India and Malaysia finally signed an agreement Saturday for the "orderly" recruitment and deployment of workers and the procedures for monitoring recruiting agents and employers.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Malaysian Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam.
No tsunami warning after Fiji quake
By IANS,
Suva : There was no tsunami threat to Fiji that was rocked by a massive earthquake, authorities said.
Over 30,000 cats sterilised in Beijing
By IANS,
Beijing : Over 30,000 stray cats have been sterilised in Beijing, after the rapidly increasing feline population started threatening survival of birds and smaller animals like squirrels.
The government-backed Trap Neuter Return (TNR) project, which was launched in July 2006, has been implemented in more than 100 animal hospitals and clinics, and conducts more than 1,000 free sterilisations every month, Wei Haitao, veterinary chief of Beijing's agriculture bureau, was quoted as saying by Xinhua Saturday.
Dalai Lama to get honorary citizenship of Warsaw
By IANS,
Dharamsala : Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will get honorary citizenship of Warsaw during his visit to Poland next week, his aides said here Thursday.
"On the invitation of the Warsaw administration, His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) is visiting Poland next week. He will be conferred honorary citizenship of Warsaw July 29," Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama's office, told IANS.
He said the Tibetan leader is also visiting Germany and Switzerland.
Obama never in danger from Secret Service scandal: Official
By IANS,
Washington : US President Barack Obama was never in danger because of a prostitution scandal involving Secret Service agents during a trip to Colombia, a top official said Wednesday.
Chinese teacher brings 30 AK-47s to class
By IANS,
Beijing : A teacher in a Chinese university brought 30 real AK-47 assault rifles to class to teach students having their major in weaponry.
Asian vote to fall at UK elections, poll finds
By IRNA,
London : Fewer people of Asian origins are likely to vote in next month’s general election in Britain, reversing previous trends, according to the findings of an ICM poll commissioned by BBC Asian Network.
The poll, which interviewed 500 people over the voting age of 18 from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, reported that those certain to vote was as low as 44 per cent, compared with nearly 70 percent who voted at the last elections in 2005.
Myanmar army major defects, tele-links still patchy
By DPA
Oslo : While telephone and Internet connections with Myanmar remained difficult Wednesday, a former army major who fled to neighbouring Thailand said he defected since he did not want to shoot at civilians and monks.
Swedish radio news and Oslo daily Aftenposten published the interview with Major Win and his son who arrived in Bangkok Tuesday after five days on the run from Myanmar.
"If he had refused to obey orders, he would have been killed," the major's 17-year-old son said.
The father and son said they hoped to seek asylum in Norway or Sweden.
US open to restoring diplomatic ties with Venezuela, says official
By EFE,
Washington : The US government has said that it views as positive Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's proposal to discuss the restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.
"Dialogue is what we believe is important. And we will see where and how things go with regard to President Chavez's suggestion that we exchange ambassadors. We're looking at it. We think it's a positive idea, and we'll go from there," State Department's spokesman Robert Wood said Monday.
Three killed in Pakistan shelling in Jammu
Jammu: In the worst such incident in two weeks, three civilians were killed and nine injured when Pakistani military resorted to indiscriminate shelling on...
Over 2 billion people lack access to improved sanitation – UN
By IRNA,
Tehran : Despite recent progress, more than 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, while nearly 1.2 billion people defecate without sanitary facilities, posing a major health threat to their communities, according to a report recently released by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
"At current trends, the world will fall short of the Millennium [Development Goals] sanitation target by more than 700 million people," said Ann Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director in New York according to UN Information Center.
Berlusconi slammed for ‘suntanned Obama’ remark
By IANS,
London : Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been criticised after he praised American President-elect Barack Obama - for his “suntan".
The 72-year-old media tycoon Berlusconi, on a visit to Moscow, Thursday described Obama as “young, handsome and even tanned".
Berlusconi said the relative youth of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, 43, and Obama, 47, should make it easier for Moscow and Washington to work together.
China’s oil reserves went up 20 percent in 2011
By IANS,
Beijing : Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources has said the country discovered 1.37 billion tonnes of oil reserves in 2011, up 20.6 percent from a year earlier.
Britain is already in recession: Report
By IANS,
London : Britain is already in a "worsening recession" and is facing the dual threat of slowing growth and rising unemployment, a survey of 5,000 companies by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said Tuesday.
The report said sales and profits had plummeted over the summer amid a worsening economic outlook and the prospect of rising unemployment as confidence had "collapsed" across all sectors of the industry.
US asks Colombian rebels to clarify hostage release conditions
By Xinhua
Bogota : US Ambassador to Colombia William Brownfield has urged the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to clarify the conditions for the release of three US hostages they have held for five years.
"The FARC has not clarified its conditions, we are still speculating, we do not know what they want, the FARC has the obligation to clearly state what they specifically want to liberate each one of the hostages," Brownfield said Friday.
China promises to help Pakistan during financial difficulty
By DPA,
Beijing : China said it was sympathetic to Pakistan's financial situation and would help its long-term ally "within its capability", as Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari continued his visit Thursday.
"As an all-weather friend, China understands Pakistan's economic and financial difficulties," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
"We are ready to support and help Pakistan within our capability," Qin told reporters, adding that financial organizations in the two nations would "keep communication" over the issue.
Strong earthquake hits China
By DPA,
Beijing : An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale shook a large area of southwestern China's Sichuan province Tuesday, the government said.
The quake struck at 5:49 p.m. with its epicentre on the border of Sichuan's Qingchuan county and the neighbouring province of Gansu, close to epicentre of the devastating May 12 earthquake which killed at least 70,000 people.
The quake could be felt in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu, where an Olympic torch relay was held just hours earlier, the official Xinhua news agency said.
US bans drone operations at national parks
New York: The United States has banned launching, landing or operating drones from all national parks, monuments and other historical sites.
"We have serious concerns...
Sexual assaults on the rise at US military academies
By IANS,
Washington: Sexual assaults at American military academies increased sharply in the last academic year, says a new report from the department of defence.
New method to test vaccines against flu strains
By IANS,
Washington : A computerised method could more accurately and speedily test efficacy of proposed flu vaccines against multiple strains of the disease.
Avian flu or bird flu is a particularly deadly type of flu that is transmitted from birds to humans. It hasn't yet evolved into a form that can be transmitted readily between humans, but scientists and health authorities are trying to prepare for a potential outbreak.
Russia slams acquittal of Kosovo war crime rebel as biased
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia's Foreign Ministry denounced a ruling by a court at The Hague last week which saw a former prime minister in Pristina acquitted for crimes committed in Kosovo in 1998-1999.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTFY) found Ramush Haradinaj, 39, a former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerilla leader, accused of organizing the rape, murder and intimidation of thousands of Serbs and Roma 'not guilty' on April 3.
China quake toll rises to 25
By IANS,
Beijing : The toll from an earthquake that hit China's southwest Yunnan province Thursday has risen to 25, officials said.
Chavan meets Left leaders to seek support on n-bill
By IANS,
New Delhi : Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan met Left leaders Tuesday as part of the government's efforts to evolve a broad consensus on the civil nuclear bill, and expressed willingness to consider suggestions regarding a contentious clause.
British official visits Sri Lanka to discuss human issues
By Xinhua,
Colombo : A high-ranking British official has arrived in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on a three-day visit, officials said Tuesday.
Lord Malloch Brown, the British Foreign Office junior minister responsible for Asia and Africa arrived in Colombo late Monday night and held talks with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse Tuesday morning, officials from the British embassy to Sri Lanka said.
US Senate approves $15-billion jobs package
By DPA,
Washington : The US Senate Wednesday approved a $15-billion package aimed at reviving the sluggish labour market in the US.
The Senate voted 70-28 in favour of the legislation, the bulk of which involves a tax incentive for businesses to start hiring again. It also extends some federal subsidies for infrastructure spending.
UN survey finds ‘major drug abuse’ in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul: The number of opium and heroin users in Afghanistan has risen 75 percent in the past five years, as total users of illegal drugs reached one million, a UN survey released Monday found.
There are at least 350,000 heroin and opium addicts in the country, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in its 2010 Drug Use Survey, last published in 2005.
Nepal ministries monitor ‘third worst airport’
Kathmandu : Five Nepalese ministries Wednesday decided to monitor the country's only international airport after it was ranked as the world's third worst airport...
Russian bombers conduct patrol over Arctic Ocean
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers have carried out a routine patrol over remote areas of the Arctic that lasted for almost 20 hours, a Russian air force spokesman said Wednesday.
Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans last August, following an order signed by former president Vladimir Putin.
93-year-old man sentenced to jail for incest
By Xinhua,
Ottawa : A 93-year-old Canadian man was sentenced to two years in jail for sexually abusing his daughters some 50 years ago, a media report said here Tuesday.
Philippe Hamelin, who is deaf, nearly blind and suffers from a disease similar to Alzheimers, was allowed to serve his sentence in the community without going to jail, the Canadian Press reported.
Prosecutors have asked for a prison term of between seven and nine years, but the court turned down their request.
Freed of African coup charge, British mercenary back home
By IANS,
London : A private school-educated mercenary arrived back in Britain Wednesday after being freed by the government of Equatorial Guinea for trying to mount an armed coup that he says was backed by the son of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher among others.
Simon Mann said before leaving Equatorial Guinea that he would help British police prosecute a possible case against Sir Mark Thatcher and Ely Calil, a Lebanese-born businessman working in Britain, for the 2004 coup attempt.
Wall Street soars as US plans $250 bn injection for banks
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Rebounding from its worst week in history, Wall Street has soared again with the US government outlining several steps to combat the financial crisis, including a likely $250 billion injection to help struggling banks.
Monday's massive rally saw the Dow Jones industrial average propelled to its largest daily point gain ever and the largest percentage increase since the depths of the Depression. Standard & Poor's 500-stock index too posted its best gain in nearly 70 years.
Berlin presses on releasing Zimbabwean election results
By IRNA
Berlin : The German government here Wednesday reiterated its lack of understanding and concern over the slow paced vote in Zimbabwe .
Speaking at regular weekly press briefing, deputy foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke said dragging on the vote count was "not understandable" and would only lead "understandably to speculations" in the south African country.
The federal government insists on a "speedy and transparent vote count" and announcement of the election result.
"The internal political stalemate (in Zimbabwe) has to stop," Peschke said.
Obama shifting from Bush focus in diplomacy: US think tank
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's choice of Asia for her first trip abroad is intended to signal a more global focus as opposed to the Bush administration's heavy emphasis on the Middle East, according to a US think tank.
It also represents the kick-off of an ambitious travel plan that will see Clinton visiting numerous countries across the globe in a bid to project the image of a more cooperative US administration, the strategic intelligence think tank Stratfor said.
Mix or match to check ethnic violence: US study
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : Based on a study of ethnic violence in India and former Yugoslavia, American scientists suggest that such conflict may be prevented by either integration or separation of communities.
Like molecules in a chemist's test tube, different ethnic or cultural groups interact differently depending on the degree to which they are mixed together, say May Lim and colleagues at the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) and Brandeis University in Massachusetts.
Tanzania building collapse toll reaches 20
By IANS,
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) : The number of people killed in the 16-storey under construction building collapse in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam has risen to 20, police said Saturday.
EU leaders gather to discuss market, Russia ties
By RIA Novosti,
Brussels : European Union (EU) leaders gathered here Wednesday for a two-day summit that will focus on the global financial crisis and the bloc's relations with Russia.
The 27 member states will seek to coordinate their response to the worldwide market crisis based on the consensus the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial nations reached in Washington over the weekend.
India-Britain meet on emerging joint business trends
By IANS,
London : Business leaders from India and Britain meet here later Monday to discuss emerging trends in media, sports and retail sectors at the UK India Business Council (UKIBC) summit on Next Generation India: Talent, Trends and Technology.
Looking forward to the summit, UKIBC CEO Sharon Bamford said: "UKIBC will mark its first anniversary with a summit focusing on trends emanating from India's booming economy that play to the strengths the UK has to offer.
China jails 17 people over Tibet violence
By KUNA,
Tokyo : Seventeen people were sentenced to jail terms on Tuesday ranging from three years to life in connection with the riots in Tibet's capital of Lhasa last month, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
The Intermediate People's Court of Lhasa passed down the sentences at an open court session, according to Xinhua, but it gave no details of the charges brought against those jailed.
The 17 were the first to be sentenced after Tibet and neighboring provinces were hit by a series of riots and anti-government protests in March and early April.
US senators reach tentative compromise on stimulus plan
By DPA,
Washington : A bipartisan group of US senators put forward a compromise Friday night on a massive and unprecedented economic stimulus package that likely had enough votes to pass the Senate.
The tentative deal was on a $780-billion recovery plan and was expected to be put to a vote over the weekend. The compromise stripped some $150 billion in spending out of legislation already before the Senate.
Moderate earthquake hits central Philippines
By Xinhua,
Manila : A magnitude-5.3 earthquake hit Mindoro Occidental province in Southern Luzon, the Philippines, before dawn Sunday, without causing damage or casualties, said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The quake was recorded at 04:04 a.m. (2000 GMT Saturday) northwest of Mamburao town in Mindoro Occidental, said Phivolcs.
The quake was tectonic in origin and was felt in Lubang Island, central Philippines, and in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province in southwest Philippines.
US a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers: Obama
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Moments after becoming the first African American president, Barack Obama vowed to work with old friends and former foes drawing on the strength of the country's "patchwork heritage" with its diverse faiths - Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus.
"With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet," he said in his inaugural address after being sworn in shortly past noon.
India hands over relief material to ICRC
By IANS,
Colombo : India's envoy to Sri Lanka Thursday formally handed over to the international Red Cross New Delhi's first lot of relief material for civilians displaced by war in the island's north.
Calling it "a simple but solemn occasion", High Commissioner Alok Prasad handed over the gift certificate to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) head in Sri Lanka, Paul Castella.
Prasad said it was for distribution to the war-hit population and expressed the hope that the assistance "would help meet the humanitarian needs of the affected people".
Moscow warns of new fragmentation in Europe
By DPA
Madrid : Russia and the West accused each other of undermining the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at a Madrid meeting, with Moscow warning that a "new fragmentation" threatened Europe.
The human rights and security watchdog failed to make progress on Russian plans to abandon a key arms control treaty, which the West wants Moscow to stick to. Russia said it remained open to further talks.
ElBaradei not to seek another term as IAEA chief
By DPA,
Vienna : Mohamed ElBaradei will not seek a fourth term as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an agency spokesman confirmed in Vienna Thursday.
Last week, IAEA Board members were informed about the decision by Director General ElBaradei, whose term in office runs out in November 2009.
The 66-year-old Egyptian diplomat, who has led the UN nuclear agency since 1997, received the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the IAEA in 2005.
Success of companies depend on employee perceptions
By IANS,
Washington : When a JetBlue flight attendant deplaned last week, many questions arose as to why someone would be willing to give up a steady job during these tough economic times.
While this "working man's hero" will most likely be questioning his motives as he hands over his lawyer's fees, a new report suggests that his action may be a sign of trouble for JetBlue and other large companies.
We spend a lot of our waking time at work, so it's not surprising that work has an influence on our well-being, reports the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science.
Mumbai Police Commissioner, Ahmad Javed appointed new Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi : In a significant announcement, the Ministry of external affairs on Friday issued a press release...
Boat with 200 asylum seekers capsizes off Australia
By IANS,
Melbourne : A boat carrying around 200 asylum seekers capsized Thursday in Indonesian waters off Australia's Christmas Island, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.
S Korea says inter-Korean dialogue postponed
By Xinhua
Seoul : The South Korean Unification Ministry said Monday that a working-level meeting between Seoul and Pyongyang scheduled for this week has been postponed indefinitely.
The two sides were scheduled to hold the meeting in Kaesong, the border city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Tuesday and Wednesday to discus railway cooperation projects. However, the DPRK side asked to postpone the meeting due to "time constraints," the Unification Ministry said.
No sex for 100 million years – micro organisms baffle scientists
By DPA
Hamburg : Asexual micro organisms continue to display an amazingly diverse ability to adapt to their ever-changing environment as they have over the past 100 million years, according to scientists who are baffled by these creatures' non-sexual evolutionary change.
New research by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Botanical Physiology in Potsdam, Germany, say they have discovered startling new evidence of adaptation to external environmental stimuli by asexual micro organisms.
China earmarks $1 bn to battle drought
By IANS,
Beijing : The Chinese government will spend $1 billion to fight the drought which has hit a huge part of the country's north.
Taiwan’s court denies bail request by ex-president
By DPA,
Taipei : Taiwan's High Court Thursday maintained a previous ruling to refuse bail for ex-president Chen Shui-bian, dashing hopes of release for the graft-tainted former leader.
Chen was given a fresh chance for freedom after the Supreme Court Thursday ordered the high court to hold another hearing on his bail request.
The Supreme Court said in a statement earlier Thursday the reasons given by the high court to continue to hold Chen were insufficient to prove that the ex-president had hidden huge funds abroad, and that he would flee and threaten witnesses if freed.
Eight trucks of aid enter Syria from Turkey: UN
United Nations: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said eight trucks, out of a total of 79, have crossed the border...
Russia hails EU readiness for free trade zone
By IANS,
Moscow: Moscow has welcomed the readiness shown by the European Union (EU) to create a free trade zone between the EU and Moscow-led...
Modi hopes Nepal implements constitution soon
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday batted for improved economic cooperation with Nepal and expressed hope that the neighbouring country would adopt its...
Chile: 6.7 magnitude quake rocks northern Chile, no victims or damage
By SPA
Santiago : A strong earthquake shook northern Chile early Sunday morning, in the same region where a temblor killed at least two people last month, but authorities said there were no victims or damage, reported ap.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.7-magnitude quake at 5:09 a.m. (0809 GMT) was centered 130 kilometers (80 miles) north-northeast of the port city of Antofagasta and 1,219 kilometers (757 miles) north of the capital, Santiago.
A day earlier a moderate earthquake had rattled central Chile, causing alarm but no reported victims or damage.
EU imposes ban on meat, milk export from Britain
By DPA
London/Brussels : The EU Commission Monday imposed an official ban on exports of meat, milk and animals from Britain as investigation continued into the source of the foot and mouth disease outbreak at a farm in southern England.
Merial Animal Health, a private US pharmaceutical company located at the Pirbright site 5 km away from the affected farm, where an identical strain of the disease was found, denied Monday that there had been any breach in biosecurity procedures.
DR Congo Army Asks Help from Angola
By Prensa Latina
Luanda : Democratic Republic of Congo's Joint Chief of Staff Dieudonne Kayembe has requested assistance from Angola to form a unified army in his country, it was reported on Wednesday.
Kayembe started an official visit to Angola yesterday, and met with Angolan Armed Forces Assistant Chief Gen. Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda.
He reported Angolan authorities are very willing to assist with training of squadrons, not only in the Army, but also in the Navy and Air Force.
Republicans open subdued convention
By DPA,
St Paul (Minnesota) : Hurricane Gustav battered New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Monday, but the storm's reach extended nearly 2,000 km north to St Paul, Minnesota where the Republican Party's presidential convention opened in a subdued atmosphere.
US President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, mindful of the perception of federal indifference and incompetence in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, cancelled their planned speeches to the convention, where Senator John McCain will become the party's nominee for the Nov 4 presidential election.
Ramdev safe in Kathmandu, expresses grief over destruction
New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev, who is in Kathmandu for a yoga camp, is safe, his spokesperson said on Saturday after a massive earthquake...
US missile shield plans due to Russia’s influence: official
By RIA Novosti
Ashuluk (Russia) : US plans to deploy a missile shield in Central Europe were caused by Russia's increasing global power, the chief of the Russian General Staff has said.
Russia has "straightened in the good sense of the word its economic, social and military shoulders", Army General Yury Baluyevsky said Thursday. "And someone does not like it, that's why the strategic stability we established 15 years ago in Europe has suddenly been destroyed."
Strike paralyses shipments at Buenos Aires port
By EFE,
Buenos Aires : Container shipments are paralysed in the port of Buenos Aires due to a union conflict that is causing huge losses, the Argentine press reported.
The labour dispute pits the SUPA union, which represents the longshoremen, against the crane operators union, which has been paralysing the cargo terminals of the Argentine capital since last Friday, industry representatives said.
Colombian hostages’ families want Betancourt to represent them
By IANS,
Bogota : The families of the 26 soldiers and police officers being held hostage by Colombia's leftist guerrillas have urged Ingrid Betancourt, who was rescued in July from the rebels' captivity, to act as their spokesperson abroad.
Betancourt "should be the foreign minister of the hostages and the families of the hostages," Marleny Orjuela, speaking on behalf of the hostages, told EFE here.
Second stealth warship joins Russian Navy
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
St. Petersburg (Russia) : St. Petersburg's Severnaya Verf shipyard will deliver a new stealth corvette to the Russian Navy at an official ceremony Friday.
German artificial lung device wins praise for saving lives
By DPA
Hamburg : A last-resort emergency artificial lung device is saving lives of US servicemen wounded in Iraq who have been air-lifted to Germany where the new apparatus is in widespread use.
The device, produced by the German company NovaLung GmbH, has been used in Europe on more than 500 patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe pneumonia, chest trauma, and chemical lung injury.
It is also being used successfully as a bridge for end-stage lung failure patients awaiting lung transplantation.
Pakistan condemns US drone attack
Islamabad: Pakistan Sunday condemned the latest US drone attack in the tribal region of Waziristan which left two people killed earlier in the day.
The...
Sri Lankans have contributed to US culture: Clinton
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankans have made several "positive contributions to American culture", said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the eve of Sri Lanka's Independence Day anniversary.
China Southern Airlines posts quantum leap in profit
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China Southern Airlines Co, the country's largest carrier by fleet size, said Sunday that its first-quarter profit soared 523 percent year-on-year on the stronger yuan and greater passenger numbers.
Net profit rose to 796 million yuan ($114 million), or 0.18 yuan per share, the airline said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, citing domestic accounting standards.
French rogue trader given five-year prison sentence
By DPA,
Paris : A Paris court Tuesday found rogue trader Jerome Kerviel guilty of several charges, including breach of trust, and sentenced him to five years in prison, two of them suspended.
UN launches anti-human trafficking drive in Portugal
By IANS,
Lisbon: A United Nations' public awareness campaign against human trafficking has been launched in Portugal.
Rise and fall of Nepal’s royals
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's besieged King Gyanendra Thursday night left the Narayanhity royal palace from where his ancestors had ruled for generations, signalling the end of the monarchy. The following are the major milestones in the history of the nearly 250-year-old Shah dynasty whose kings were once revered as incarnations of a Hindu god:
1769: Prithvi Narayan Shah, king of Gorkha, overruns other principalities and founds the Shah dynasty.
Senate committee approves Holder for US attorney general
By DPA,
Washington : A Senate committee voted Wednesday to approve Eric Holder as the next top US law enforcement officer, sending the nomination to the full chamber for a final vote.
The Senate is expected to approve Holder, 58, to become the first African American to head the Justice Department. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 to back the nominee, a committee spokesman said.
Russia to deploy new Su-34 bombers
By IANS,
Moscow: Russia has said it will deploy five Su-34 frontline bombers in an air base near Voronezh city, Xinhua reported.
Canadian governor general sobs on TV over Haiti quake
By IANS,
Toronto : Canadians saw sombre scenes on their televisions Wednesday when their Governor General Michaelle Jean broke down during a press conference on the situation in her native Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake Tuesday.
Nearly 100,000 are feared dead in the worst disaster to hit the impoverished country in the Caribbean.
Jean, who came to Canada as a refugee in 1968 and went on to become the country's first black governor general in 2005, sobbed when she spoke about the devastation caused by the earthquake in her ancestral country.
China detains dozens of Tibetan monks after protest
By DPA
Beijing : Chinese police have detained dozens of Tibetan monks who undertook a protest march demanding the release of imprisoned supporters of the exiled Dalai Lama, US-based Radio Free Asia said Tuesday.
The monks were among up to 300 who left Drepung monastery Monday to walk 10 km into Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet region, the broadcaster quoted local sources as saying.
Rajasthan govt not interested in contesting Rakbar Khan lynching case, claims prosecutor
Advocate Nasir Ali Naqvi, who is the public prosecutor in the case, said he would not be able to appear in the case...
China to rebuild medical system in quake zone by year-end
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China has a timetable for rebuilding the medical care system in southwest regions hit by a massive quake last month, Health Minister Chen Zhu said Tuesday.
Chen spoke at a meeting here attended by health department heads from across the country, which pledged to complete the reconstruction of those medical facilities by the end of this year.
The government has sent more than 10,000 medical personnel to Sichuan province, where the quake destroyed huge numbers of buildings, including many hospitals and health care stations in towns and rural regions.
Kublai Khan’s Xanadu unearthed in China
By Xinhua,
Beijing : Xanadu, the city built by Mongol emperor Kublai Khan and mentioned by Italian traveller Marco Polo, has been unearthed by Chinese archaeologists who have sketched its layout.
"The most exciting findings are the layout of the moat in front of the Mingde Gate to the royal capital in the three-month excavation," said Yang Xingyu, a senior archaeologist.
‘South African victims of violence overlooked’
By Fakir Hassen, IANS,
Johannesburg : South African victims of the xenophobic violence that has wracked the country over the past few weeks have been overlooked as government and NGOs rallied to the assistance of victims from other African countries, according to the premier of Gauteng province, Mbhazima Shilowa.
With Gauteng being the province where most of the victims are now facing an uncertain future, Shilowa said that the government and NGOs have been providing humanitarian assistance to immigrants and but leaving out South African citizens who suffered the same fate.
S.Korea pledges US$100,000 in emergency aid to Haiti
By NNN-Bernama,
Seoul : South Korea pledged US$100,000 worth of emergency
‘Hitler enjoyed drinking at British pubs’
By IANS,
London : Adolf Hitler visited London when he was 23 years old, stayed for five months with his brother and enjoyed drinking at British pubs, a new documentary claims.
G8 turns screw on North Korea, Iran and Israel
By DPA,
Huntsville (Canada) : The leaders of the world's eight most powerful developed states turned the screw on North Korea, Iran and Israel Saturday as they concluded a two-day meeting in Canada.
The Group of Eight (G8) includes four of the five veto-holders on the United Nations Security Council and the world's most powerful military states, making it a key commentator on security issues.
Russia denies mobilising troops near Ukrainian border
Moscow : Russia Tuesday dismissed reports that it mobilised troops along its border with Ukraine after Crimea, a former Ukrainian republic, acceded to it.
"Results...
EU claims victory over US, Canada in hormone-treated meat dispute
By SPA
Brussels : The European Union claimed victory Monday in a long-standing dispute over hormone-treated meat and called on the United States and Canada to lift retaliatory import duties worth about 130 million dollars on some EU products, according to dpa.
The move followed a decision by World Trade Organization (WTO) judges in Geneva, who found that the US and Canada were wrong to retaliate against the EU's ban on the import of such meat, EU officials in Brussels said.
Straw says he could have stopped UK joining US invasion of Iraq
By IRNA,
London : Former foreign secretary Jack Straw says he could have stopped Britain joining the US invasion of Iraq if he had refused to back the decision by former prime minister Tony Blair to go to war.
In a lengthy submission to the Iraq Inquiry, Straw described his decision to back military action in March 2003 as ''the most difficult I have ever faced in my life''.
“The moral as well as the political dilemma were profoundly difficult. I was also fully aware that my support for military action was critical,” he said in a 25-page memo.
Sri Lanka steps up air raid after fierce clashes
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankan jets carried out several air raids targeting Tamil Tiger bastions Wednesday, a day after fierce clashes left scores of combatants killed in the north, military officials said.
The officials said that the jets hit defences and ditch-cum-bund fortifications of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the outskirts of Kilinochchi since morning.
Oxford slips, more Asian universities in top 100
By IANS,
London : British and American varsities dominated a list of the world's 100 best universities published Thursday but more institutions from southeast Asia made their way into it.
The number of universities from southeast Asian countries - Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Singapore - increased from 14 to 16 in the QS/Times Higher Education rankings, with the University of Tokyo the highest ranked Asian institution at 22.
Although Britain had four places in the top 10 and 18 in the top 100, Oxford University fell a place to joint fifth.
Rights groups want UN to monitor Sri Lanka abuses
By M.R. Narayan Swamy
IANSNew Delhi : Alarmed by the scale of abuses in Sri Lanka, not just in the northeastern war theatre but also in capital Colombo, human rights groups are advocating UN intervention.
Nigerian Ebola patient discharged after full recovery
Abuja : The first Nigerian confirmed to have contracted the Ebola virus has been discharged here after full recovery, the government said.
Minister of Health...
Mexican bottler to build $140 mn plant in Brazil
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Mexico's Coca-Cola Femsa, the world's largest bottler of Coca-Cola Co. products, said it broke ground on a $140 million plant in Brazil's Minas Gerais state.
New Zealand supports Australia’s Asia-Pacific proposal
By Xinhua,
Wellington : New Zealand has given cautious support to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's idea of creating an Asia-Pacific community, Radio New Zealand reported on Saturday.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark met Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday night in Wellington, during which the proposal was raised.
Gillard was in Wellington with a team of senior ministers for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum.
Yes, we can save rainforests: Prince Charles borrows Obama magic
By IANS,
London : Prince Charles seems to be looking to borrow a little bit of Obama magic. To boost his campaign to save rainforests, he has hired the Internet consultancy firm that created the web campaign for the US president.
Prince Charles' latest initiative to preserve the rainforests aims to create pressure for action ahead of July's G8 summit in Italy and December's UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Yahoo! Buzz offers buzz-worthy stories
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : Leading global internet brand Yahoo! Inc. has introduced Yahoo! Buzz, offering the most interesting and relevant content from websites across the worldwide web and bringing more buzz-worthy stories to the homepage of Yahoo!
Currently in beta, Yahoo! Buzz measures consumer votes and search patterns to identify interesting and timely stories and videos from large news sources as well as niche blogs around the web, the firm announced Wednesday.
Ingrid Betancourt named Woman of the Year
By IANS,
Vienna : Colombia's former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt who was rescued in July from the captivity of the country's leftist rebels has been named the Woman of the Year by the World Awards Association (WAA), the EFE news agency reported Saturday.
The Vienna-based World Awards Association Friday named Betancourt as the recipient of the 2008 Woman of the Year award, the report said.
She will receive the honour at a ceremony Oct 26, details of which would be announced later. Betancourt, 46, has dual Colombian and France citizenship.
US, Russia agree to solve anti-missile disputes
By Xinhua
Washington : The US has decided to hold top-level meetings with Russia to resolve an escalating dispute over America's plans to build an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe, a senior US official said.
Hope for expedited reconciliation process, Modi to Rajapaksa
New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he hoped that the island nation will expedite process of national...
86 killed, thousands relocated in China rainstorms
By IANS,
Beijing : At least 86 people were killed and 16 missing due to flood and landslides caused by rainstorms that lashed central and south China in the past few days.
Rainstorms in south China since early May have left at least 86 people dead and 16 missing, causing direct economic losses of almost 5.9 billion yuan ($864 million), said the ministry of civil affairs.
The toll in central China's Hunan Province has reached 12, Xinhua reported quoting the provincial flood-control relief authorities.
Impulsive people don’t save money
By IANS,
London : Financial profligacy is linked to other impulsive behaviours like overeating, smoking and infidelity, according to a new study.
The study, conducted through the BBC website with over 40,000 participants, measured people's financial impulsiveness by asking whether they would they prefer to receive 45 pounds in three days or 70 pounds in three months.
Putin forms new government, key ministers retain posts
By IRNA,
Moscow : Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin formed a new government on Monday, keeping the key ministers in their posts, RIA Novosti says.
Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, retain their positions in the new Cabinet.
The number of deputy premiers has been increased from five to seven.
Ex-premier Viktor Zubkov and former presidential aide Igor Shuvalov will be first deputy prime ministers.
Dalai Lama’s nephew blasts China’s crackdown
By DPA
Taipei : The nephew of the Dalai Lama and a parliamentarian in the Tibetan government-in-exile Monday condemned China's crackdown on riots in Tibet as Beijing's third invasion of the region.
"The first invasion was China's military occupation of Tibet from 1950 to 1959," Khedroob Thondup, said in an interview in Taipei.
"The second invasion was the launch of the Beijing-Lhasa railway last year, and this is the third invasion."
Police crackdown on Tibetans outside Chinese embassy in Nepal
By NNN-PTI
Kathmandu : Tibetans in Nepal Monday stepped up protests outside the tightly-guarded Chinese embassy here demanding an end to Beijing's crackdown but were dispersed by the police which detained at least 110 people.
The protesters, who tried to forcibly enter the embassy, shouted slogans against China and demanded freedom for Tibet as they were bundled into vehicles by baton-wielding policemen.
Four foreign journalists, who were taking pictures of the demonstration, were also detained by the police while they rounded up the protesters.
US Congress takes up 2010 budget
By DPA,
Washington : With the US House of Representatives preparing to vote Thursday on President Barack Obama's 2010 budget proposal, Republican lawmakers have presented an alternative spending plan that they argued cuts the deficit while still reviving the economy.
The Republican alternative, put forward in the House of Representatives, has little chance of becoming law as Democrats hold a sizeable majority in both chambers of Congress. But the versions offer insights into the parties' sharply differing ideologies and answers to the economic crisis.
UK’s two Muslim ministers expected to lose parliamentary seats
By IRNA,
London : Britain’s first and only two Muslim ministers are expected to be among up to 100 Labour casualties or more to lose their parliamentary seats at this week’s general election, according to research carried out by IRNA.
But the losses could be more than offset by three Muslim women, representing Labour, successfully defending two constituencies and capturing another to become the first female Muslims to sit in the 650-member House of Commons.
Exit polls show President Morales wins recall referendum in Bolivia
By Xinhua,
Lima : Exit polls showed on Sunday that Bolivian President Evo Morales has won the recall referendum to remain in office, according to reports reaching here from La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia.
According the exit poll conducted by the ATB commercial television station and the firm Captura Consulting, Morales has garnered 60 percent of valid ballots.
Analysts said the victory would boost Morales' clout in pushing forward his socialist reforms in this Andean nation amid strong opposition.
Indian among four arrested in Sri Lanka for overstaying
Colombo: An Indian, along with three Chinese men, was arrested for overstaying and engaging in illegal trade in Sri Lanka, police said.
The Indian, 34,...
Top US official says military used torture
By DPA,
Washington : A top US official has for the first time publicly stated that a suspect incarcerated at the Guantanamo Bay military prison camp was tortured, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
Susan J. Crawford, who was the top Bush Administration official deciding on whether suspects at the camp should be brought to trial, told the paper that she decided against prosecuting Saudi national Mohammed al-Qahtani because his interrogation met the legal definition of torture.
UNSC urges inclusive political process in Myanmar
By APP,
United Nations : The UN Security Council called on the government of Myanmar Friday to ensure an “inclusive and credible” political process in the country.
Unanimously adopting a presidential statement, the 15-member body reaffirmed, “its commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Myanmar and, in that context, reiterates that the future of Myanmar lies in the hands of all of its people.”
60 killed in DR Congo train accident
Kinshasa:At least 60 people were killed and some 60 others wounded when a train derailed in the southeast region of the Democratic Republic of...
Thai PM says he accepts court ban on him, his party
By Xinhua,
Bangkok : Thailand's Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said Tuesday he accepted the ruling by the constitutional court banning him from politics for five years and dissolving his party for electoral fraud.
Somchai reacted calmly to the verdict by saying: "I did my best to administer the country."
Thailand's Constitution Court Tuesday ruled the three constituents of the ruling coalition -- People Power Party (PPP), Chart Thai Party and Matchima Thipataya Party guilty of electoral fraud and ordered them to be dissolved.
Forget the past for Sri Lanka’s good, says MP
By IANS,
New Delhi : Sri Lanka's well-wishers should offer holistic solutions to resolve its political ills instead of harping on the past, an MP from that country said here.
China to build new space launch center in southernmost province
By Xinhua
Beijing : China plans to construct a new space launch center in Wenchang, China's southernmost Hainan Province, according to official sources.
The new launch center aims to serve the next-generation rocket carriers that do emit poisonous and pollutive gas and new-type spacecraft.
The new launch site will be mainly used for launching synchronous satellites, heavy satellites, large space stations, and deep space probe satellites, according to the plan which has been approved by the State Council and the Central Military Commission.
Sri Lanka’s war-displaced yearn to return home
By P. Karunakharan,IANS,
Vavuniya (Sri Lanka) : Having lost his father to long-range fire, 23-year-old Aruldasan and a group of 40 other war-displaced people recently succeeded in escaping from Mullaitivu after 20 gruelling days.
He was working for an international aid agency when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forced him to undergo 10 days of "civil defence training", which was compulsory for everybody in the age group between 18 and 60 in the Tiger-held territory.
Global swine flu toll rises to over 3,900: WHO
By Xinhua,
Geneva : A total of 3,917 people have died of swine flu worldwide since the outbreak of the viral disease in April, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a latest update Friday.
Of all the deaths, 2,948 occurred in the Americas, followed by the West Pacific region, with 362 deaths. The other four WHO regional offices, South-East Asia, Europe, East Mediterranean and Africa reported 340, 154, 72 and 41 deaths respectively.
North Korea to quit nuclear talks
By DPA,
Seoul : North Korea Tuesday announced that it wants to quit international negotiations on ending its nuclear weapons programme.
The Six-Party Talks were "no longer necessary", the state-run Korean Central News Agency said. The statement came in response to a UN Security Council statement condemning a rocket launch earlier this month.
Tony Blair offered $381,000 to appear on reality show
By IANS,
London : Former British prime minister Tony Blair has been offered 250,000 pounds ($381,000) to sign up for the next series of "Dancing With The Stars", the US version of the reality show "Strictly Come Dancing", according to a media report.
Conrad Green, executive producer of the show, is desperate for the former prime minister to come and strut his stuff for the American public, Daily Mail reported on its website Monday.
The media mogul has called on Blair - who this week returned to help boost Labour's flagging election campaign.
Nepali Prime Minister condemns mosque bombing
By IINA
Kathmandu : Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has condemned the bombing of a mosque in Biratnagarin southeast Nepal yesterday evening, saying it was an abhorrent incident, the National News Agency RSS reported today. Talking to reporters at his residence in Biratnagar this morning, Koirala said such abhorrent bombings will benefit no one and vowed not to let the bombers achieve their mission for whatever objective they might have bombed the mosque.
U.S. to keep door open for talks with Iran – senior official
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The United States will continue talking to Iran, but wants Moscow's cooperation in sending Tehran a signal that defiance of international demands will not go unpunished, a senior U.S. envoy has said.
U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns was in Moscow on Thursday to discuss Iran and arms reduction with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
"The United States believes we should keep the door open to negotiations and involve Iran in cooperation," he said in an interview with Gazeta daily published in Russian.
French president urged to confront Chavez on press freedom
By IANS
Paris : Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international non-governmental organisation devoted to freedom of press, has urged French President Nicolas Sarkozy to take up the issue of press freedom with his visiting Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, Spanish news agency reported Tuesday.
Chavez arrived here Monday to brief Sarkozy about his country's efforts in brokering a deal between the government of Colombia and its main rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), for the release of 45 high-profile hostages.
Chinese police teargas agitating Tibetan monks
By DPA
Beijing : The Chinese police used teargas on Tibetan Buddhist monks protesting for the second day in Lhasa to demand the release of imprisoned supporters of the exiled Dalai Lama, US-based Radio Free Asia reported Wednesday.
Paramilitary units used teargas against 500 to 600 monks from Sera monastery. About 11 monks, including nine from Sera monastery, were arrested Tuesday.
Monday, to mark the 49th anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, 300 monks left Drepung monastery to walk the 10 km into Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet region.
Small countries call for deep emission cuts, financial support
By DPA,
Singapore : Six small countries from different continents, including Costa Rica, Iceland and Singapore, Friday pledged to a work for a successful outcome of the crucial Copenhagen climate change talks next week, adding that developing island states needed support to fight the existential threat from rising sea levels.
Immigration changes bad for Canada: opposition
By IANS
Toronto : Criticising the Canadian government for introducing a bill that gives it sweeping powers on immigration, the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) has proposed amendments in it before the parliamentary vote.
The immigration (amendment) bill, which gives the immigration minister powers to decide who is let in or stopped, is part of the budget bill which will seek the House vote next week.
Over 2,000 Germans volunteer to help battle Ebola
Addia Ababa : Over 2,000 Germans have heeded the government's call to register as volunteers for deployment to fight the Ebola virus disease outbreak...
Sikh motorcyclist in Canada challenges helmet verdict
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS
Toronto : A Sikh motorcyclist has challenged a lower court verdict upholding the Ontario Highway Traffic Act that forbids him from driving without a helmet in Canada's largest province.
Brampton-based Baljinder Singh Badesha, 39, had challenged the helmet rule in court after he was fined $110 for driving his motorcycle without helmet in 2005.
He argued that the rule discriminated against him on religious grounds as his Sikh faith does not allow him to wear a helmet over his turban.
Colombian rebels release another politician hostage
By IANS
Cali (Colombia) : The leftist guerrillas of Colombia have released a former legislator they had taken hostage in 2002, the EFE news agency reported Friday.
Sigifredo Lopez, a former regional legislator in the Valle del Cauca province, arrived in this southwestern city of Cali Thursday to a tumultuous welcome from family and friends.
The 45-year-old legislator, who was kidnapped April 11, 2002, was the last of the six politician hostages the rebels promised to free who was kidnapped April 11, 2002.
Disagreements exist concerning EU treaty after foreign ministers meet
By XinhuaÂ
Luxembourg : Foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) said disagreements on some key issues still exist concerning a new EU treaty after their night talks here on Sunday.
    Speaking to reporters following the night discussions, Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado said that "on some key points, we have (made progress), but on some others, we did not."
    "I believe the German (EU) presidency will be able to tackle these," he added.
India, Kyrgyzstan sign four agreements
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan): India and Kyrgyzstan on Sunday inked four pacts, including in defence and culture, after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kyrgyz...
White House rejects rumours of bank nationalisation
By Xinhua,
Washington : The Obama administration said Friday it was not trying to take over Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp., the two ailing financial institutions.
"This administration continues to strongly believe that a privately held banking system is the correct way to go, ensuring that they are regulated sufficiently by this government," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
"That's been our belief for quite some time, and we continue to have that," he said, rejecting rumours of impending nationalisation of troubled banks.
Boeing begins assembly of India Navy’s first P-8I aircraft
By IANS,
Renton (Washington State): US aerospace major Boeing has begun the final assembly of the Indian Navy's first P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft at its factory here.