US budget deficit reaches $1.1 trillion
By IANS,
Washington: The budget deficit of the US federal government topped around $1.1 trillion in the 2012 fiscal year ending in September, the Treasury Department announced.
Britain to unveil anti-terror plans to protect public spots
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS
London : Declaring that Britain could be hit by terrorists "anywhere from any place", Prime Minister Gordon Brown was Wednesday set to unveil a range of measures aimed at securing railway stations, airports, shopping malls and sports stadiums from terror attacks.
The steps are the first prompted by this year's failed terror bombing of Glasgow airport.
"Terrorism can hit us anywhere from any place," Brown wrote in the The Sun newspaper Wednesday.
Inter-Korean women call for national reconciliation, reunification
By Xinhua,
Pyongyang : Representatives of women from the two Koreas met on Thursday and Friday at Mt. Kumgang Resort of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), vowing to implement two declarations on reunification.
The delegates called for promoting the national reconciliation and unity and boosting the desire for reunification, said the official news agency KCNA.
They vowed to uphold and implement the June 15 joint declaration and the Oct. 4 declaration, which were reached by the two Korea's leaders in 2000 and 2007 respectively, the KCNA added.
Some 200 Thai troops stationed at border area with Cambodia
By Xinhua,
Phnom Penh : Thailand has stationed around 200 troops at the border area with Cambodia over a land dispute around the Preah Vihear Temple, according to the provincial authority of Preah Vihear Wednesday.
The Cambodian side insisted that the Thai force entered its territory, while the Thai side denied.
Both forces were in armed situation, the provincial authority said.
Too early for sanctions against Russia: Netherlands
The Hague: Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte believes that it is still too early to impose sanctions against Russia and prefers a political solution...
$120 mn WB loan for China’s eco-farming projects
By Xinhua,
Beijing : The World Bank (WB) has approved a loan of $120 million for ecology friendly farming projects in China, its China Office here announced Wednesday.
The office said farmers in central Chinese provinces of Anhui and Hubei and Guangxi region in the southwest would benefit from improved rural environment and living conditions through the project.
The project would assist farmer households to integrate production of biogas into their agricultural production systems.
World, championship records fall in Rome
By DPA,
Rome: Mary Descenza Wednesday broke the world record in the heats of the women's 200m butterfly at the world championships, while Aleksandra Gerasimenya set a new championship record in the women's 50m backstroke.
Under the blistering sun in Rome, that took temperatures into the high thirties, the 24-year-old American Descenza touched in a time of two minutes 4.14 seconds, to beat the old best mark set by Liu Zige of China last year at the Olympics. Liu's time was 2:04.18.
Cuba presents NAM stance on disarmament
By Prensa Latins, Vienna : Cuba, as president of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), has insisted on the need to comply with the treaties on nuclear disarmament and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Addressing the opening session of the preparatory committee for the conference to review the Non Proliferation Treaty in 2010 Monday, Cuban Ambassador Norma Goicochea underlined that multilateralism, according to the UN charter, is the only sustainable method to deal with multiple approaches to international disarmament and security.
First Australians evacuated from Kathmandu
Kathmandu : The first Royal Australian Air Force flights evacuated Australians out of Kathmandu after delivering 15 tonnes of aid for the earthquake-hit nation,...
Ex-Tiger guerrilla turns a chief minister in Sri Lanka
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : A former hardened Tamil Tiger guerrilla who fought the Sri Lankan military for years was Friday sworn in as chief minister of the island's troubled eastern province.
Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, known more widely by his nom de guerre Pillaiyan, took oath before President Mahinda Rajapaksa at a function held at the Presidential Secretariat here amid tight security.
Pillaiyan heads the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), which was formed by guerrillas who broke away from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2004.
Myanmar begins census
Yangon : Myanmar's national census, the first in three decades, started Sunday to collect data on population, economic and social facts. It was aimed...
Boeing delivers 200th transport aircraft to US Air Force
By Gulshan Luthra, IANS,
Los Angeles : Boeing has delivered the 200th C 17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft to the US Air Force (USAF).
The aircraft was flown from its Long Beach production facility here July 30 to the USAF Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, the aircraft's new home, company sources told India Strategic defence magazine.
USAF has ordered a total of 223 aircraft.
Boeing is slowing down production of C 17s, expecting some more new international orders before the facility is closed down in four to five years.
300 women killed in 2010 in Mexican border city
By IANS/EFE,
Ciudad Juarez : The number of women killed in 2010 in Mexico's northern border city of Ciudad Juarez has risen to 300, official figures show.
South Africa reports first swine flu death
By Xinhua,
Johannesburg: A 22-year-old university student has become the first South African swine flu casualty, officials said Monday.
The victim, a student of Stellenbosch University, died July 28, health officials in Western Cape said.
The student visited the campus clinic July 20 with flu like symptoms. When his conditions did not improve, he was referred to a Western Cape private hospital for treatment.
US calls for end to Ahmadinejad’s ‘inflammatory rhetoric’
By DPA,
Washington : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments against Israel at a conference Monday were "unacceptable" and would only serve to fuel racial hatred, the US State Department said.
"Unfortunately, we've heard all of this before from President Ahmadinejad. The comments that he made, frankly, were unacceptable and, frankly, feed racial hatred," spokesman Robert Wood said. "Iran needs to end this type of inflammatory rhetoric. It's not helpful."
All over US, Americans pledge to fight terror with India
By Lalit K. Jha,IANS,
New York : It could be memories of 9/11, that six Americans were killed or just the urgency to unite in the face of global terror. The reasons are many but the cause just one - peace - for the scores of prayer meetings, candlelight vigils and peace rallies across the US in the days since the Mumbai terror attack.
From big cities to small towns, people have come out of their homes to show solidarity with India and say that Americans were with Indians in the fight against terror.
Talks down to the wire at Copenhagen: Swedish minister
By DPA,
Copenhagen : Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren Monday predicted "tough talks down to the wire" at the UN climate change summit, saying China and the US need to offer more on emission cuts.
The talks in Copenhagen, scheduled to end Friday, aim at preventing global average temperatures from rising more than the potentially dangerous two-degree Centigrade limit.
"It is impossible to solve the climate problem unless China makes more emission reductions above the scope they have offered," Carlgren told Swedish radio.
Army Chief: Mid-year Army Reshuffle Not Thaksin-oriented
By Bernama
Bangkok : Army chief General Anupong Paochinda dismissed speculation that former military classmates of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would be promoted in the mid-year realignment of army officers, Thailand News Agency (TNA) reported Thursday.
Anupong explained that military promotions do not depend on whether or not any officers belonged to the Pre-Cadet Class 10 from which Thaksin and the army chief himself had graduated.
World’s largest freshwater lake under dire threat from climate change
By IANS,
Washington : Siberia's Lake Baikal, the world's largest freshwater lake, faces severe ecological threats due to climate change, a new study has found.
The planet's most biologically diverse water body, Lake Baikal is considered a treasure trove for biologists. It was designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco because a high proportion of its rich fauna and flora cannot be found anywhere else.
Obama advocates two-state solution in Middle East
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington: US President Barack Obama has advocated a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict based on borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war.
Two Indians among 14 killed in Nepal bus accident
By DPA,
Kathmandu : At least 14 people, among them two Indians, have been killed and dozens injured when a passenger bus fell into a swollen river after veering off a mountain highway, police said.
The bus plunged about 150 metres off the road at Mahadevbesi of Dhading district, about 70 km west of the Nepali capital, into the fast-flowing Trishuli River Friday .
Most of the victims died before rescuers could reach the area.
Police said 38 people were injured and rushed to hospital. Many are in serious condition.
China to launch 12 weather satellites by 2020
By IANS,
Beijing : China will launch 12 meteorological satellites before 2020 to boost the country's weather monitoring capabilities, an official said Saturday.
Police search home of missing Malaysian jet’s captain
Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian police have searched the house of Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah who flew the Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines flight that went missing...
Late school times good for your kid’s sleep
By IANS,
London : Teens slept more and better at night after classes were rescheduled to commence 30 minutes later than usual timings, which also minimised their chances of auto-accidents.
Their sleep averaged from 12 minutes (grade nine) to 30 minutes (grade 12). The percentage who got at least eight hours of sleep per weeknight increased significantly from 35.7 percent to 50 percent.
East Asian finance chiefs move closer to regional foreign exchange reserve swap
By Xinhua,
Madrid : Finance ministers of China, Japan and South Korea took one step further on Sunday towards a regional foreign exchange reserve swap arrangement.
"We reached an agreement on several key elements of the CMI Multilateralization," finance chiefs of the three East Asian countries said in a joint statement after they met on the sidelines of an annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Slovenian PM resigns, early elections expected
Ljubljana : Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek Monday submitted a letter of resignation to Parliament Speaker Janko Veber, two days after she announced her...
Nepal heading for local body elections
Kathmandu : Nepal is preparing to hold local body elections after a 16-year hiatus, a government minister said Sunday.
The elections for the leadership of...
Nine killed in apartment blast in Ukraine
By RIA Novosti,
Simferopol (Ukraine) : Nine people have been killed in an explosion in a building in southern Ukraine, UNIAN news agency reported Thursday.
The powerful explosion, which is believed to have been caused by cooking gas, ripped through the five-storey apartment block Wednesday in a quiet suburb in the town of Yevpatoriya late Wednesday.
The spokesman said 20 people had been rescued from the building, adding: "Around 60-62 people could still be in the debris."
Financial crash could deepen food crisis: UN
By DPA,
Rome : Governments should avoid reducing aid to developing countries' agriculture and introducing protectionist trade measures in response to the global financial crisis, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Wednesday.
Such steps could increase the risk of another food crisis occurring next year, Director-General Jacques Diouf of the Rome-based FAO said in a statement.
Another food crisis "could happen despite the record 2008 cereal harvest which is now expected," the statement said.
Age doesn’t dent one’s ability to make sound decisions
By IANS,
Washington : Just because your mom has turned 85, you shouldn't assume you'll have to take over her financial matters. She may be just as good or better than you at making quick, sound, money-making decisions, according to researchers at the Duke University Medical Centre (DUMC).
"It's not age, it's cognition that makes the difference in decision-making," said Scott
Huettel, DUMC associate professor of psychology and neuroscience.
He recently led a lab study in which participants could gain or lose money based on their decisions.
Stereotypes can unlock doors to success
By IANS,
London : Never be dismissive about the power of stereotypes. They can open or shut the doors to success, avers latest research from Britain.
"What we think about ourselves - and also, what we believe others think about us - determines both how we perform and what we are able to become," said Alex Haslam of the University of Exeter, and co-author of the study.
Four killed, two missing in Chile shipwrecks
By IANS,
Santiago (Chile) : Four people have been killed and two reported missing in two shipwrecks caused by a storm in Chile's southern region of Los Lagos, the navy said.
Three security guards headed out in bad weather on a small boat Friday night from Puerto Montt, the capital of Los Rios, located 1,000 km south of Santiago, for a sports-fishing trip without permission from maritime officials.
The boat sank near Maillen Island due to bad weather, poor visibility and lack of precautions by the passengers, Spain's EFE news agency said Monday quoting officials.
Dark shadow of Ebola now a global threat: Trinidad PM
By Paras Ramoutar,
Port-of-Spain : The dark shadow of the Ebola has now become "a real and imminent global threat", Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister...
Scores killed as fighting rages in Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Colombo : At least 47 Tamil Tigers and six soldiers were killed while seven soldiers were reported missing as heavy fighting raged Tuesday in Sri Lanka's north, the authorities said Wednesday.
The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) claimed that at least 22 fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and six soldiers were killed in the rebel-held Kilinochchi region.
Thirty-one rebels and 48 soldiers were also wounded in the fighting.
Man held after wife’s remains found encased in concrete
By IANS,
London : A businessman was arrested after the burnt remains of his wife were found covered in concrete in their mansion in France, it was reported here Tuesday.
Joanna Hall may have died last week during a drunken argument with her husband Robert, 55.
Daily Express reported that one of their three children could have reported Robert Hall to the police over the accusation that he covered up the crime at the estate in Le Chatellier, Fougeres, close to the western city of Rennes, in Brittany, France.
Explosion in Russian resort kills two, injured three
By KUNA,
Moscow : Two people were killed and three others were injured as an explosive device detonated in Sochi Black Sea resort in Russia, sources said on Thursday.
Interfax News Agency qouted Russian security sources as saying the explosion was caused by the detonation of an explosive device and the loud bang was heard several kilometers away.
According to eyewitnesses, a man and a woman were seen picking up a paper bag which was lying on the beach, which caused the explosion.
The security forces immediately evacuated and closed off the scene.
Myanmar to extend opium substitute cultivation
By IANS,
Yangon : The Myanmar government, in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will extend an opium substitute cultivation...
EU ready to deploy Georgia monitoring mission by October
By DPA,
Brussels : The European Union (EU) is ready to replace Russian troops in Georgia with its own civilian observers within the next two weeks, Javier Solana, the bloc's foreign policy chief, said Monday.
But on the controversial issue of whether the planned 200-strong EU mission will also be deployed in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Solana said a decision would only be made at a later stage.
Sri Lanka cautions against ‘sympathy for terrorism’
By DPA,
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday marked the first anniversary of the end of a thee-decade civil war by warning countries not to show sympathy for terrorism and separatism, while international pressure grows over alleged war crimes.
Rajapaksa said in an address to the nation that it was a "grave error of judgment" not to oppose terrorism that targets you but to believe it is good if it does not target you.
Over 60 dead penguins washed ashore in Uruguay
By RIA Novosti,
Buenos Aires : Over 60 dead oil-covered Magellanic penguins have been found along the Uruguayan coast near the Argentine border following a recent oil spill, Uruguay's Espectador radio said on Monday.
Their deaths are being linked to last Wednesday's shipwreck when two boats, the Greek-registered Syros and Maltese-registered Sea Bird collided near Montevideo, causing an oil slick measuring 20 km (12 miles) long and 30 km (17 miles) wide along the penguins' migration route.
Chinese chauffeurs and their ‘invisible income’
By IANS,
Beijing : Chauffeurs of top Chinese government officials are becoming involved in illegal transactions as one of them says "many people would come to me with gifts or bribes in a bid to network with my boss", a media report said.
More chauffeurs have become involved in corruption or taking bribes by taking advantage of their close ties with the officials they serve, says the latest issue of Banyue Tan (Semi-monthly Talks) published by Xinhua news agency.
International community calls for unity in Ukraine
By IANS,
Kiev : The international community has called on all sides in Ukraine to preserve the country's unity and avoid violence after President Viktor...
End of an era as Nepal celebrates Republic Day
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : "We will never forget our immortal martyrs," sang hundreds of voices in Kathmandu's biggest public park, marking the end of an era as Nepal's 239-year monarchy gave way to a federal democracy with the birth of the world's newest republic.
"We have been awaiting this day for years," said Radha Gyawali, newly sworn in member of the historic constituent assembly, whose Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist had in the past spearheaded a signature campaign against the members of the royal family who committed excesses.
‘Over 100 Tiger rebels killed, Mullaitivu battles reach final phase’
By IANS,
Colombo : Fighting between the ground troops and the Tamil Tiger rebels has left over 100 guerrillas killed and scores wounded in the past couple of days with the battles to retake the last LTTE strongholds in the northeastern Mullaitivu district reaching the final phase, the defence ministry said Sunday.
It said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), now confined to a land stretch of less than 50 sq km, have "made several desperate attempts" to infiltrate the forward defences in Mullaitivu district.
Dozens arrested in Nepal as anti-president protests erupt
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Nearly four dozen people, including leading human rights activists, were arrested by police in Nepal Tuesday for defying prohibitory orders and protesting against President Ram Baran Yadav for reinstating the army chief sacked by the government.
Nepal moves to measure its biggest revenue earner – Mt Everest
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
India ‘very friendly country’, says Sri Lanka
By IANS
Colombo : Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has described India as a "very friendly country" and said his government will never do anything that harms longstanding bilateral ties.
US ready to help in Mumbai terror probe
By IANS,
New Delhi : The US is ready to offer "full cooperation" to India to investigate the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, US ambassador David Mulford told Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon Saturday.
Mulford said the US offer could include sending security teams.
"President (George W.) Bush has directed us to offer cooperation to Indian authorities in any way that we can. We will be doing that," Mulford told reporters after meeting Menon at South Block, the seat of India's external affairs ministry.
Chinese civil rights lawyers banned from practicing
By DPA,
Beijing: China revoked the right-to-practice licenses of two civil rights lawyers, sparking condemnation from civil society organisations Saturday.
A notice posted on the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice website late Friday announced that the licenses of Tang Jitian and Liu Wei have been revoked after they "disobeyed the instructions of court personnel and disrupted courtroom order".
Tang, Liu and human rights groups condemned the decision as an affront to China's frequently stated goal of improving the country's legal system.
Asia”s second-biggest carrier ANA to launch budget air
By KUNA
Tokyo : Asia's second-biggest carrier All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) plans to establish a low-cost airline in Asia as early as fiscal 2008, a major Japanese business daily reported Wednesday.
Given a tough business environment ahead, the Tokyo-based ANA expects competition from Asian budget carriers following expansions scheduled for 2010 at Haneda and Narita international airports in the capital area, the Nikkei Shimbun said.
Obama dicusses corruption in talks with Karzai
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama put the fight against corruption at the top of his agenda in talks with his Afghan counterpart during a surprise visit to the country on Sunday, US officials said.
The visit is Obama's first since he took office in January last year.
Obama arrived on Sunday evening from Washington and was due to stay for just one day, officials said. He met immediately with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Trinidad muslims seek release of imams from Venezuela
Port of Spain: The chairman of the Muslim Social and Cultural Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago led a demonstration Friday outside the Venezuelan Embassy...
Obama does not disclose his vice president pick
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he has decided on his running mate in the November elections, but he's not saying who it is.
"I won't comment on anything else until I introduce our running mate to the world," he said Thursday. "That's all you're going to get out of me."
Obama, hoping to be America's first black president, is expected to appear at a rally with his running mate in Springfield, Illinois, Saturday. It's unclear just when the campaign will announce the vice presidential choice via text message.
Hinduism effectively state religion in ‘secular’ Nepal
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : A year after Nepal's parliament officially declared the country -- once the world's only Hindu kingdom -- secular, Hinduism effectively remains the state religion with the declaration being mere lip service to appease protesters.
Despite being one of the poorest countries in the world where villages still don't have roads, electricity and running water, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's government spent more than Nepali Rs.10 million during the 10-day Dashain festival alone, considered the kingdom's biggest Hindu ceremony.
Tamil journalist sentenced to 20 years imprisonment
By DPA,
Colombo : A Tamil journalist charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Emergency Regulations in Sri Lanka was sentenced Monday to a 20-year rigorous jail term by a court, officials said.
The journalist, Jayeprakash Tissainayagam, 48, had been in custody for 14 months before he was sentenced by Colombo High Court judge Deepali Wijesundara following a trial.
SAARC council of ministers discuss ‘exclusive extradition treaty’
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : Renewing their commitment to strengthen comprehensive region-wide cooperation among member states to combat terrorism in forms, the SAARC Council of Ministers in Colombo Saturday discussed how to work out an exclusive extradition treaty in the region.
"We have discussed this matter. Extradition is matter in terms of bilateral treaties and agreements. But, as a group, there is nothing to prevent us from advancing and graduating into a level within the region for us to view the extradition," Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said.
Colombia, FARC rebels postpone peace talks
By IANS,
Bogota : The Colombian government and FARC rebel group have agreed to postpone until next week the peace talks aimed at ending some 50 years of armed conflict.
Mexico’s interior minister dies in plane crash
By DPA,
Mexico City : Mexican Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino and a presidential adviser on security issues were killed when a small plane crashed in Mexico City, media reports said Wednesday
Mourino and Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, a former deputy attorney general and a current adviser to the government of President Felipe Calderon, were returning to the capital from San Luis Potosi on the small plane that crashed Tuesday night, the Mexico City airport control tower confirmed.
IS executioner in beheading videos identified: FBI
Washington: US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) believes that it has identified the masked Islamic State (IS) militant who has been videotaped beheading Western...
Sri Lankan panel starts probing missing people
Colombo: A special commission appointed to investigate thousands of people who went missing during Sri Lanka's three decade-long civil war has started its probe...
Foxconn refutes ‘sweatshop’ allegation after employee suicides
By IANS,
Taipei : Electronic giant Foxconn president Terry Gou has denied claims that the company is a "sweatshop" for its workers after a string of suicides by its employees.
On Tuesday, an employee died after falling from a company's building in China's Shenzhen province, Xinhua reported. It was the ninth such death at the plant this year.
Earlier, two more Foxconn employees were seriously injured in failed suicide attempts.
In his first public comments, Gou promised to tackle the situation. He made the comments at a forum on economic cooperation in Taipei.
China postpones summit with EU over Sarkozy-Dalai Lama meeting
By RIA Novosti,
Beijing : China has called off a December 1 summit with the EU to protest against a planned meeting between the French president and Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.
France, which holds the rotating EU presidency, confirmed French President Nicolas Sarkozy would meet with the Dalai Lama on December 6 in Poland.
Cuban dissident launches new forum for change
By IANS/EFE,
Havana : Cuba's prominent opposition leader Oswaldo Paya has asked his countrymen to participate in a forum that will seek changes in the communist-ruled country.
Paya, recipient of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize, announced the creation of the Foro Cubano (Cuban Forum) to work for change, a group that will be open to all Cubans, both inside and outside the country, starting on Tuesday.
Tourists released after being held over porn shoot in Egypt
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Cairo: Police in Egypt have released a group of tourists who had been earlier detained for allegedly shooting a pornographic movie in the popular Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
Rajapaksa to discuss political situation with parties
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has invited all Tamil and Muslim political parties, including the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA), for an interaction this week on the prevailing political situation in the island.
"The invitation has been sent to all Tamil and Muslim political parties that are represented in parliament at present, and those that have been represented in parliament earlier," the president's office said here Tuesday.
Search for missing jet switches to human sighting
Canberra : The search for objects possibly related to the missing Malaysian airliner Friday changed from radar detection to visual sightings, the Australian Maritime...
750,000 people may die in East African famine: UN
By IANS,
London : About 750,000 people could die in East Africa over the next four months due to famine, if enough aid didn't reach the famine-stricken region, the UN has warned.
Austrian man, 73, had seven children by locked-up daughter: police
By ANTARA News,
Vienna : Austrian police on Sunday arrested a 73-year-old man accused accused of locking up his daughter in a basement for 24 years and fathering seven children with her.
A prosecution spokesman said that Elisabeth Fritzl, 42, had accused her father of "massive crimes". It is the third stunning case to be revealed in Austria in recent years of children being locked away by their parents.
Investigators said the woman gave birth to seven children in the sealed cellar of her father's house near Amstetten in Lower Austria state, in the east of the country.
Zimbabwe election to go ahead despite Tsvangirai withdrawal
By DPA,
Harare/Johannesburg : Zimbabwe's violence-wracked run-off presidential election will go ahead Friday despite the withdrawal of the leading candidate, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, state radio said Monday.
It quoted George Chiweshe, chairman of the state-run Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, as saying that the organization was "going ahead with preparations for the election ... as Tsvangirai has not made any of the required notification" of his withdrawal.
Respect rights of Tibetans: European Parliament
By IANS,
Dharamsala: Expressing concern over self-immolation protests in Tibet, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution asking the Chinese authorities to respect the rights of Tibetans.
Osama bin Laden’s photo to be published: CIA chief
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Washington: A postmortem photograph of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, killed by US forces in Pakistan Sunday, will be published, CIA chief Leon Panetta said Tuesday.
Serbia Defines Positions over Kosovo Autonomy
By Prensa Latina
Belgrade : The Serbian government must confirm Tuesday an agreement among President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, and Parliament President Oliver Dulic to cope with Kosovo autonomy.
The cabinet is analyzing a deal reached by the three leaders of the ruling coalition, which has lately been splitted over the way to deal with a unilateral declaration of independence in Kosovo.
According to local press, the arrangement includes a unified state position, and measures to guarantee the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russia parliament to vote on PM Putin on May 8
By SPA
Moscow : Russia's parliament will vote on whether to confirm Vladimir Putin as prime minister on May 8, the day after he steps down as president, the speaker of parliament said on Monday.
Putin, who is stepping down in line with a constitutional term limit, has said he will serve as prime minister once his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, is sworn in as president on May 7.
Helicopter crashes into Black Sea drilling rig, 19 dead
By DPA,
Kiev : A Ukrainian helicopter crashed into a Black Sea oil drilling rig Monday, killing 19 of the 20 people aboard, a government spokesman said.
The MiG-8 passenger helicopter had been carrying workers to an oil rig some 70 km in the Sea of Azov near the Crimea peninsula, said Yury Avdeev, an official from the state-owned Chernomornaftogaz energy company.
The dead included 16 rig workers and three flight crew, Avdeev said.
One oil worker of the 20 people aboard the aircraft survived the fiery crash in critical condition, the Interfax news agency reported.
British family shares home with 80 animals
By IANS,
London : A British family shares its home with an amazing collection of 80 exotic animals that include boa constrictors, pythons and tarantula spiders.
Myanmar releases former dictator`s daughter from house arrest
By ANTARA News/DPA,
Yangon : Myanmar has released San Dar Win, a daughter of the country`s former dictator Ne Win, from six years of house arrest in her lakeside home in Yangon, relatives confirmed Saturday.
"She was visiting her friend`s house after her release," a relative told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa. She was released on Friday.
Russia and Bulgaria Ink Several Contracts
By Prensa Latina
Sofia : Presidents of Russia and Bulgaria, Vladimir Putin and Georgi Parvanov respectively, signed eight bilateral cooperation agreements Friday, among which is for construction of a nuclear plant and an oil pipeline.
The agreements signed during Putin s official visit to Sofia refer to bilateral issues in energy, culture, transport and tourism.
Britain’s economy facing biggest threat in 20 years: Official
By Xinhua,
London : The Bank of England governor has said that Britain's economy is facing the biggest threat in 20 years, giving a grim picture of the country's financial future, a media report said Thursday.
Speaking at the annual dinner for bankers and merchants here Wednesday, Mervyn King said that consumers could expect sharp rises in the gas and electricity prices.
And with no likely pay rise in the near future, there may be a steep fall in the purchasing power, Sky News reported.
Over 100 injured in Rome riots
By DPA,
Rome : At least 100 people were injured in clashes between Italian police and demonstrators who exploded firecrackers and attempted to storm parliament buildings, Italian media reported.
Foreign students’ fees prop UK universities; Asians on top
By Venkata Vemuri, IANS,
London : British universities are increasingly being propped up by income from foreign students, particularly Asians who now constitute over 20 percent of the total students studying in its higher educational institutions.
The eighth report of the Patterns of Higher Education Institutions in Britain said since 2000-01 university income had grown by more than 50 percent, the largest share coming from international students.
Their numbers have doubled in the past decade and their fees now amount to 1.7 billion pounds, a rise of 58 percent since 2002-03.
Sarkozy appoints Fillon to form new French government
By DPA,
Paris : French President Nicholas Sarkozy has charged Francois Fillon once again with forming a new government, the president's office announced Sunday.
Indian Americans condemn extremist violence against Muslims across India amid Ramadan
Viral videos have flooded social media showing Hindu extremist mobs armed with swords, guns and rods, taking out processions through Muslim areas, blasting Islamophobic...
Alex Reid to write autobiography
By IANS,
London: Cage fighter Alex Reid is planning to write an autobiography which will reveal all the details of his relationships with fiancee Chantelle Houghton and ex-wife Katie Price.
Ecuador feels `ill-treated’ in loan talks with China
By EFE,
Quito : Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has said that during the course of negotiations with China to obtain financing for a hydroelectric dam, they "sometimes feel ill-treated".
Ecuador is negotiating with China for a loan to finance 85 percent the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam but Correa says, "Regrettably, the negotiations have been very tough."
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...
Interpol China opens email for information on suspects
By IANS,
Beijing : The Interpol bureau in China Thursday opened an email account to which people can report on Chinese criminals who have fled overseas.
US special envoy holds talks with Sudanese Minister of State
By NNN-SUNA
Khartoum : The visiting United Special Envoy for Sudan, Andrew Natsios, has held talks here wit the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Al-Samani Al-Wasiylah Al-Samani, to discuss implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) covering South Sudan as well as developments in Darfur in western Sudan.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Sudanese government to implementing the CPA, saying that there were few unresolved issues and these would be solved by a joint committee set up by the two sides.
French begin voting in presidential election
By DPA
Paris : Former interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy was the heavy favourite as France's 44.5 million registered voters began casting their polls Sunday to elect their next president.
Fujimori denies ordering massacres against opponents
By Xinhua
Lima : Former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, on trial over army massacres during his term, said he had only set general policy guidelines but never made anti-terrorist tactics against his opponents.
Fujimori said during his 1990-2000 presidency, he had never made plans for military operations since the president only sets general policies but does not command such operations.
Russia urges US to withdraw nuclear weapons from Europe
By DPA,
Moscow/Brussels : Russia Monday urged the US to withdraw its tactical nuclear weapons from Europe, as NATO's top official said he was optimistic talks on the issue could be held.
Britain using street theatre to combat illegal immigration
By IANS
New Delhi : The British government is using street theatres in Punjab to tackle illegal immigration from the Indian state, visiting British Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said here Wednesday.
Byrne told reporters in the Indian capital Wednesday that his country was determined to fight illegal immigration. "It is not a nice thing," he said, referring to the exploitation of poor people by criminal gangs.
Punjab accounts for the highest proportion of illegal migrants from India to Britain.
Nepal President calls on Maoists to form government
By IRNA,
New Delhi : President Ram Baran Yadav has called on the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to forge political consensus for the constitution of the Council of Ministers and appointment of the Prime Minister in accordance with Article 38 Clause (1) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007.
The President has given seven days' time for the CPN (Maoist) to forge consensus for that purpose, Nepal media reported quoting a communique issued by the Office of the President.
Indian, Pakistani armies exchange sweets on Eid
Jammu: Indian and Pakistani soldiers on Friday exchanged sweets and dry fruits on the occasion of Eid at the Line of Control (LoC) in...
Environmentalists decry Spanish firm megadams in Chile
By IANS
Madrid : Several environmental groups have protested a proposed project of Spanish energy giant Endesa S.A. to build five "megadams" in Chile's portion of Patagonia, saying that hydroelectric plants would destroy important ecosystems.
Patagonia is commonly defined as the southernmost geographic area in the Andes mountains of South America, mostly located in Argentina and partly in Chile.
Crypt above Marilyn Monroe’s grave sells for $4.6 mn
By DPA,
Los Angeles : The crypt above the grave of Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe sold for $4.6 million Monday, a week after its owner offered it up for sale on the internet auction site eBay.
The sex idol was buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles after she died in 1962 at age 36 of a probable overdose of barbiturates.
Castro wants Bush to lift embargo
By IANS
Havana : Convalescing Cuban leader Fidel Castro has called on US President George W. Bush to lift the trade embargo on the island, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.
A brief statement from Castro released here Sunday also quoted the Cuban leader asking US "not to threaten the world with nuclear war".
Myanmar cyclone report to be given to Asean meet
By DPA,
Yangon : Results of an assessment of the damage wrought by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar will be presented next month at an Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) ministerial meeting in Singapore, a tripartite assessment team announced Tuesday.
A 350-member tripartite team from Asean, the United Nations, Myanmar government with advisors form the World Bank and Asian Development Bank have finished collecting data for a "credible and independent" assessment of the damage wrought by Cyclone Nargis, which hit Myanmar's central coast May 2-3.
Russian parliament approves Zubkov as premier
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia's lower house of parliament Friday approved financial watchdog chief Viktor Zubkov as prime minister, two days after he was nominated by President Vladimir Putin.
In the state Duma vote, 381 lawmakers backed Zubkov, 47 voted against, and eight abstained.
Zubkov needed 200 votes to be elected to the post. He will formally assume office after the president signs a decree.
Strong earthquake rocks US state of Nevada
By Xinhua
Washington : A strong earthquake rocked the western state of Nevada in the US Thursday morning, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
The USGS reported the quake was 6.3 degrees on the Richter scale and at a depth of some 10 km below the surface.
The epicentre of the quake was about 250 km from Salt Lake City, Utah.
Officials in Nevada said there were unconfirmed reports of damage to buildings there.
Residents from Salt Lake City and Boise, Idaho reported feeling the quake.
President Bakiyev flies out of Kyrgyzstan
By DPA,
Bishkek : Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has flown out of the country to neighbouring Kazakhstan, following last week's bloody protests, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Thursday.
The president's leaving the country was engineered in a joint effort by leaders in neighbouring Kazakhstan, the United States and Russia, the Vienna-based OSCE said in a statement.
9 Tibetans held for protesting outside Chinese embassy in Delhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Nine Tibetan students were arrested Monday after they chained themselves to the barbed wire fencing outside the Chinese embassy here to protest against a Chinese court recently sentencing two Tibetans to death, police said.
"Nine Tibetans have been arrested for protesting outside the Chinese embassy. Wire cutters were used to cut their chains and they will be produced in a local court soon," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) S. Dash told IANS.
French poet, politician Aime Cesaire dies
By DPA,
Paris : Prominent French poet and anti-colonialist politician Aime Cesaire has died at the age of 94, French media reported Thursday.
Cesaire passed away in a hospital in Fort-de-France, the capital of the Antilles island of Martinique, after a brief illness.
Born in Basse-Pointe, Martinique, Cesaire travelled to Paris as a young man and there studied at the Ecole Normale Superieure.
In Paris, he created, with Leopold Sedar Senghor and Leon Damas, the literary review "L'Etudiant Noir" (The Black Student), which marked the beginning of the so-called Negritude movement.
Nepal to fast-track drafting of new constitution
Kathmandu : Nepal's constitution drafting body, the Constituent Assembly, is preparing to adopt a fast-track model to promulgate a new constitution for the country...
Death toll from Bus Crash in Spain reaches 9
By SPA,
Madrid, Spain : The death toll from the crash of a bus filled with Finnish tourists in southern Spain has reached nine, the Finnish Foreign Ministry said Sunday.
The bus collided with another vehicle and overturned on the AP-7 coastal highway, near the resort town of Benalmadena, late Saturday. The dead included a 7-year-old girl.
Nepali minister resigns after leading land grab
By DPA,
Kathmandu : Nepal's Land Reforms Minister Matrika Yadav resigned Friday amid a growing dispute over a land grab by former Maoist rebels that he led and that threatens the future of the Maoist-led government.
Yadav, who is a Maoist central committee member and ethnic Madhesi from southern Nepal, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
UK ready to scrap killer cluster bombs
By KUNA,
London : The British Government is preparing to scrap Britain's entire arsenal of cluster bombs in the face of a growing clamour against weapons that have killed and maimed hundreds of innocent civilians it was disclosed Wednesday.
British officials are paving the way for the unexpected and radical step at talks in Dublin, in the Irish Republic, on an international treaty aimed at a worldwide ban on the bombs, the Guardian newspaper said.
UN chief to host quartet meeting on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will host a quartet meeting aiming to end the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict on September 30 during...
Obama authorises elite interrogation team: Report
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama has authorised the formation of an elite interrogation team to handle top terrorism suspects, the Washington Post reported on its website Monday, citing senior administration officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
The group would be based at the FBI, the chief domestic law enforcement agency. However, the Post reported, the interrogation team would operate under the oversight of the White House-based National Security Council, which reports directly to the president.
95 dead in road accidents during Brazil carnival
By IANS/EFE,
Rio de Janeiro : At least 95 people have died and over 900 have been injured in traffic accidents during Brazil's most important festival, the carnival, police said.
Myanmar death toll could rise to 1.5 mln — Oxfam
By KUNA,
London : The death toll following the Myanmar (Burma) cyclone disaster could rise to 1.5 million, a leading British aid organisation warned Sunday.
Oxfam said the stricken country faced a public health catastrophe unless clean water and sanitation was quickly provided.
Cyclone Nargis brought death and destruction to the secretive South East Asian country more than a week ago, leaving an estimated 100,000 dead.
Maoists to lead coalition government in Nepal
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : With Nepal's Maoist party continuing to consolidate its conquests on the fourth day of vote-counting following a historic poll, the former guerrillas were headed to become leaders in a new coalition government, marking a sea change in the turbulent Himalayan nation's political landscape.
"Everybody should accept that we, being the largest political party, have the right to lead the next government," said Baburam Bhattarai, the former rebels' deputy chief and largest vote gatherer in Thursday's crucial constituent assembly election.
Workers rally in South Africa, government offers talk
By IANS,
Pretoria : Thousands of government workers, including teachers and health staff, took out rallies across South Africa Thursday after nine days of strikes over salary hike, forcing authorities to call for negotiation.
Public servants and teachers unions walked off their work places Aug 18 demanding better wages and an increase in housing allowance. More unions have said they plan to join the strikes. Various marches were planned for Thursday, according to South African news agency BuaNews.
‘Sydney terror attack just the start’
Sydney: Just over a week after the hostage crisis in Sydney which left three people dead, terrorism is rearing its ugly head again in...
India, Poland should target $5 bn trade in five years: CII
By IANS,
New Delhi : India and Poland should target raising the bilateral trade from $1 billion to $5 billion in the next five years, an Indian industry lobby report said Thursday.
The report, brought by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), was released on the eve of President Pratibha Patil's visit to Poland Friday - the first by an Indian head of the state to the European country in the last 13 years. President Patil is accompanied by a delegation from the CII.
36 die in Nepal bus accident
By IANS,
Kathmandu : Thirty-six people were killed Thursday when the bus they were travelling in fell off a cliff in Nepal, police and eyewitnesses said.
Frank Monaco, India lover photojournalist, passes away
London, July 17 (IANS) Celebrated photojournalist Frank Monaco, who travelled to India several times and captured its life and times through his camera, has died aged 89.
Monaco was described as the quintessential photojournalist, hard-bitten and hard-drinking. He loved documenting private contemplations: monks and nuns in Italy, England, Ireland and elsewhere, and religious communities in India, a country he loved.
21 killed in Vietnam flash floods triggered by Lekima
By DPA
Hanoi : Floods triggered by a tropical storm are being blamed for the deaths of at least 21 people in Vietnam and with 22 others missing, the toll is expected to rise, officials said Saturday.
Rains from slow moving Typhoon Lekima, which was downgraded to a tropical storm when it made landfall late Wednesday, have drenched much of central and northern Vietnam.
Rescuers are struggling to reach people trapped by rising floodwaters. More than 2,000 soldiers have been sent in to help with relief efforts.
Russia launches manned mission to ISS
By IANS,
Moscow : A Russian spacecraft blasted off Tuesday with a three-member crew to the International Space sation (ISS), Russia's Roscosmos space agency said.
Sri Lankan official escapes attempt on his life in mine attack on convoy
By KUNA
New Delhi : Sri Lankan Deputy minister for nation building D M Dassanayake Tuesday escaped an attempt on his life when his convoy was targeted by a claymore mine near capital Colombo.
The official and four others, were however, injured in the attack, news agency Indo Asian News Service reported quoting a Sri Lankan police official.
They have been shifted to a local hospital.
Mexican revolutionaries’ great-granddaughters pose for Playboy
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : A pair of twenty-something sisters, great-granddaughters of revolutionary leaders, are marking the bicentennial of Mexican Independence and the 100-year anniversary of the start of the Mexican Revolution with a nude photo shoot for the adult publication Playboy Mexico, the magazine said.
Fernanda and Isabel Calles Carranza "will show off their beauty in a lovely pictorial to kick off the 2010 festivities", Playboy Mexico said.
Three killed in southwest China earthquake
By Xinhua,
Kunming (China) : At least three people have been killed and 100 injured when a 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit a border region in southwest China.
Twenty people were seriously injured in the quake that struck at 8.24 p.m. Thursday in Yingjiang county, said Gu Zhongshou, a deputy with the publicity department of prefectural committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
At least 120,000 people had been forced to evacuate their homes, the ministry of civil affairs said.
Power and telecommunications networks were cut in the main districts of the county.
White House gatecrashers boycott Congress invite
By DPA,
Washington : The gate crashers to a White House state dinner in the US snubbed a real invitation to a different centre of power in the nation's capital, the Congress.
Michaele and Tareq Salahi, would-be reality TV stars, declined Thursday to show up at a House of Representatives hearing, where last week's security breach that allowed them into the hallowed centre of American might was under scrutiny.
The Homeland Security Committee had asked them to testify, as well as White House social secretary Desiree Rogers, whose role in the affair has also been questioned.
Uganda issues terror alert on Al Qaeda-linked group
By IANS,
Kampala : Uganda has issued a fresh terror alert about a threat from Somalia-based, Al Qaeda-linked outfit Al Shabaab, Xinhua reported.
Protect hospitals from disasters: UN chief
By IANS,
New Delhi : When disaster strikes an area, hospitals are the most critical infrastructure. So it is essential to protect the hospitals themselves from disasters, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has pointed out.
In a message on the eve of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, Ban said Tuesday: "If hospitals are severely damaged, efforts to save lives are seriously impeded. With weather-related disasters on the increase, it is critical to ensure that health facilities are prepared for emergencies and able to provide life-saving care in their wake.
‘North Korea wants better relations with US’
By Xinhua,
Washington: North Korea has indicated its desire to improve relations with Washington, US National Security Adviser James Jones said Sunday.
Pyongyang expressed its desire to improve relations with Washington during a meeting between former US president Bill Clinton and North Korea's top leader Kim Jong-Il last Tuesday, Jones told the Fox News Sunday.
North Korea has been eager to hold talks with the US. The Obama administration will be happy to do that if Pyongyang rejoins the six-party talks, he said.
Zimbabwe’s deputy minister appointee arrested
By DPA,
Harare : Roy Bennett, a former white farmer appointed deputy agriculture minister in Zimbabwe's power-sharing government, was arrested Friday, a spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party said.
He was picked up at a small airport outside Harare as he was about to fly to Johannesburg in South Africa to see his wife, the Ian Makoni told reporters. It was not clear why he was arrested.
Nine killed in Philippine shooting spree
By IANS,
Manila : At least nine people, including two children, were killed and 11 others injured when a man went on a shooting rampage in a Philippine village, police said Friday.
EU welcomes release of hostages by Colombian rebels
By Xinhua
Brussels : European Union's (EU) External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner Thursday welcomed the release of four hostages by the leftist insurgent group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
"I am glad to hear that the FARC has handed over to the Venezuelan government four Colombian former members of parliament who were held hostages for more than six years and are ill," Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.
Sarkozy was secretly hospitalised, claims his ex-wife
By DPA
Paris : Three days after his divorce was made public, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was secretly hospitalized to treat a throat abscess, France-Info radio reported, citing a book to be published about his former wife.
Denis Demonpion, co-author with Laurent Leger of 'Cecilia: The Hidden Face of the former First Lady', told the station that Sarkozy was rushed to the Val-de-Grace Military Hospital in Paris Oct 21 suffering from high fever and a throat abscess.
Google to offer search of old magazines
By DPA,
San Francisco : Google is teaming up with dozens of publishers to index old magazines and make them available online, according to a blog posting by the company.
The move is another facet of Google's ambition to organize the world's information and comes two years after the tech search giant embarked on a scheme to scan and index millions of books. In September, the company launched a project to digitize newspaper archives, making millions of old newspaper articles searchable online.
Garfield expected ‘The Social Network’ to be dull
By IANS,
London: "The Social Network" actor Andrew Garfield has admitted he didn't think the film would be very exciting until he read the script.