Security Council to discuss situation in Abkhazia
By RIA Novosti,
New York : The UN Security Council will hold consultations on Monday to discuss the situation in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone.
The discussion will be held to discuss extending the mandate on the UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), which expires on Tuesday. The Security Council members will also discuss a recent report by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, delivered on April 4.
Anti-body targeting fat-tissue hormone may treat diabetes
New York : Researchers have found a potential new treatment for diabetes in an anti-body that they developed to target a hormone in adipose...
Riot-torn city calmer as Chinese leaders call for unity
By DPA,
Beijing : China's riot-hit city of Urumqi appeared calmer early Wednesday, witnesses and state media said, a day after authorities imposed an overnight curfew following more ethnic-related protests and the gathering of armed gangs.
"It's pretty normal," one foreign reporter said by telephone as he walked along a main road in the far western city midmorning.
Many ordinary people were walking on the streets and apparently going about their normal business in the city centre, the reporter said.
Paris awards Dalai Lama honorary citizenship
By DPA,
Paris : Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe conferred the city's honorary citizenship on the Dalai Lama Sunday, despite Chinese protests that the award was an interference in Chinese domestic political affairs.
To limit Chinese anger, the honour was awarded to the 73-year-old exiled spiritual leader of Tibet at a discreet ceremony at the Paris City Hall.
The Dalai Lama had been named an honorary citizen of Paris on April 22, 2008, four months before the Beijing Olympics, a decision that enraged Chinese authorities.
Canada starts immigration in new category
By IANS,
Toronto : Canada has Friday announced that certain temporary foreign workers and foreign students can apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class for immigration.
Making this announcement, Immigration and Citizenship Minister Diane Finley said Friday applicants can start sending their papers from Sep 17.
"With the Canadian Experience Class fully in place, Canada will be more competitive in attracting and retaining individuals with the skills we need," she said.
Indian embassy to appeal to Qatar SC for two on death row
New Delhi : The Indian embassy in Qatar is making preparations for an appeal to the country's Supreme Court on behalf of two Indians...
Door edges open at Myanmar pledging conference
By DPA,
Yangon : Most donor nations Sunday stopped short of making new pledges for relief for victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar as they were awaiting more details on access and accountability, but observers described the meeting as a step forward.
"It was a reasonable success," Frederich Hamburger, European Union (EU) envoy to Myanmar and Thailand, said of a United Nations-ASEAN sponsored pledging conference held in Yangon Sunday, almost three weeks after Cyclone Nargis smacked into the country's central coast leaving at least 133,000 people dead or missing.
Indian origin academic wins British health award
By IANS
London : Nisha Dogra, an academic of Indian origin at the University of Leicester, has won a Leaders for Change award of the Health Foundation, a London-based charity organisation.
Dogra, a senior lecturer and honorary consultant at the university, is one of 12 healthcare professionals to receive this competitive award, which will help her make lasting improvements in the quality of health for people in her area.
Georgia Lobbies to Enter NATO
By Prensa Latina
Warsaw : Georgian President Mijail Saakashvili announced Monday in Warsaw that his country expects to be invited to Bucharest to begin negotiations to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The military bloc will hold its next head of State meeting in the Romanian capital, April 2-4.
After meeting with Polish President Lech Kaczynski, the two held a joint press conference and the visitor said his two-day stay was due to Georgian interest in creating a coalition to support its entry to NATO.
Maldives’ new cabinet sworn in
By Xinhua,
Male : The Maldives' new cabinet consisting of 14 members was sworn in here by Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed Wednesday night, one day after the archipelago's new President Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) assuming office.
The 14 ministers are from six political groups within the coalition government led by Anni's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
Anni's MDP got five posts, including finance, defence, fisheries and agriculture, health, as well as housing, transport and environment.
US, North Korean officials to meet over food aid
By IANS,
Washington : Officials from the US and North Korea are scheduled to meet next week in Beijing to finalize details for proposed American food aid, said the State Department.
Dow falls below 7,000
By DPA,
New York : The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell below 7,000 points for the first time since 1997 in early trading on Wall Street Monday.
The US' deepening recession and financial crisis mean the blue-chip Dow has now lost more than half its value since reaching a record high of 14,000 points in October 2007. US stocks had already plunged last week to their lowest level since 1997.
Swedish opposition ‘Red-Green’ alliance wins parliamentary polls
Stockholm : Sweden's opposition "Red-Green" centre-left alliance, led by the Social Democratic Party, has defeated the centre-right government in the parliamentary elections, preliminary results...
Nepali police detain 50 Tibetan exiles
By DPA,
Kathmandu : The Nepali police Friday detained about 50 Tibetan exiles protesting Chinese rule of their homeland.
"Around 50 Tibetans were detained by the police after they tried to cross police lines and march on to the Chinese embassy's visa office in central Kathmandu," the Kathmandu district police office said.
The protesters, who included Buddhist nuns and monks, carried the Tibetan flag and shouted anti-Chinese slogans before their demonstration was broken up by the police and they were bundled into waiting police vans and trucks.
BBC funding ‘obsolete and unfair,’ says report
By IRNA,
London : Britain’s current model for broadcast regulation is “exhausted” and reform should start with the BBC and the scrapping of its public licence fee, according to a leading right-wing think-tank.
In a new report published Monday, the Adam Smith Institute argued that hostility to the state-funded broadcaster from its competitors was “justified” and that continuing the licence fee will lead to its “contraction and decline.”
Backgrounder: Key facts about Paraguay’s general elections
By Xinhua,
Buenos Aires : Paraguayan voters will go to the polls Sunday to elect a new president and congress.
The following are key facts about the elections in Paraguay.
About 2.8 Paraguayans have registered to vote Sunday. They will choose their president, vice president, 45 senators, 80 provincial legislators and 17 governors, as well as the country's representatives in the regional Parliament of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).
Seven guerrillas killed in Sri Lanka
By Xinhua
Colombo : Troops have gunned down seven Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in separate conflicts in the island's north, the military said Wednesday.
The Media Centre for National Security said in a statement that six LTTE guerrillas were killed in two clashes when they attempted to attack government troops at Muhamalai in the northern district of Jaffna Tuesday.
Another rebel was killed in a battle at Nagarkovil in the northern district of Jaffna around 10.20 a.m., the military said.
Typhoon Kompasu hits South Korea
By DPA,
Seoul : Typhoon Kompasu made landfall in northern South Korea early Thursday, leaving two dead and causing the worst disruption to power and transport networks in the capital for a decade, a report said.
Winds of over 100 km per hour knocked down trees and utility poles and blew out windows across Seoul, as the centre of the storm passed 80 km to the north of the capital after making landfall at 6.35 a.m. (2135 GMT Wednesday) on the west coast.
Eurocopter to invest up to $550 mn in Mexico
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Eurocopter plans to invest up to $550 million in Mexico over the next few years, the European aviation company's president and CEO, Lutz Bertling, said.
A grateful Serbia offers its economy to Mother Russia
By DPA
Belgrade : While Tomislav Nikolic, chief of the extremist, anti-Western Serbian Radical Party, has openly said he "wished" Serbia was a Russian province, the government of more moderate Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has relentlessly been promoting the rejuvenated link with Moscow.
The pro-Russian euphoria among Belgrade politicians reflects Moscow's hardline diplomatic position on the issue of Kosovo, with Russia so far blocking the independence drive of the largely ethnic Albanian breakaway province of Serbia.
China To Build Airport In Northwest Province Tibetan Community
By Bernama,
Lanzhou : The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved a plan to build an airport in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Gannan in the northwestern Gansu Province, the local government said on Wednesday.
The provincial reform and development commission said preparations will start soon to pave the way for the civil construction of Xiahe Airport, a 700 million yuan (about US$100 million) project about 250 kilometers from Lanzhou, the provincial capital.
LTTE attacks Sri Lankan Navy detachment in Jaffna
By IANS,
Colombo : The Sri Lankan Army Thursday said that a pre-dawn attack by the Tamil Tiger rebels on a naval detachment in an islet in the northern Jaffna peninsula was repulsed by a joint army-navy counter operation.
According to military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the Tamil Tigers came in a flotilla of eight small boats and mounted an attack on navy and army troops deployed at Chiraththivu islet, located between Kurunagar and Mandaitivu, close to the northern town of Jaffna.
US president arrives in South Korea
By IANS,
Seoul : US President Barack Obama arrived in South Korea Wednesday as part of his four-nation Asia tour.
Obama has visited Japan, Singapore and China. Seoul is the last stop for him.
During his stay in Seoul, Obama will meet his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak for a summit early Thursday in a bid to strengthen bilateral ties.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss the speedy ratification of a free trade deal between the two countries.
Putin gets parliament’s nod for armed forces in Ukraine
Moscow: Russian Federal Council, or upper house of the parliament, Saturday approved President Vladimir Putin's request for using armed forces in Ukraine.
After the approval,...
Italy meeting of Dalai Lama draws China ire
By IANS,
Beijing : China has voiced strong dissatisfaction over Italian Chamber of Deputies speaker Gianfranco Fini's meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, a media report said Friday.
The Dalai Lama attended the fifth World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet in Rome and met Fini while visiting Italy's parliament Wednesday.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China was firmly opposed to the Dalai Lama's "separatist activities" and any foreign dignitary's contacts with him in any form, Xinhua reported.
Mass intestinal virus infection up to 1,520, kills 20
By Xinhua,
Hefei : A lethal outbreak of intestinal virus in Fuyang City in east China's Anhui Province has killed 20 children and befallen 1,500 others, the provincial health department said on Tuesday.
Du Changzhi, Anhui Provincial Health Department deputy chief, said the virus, known as enterovirus 71, or EV71, had altogether sickened 1,520 children, claiming 20 lives by Tuesday morning.
Of the sick, 585 had recovered thus far. At present, 412 sick children have remained in hospital for further medical observation. Of the total, 26 are seriously ill.
People rebuked at work buy expensive items with credit card
By IANS,
London : People feeling low after a rebuke or threat at the workplace often shop for expensive, luxurious items, paying with their credit cards.
Paraguay declares national emergency as wildfires spread
Asuncion (Paraguay), Sep 13 (DPA) Paraguay declared a national state of emergency as wildfires have burned more than 600,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land.
The government would release as much as $1.8 million in emergency aid for victims of the blazes, which have burned for days in northern Paraguay, President Nicanor Duarte Frutos said Wednesday in Asuncion while declaring the emergency.
Paraguay has also rented a Russian fire-fighting plane for $1 million, the president said.
Unesco calls for girls access to primary education
By IANS,
Paris : Launching its global atlas of gender equality, Unesco Tuesday called for action on further increasing enrolment of girls in primary education across the world.
Spanish senate calls for nationwide burqa ban
By DPA,
Madrid : The Spanish senate Wednesday approved a motion urging Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government to ban Islamic all-body veils in public places.
The government needed to take legal measures against the niqab, which covers the entire body except for the eyes, and against the burqa, which hides even the eyes, the motion said.
It was approved with the narrow majority of 131 votes against 129, with two conservative parties backing it, while Zapatero's Socialists and others voted against.
Gays aren’t criminals, but shouldn’t have marriage rights: Vatican
By DPA,
Vatican City : The Vatican's chief spokesman said Thursday that the Roman Catholic Church believes homosexuality must not be considered a crime, but added that initiatives aimed at "putting all forms of sexual orientation on the same level" are wrong.
Father Federico Lombardi was commenting on controversy triggered by the Holy See's decision to oppose a proposal by France, backed by the 27-nation European Union (EU), for a United Nations resolution calling governments to decriminalize homosexuality.
Press body wants UN to investigate media targeting by Israel
BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- The targeting of media by the Israeli military during last month's military attacks in the Gaza Strip was "premeditated and precise" and in violation of international law, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a report published here Friday.
The world's largest journalists" group called on the United Nations to investigate the attacks and to take action against the Government of Israel.
"There should be no double-talk about this," says Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary, who led a mission of journalists' leaders into Gaza on January 22.
US central bank keeps interest rates at record low
By DPA,
Washington : The US Federal Reserve continued to keep interest rates at a record low of near 0 percent to help fuel a recovery in the world's largest economy.
The Fed's benchmark federal funds rate has been held at a 0-0.25-percent range since December 2008. A statement from the Fed's board maintained language that rates would be held low "for an extended period".
One of the Fed's 10 board members opposed the central bank's statement, preferring to signal that rates will be raised sooner rather than later.
Bush condemns Russian recognition of Georgian provinces
By DPA,
Washington : US President George W. Bush has criticised Russia for recognising the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two separatist regions in Georgia that have been the source of a three-week long military conflict.
Bush said the "irresponsible decision" announced by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev tramples on numerous UN Security Council resolutions previously supported by Moscow and violates Georgian sovereignty.
Nine killed in Egypt plane crash
By Xinhua
Cairo : A plane of multi-national peacekeeping force crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula Sunday, killing nine people on board, an official of Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) said.
In a Commonwealth first, Trinidad and Tobago votes for two-term PM
By Paras Ramoutar,
Port of Spain : In a first for a Commonwealth country, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has voted that no prime minister can...
Bank of America, former CEO charged with fraud
By DPA,
New York : Bank of America and its former chief executive Kenneth Lewis have been charged with fraud over the controversial takeover of rival Merrill Lynch at the height of the financial crisis, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.
The lawsuit alleges that Bank of America's top management purposely concealed massive losses at Merrill from shareholders, in order to get the merger approved at a December 2008 vote.
China Runs World’s Largest Hydroelectric Plant
By Prensa Latina
Beijing : China's Three Throats Hydroelectric Plant, built at the world's largest dam, will reach full capacity this year and, among other positives, will rid the area of the deadly floods occurring every ten years.
Manager Li Yongan says the giant project will generate 88.1 billion kW/h upon completion, which is slightly higher than the original design.
Construction began in 1993 with a 22.5 billion dollar budget and involves a reservoir and 26 generators.
Social justice more crucial than ever in global economic crisis: Ban
By IRNA,
Tehran : Social justice based on the values of fairness, equality and respect for diversity is more important than ever amid a global financial and economic crisis, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Saturday.
According to a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) here on Sunday, he added that the economic crisis has significantly increased unemployment and poverty and is straining social integration.
Alleged Nazi war criminal deported to Germany
By DPA,
Washington : US federal agents were bound for Germany early Tuesday on a chartered plane with an alleged Nazi war criminal who faces charges of complicity in the 1943 murders of 29,000 people during the Holocaust.
The flight left late Monday from Cleveland, Ohio, with John Demjanjuk, 89. Agents had earlier taken him into custody for extradition, placing him into an ambulance outside his suburban home.
After numerous legal delays, the deportation was under way after last week's refusal by the US Supreme Court to hear Demjanjuk's appeal to block his removal to Germany.
Ban Ki-moon appoints new UNMIL force commander
United Nations : Salihu Zaway Uba of Nigeria was Friday appointed as the new force commander for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL),...
Peking Duck under threat as 80,000 birds die in Chinese storm
By RIA Novosti
Beijing : Strong winds and torrential rains that lashed the Chinese capital Beijing and its outskirts, have destroyed a poultry farm killing 80,000 ducks, the Beijing News said on Monday.
The disaster threatens to cause price hikes and the availability of China's famous dish, Peking Duck, as the farm is a main supplier to Beijing's restaurant chain, Quanjude, famous for its trademark Quanjude Peking Roast Duck.
The birds died on Friday when extremely high winds swept through hundreds of duck pens, inflicting losses of around 3 million yuan ($440,000).
29 killed in Mexico violence
By IANS,
Mexico City : Twentynine people were killed in fights between rival drug gangs in Mexico, officials said.
Police have arrested nine people who were injured during the clashes that spread across the towns of Tubutama and Caborca in norhtern Mexico, Xinhua reported Friday.
Seven weapons and eight trucks were seized on the battle scenes, Jose Larrinaga Talamantes, an official from the state attorney's office, told reporters.
Bothered by carbon? Drop it in the sea!
By IANS
Washington : Alarmed by rising carbon emission levels globally, engineers are toying with a mind-boggling solution to the sooty by-product of development.
They have visualised an inflatable bag, capable of storing 160 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent of 2.2 days of the emissions responsible for the worrying phenomenon of global warming.
And this bag - 100 metres in radius and several kilometres long - will rest on the seabed, some 3,000 metres below the surface.
Dive off the beaten track to beat underwater crowd
Port Sudan, Sep 27 (DPA) With underwater sport gaining in popularity worldwide and with millions of people getting a diving licence, the number of neoprene-suited holidaymakers at a popular spot can almost outnumber the fish.
Yet adventurous sportsmen and women may still discover some of the finest areas which the aquatic world has to offer, provided they are prepared to fly several hours by aeroplane to get there or else forego a few creature comforts.
Sobhraj fiancée, lawyer apologise to Nepal Supreme Court
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : In a sensational turn of events, five days after yesteryear's most wanted criminal Charles Sobhraj's appeal against a life term for murder was rejected by Nepal's Supreme Court, it was the turn of his fiancee, Nihita Biswas, and her mother Shakuntala Thapa, to share his fate, first appearing in the docks in a contempt of court case and then being sent to custody by the judges.
Bush to attend World Economic Forum meeting in Egypt
By DPA,
Cairo : US President George W. Bush will be among 12 heads of states and governments to attend the opening session of the World Economic Forum to be hosted by Egypt May 18, a statement by the organisers said Monday.
Over 1,500 participants from 55 countries will take part in the meeting, which will be opened by Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, organisers from the World Economic Forum said at a press conference in Cairo.
Ten killed in freighter fire off Venezuela
By DPA,
Caracas : Ten sailors on a Greek freighter were killed in a fire on board a Greek freighter off the coast of Venezuela, military officials said Saturday.
Another five sailors were injured in the fire, according to the commander of the Venezuelan Navy, Carlos Aniasi, who had telephoned with the ship's captain.
The Greek ministry for ship transport in Piraeus, Greece, said the freighter, the Aegean Wind, was about 90 sea miles off the coast of the South American country when the fire broke out on Christmas Eve, Thursday.
Medvedev doubts NATO’s ability to protect Europe
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia's president said on Wednesday that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is ill-equipped to address the security problems facing Europe.
Tensions between Russia and the Western military bloc have been on the rise in recent years, with Moscow's opposition to NATO's ongoing expansion and U.S. plans to deploy a missile shield in Central Europe.
Moscow becomes world’s billionaire capital – Forbes
By RIA Novosti
New York : Moscow now has 74 billionaires with average wealth of $5.9 bln, placing it above New York, Forbes Magazine said in its annual rich list published on Thursday.
According to the list, New York has 71 billionaires, followed by London with 36, Istanbul with 34, and Hong Kong with 30.
Russia is second only to the United States in the number of its super-rich. An additional 35 Russians have crossed the $1 bln mark in the past year, helped along by the continued rise of the ruble against the dollar.
Break through the barriers of hostility: Pakistani daily
Islamabad: The challenge for Pakistani and Indian leaders is "how to break through the barriers of hostility", said a daily here on Monday after...
Did Punjab couple commit suicide in Nepal?
By Sudeshna Sarkar,IANS, Kathmandu : A young couple from India's Punjab state was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a forest in northern Nepal, giving rise to initial fears that they could have entered into a suicide pact.
Chandra Prakash, 24, and Neelu Devi, 22, were found dead in a forested area in Chame village in remote Manang district, near Nepal's northern border with Tibet.
The couple had checked into Manang Trekkers' Holiday Hotel Friday and apparently left their room to go on a trek.
Russian, Ukrainian PMs set to talk oil and aviation, not gas
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Talks on the oil and aviation sectors are on the agenda of Wednesday's meeting between the prime ministers of Russia and Ukraine, a Russian government source has said.
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko are not, however, expected to discuss natural gas deliveries - an issue that hit the headlines last week when Russia threatened to turn off gas supplies to its neighbor over unpaid debts.
Nepal’s ex-prince regaining his halo – by default
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Four years after his car was stoned by angry protesters and his royal legacy abolished by parliament, Nepal's former crown prince Paras has begun to regain his halo, thanks to the mounting public anger against the unsuccessful political parties.
Ahead of a fresh crisis with the Maoist party having called an indefinite general strike nationwide, Paras was given a hero's welcome in southern Nepal Wednesday as he began a series of public appearances, the first since the abolition of monarchy in 2008.
Modi arrives in UAE, received by Abu Dhabi crown prince
Abu Dhabi : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday arrived in the UAE, in the first prime ministerial visit after three decades....
Premier Wen leaves to attend UN high-level meeting on MDGs
By Xinhua,
Beijing : Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao left here Tuesday morning to attend the UN high-level meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) scheduled on Sept. 25 in New York.
Wen was invited by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He is also scheduled to attend the general debate of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.
Representatives from some 150 countries, including more than 90heads of state or government, are expected to attend the event, which will be convened by Ban with the aim to generate further actions to reach the MDGs by 2015.
Serb FM lashes out at US foreign policy vis-@-vis Kosovo
By KUNA
United Nations : Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic late Monday lashed out at the countries which recognized Kosovo's independence, mainly the US, warning that their diplomatic relations will obviously suffer in the future.
He told reporters following a Security Council open meeting on the issue that the Serb envoys in the countries which recognized this "illegal act" of secession have been withdrawn to Belgrade for consultation.
Hospitals to monitor hand-washing by staff
By IANS,
Toronto : With bacterial infections in Canadian hospitals and nursing homes causing a large number of deaths, the nation's top health supervisory body has made it mandatory for health-care institutes to monitor hand-washing by their staff.
Accreditation Canada has asked all accredited hospitals and nursing homes to put in place measures for monitoring hand-washing by January 2009.
Moscow urges Somalia against provoking pirates holding Russians
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia's Foreign Ministry urged Somali authorities on Thursday not to take action that could jeopardize the safety of Russian and Filipino crew members aboard a Dutch vessel recently seized by pirates.
The cargo vessel Amiya Scan, under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, was captured by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Monday with four Russians and five Filipinos on board. Local authorities dispatched forces on Wednesday to rescue the vessel.
Journalist, friend hacked to death in Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Colombo : A Tamil journalist and his friend were hacked to death in the heavily-guarded northern Jaffna peninsula by unknown men, a media rights group here said Thursday.
"Sirasa, Shakthi and MTV Television Network Jaffna district correspondent P. Devakumar was hacked to death Wednesday evening in Navanthurei on his way home from Jaffna town. A friend of Devakumar was also killed in the attack," Free Media Movement (FMM), an independent media rights group, said in a statement.
Sri Lanka seeks expulsion of some Unicef staff
By Xinhua
Colombo : The Sri Lankan government said Friday that it has called for the withdrawal of certain staff of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
A Foreign Ministry statement said that it has expressed serious concern to the Unicef country representative over the participation of its staff at a recent demonstration in Colombo.
The ministry said the international and local staff who took part in the demonstration violated its mandate, but it failed to give details of the demonstration.
Venezuela Ambassador Condemns US Provocations
By Prensa Latina,
Moscow : Venezuelan Ambasador to Russia Alexis Navarro denounced on Tuesday US deliberate destabilizing provocations against his country, and attempts to exert media pressures on it.
The actions by the US administration are true harassment against the South American nation, Navarro said in a press conference in this capital, in reference to the recent incidents and repeated unfounded accusations against Caracas.
US court dismisses 1984 riots case against Sonia Gandhi
New York : A US court of appeals in New York has affirmed a district court's order and dismissed Nov 1984 anti-Sikh violence...
Interview: Japanese PM hopes to elevate Japan-China ties to new level
By Xinhua
Tokyo : Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said here Tuesday before his upcoming visit to China that he hopes to further promote relations with China to a new stage.
During an interview with Xinhua and other Chinese media at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Fukuda said he is "glad" to visit China in this memorable year marking the 35th anniversary of the normalization of Japan-China diplomatic ties.
Let 2008 be the year of world’s poorest ‘bottom billion’ : Ban Ki-Moon
By TwoCircles.net news desk
New York: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed that 2008 should be the year of the "bottom billion," citing the need for renewed determination to address the needs of the poorest of the world's poor who have been left behind by global economic growth.
"We must address ourselves to the needs of the weak, the disadvantaged, those who have been excluded from the mainstream international community," Mr. Ban told reporters at a Headquarters press conference, his first for the new year.
South African priest upsets Hindu community after gay wedding rites
By Fakir Hassen,IANS,
Durban : A Tamil priest who conducted South Africa's first known gay wedding by Hindu rites has gone underground as upset community leaders slammed the elaborate wedding of two young men, complete with embossed invitations, outfits from India and one tying a necklace with a pendant of Lord Ganesha on his partner.
Sales advisor Joe Singh and manager Wesley Nolan, both 21, spent 18 months preparing for their wedding, after first meeting in the company that they both work for.
China says now more than 6,300 cases in viral outbreak
By SPA,
Beijing : Authorities have reported more than 6,300 cases in a deadly viral outbreak and on Monday raised the death toll to 26 children.
The latest fatality was in coastal Zhejiang province. The provincial Health Ministry's Web site said that in addition to the one death, 1,198 children had been stricken with enterovirus 71.
The ministry appealed for any sick children to be sent immediately to health clinics and for people to report the case immediately to health and education departments.
Obama pushes economic plan
By Matt Spetalnick and Jeff Mason,BERNAMA,
WASHINGTON : U.S. President Barack Obama sought to rally support for his emerging economic rescue package on Saturday, as he stood by his latest Cabinet nominee to run into tax problems that could impede confirmation.
Obama, in his second weekly radio address since taking office, pledged to help lower Americans' mortgage costs under a new plan to be unveiled soon to help revive the financial system and "get credit flowing again."
B-52 bomber with six crew members crashes off Guam
By Xinhua,
Washington : A B-52 bomber with six crew members aboard crashed off the island of Guam on Monday and two people have been pulled from the waters.
The condition of the two who have been recovered was not immediately known, according to the Coast Guard.
Rescue crews from the Navy, Coast Guard and local fire department are searching for the others.
‘Auspicious Buddhist flower’ blooms in China
By IANS,
London : A Chinese nun has found an Udumbara flower, which Buddhist legend holds blossoms every 3,000 years, growing under her washing machine, a newspaper reported.
The flower was found in the home of a Chinese nun in Lushan Mountain in Jiangxi province, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The Udumbara - apparently Sanskrit for 'an auspicious flower from heaven' - measures just 1 mm in diameter and is said to find mentions in Buddhist mythology on account of its supposed rarity.
The newspaper said Miao Wei, 50, discovered the white flower under her washing machine.
Hong Kong protesters once again call for democracy
Hong Kong : Thousands of protesters dressed in black marched through the streets of Hong Kong to call for democracy and express their opposition...
Lasers can clean chemical attack contamination
By IANS,
Washington : The present scientific age has been witnessing an increasing use of lasers in various fields. Decontamination operations after a terror attack might well be the latest addition to the list.
Funded by the US Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), chemists at Idaho National Lab (INL) are researching ways to help the nation clean up after potential chemical attacks.
Number of hungry people to top 1 bn in 2009: UN
By DPA,
Rome : Some 1.02 billion people are likely to go hungry in 2009, a UN agency said Friday, blaming the "historic" high figure on the global economic crisis.
In 2008, the Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) revised its estimate of hungry people from 963 million to 915 million, due to a better-than-expected global food supply.
But since then, the lower incomes and increased unemployment that have resulted from the world economic crisis have reduced the poor's access to food, the FAO said in a statement.
Ship bound for Antartic forgets equipment, makes special trip
By IANS,
Melbourne : An Australian ship set sail for the Antartic, but was forced to undertake a special voyage back after it was found that an important piece of equipment had been left on the dock, a media report said.
Australia's Antarctic flagship MV Aurora Australis had to make the special return voyage to Hobart as a big, long hose used to transport fuel hundreds of metres from ship to shore had not been loaded at the dock in Hobart, Australian news agency AAP reported.
The specialist crew realised the mistake after they settled on the Southern Ocean voyage.
It’s a deal: Senate gives 86-13 thumbs up to historic accord
Washington, Oct 2 (IANS) The India-US civil nuclear deal is finally done with the US Senate giving a resounding 86-13 approval to the historic accord visualised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W. Bush over three years ago.
The Senate approval to the agreement allowing resumption of nuclear commerce with India, four days after an equally emphatic 298-117 endorsement from the House of Representatives, clears the decks for Bush to sign it into law, possibly Thursday.
US economist wins 2008 Nobel Prize
By IANS,
Stockholm : US economist Paul Krugman has won the 2008 Nobel Prize for economics, the prize committee announced here Monday.
The prize - also called The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel - went to Krugman for his "analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity".
The prize carries an award of $1.5 million and will be given to Krugman at the annual Nobel prize ceremonies December 10 in Stockholm.
Last year the Nobel was awarded to three US economists, Leonid Hurwicz, Eric Maskin and Roger Myerson.
Russia has no plans to ‘slam door’ on NATO: Lavrov
By DPA,
Moscow : Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday Russia had no plans to "slam the door" on NATO amid a rift with the alliance this week over Russia's military occupation of Georgia.
"Russia, no less than NATO, relies on this mutual cooperation... NATO is much more in need of Russia's support of its military actions in Afghanistan, where NATO's fate appears to be in the balance," Lavrov was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying in Sochi.
"We are not going to slam the door on NATO," Lavrov said.
Thai premier agrees to meet protestors as tensions rise
By DPA,
Bangkok : Thailand's prime minister and anti-government protest leaders agreed to talk Sunday in an effort to defuse political tensions that turned violent on the weekend.
Officials said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), were set to meet at 4 p.m.
Demonstrators who had gathered outside the 11th Infantry Regiment compound in Bangkok to pressure Abhisit to resign and call new elections were called back to the main protest area in the old part of the city, UDD leader Nattwuth Saikuer said.
UK opposing start of nuclear disarmament talks, says CND
By IRNA,
London : The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) Tuesday called for support to press the UK government to start talks to get rid of the country's stockpile of nuclear weapons as required by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
CND vice-president Bruce Kent welcomed the new initiative led by former statesmen for the world nuclear powers to reduce their arsenals and overhaul the NPT but warned it was not enough.
The belief by four former British foreign and defence ministers that a world free of nuclear weapons is "achievable" is more than welcome, Kent said.
Bush immigration plan gets off to a slow start
By Arun Kumar
IANSWashington : President George Bush's controversial plan to give millions of unlawful immigrants, including some 300,000 Indians, legal status in the United States cleared its first hurdle with the Senate taking up the issue for debate amid widespread opposition.
Sri Lanka war report presented to parliament
By IANS,
Colombo : A report on the three-decade-long ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka was Friday presented to parliament, making it a public document, an official said.
Hindi rift in Nepal continues as PM expands cabinet
By IANS,
Kathmandu : The rift in Nepal over the use of Hindi for official work continued to widen Wednesday with new ministers from a regional party taking their oath of office in that language as Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expanded his cabinet for the sixth time.
Already accommodating 33 ministers, the coalition government, which includes 22 parties, Wednesday added nine more - two ministers, six ministers of state and an assistant minister.
Cuba Denounces US Terrorism at UN
By Prensa Latina,
United Nations : Cuba denounced Friday at the UN the high cost in human lives and economic damages it has suffered due to US-boosted State terrorism.
Ambassador Ileana Nunez stressed the importance of the Global Strategy against Terrorism, adopted by the General Assembly.
This document must be the central instrument of the global struggle against that scourge, the diplomat said at a session dedicated to reviewing the UN Global Strategy against Terrorism.
Former union boss to head New Zealand’s main opposition party
Wellington : Former trade union head Andrew Little was Tuesday named the new leader of New Zealand's main opposition Labour Party and charged with...
Bilateral with Australia called off
By IANS,
Perth : The scheduled bilateral meeting between Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was called off this morning on her request, officials said.
China loses one-tenth forest resources in snowfall
By Xinhua
Beijing : Around 17.3 million hectares of forests, nearly one-tenth of China's forest resources, have been damaged by the unprecedented snowfall in at least five decades, an official report said.
The State Forestry Administration (SFA) in its latest report released Friday said forests in the 18 provinces in southern China has been damaged.
The administration did not give any figure for the value of the losses. Previous SFA report showed that harsh weather conditions have caused losses worth 16.2 billion yuan (around $2.5 billion) in China's forestry sector.
Turkey rebuffs Iranian invitation to NAM summit
By IANS,
Istanbul: Turkey will not attend the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran later this month, local media Saturday cited Turkish diplomatic sources as saying.
Russia’s inflation hits 2.4% in January – statistics
By RIA Novosti,
MOSCOW, February : Consumer prices in Russia grew 2.4% in January, the country's top statistics body said on Thursday.
Food prices grew 1.4% and non-food prices were up 0.7% while the cost of household services increased 6.3% in the reporting period, the State Statistics Service said.
Sugar (11.5%) and fruit and vegetables (4.7%) demonstrated the highest price growth among foodstuffs while it was the cost of pharmaceuticals and fuel (3-3.7%) that showed the biggest rises in the non-food category, the State Statistics Service said.
Music producer Spector convicted for murdering actress
By IANS,
London : Music producer Phil Spector has been found guilty of murder after a six-month retrial in Los Angeles.
Jurors, who were handed the case on March 26, reached a verdict at Los Angeles Superior Court early on Monday, and ruled that Spector shot and killed actress Lana Clarkson in the foyer of his Alhambra, California, mansion in February 2003.
Spector and his defence team, however, maintained that Clarkson shot herself, contactmusic.com reports.
Humanitarian agencies warn of impending catastrophe in Somalia
By IINA
Mogadishu : As many as 40 humanitarian agencies have warned of an impending catastrophe in Somalia unless urgent action is taken. The warning comes after seven people died in the latest fighting between insurgents and Ethiopian troops supporting Somalia's government.
Deputy PM expects Russia to become world’s sixth economy in 2008
By RIA Novosti,
St. Petersburg : First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov told an economic forum on Sunday that the Russian economy is likely to become the world's sixth largest by the end of this year.
Addressing the 12th International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, now in its third day, the official also outlined the government's future role in the economy, saying that while new state companies will be set up, the government aims to limit its 'excessive interference' in the economy.
Barlow gets prestigious music honour
By IANS,
London: Singer Gary Barlow has been honoured with the prestigious Music Industry Trusts Award.
Even judges are confused by the law, says Britain’s top judge
By IANS,
London: Some laws in Britain are so complex that even senior judges in the country found it hard to decipher them, a media report said Thursday.
25,000 affected by snowfall in China
By IANS,
Beijing : Over 650 people have been injured and more than 25,000 are facing food shortage and a lack of warm clothing due heavy snowfall in China's southwest Sichuan province.
British boy abducted from mall, raped
By IANS,
London: A 14-year old boy was kidnapped by two men from a busy shopping mall in Manchester and then raped in a toilet at a department store, police said.
Brazil, Russia to play friendly in March
By IANS,
Rio de Janeiro: Brazil will play Russia in an international friendly March 25 at London's Stamford Bridge, according to world football's governing body FIFA.
Sri Lankan airstrike kills 18 Tamil rebels
By DPA
Colombo : The Sri Lankan Air Force said it bombed a hideout of senior Tamil rebel leaders Thursday in the northern part of the country and captured a rebel-controlled area, killing at least 18 rebels, as an ineffective ceasefire was officially terminated.
The rebels were killed in three separate incidents as troops advanced into the Pallekuli area of the Mannar district, 330 km north of the capital, hours before the truce ended.
But details of the clashes were announced only after the nominal truce ended, a military spokesman said.
South Korea may open government jobs to foreigners
By Xinhua
Seoul : South Korea's incoming administration said Monday it is considering allowing foreigners to compete for all South Korean government positions, except those related to national security and intelligence.
The transition team of president-elect Lee Myung-bak said it would table a bill at the national assembly later Monday to amend the public service law to open government jobs to eligible foreigners.
Venezuelan relations with Colombia put ‘in freezer’
By Xinhua
Caracas : Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he was putting relations with Colombia "in the freezer", while neighbouring country's Alvaro Uribe charged that Chavez was seeking a rebel government in Bogota.
"I am putting (Colombia) on ice because I no longer trust anyone in the government and because they acted in a truly inappropriate manner," Chavez said Sunday.
Chavez also described his Colombian counterpart Uribe as "a liar" after Uribe barred him from mediating with the rebels.
Russia to contribute $6.5 mn to global nuclear security fund
By RIA Novosti,
United Nations : Russia plans to contribute $6.5 million to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund (NSF) in 2010-2015, Russia's envoy to the UN said.
The NSF is a voluntary funding mechanism established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to support, among others things, the implementation of nuclear security measures to prevent, detect and respond to nuclear terrorism.
Sri Lankan president asks Norway to revive peace talks
By IRNA
New Delhi : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has asked the peace broker, Norway, to revive their stalled moves and help resume the direct talks with Tamil Tiger rebels.
President's younger brother and senior advisor Basil Rajapakse had contacted Norway's top International Development Minister Erik Solheim last Sunday and asked for the help, Doordarshan News website reported here.
Anxious to go home, says detained observers in Ukraine
Kiev : A group of eight international military observers appeared for the first time in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slaviansk Sunday, two days...
Hang Seng crashes 8.3 percent to four-year low
By DPA,
Hong Kong : Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index slumped 8.3 percent Friday to plunge below 13,000 points, closing at 12,618.38, its lowest level in four years.
The index shed 1,142 points and in October lost more than 30 percent of its value so far.
Turnover was 56.14 billion Hong Kong dollars ($7.2 billion).
Analysts blamed concerns about corporate earnings and wider global economic woes for the drop.
BBC World Service too valuable to UK to face cuts, MPs warn
By IRNA,
London : BBC World Service is of such value to Britain that its income should be ring-fenced against spending cuts, the Foreign Affairs Committee warned Wednesday.
Roadside bomb kills six civilians in Afghanistan
Kabul: Six civilians were killed when a roadside bomb planted by militants struck a car in the southern Kandahar province, an official said on...
Confrontations leave 20 injured in Bolivia’s referendum
By Xinhua,
Lima : At least 20 people were injured on Sunday during confrontations between sympathizers of Bolivian President Evo Morales and his opposers that are currently holding an autonomous referendum in Bolivia's eastern Santa Cruz department.
The violence occurred between Morales' sympathizers, of the Movement For Socialism (MAS), and autonomist rightwing groups, including of the rightwing Santa Cruz Youth Union (UJC).
Thirty-three colliers trapped in flooded China mine
By Xinhua,
Zhengzhou (China) : Thirty-three people were trapped in a flooded coal mine early Monday in central China's Henan province.
Previous report said 34 people were trapped, but the Henan provincial government later revised the number after it confirmed that eight workers were able to move to safety.
The Gaomendong coal mine was flooded at about 7.30 a.m. when 42 miners were working in the pit. Eight escaped but 34 others were trapped, according to the national works safety administration.
The cause of the flood was being investigated, officials said.
As Obama eyes nomination, poll favours Hillary in swing states
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Even as likely Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama quietly began a search for a running mate, a new series of polls suggested rival Hillary Clinton is better positioned to win some swing states.
The former first lady who is behind Obama on all counts - the number of delegates won, states won at primaries and caucuses and popular vote - has refused to bow out of the race and still hopes to persuade the party leadership to favour her arguing she is more "electable."
Finland opens oil treatment centre for birds
By RIA Novosti,
Stockholm : The world's first mobile treatment unit for birds affected by oil spills opened in south Finland Tuesday, the country's environment ministry said.
The treatment unit, set up by local authorities jointly with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), comprises special containers that can be easily transported to an oil spill by sea or land to provide emergency medical assistance to birds.
The containers are kitted out with veterinary equipment, cleaning and drying facilities and are capable of housing up to 150 birds for a period of two weeks.
Ahmadinejad slams ‘world powers’ for spreading war, terrorism
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : Without naming the US and other western nations, visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday charged "some powerful countries" with causing "war, fear and terrors in order to make other nations suffer".
China announces ambitious emission caps, NGOs elated
By IANS,
New Delhi: Green NGOs were elated Thursday after China announced ambitious cuts in the carbon intensity of its economy by 2020 in a major boost to the global effort to tackle climate change.
China announced a 40-45 percent reduction in the carbon intensity from the business-as-usual scenario by 2020. Carbon intensity measures the amount of carbon dioxide -- the main greenhouse gas that is causing global warming -- emitted per unit of industrial output. India's carbon intensity is one of the lowest among emerging economies.
China mourns mudslide victims with half-mast flags
By IANS,
Beijing : Thousands of Chinese hoisted their national flag half-mast at Beijing's Tian'anmen Square Sunday to mourn the death of over 12,000 people and misery of thousands others in the wake of the massive mudslides in the country.
A flag at half-mast is also seen at Xinhuamen, the main entrance of Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Communist Party of China and the central government, as part of the one-day national mourning announced by the State Council, Xinhua reported.
Rajapaksa asks LTTE to free civilians in 48 hours
By IANS,
Colombo : Amid growing concern over the safety of thousands of civilians trapped in Sri Lanka's northern war zone, President Mahinda Rajapaksa late Thursday evening "urged" the Tamil Tigers to allow within the next 48 hours "the free movement of civilians to ensure their safety and security".
Putin to arrive in Sardinia on two-day visit to meet Berlusconi
By RIA Novosti,
Rome : Russia's Vladimir Putin, now in the final weeks of his presidency, will fly from Libya to Sardinia on Thursday evening to meet with Italian prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi.
During the Italian billionaire's second term as premier from 2001 to 2006, the two met on numerous occasions, and Berlusconi was seen as Putin's key ally in Europe.
Putin's spokesman, Alexei Gromov, said yesterday that the two days of meetings would address the future of Russian-Italian relations, but did not give details on the agenda.
LTTE intelligence chief’s hideout captured: Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankan troops forcing their way into the last strongholds of the Tamil Tigers have captured a hideout of the rebels' intelligence wing chief, Pottu Amman, in the north-eastern Mullaitivu district, the defence ministry said Wednesday.
It said that the 58 Division have captured "the safe house (that) was used by both Pottu Amman and (another LTTE leader) Kapil Amman" in the general area south of Iranapalai at the Mullaitivu battlefront after fierce clashes Tuesday.
Obama telephones Rice, Ronen Sen on Mumbai attack
By IANS,
New York/Washington : US president-elect Barack Obama has telephoned Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen for an update on the nature of the Mumbai terror attacks that have claimed over 100 lives, his office said.
Obama, who strongly condemned the terror strikes, telephoned Rice late Wednesday night and Sen earlier Thursday, saying his thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragic situation.
EU summit ends with agreement on Kosovo mission, globalization declaration
By Xinhua
Brussels : The year-end European Union (EU) summit concluded here Friday after the leaders agreed on the principle of sending a civilian mission to Kosovo and the declaration on globalization.
"We took a political decision to send an ESDP (European Security and Defense Policy) mission to Kosovo. This is the clearest signal the EU could possibly give that Europe intends to lead on Kosovo and the future of the region," Jose Socrates, prime minister of Portugal whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters after the one-day summit.
Mandela in London for birthday celebrations
By IRNA,
London : Former South African president Nelson Mandela arrived in London Monday for a week of events to celebrate his 90th birthday.
An outdoor music concert in honour of the former South African president, who turns 90 on July 18, is being held at Hyde Park on Friday.
Mandela was also reported to be also meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former US president Bill Clinton during his visit.
His concert coincides with the 20th anniversary of London's Free Mandela concert, which was held to demand his release from prison.
China to crack down on crimes that violate minors
By IANS,
Beijing : China has ordered a crackdown on crimes that "violate the interests of minors" in a bid to "safeguard social stability", a top official said.
UN Security Council remains divided on Zimbabwe issue
By Xinhua,
United Nations : The UN Security Council remained divided on the issue of Zimbabwe on Tuesday as Western powers pressed for targeted sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his top aides.
The United States circulated a draft resolution last week, urging the 15-member body to impose an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and freeze the asset of Mugabe and 11 other senior officials and restrict them from traveling abroad.
Brazilian firm to invest $400 mn in Colombia
By EFE,
Bogota : Brazilian state-controlled energy company Petrobras plans to invest close to $400 million in Colombia over the next three years, Colombian business daily Portafolio reported Wednesday.
"Petrobras is attuned to business opportunities that arise on a daily basis and looks to see if they are appealing. When they appear, it seizes on those opportunities," the president of the Brazilian giant's subsidiary in Colombia, Abilio Paulo Pinheiro Ramons, told the newspaper.
Myanmar media calls on ‘Aunty Suu’ to make concessions
By DPA
Yangon : In the wake of increased sanctions against the regime, Myanmar's state-run media Sunday called upon detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, belittling her as "Aunty Suu," to make concessions that could lead towards a political dialogue.
"No dialogue can achieve success without sacrifices and concessions," said an open letter that appeared in The New Light of Myanmar Sunday and was repeated in other state-run media.
China Rail goes English
By Xinhua
Beijing : Foreigners will find it easier to buy train tickets in the Chinese capital, now that the city's major railway station has begun to provide services in English.
Why was Mallya allowed to leave India, Kejriwal asks Modi
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi why beleaguered business tycoon Vijay Mallya was allowed to leave...
Camelot or estrangement: US-India relations in Obama era
By Harold A. Gould, IANS,
Hillary Clinton, America's Secretary of State in the Obama administration, made her pilgrimage to India (July 17-21) for the purpose of determining the nature of the relationship which the world's two largest democracies will pursue with each other now that the George W. Bush administration has run its course.
There is a touch of almost romantic irony in the fact that for the first time in US history the country's foreign policy has been conducted in sequence and across successive administrations by women secretaries of state.
Two Indians jailed for Little India riots in Singapore
Singapore : A Singapore court Thursday sentenced two Indians to varying jail terms for rioting in the Little India neighbourhood, in the country's worst...
Myanmar’s protesting monks ordered to leave Yangon
By DPA
Yangon : Myanmar's military-controlled Buddhist clergy, the Sangha Nayaka Committee, Monday instructed all temples in Yangon to send visiting monks back to their townships in an effort to put an end to the anti-government marches here.
In a new form of public protest, thousands of Buddhist monks have been staging peaceful marches in Yangon daily since last Tuesday. Many of the participating monks are from temples outside Yangon, visiting the former capital for religious studies during Buddhist lent.
Nepal’s economic growth projected lower at 3.04 percent
By Anil Giri
Kathmandu : Nepal's annual growth will be significantly lowered from over 5 percent to 3.04 percent, according to the Central Bureau of...
Russian president sparks Twitter rush among his officials
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : More than 25 senior Russian officials have followed the president and opened accounts on the micro blogging site Twitter.
"The blogosphere has become very popular because the president takes it seriously. That's why other officials decided to follow his example," blogger Alex Exler said.
Medvedev, who portrays himself as a young and technologically savvy leader, registered on Twitter in June and also has a blog on LiveJournal and an account on YouTube.
France mobilizes 10,000 troops to boost security
Paris : France is mobilizing 10,000 troops to boost security, as security forces search for what the French prime minister called a "probable" accomplice to three days of bloodshed in and around the capital.
Hindu groups announce ‘guerrilla war’ in Nepal
By IANS
Kathmandu : A new alliance of Hindu groups Monday warned it would unleash a "guerrilla war" in seven days to press its demand for reinstating a Hindu state in Nepal.
The warning comes less than a fortnight after unknown perpetrators set off serial blasts that rocked Kathmandu, killing three people and injuring over two dozen.
The Nepal Armed Hindu Morcha, a new alliance of pro-Hindu groups, said it would start an "underground holy people's war" on Sep 18.
Gorbachev blasts Bush on missile defence issue
By DPA
Washington : Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev weighed in on the tense Russia-US situation, blasting the US president for provoking another arms race with plans to station anti-missile silos and a radar system in Poland and the Czech Republic.