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Rice warns Russia faces isolation over Georgia

By RIA Novosti, Washington : The U.S. secretary of state has said Russia faces international isolation if it does not honor a ceasefire with Georgia. "[There is a] very strong, growing sense that Russia is not behaving like the kind of international partner that it has said that it wants to be," Condoleezza Rice told a news conference on Wednesday. "We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia," she said. She said Washington stood firmly behind Georgia.

Pentagon chief praises Ukrainian restraint

Washington: US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has praised the restraint demonstrated by Ukrainian forces in Crimea and commended Tenyukh's leadership. The sentiments were expressed during...

India, Zimbabwe ties deepen: envoy

By Xinhua

Harare : The outgoing Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ajit Kumar has said India and Zimbabwe have deepened their bilateral relations and boosted economic cooperation.

Bhutan votes to end 100-year-old monarchy

By NNN-KUNA New Delhi : Bhutan Monday voted for the first ever Parliamentary elections, kicking off a process to end the 100-year-old monarchy in the Himalayan State. "Response in the polling was very positive," Bhutan's chief election commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, told news agency Indo Asian News Service from capital Thimphu over telephone this evening. "A total of 41 candidates contested in the 15 districts of Bhutan with 15, 000 officials conducting the elections in 723 polling stations," Wangdi said.

McCain, Obama push for speedy action on financial plan

Washington, Oct 1 (DPA) The US presidential candidates Tuesday spent the day after a $700-billion financial rescue plan failed in Congress calling on their colleagues to quickly move to renew the deal. "I am disappointed at the lack of resolve and bipartisan goodwill among members of both parties to fix this problem," Republican John McCain said at a campaign event in the Midwestern state of Iowa. "Bipartisanship is a tough thing, never more so when you're trying to take necessary but publicly unpopular action. But inaction is not an option."

Duff worries about raising son in spotlight

By IANS, London: Singer Hilary Duff worries about bringing up her son in the spotlight, and insists she would be reluctant to let the little boy pursue a career in Hollywood.

Bad weather mars Thai king’s Everest gift

By IANS Kathmandu : Inclement weather marred Thailand's ambitious plan to give a remarkable gift to its king on his 80th birthday - the first Thai Everest Expedition has been forced to abandon the attempt to climb Mt Everest. As a tribute to the world's longest ruling monarch Bhumibol Aduldyadej on his 80th birthday, Thailand had planned its first expedition to the highest peak in the world and broadcast the event on the state-owned TiTV.

Russia passes bill to allow president to simplify visa regime

By RIA Novosti, Moscow : Russia's upper house of parliament approved on Monday amendments to the law on entry into and exit from Russia, allowing the president to waive visa restrictions when required. The bill was passed by the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, on May 8. The amendments do not set out any specific procedures, but allow the president to introduce a simplified visa regime by decree.

Government, ethnic groups close to agreement in Nepal

By DPA Kathmandu : The Nepalese government and an ethnic group Monday said they were close to clinching a deal to end nearly two weeks of crippling general strike in southern Nepal and to address demands of the ethnic Madhesi community living there. Leaders of the United Democratic Madhesi Front, which spearheaded the general strike in the southern plains known as Terai, said most of the issues had been resolved.

Berlusconi ahead in Italian elections

By DPA, Rome : Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition was Monday credited with a narrow lead of just under five percent over Walter Veltroni's Democratic Party in Italy's general election, according to preliminary projections based on votes cast. The projections, which widened the gap provided by exit polls published earlier, put support for Berlusconi at 43.7 percent, compared with 39.1 percent for Veltroni. The data carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent, ministry officials said.

Russian, Libyan navies resume contacts

By RIA Novosti Moscow : The Russian and Libyan navies have resumed contacts after a long hiatus when a Russian Navy vessel made a port call at Tripoli, an aide to the Russian Navy commander said on Saturday. The Ivan Bubnov tanker will stay at the Libyan capital until January 7. It is participating in a two-month patrol mission in the northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Russia's first in the past three years, which began on December 5.

Serial quakes hit Indonesia

By Xinhua, Jakarta : A series of moderate quakes rocked western and eastern parts of Indonesia on Tuesday, with no report of damage or casualty, meteorology agency said here. The first quake with magnitude of 5.2 struck at 07:06 Jakarta time (0006 GMT) with epicenter at 167 kilometers southwest Bengkulu province and at 30 kilometers in depth, an official of the agency said. About three hours later, another quake with similar magnitude occurred, with epicenter at 201 kilometers northwest Saumlaki town of Maluku province and at 139 kilometers in depth, the official said.

Strike in ITC’s Nepal factory after worker’s murder

By IANS, Kathmandu : Agitated workers went on strike at the tobacco factory of ITC in south Nepal Thursday demanding security after one of their peers was killed by an armed group. Lila Lamichhane, an employee at Surya Nepal's tobacco factory in Simra town in Bara district, was abducted Wednesday while returning home from work. Late at night, his body was found near a rivulet. The Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, an armed group led by former Maoists, is suspected to have been behind the killing.

US condemns ‘heinous’ bombing in Belarus

By IANS, Washington : The US State Department has condemned the bombing at a metro station in Minsk, capital of Belarus, which killed 12 people.

EU urged to help end Guantanamo ‘scandal’

By Nicholas Rigillo, DPA, Brussels : Sherif el-Mashad, a 32-year-old Egyptian with a knack for carpentry, moved to Italy in 1997 in search of a better life. Having obtained the necessary permits, he began working in a restaurant before setting up a small business near Lake Como. In July 2001, two months before the Sep 11 terrorist attacks against the US, he bought a round-trip ticket to Afghanistan, where he said he intended to spend some time doing charity work.

South Korea to expand international peacekeeping operations

By IANS Seoul : South Korea's new government would push for legislation to enable rapid deployment of its forces in UN peacekeeping operations and increase the number of its peacekeeping forces, WAM news agency reported Friday. The new legislation envisioned by the defence and foreign ministries will allow the government to obtain advance parliamentary approval for its peacekeeping forces' dispatch plans on a yearly basis. Under the current law, the government must obtain parliamentary approval, whenever it seeks to send its peacekeeping forces abroad.

More than 30 insurgents killed in Nigeria military raid

Abuja : More than 30 insurgents were killed in an early morning raid by military operatives in Nigeria's north central Nasarawa state, witnesses said...

50,000 tonnes of dangerous waste found in Italy

By IANS/AKI, Taranto (Italy) : Italian police have uncovered 50,000 tonnes of dangerous waste, including cancer-causing asbestos, in a sprawling illegal landfill in the southern Puglia region. A formal complaint was filed Tuesday against an unnamed individual in connection with the 10,000 square metres dump in Torricella in Taranto province. Formal complaints have been made against 92 people this year over 43 illegal landfills discovered in the province. Shady waste disposal firms were planning to conceal 622,000 tonnes of dangerous waste in the illegal dumps.

Obama to sign new sanctions bill against Iran

By IANS, Washington: US President Barack Obama will sign into law Thursday a new sanctions bill against Iran, the White House said. The bill, passed last week by the House of Representatives and the Senate respectively, contains sanctions targeting Iran's energy and banking sectors, Xinhua reported. Under the bill, businesses that help supply Iran with refined petroleum or help develop the country's own refining capacity would be penalised.

Bell Says Enhanced Command Capability Required For OPCON Transfer

By Bernama, Seoul : South Korea and the United States need to enhance their military command capabilities before Seoul retakes the wartime operational control of its troops from Washington, as North Korea's asymmetric warfare or nuclear capability continues to grow, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Monday. Gen. Burwell B. Bell noted South Korea and other Asian nations in the region will continue to be threatened by the communist North's conventional and nuclear weapons even after Seoul takes back the wartime operational control, or OPCON, of its troops in 2012.

Romanian soldier killed in Afghanistan

By KUNA, KABUL : An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service member was killed and three others were wounded after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hit their vehicle in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday.

China’s 2009 revenue to cross $1 trillion

By IANS, Beijing: China's fiscal revenue for the year 2009 was estimated at 6.85 trillion yuan (just over $1 trillion), an increase of 11.7 percent over the previous year, Finance Minister Xie Xuren said here Sunday. China rolled out a massive investment plan worth 4 trillion yuan in November 2008 to cope with the international financial crisis, Xinhua reported. Xie said the central government would fulfill the target of adding 1.18 trillion yuan for public investment in the time period between the fourth quarter of 2008 and 2010.

13 LTTE rebels killed in Sri Lanka

By Xinhua Colombo : At least 13 Tamil tiger rebels were killed in separate clashes with government troops in northern Sri Lanka, the military said Thursday. Officials from the Media Centre for National Security said six Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels were killed in three battles in Vavuniya district while three rebels were killed in Mannar district Wednesday. In the Jaffna peninsula, four LTTE rebels were killed in a confrontation in Muhamalai at 13:10 GMT.

NATO chief gets one year job extension

By IANS, Brussels : NATO Wednesday decided to extend its Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen's service by one year until July 2014, Xinhua reported.

Nepali Govt Urged To Protect Migrant Workers

By Bernama, Kathmandu : The Nepali government has been urged to make labour agreements with other countries to protect the rights of Nepali migrant workers, China' Xinhua news agency quoted a local daily as reporting Saturday. The appeal was made by participants, including social activists and representatives of migrant workers, at the International Migrant Workers' Hearing Program on the occasion of International Migrants' Day on Friday, according to the report.

American Airlines cancels more than 1,000 flights

By Xinhua Washington : American Airlines said it canceled more than 1,000 flights, or more than one-third of its mainline operations, Wednesday for safety checks. The move could disrupt travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers nationwide. It follows 460 flights canceled Tuesday, while it inspected and repaired wiring in the wheel wells of its Boeing MD-80s. The wiring is near the jet's fuel tanks.

Nepali Congress candidate won CA election

By IRNA New Delhi : Nepali Congress vice president Prakash Man Singh Friday became the first candidate to be elected to Nepal's Constituent Assembly as the results for the landmark vote started trickling in. Singh, son of 1990 pro-democracy movement hero Ganesh Man Singh, has won the election under direct voting system from the prestigious constituency Kathmandu 1 securing 11,515 votes against his nearest rival from Communist Party of Nepal (UML) Pradip Nepal who bagged over 6000 votes, PTI reported.

China, US discuss military ties

By IANS, Beijing : Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie Tuesday met visiting US Secretary of Navy Ray Mabus and called for deeper mutual trust between the two militaries.

UAE, France discuss military cooperation

By IANS, Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France discussed bilateral military cooperation at a meeting of the army chiefs of the two nations here, WAM news agency reported Friday. Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, chief of staff of the UAE Armed Forces, Thursday met Jean-Louis Georgelin, chief of staff of the French Armed Forces, and an accompanying delegation currently visiting the country. The two officials discussed professional matters and ways to boost military cooperation.

China urges Iran to ‘positively respond’ to international concerns

By Xinhua Beijing : China Thursday called on Iran to "positively respond" to international concerns about its nuclear programme, a day after Tehran announced it had installed 3,000 centrifuges for uranium enrichment. "We have taken note of the developments and we request Iran to positively respond and attach importance to the concerns and voice of the international community," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said. He said Iran should show restraint and adopt a flexible attitude in dialogue and contact.

Computer virus targets Russian opposition

By IANS, Washington : Opponents of Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin are being targeted through a computer virus sent by email, CNN reported.

Moscow medic held for molesting 450 kids

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Moscow: A male nurse practitioner has been arrested in Moscow on suspicion of numerous counts of sexual abuse of more than 450 children, an official said.

Ukraine, US sign cooperation roadmap

By RIA Novosti Kiev : The Ukrainian and US presidents have signed a roadmap on bilateral cooperation, laying the foundation for a free trade zone between the two countries, the Ukrainian presidential press service has said. "Today's signing of the roadmap between Ukraine and the US was very important for us," President Viktor Yushchenko told reporters Tuesday after talks with US President George W. Bush. "The roadmap lays the necessary foundation to prepare for and start in the near future talks to establish a free trade zone between our countries."

NATO calls on Russia to rejoin arms control treaty

By DPA Brussels : The NATO military alliance called on Russia to rejoin a post-Cold War era treaty that regulates armed forces in Europe, and warned that it would not uphold its end of the deal indefinitely if no solution could be found. The Western alliance's late Friday statement came just days before outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin meets European leaders and US President George W. Bush at a NATO summit in Romania next week.

Indian boy killed in UAE desert safari

Dubai:A four-year-old Indian boy died in a mishap while he was on a desert safari with his family in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Pranav,...

Major earthquake hits China

By Xinhua, Beijing : A major earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter Scale hit Wenchuan County in China's southwestern Sichuan province Monday. The earthquake took place at 2.28 p.m. The epicentre was located at 31.0 degrees north latitude and 103.4 degrees east longitude, the bureau said. Wenchuan is about 100 km to the northwest of Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan. The quake was also felt in Beijing. Xinhua reporters in Zhengzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing also reported major tremors at around 2.00 p.m. Monday.

UN rights chief backs international inquiry in Sri Lanka

New York : The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) should adopt the recommendation of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to create...

US mulls law to revoke citizenship of terror supporters

By Arun Kumar, IANS, Washington: Americans like Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani origin suspect in the failed Times Square bombing, who help terrorists could have their citizenship revoked under a bill introduced this week in Congress. The proposed Terrorist Expatriation Act would authorise the State Department to revoke citizenship of anyone who supports Al Qaeda or other terrorist groups or who helps in attacks against the US or its allies. Identical bills were introduced this week in the House and Senate.

Bomb attack in Colombo ahead of vote

By IRNA, New Delhi : Unidentified persons Friday lobbed a bomb targeting the home of opposition Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka's campaign manager Colombo, capital city of Sri Lanka as violence escalated with just four days left for the polls. The bomb severely damaged the house of businessman and opposition member Tiran Alles in the Western Province and destroyed his car parked in the compound. But Alles and his family members escaped unhurt, PTI reported.

Exiled rebel leader returns to Indonesia’s Aceh

By DPA, Jakarta : Greeted by thousands of cheering supporters, the 83-year-old founder of Aceh's rebel movement returned to the tsunami-wracked Indonesian province of Aceh Saturday for the first time in almost 30 years. Hassan di Tiro fled to Sweden in late 1970s after declaring Aceh independent in 1976, a move triggered that a long-running conflict in the northwestern Indonesian province.

Nepali election officials urge to boost law and order for elections

By NNN-Xinhua Kathmandu : Nepali Election Commission (EC) urged the government to further improve law and order situation for the April 10 Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. Stating that the souring relations between the political parties have affected the environment for holding the polls, the EC also underscored the need to improve relations among the parties.

Reform IMF, World Bank, make them accountable: Bush

By Lalit K. Jha, IANS, New York : US President George W. Bush Thursday said that key global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank need to be made more accountable and transparent. In his speech on 'Financial Markets and the World Economy' at the prestigious Manhattan Institute in New York, Bush argued that the time had come to reform and modernise these financial institutions to reflect the realities of the present days.

Seoul appeals for calmness over DPRK’s missile test-firing

By Xinhua Seoul : South Korea on Friday appealed for calmness over missile test-firing by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier in the day. "The government regards the North (DPRK)'s missile firing as merely a part of its ordinary military training," said Presidential Spokesman Lee Dong-kwan at a news briefing. President Lee Myung-bak was briefed on the news of missile launches while presiding over a meeting of senior presidential secretaries, but the president didn't show any extraordinary response, said the spokesman.

Ghosh replaces Ratnesar as Time’s world editor

By IANS New York : Aparisim 'Bobby' Ghosh , Time magazine's Baghdad bureau chief, has been promoted as world editor. He is the first non-American as well as the first Indian to hold the important title at the magazine. Ghosh takes over from Romesh Ratnesar, who has held the post since 2004. Ratnesar, who grew up in Hayward, California, is going on book leave and will be back in January next in an important new role.

Modi visit to give new impetus to US rebalance in Asia?

By Ranjana Narayan, New Delhi/Washington : America’s “pivot” towards Asia, now rechristened “strategic rebalance”, could get new impetus during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s summit talks...

How do people respond to e-mails?

By IANS, Washington : Over the last decade the e-mail has grown from a novelty into a necessity. But how do people respond to e-mails? Do they respond to the most important first, making sure the process is efficient? Or do they send e-mails randomly, when they are at their computers or when they have time, without any regard to efficiency? These are questions that Luís Amaral, associate professor of chemical and biological engineering in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University, and his associates set out to answer.

Zambian President calls Chiefs for cooperation on land issues

By NNN-ZANIS Lusaka : President Mwanawasa has called on Chiefs in the country to cooperate with government when releasing land for development purposes. Mr. Mwanawasa said investors will need more land for the expansion of the existing investments and the involvement of Chiefs was cardinal. Mr. Mwanawasa, who advised the Chiefs to use the available land effectively, however cautioned the Chiefs against issuing land to bogus investors. He was speaking in Lusaka today at the official opening of the First Session of the Second House of Chiefs.

Thai social minister resigns

By Xinhua, Bangkok : Thailand's Social Development and Human Security Minister Sutha Chansaeng has submitted his resignation, which took effect immediately, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej confirmed here on Thursday. Secretary of Sutha, Anake Hutankabodi, said Sutha resigned because of bad health, adding that doctors told the minister to rest a lot because he stands a chance of being paralyzed. Sutha's health condition raised concern when he passed out at a public occasion late last month and admitted to a hospital for a check up.

Heathrow starts screening for Ebola, Sudanese patient dies

London/Berlin/Monrovia : London's Heathrow airport Tuesday began applying new precautionary measures to detect possible cases of Ebola virus disease in passengers arriving from West...

‘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...

5,000 attend Jain convention in New Jersey

By Parveen Chopra, IANS 

New York : Over 5,000 people attended the 14th biennial convention of JAINA - Federation of Jain Associations in North America -that was held in New Jersey.

Colombian army rescues hostages from rebels

By AFP, Bogota : French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, three US nationals and 11 other hostages were rescued from Marxist FARC rebels Wednesday, freed from years in captivity by a daring Colombian military raid. "I want first of all to thank God and the Colombian soldiers," Betancourt told radio Caracol just hours after she was plucked from the jungle in a bloodless military operation that ended her six-year ordeal.

Indonesia quake toll rises to 467

By DPA, Jakarta : At least 467 people have been killed and 423 injured following the powerful quake that struck Indonesia's West Sumatra province, the Social Affairs Ministry said Thursday. The deaths occurred in five districts of West Sumatra hit hardest by Wednesday's magnitude-7.6 quake, said Tugio Basri, an official at the ministry's coordination post. The provincial capital Padang suffered the worst casualties, he added. The National Disaster Management Agency said thousands of people were still trapped under collapsed buildings.

Sri Lankan Tamil held in Canada for war crimes

By Gurmukh Singh, IANS, Toronto : A Tamil asylum seeker has been arrested in Canada for war crimes.

Bush Urges House to Pass the Protect America Act

By SPA Washington, February 29, SPA--U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday again urged the U.S. Congress to pass a surveillance bill. Speaking at a press conference to reporters at the White House, Bush said that passing the Protect America Act (PAA) is a “very urgent priority,” that is “vital to our [the United States’] security.”

North Korea unlikely to stop nuclear reactor before late July

By RIA Novosti

Tokyo : Following the visit of a senior International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official to North Korea, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Friday the country's five nuclear facilities were unlikely to be shut down before late July.

Serbia announces final results of May 11 parliamentary polls

By RIA Novosti, Belgrade : Serbia's election commission announced early on Wednesday the final results of the country's May 11 parliamentary elections. The official results were expected to be announced by May 15, but were held up until a re-vote could take place at three polling stations following breaches in voting procedures.

Smokers against puffing in cars carrying pre-school kids

By IANS, Sydney : A vast majority of smokers support a ban on puffing in cars carrying pre-school children. The study, conducted by University of Otago, Wellington, surveyed nearly 1,400 smokers. Otago University researcher Richard Edwards noted that investigations show that smoking in cars, even with windows down, produces extremely high levels of toxic pollutants which are dangerous to health. These levels are far higher than WHO air quality guidelines for particulates in ambient air, according to an Otago release.

Citi to close hedge fund founded by Pandit

By IANS, New York : Citigroup has decided to close a hedge fund that its chief executive Vikram Pandit co-founded, and which the banking behemoth bought for more than $800 million. Citigroup plans to shut Old Lane Partners and buy what is left of its assets, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The fund has been dogged by mediocre returns and the loss of top managers. Pandit personally made at least $165 million when Citigroup bought Old Lane at a time when hedge funds were considered a lucrative new business.

Bush greets Obama at White House

By DPA, Washington : President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were greeted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House Monday. The two men shook hands, while their wives exchanged a quick hug, before posing for pictures outside the executive mansion. Bush then guided Obama to the Oval Office for private talks that will likely include the faltering economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and terrorist threats.

India deepens ties with East Asia while engaging China

By M.R. Narayan Swamy, IANS Singapore : Even as it agreed to increase strategic cooperation with China, India Wednesday made clear its intention to deepen all-round ties with Asean countries as well as Japan as part of its successful "Look East" policy. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made his country's intentions known here at the sixth summit of India with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the East Asia Summit that also groups Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and South Korea.

Zapatero set to win Spanish elections, exit polls show

By DPA Madrid : Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialists were set for a clear victory in Sunday's general elections, according to three exit polls after polling stations closed. One of the polls even said Zapatero's Socialist Party could reach the absolute majority of 176 seats. The opposition conservative People's Party (PP) was given between 145 and 152 seats in the 350-member parliament.

British Navy captures seven pirates in Indian Ocean

By IANS, London : The British Navy has captured seven suspected Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, the British defence ministry said.

ISESCO and UNESCO sign a cooperation programme for 2008-2009

By WAM, Paris : Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri and Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Ko?chiro Matsuura signed programme of cooperation in Paris on Tuesday. With a budget of five billion dollars, the new cooperation programme will implement 128 activities covering the fields of education, science, culture, communication, external relations and the national commissions.

Vatican condemns China’s interference in church affairs

By DPA, Vatican City : The Vatican Friday condemned a unilateral gathering earlier this month of China's state-supervised Catholic church - saying bishops and priests had been forced to attend.

Khalistan movement revival bid by radical Sikh leader

By IANS Toronto : Dabinderjit Singh, a British citizen and leader of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), has sought support of Canadian political leaders and radical Sikhs for reviving the Khalistan separatist movement. The ISYF and the Babbar Khalsa are banned in Canada for promoting terrorism. The two outfits are also delisted in Britain.

Yemeni crisis worsening hourly: UN

United Nations: The humanitarian situation is getting worse by the hour in Yemen, said a UN spokesman Friday. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), violence...

Bangladesh orders diplomat caught with gold bars to leave

Dhaka: The North Korean diplomat, who was caught with 27 kg of gold at Bangladesh's Shahjalal International Airport, was on Monday asked to leave...

German Authority Slams Huge Military Expenses

By Prensa Latina, Berlin : World military expenses increased in 30 percent from the year 2001 to 2006, with outlays in 2008 only that reach $1.18 trillion, a Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) report said on Thursday. In a press conference in Bonn, the BICC headquarters, the institution's Chair Peter J. Croll said the United States outlaid almost half of the world military expenses two years ago.

New brick-laying machine makes building roads easier

By IANS, London: A Dutchman has designed a machine that takes the sweat out of bricklaying and also does it in a jiffy, especially in road building.

Thai court orders release of arms cargo plane crew

By RIA Novosti, Bangkok : A Thai criminal court Thursday ordered the release of the crew of a cargo plane that was seized with illegal weaponry from North Korea on board, a court spokesman said. The Il-76 cargo plane carrying 35 tonnes of weaponry was seized during refueling at Bangkok's Don Muang airport Dec 12. The plane's five crew - four Kazakhs and one Belarusian - were arrested and taken to a Bangkok prison. The spokesman said the court ruling was handed over to the prison.

No alternative to political solution in Syria: Russia

By IANS, Moscow : Russia sees no alternative to a political solution towards ending the crisis in Syria, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has said.

Nepal quake epicentre close to Everest

Kathmandu : The epicentre of the strong earthquake that shook Nepal on Tuesday was close to Mount Everest. The earthquake measured 7.4 on the Richter...

Ancient Buddhist temple stone sells for $845,000!

By IANS, London: An ancient Buddhist artefact which was being used as a doorstep and was valued at 30,000 pounds has been sold for more than 500,000 pounds.

Unesco adds nine properties into world heritage list

By IANS, Paris : Unesco's world heritage committee Monday approved nine more properties into the list of world heritage with some remaining sites to be considered Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

Asian policewoman in Britain complains of racism

By IANS, London : The London Metropolitan Police (Met) may face a racism charge once again, this time from a senior Asian woman officer who is claiming she is the target of racist bullying and victimisation. The case of Yasmin Rehman comes close on the heels of two recent cases of race discrimination filed by senior Asian officers Shabir Husain and Tarique Ghaffur. The employment tribunal dismissed Husain's case while police chief Ian Blair suspended Ghaffur even as his case is yet to come for hearing.

‘No evidence of jihadis in Mexico’

Mexico City: There is no evidence to support the comments by Texas Governor Rick Perry that jihadis could enter the US via the southern...

New Zealand police arrest seven for Sikh storekeeper’s murder

By DPA, Wellington : New Zealand police said Friday that they were confident they had arrested all seven members of a gang involved in the weekend shotgun murder and robbery of a Sikh liquor storekeeper in Auckland. Four of them, including two teenagers, have been charged with the murder of Navtej Singh, 30, father of three daughters, who was fatally shot in the chest at close range when his store was robbed June 7. He later died in hospital. The other three suspects face various charges, including aggravated robbery and being accessories to the crime.

Few Chinese presidents ever visited Tibet in five decades

By Pranay Sharma, IANS, Beijing : Tibet may well be an "inalienable" part of the People's Republic of China, but few Chinese presidents or its paramount leaders have ever visited the region in the past five decades. Tibet forms a large part of the total landmass of China and has remained in the international focus for the Dalai Lama and his supporters' demand for "greater autonomy." But Chinese officials cannot say for sure when was the last time a Chinese president visited Tibet.

Former Thai premier fails to return to face trial

By DPA, Bangkok : Thailand's deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman failed to appear at the Supreme Court here Monday, as ordered, amid speculation that the former first couple were seeking asylum abroad. The court July 29 granted Thaksin and Pojaman, who face several abuse-of-power and corruption cases in Thailand, permission to travel to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games last Friday.

Airplane Crashes Off Venezuela

By SPA Washington : A private airplane disappeared on Friday off the coast of Venezuela with 14 people on board, including eight Italians, rescue officials and the Italian government said. The Czech-made LET L-410 airplane was flying to the Los Roques archipelago from Caracas but never arrived at its destination, rescue workers said.

Abbas urges efforts to bring Palestinian refugees into West Bank

Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday ordered the ambassador to the UN to take immediate actions aiming at absorbing displaced Palestinian refugees into...

IPCL plant explosion toll rises to four

By IANS, Mumbai : The death toll in the Indian Petrochemicals Corp Ltd (IPCL)'s Nagothane plant explosion has risen to four and at least 15 are injured. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) ordered an inquiry to determine what led to the incident in the plant, located in Maharashtra's Raigad district about 95 km from here. A statement issued by RIL said that a fire broke out at 11.20 a.m. when routine maintenance work was on in one section of LLDPE plant No. 2 in the Nagothane petrochemical facility.

UK tribunal brings cheer to skilled Indian migrants

By Prasun Sonwalkar

IANS

London : A ruling by a tribunal court, allowing an appeal by a highly skilled migrant from Kerala who faced deportation to India due to changes in immigration laws, has brought cheers to thousands of Indians in a similar situation here.

15 killed in Turkish bus crash

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Moscow : At least 15 people, including 13 Russians, were killed and 26 injured when a tourist bus fell into a river in Turkey, officials said Tuesday. The incident occurred Tuesday, when the bus, en route from Alanya to Pamukkale town, veered off the road and fell into the Aksu River in southwestern Turkish region of Antalya, Russian emergency situations ministry spokeswoman Yelena Chernova said. Chernova said 13 Russians and two Turks, who were also on the bus, have died and 26 have been hospitalised.

Chinese orphans to get 600 yuan as allowance

By IANS, Beijing : Orphans and convicts' children in China will now receive at least 600 yuan ($88) each month as allowance till they turn 18 under a government scheme to ensure they are not left behind in the country's economic march. Over 720,000 children across the country will benefit from the scheme, Wang Zhenyao, director of the department of social welfare under the ministry of civil affairs, was quoted as saying by the People's Daily. At present welfare institutions are funded by local governments but the allowances are meagre - about 50-100 yuan per child each month.

NASA spacecraft to take images of Apollo landing sites

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Washington : A NASA spacecraft will move 30 km closer to the moon for a week to take clearer images of the Apollo lunar landing sites.

Yahoo to take time evaluating Microsoft offer

By Arun Kumar, IANS Washington : Yahoo Inc says it's "going to take time" to thoroughly evaluate Microsoft Corp's unsolicited $45 billion offer keeping in mind its strategic options, including keeping the company independent. It was undertaking a deliberate review of Microsoft's offer to pay Yahoo shareholders either $31 in cash, or 0.9509 of a share of Microsoft common stock, Yahoo said in a media release posted on the company Web site.

Russia slaps tit-for-tat sanctions on US leaders

Moscow: Russia barred Thursday a number of US politicians from entering the country in a tit-for-tat move over Washington's sanctions. The list includes nine politicians,...

Policeman sentenced to death in China

By IANS, Beijing : A policeman was sentenced to death Monday for killing a pregnant woman and injuring her husband at a restaurant in China's...

Russia launches European satellite

By IANS, Moscow: Russia Monday launched a European weather satellite from its Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan, Russia's space agency Roscosmos said.

Kathmandu shutdown called to protest ‘Maoist murders’

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Kathmandu : Enraged family members and members of the public have announced a shutdown of Kathmandu valley Thursday after the discovery of the bodies of two cadres of a ruling party who were allegedly abducted by Maoists a month ago. Angry protests Wednesday paralysed the capital city as people went on the warpath following the recovery of the bodies of Nirmal Pant and Pushkar Dhangol, residents of Kathmandu, buried near the bank of a stream in Dhading district.

Explosion outside Italian consulate in Cairo kills one

Cairo: At least one person was killed and six others were injured in a powerful explosion outside the Italian consulate in this Egyptian capital...

UN panel condemns North Korea, enforces sanctions

By DPA, New York : The UN Security Council spoke with one voice to condemn North Korea for launching a missile, and found the April 5 firing of the rocket violated a 2006 resolution. While no new sanctions were approved, the council Monday agreed to make sanctions approved three years ago "effective by the end of the month", according to US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice.

Cruise liner runs aground off Latvia, almost 1,000 on board

By RIA Novosti, Riga : A luxurious cruise liner with 984 passengers on board has run aground in the Baltic Sea's Irben Starit, Latvia's Coast Guard Service said on Sunday. The coastguard said that all the people on board the vessel, which was en-route from Poland's Gdansk to Latvia's Riga, were safe and that there had been no reports of damage to the hull of the liner or fuel leaks. The Latvian government has announced its decision that an evacuation of the liner's passengers will only be launched if the crew fails to refloat the vessel.

Muslims back Livingstone re-election as London mayor

By IRNA London : More than 60 Muslim organisations and individuals have taken the unprecedented decision to declare their support for the re-election of Ken Livingstone as London mayor. A joint pledge, published by the British Muslim Initiative (BMI) Thursday, said that Livingstone - a left-wing member of the ruling Labour Party - had been an outstanding mayor since he became the capital's first elected mayor in 2000.

11 killed in terrorist attack in Algeria

By DPA, Algiers/Paris : At least 11 people were killed and several others injured in an attack by suspected Islamic terrorists on police accompanying a shipment of examination papers, a media report said Wednesday. Seven police officers and at least two teachers, taking the examination papers to the test centre at Timezrit, were killed as militants exploded a bomb and fired from automatic weapons, the online daily Tout sur l'Algerie reported. The attack took place late Tuesday at Issers, about 30 km southeast of the city of Boumerdes.

1.8 mn Americans lost jobs in worst slashing spree in 34 years

By Arun Kumar, IANS, Washington : Americans have lost 1.8 million jobs in just the last three months with employers slashing 598,000 more jobs in January, taking the unemployment rate up to 7.6 percent, the country's worst in 34 years. According to a government report released Friday, the latest job loss is the worst since December 1974, and brings job losses to 1.8 million in just the last three months, or half of the 3.6 million jobs that have been lost since the beginning of 2008.

Nobel laureates summit cancelled after visa denial to Dalai Lama

Dharamsala : The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Cape Town, South Africa, this month has been cancelled owing to denial of a...

S.Korea switches ISS mission astronauts over alleged violations

By RIA Novosti Moscow : South Korea's first astronaut will be a female engineer, following a last-minute swap over allegations that the main candidate broke rules in the Russian training center, Yonhap agency said on Monday. The agency said the decision to send Yi So-yeon, 28, to the International Space Center instead of Ko San was made following requests from the Russian side.

British helicopter crashes in North Sea, all rescued

By Xinhua, London : All 18 people on board a British helicopter that crashed in the North Sea Wednesday evening have been saved in a dramatic rescue operation. The Super Puma helicopter carrying workers to a British Petroleum (BP) oil production platform went down about 200km east of Aberdeen, northeast Britain, in heavy seas and poor visibility, the BBC reported. The aircraft landed just 500 metres short of the platform and people on board the oil platform raised the alarm when they saw it plunge horizontally into the water, it said.

N-cooperation deal likely with India: Tony Abbott

New Delhi: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Thursday said he was hoping to sign a nuclear cooperation agreement with India. "My hope is to deepen...

Polls open in Japan to elect new parliament

By DPA, Tokyo : Polls for electing a new House of Representatives opened across Japan Sunday. Election results could start coming in after voting for the House of Representatives ends at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT). A newspaper survey predicted a record turnout of around 70 percent for the first House election in five years. Based on pre-election opinion surveys, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was expected to secure an overwhelming majority, capturing more than 300 seats in the 480-seat lower chamber, while putting an end to more than 50 years of reign by

Vietnam forest wardens rescue 3,500 crocodiles

By DPA, Hanoi : Forest wardens in Vietnam have rescued 3,500 illegally imported crocodiles and four rare white-cheeked gibbons, a ranger said Thursday. Forest wardens in the southern province of An Giang have seized 3,500 illegally imported crocodiles, the Vietnam News reported Thursday. Crocodiles are raised widely in Vietnam for meat. Police said the illegally imported crocodiles were worth some $37,000.

Bush to temporarily cede power to Cheney for colonoscopy

By Xinhua

Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush will temporarily cede presidential power to his deputy Dick Cheney for a colonoscopy on Saturday, the White House said on Friday.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Cheney will serve as acting president until such time as Bush, who will be under anesthesia during the medical check, says he is ready to resume duties.

The colonoscopy will be conducted at the presidential retreat Camp David, Maryland.

Three sacks with $1 mn seized in Colombia

By IANS/EFE, Bogota : Colombian military stopped a ship on the high seas and found nearly $1 million in cash stuffed in three sacks, offcials have said. Cash amounting to $840,460, a GPS device and five cell phones were found aboard the vessel that was stopped off Providencia Island in the Caribbean, the navy said Sunday.

70 per cent Czechs favour NATO membership: poll

Prague: About 70 per cent of the Czech people support their country's NATO membership, results of a poll released by the Prague Centre for...

Hu meets Fidel Castro, promises better China-Cuba ties

By IANS, Havana : Chinese President Hu Jintao met former Cuban president Fidel Castro and discussed ways to further strengthen ties with the island nation struggling to recover from three hurricanes and the effects of the ongoing global financial crisis, the EFE news agency reported Wednesday. The Cuban leader and Hu had "a fraternal meeting" Tuesday morning, a sign of the "friendly ties" between the two countries, governments and communist parties, a Cuban government statement said.

Second round of Geneva II talks extend into Saturday

By IANS, Geneva: The second round of Syria peace talks will extend into the sixth day Saturday, an UN official said Friday night. The UN-Arab League...

Ben Stiller feeds Sandy victims

By IANS, New York: Actor Ben Stiller went out of his way to serve food at a shelter here, post Hurricane Sandy.

EU urges Greek government to fulfil commitments on debt crisis

By IANS, Brussels : Leaders of the European Union (EU) Thursday urged the Greek unity government to fulfil the country's commitments to get itself out of the debt crisis.

Malala calls on world leaders to save Rohingya Muslims

London : Nobel Peace Prize winner and educational activist Malala Yousafzai on Monday spoke up for the rights of Rohingya Muslims, urging influential world...

Russian Missile Carrier Tests Fire Power

By Prensa Latina, Moscow : The Russian mother ship of the Pacific Fleet, Variag Cuiser, began to test firepower on ground, sea and aerial targets. Navy Spokesman Roman Martov, said the crew of the "carrier killer" -under NATO standards- will test in high seas the anti-air system aboard against every flying target. On its first sail after undergoing overall repair, Variag has been fitted devices able to annihilate enemy naval and ground units from long distance.

The 44th Executive meeting for SAARC chamber to be held

By SPA, Islamabad : The 44th Executive Committee Meeting of South Association for Regional Countries (SAARC) Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on the side lines of the forthcoming SAARC Trade Fair. This was decided in the 43rd Executive Committee Meeting of SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) held under the chairmanship of Tariq Sayeed, said a statement.

Attacker of elderly Sikh in US pleads not guilty

By IANS, Washington : The transient accused of brutally attacking an 81-year-old Sikh man outside a gurdwara in the US May 5 has pleaded not guilty of attempted murder and elderly abuse.

Sri Lanka needs to do more on devolution, says India

By IANS, New Delhi : India has told Sri Lanka that it needs to do more on power sharing to end its dragging ethnic conflict, a senior official said Thursday. The official said while Colombo needed to be patted for deciding to implement the 13th amendment of the constitution that heralded the provincial system, it was not enough. The 13th amendment came about in the wake of the India-Sri Lanka accord of 1987 that sought to end Tamil separatism. The official said there were "other things" Sri Lanka could do, but he did not elaborate.

Europeans walk out on Iran’s president at UN conference

By DPA, Geneva : Delegates from the European Union (EU) walked out of the Durban Review Conference on racism in Geneva Monday during a speech by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in which he made derisive remarks about Israel. The Iranian leader said that Palestinians had been "made homeless" following World War II "under the pretext of Jewish suffering". There was a "racist regime in Palestine", he said, and added that Western powers have "given them a free hand to continue their crimes".

Pringle to replace Brenton as British ambassador to Russia

By RIA Novosti London : Britain's Foreign Office announced on Friday that Anne Pringle, a former envoy to Prague, will take over as ambassador to Russia in October to replace the retiring Tony Brenton. The outgoing diplomat, 58, has been the U.K.'s mouthpiece in Russia during a turbulent period in the countries' relations, plagued by spying rows, extradition demands from both sides, and the closure of British Council offices.

“Bertha” turns into first hurricane in Atlantic season

By Xinhua, Mexico City : Tropical storm "Bertha" turned into the first hurricane in the Atlantic season on Monday with a windspeed of more than 120 km per hour, said the National Meteorology Service (SNM) of Mexico. Yet an NMS statement said it was still too far away for the storm to become an immediate danger for the Mexican east coasts. The center of "Bertha" was located 3,805 km east off Quintana Roo coast, southeast of Mexico, and 1,365 km east to the north of the Caribbean islands Minor Antilles.

Of Bush push and “Pun’Jab”

By Arun Kumar, IANS

Washington : He may be the commander-in-chief of the world's sole superpower, but George W. Bush is no godman. Yet what the president did looked nothing short of a miracle. And for once the media sheepishly laid the credit at his door.

China’s new president to attend BRICS summit

By IANS, Beijing: China's new President Xi Jinping will attend the fifth summit of BRICS countries' leaders in South Africa, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said here Saturday.

Ahmadinejad starts Africa tour

By IANS, Harare : Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday arrived at the Zimbabwean capital as part of his two-nation Africa tour. Ahmadinejad was received by his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe at the airport, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is accompanying the president as part of the Iranian delegation. The two presidents are expected to sign a number of cooperation pacts after holding talks. They will also visit a textile factory and a tractor manufacturing company in Harare.

White House says stimulus funded 3 million jobs

By IANS, Washington : Even as President Barack Obama's administration claimed that the $787 billion stimulus had saved or created about three million jobs, the US Chamber of Commerce said he had "neglected" to focus on job creation. In its latest stimulus report released Wednesday, the White House's Council of Economic Advisers using two different models estimated the Recovery Act has already created between 2.5 million and 3.6 million jobs.

New Russian nuclear submarine to enter service in 2010

By RIA Novosti, Moscow : A new Russian nuclear-powered multipurpose attack submarine should enter service by late 2010, its developer said Wednesday. A spokesman for the Malakhit design bureau said dockside tests on the Severodvinsk, a Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class submarine, would start later this month and be completed some time next year. Construction of the submarine began in 1993 but has since been dogged by financial setbacks.

Tropical storm Hanna floods Haitian city, 19 dead

By DPA, Mexico City : After being battered by Hurricane Gustav, the Caribbean is now being hit by tropical storm Hanna, which has left at least 19 dead in Haiti, according to local media. Hanna, which has been nearly stationary for the past few hours, dumped rain and blasted winds at Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Ten people drowned Tuesday as the storm flooded Haiti's third-largest city, Gonaives, 152 km north of Port-au-Prince, where water levels reached three metres in some areas, reported Mayor Stephen Moise to the Haiti news agency.

UN chief slams terrorist bomb attack in Baghdad

United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday condemned "in the strongest terms" a bomb attack on a market in Baghdad that killed...

Belgian terror trial resumes

Brussels : Belgium's biggest terrorism trial Monday resumed with the prosecution pushing for maximum sentences for the 47 men accused of plotting to overthrow...
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