Bus overturns on slippery road, 13 dead in Venezuela
By RIA Novosti,
Buenos Aires : A total of 13 people were burned alive in northeast Venezuela when the bus they were travelling in overturned and caught fire, national radio reported on Monday.
Some 14 survivors were rushed to hospital with various burn injuries. All the victims were relatives travelling to a local beach.
According to police information, the driver lost control of the vehicle following heavy rain.
9/11 memorial museum to handle 5 mn visitors
By IANS,
New York : A cavernous subterranean museum being built here to revive the memories of the World Trade Center is expected to attract five million visitors a year, said an official who added that "it's as if you are visiting a battleground".
Officials of the National September 11 Memorial Museum Tuesday held a preview of the massive exhibition space that will take visitors to bedrock where they will see the last remnants of the Twin Towers' foundations.
Tibetans urge Bush to boycott Olympic opening
By DPA
Washington : Several hundred Tibetan exiles have called on US President George W. Bush to boycott the Olympic opening ceremonies in Beijing in August in protest of China's reaction to demonstrations in Tibet.
Demonstrators outside the White House waved posters Monday urging independence for Tibet and Chinese talks with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, before marching to the Chinese embassy in Washington.
Two people were detained by police after a group of people tried to scale the fence surrounding the embassy, authorities said.
Brazil tops deaths due to football violence
By DPA,
Rio de Janeiro : Brazil, with 42 fans dead during ten years of football violence, tops the world's tragic list, according to a study.
The study's authors said Sunday that the numbers were of major concern, especially with Brazil's role as host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The study included deaths that occurred in or around the stadium during violent clashes with other fans, said Mauricio Murad of the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). The study, called "A Sad, Perverse Achievement", covered the time frame 1999-2008.
Chinese man sells 4-month-old son
By IANS,
Shanghai : A Chinese man sold his four-month-old son for 35,000 yuan (US$5,125) and spent the money on a motorbike, computer and eating out.
Zhang Jun, 25, a resident of Anhui province, spent the cash in two months on dining, entertainment and travelling. He also bought himself a motorbike and computer, Shanghai Daily reported Thursday.
Zhang has been sentenced to prison for three years.
US, Colombia sign pact on energy development
By DPA,
Washington : The US and Colombia have signed an agreement to cooperate and share technology on the development of alternative and renewable energy.
The two governments Thursday agreed to promote exchanges and work together on research and development, including on using sustainable biofuels, generating more private sector investment in the technology and increasing the role of business.
Washington, Philadelphia dig out from massive storm
By DPA,
Washington : Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia were digging out Sunday from a massive snowfall that paralysed the Mid-Atlantic region and left hundreds of thousands without power.
At its heaviest, the blizzard dumped 97 centimetres of snow from Friday morning to Saturday evening in Elkridge, Maryland, just south of Baltimore.
Washington recorded 45 centimetres at Reagan National Airport, the city's second-largest snowfall ever. Philadelphia registered its second-biggest total at centimetres. Baltimore-Washington International airport had 63 centimetres.
Russia condemns pictorial exhibition insulting Islam in Holland
By KUNA,
Moscow : Russia on Friday strongly condemened the intention of a group of people to organize an exhibition of pictures that insults Islam in Holland.
The Russian Foreign Ministry in a statement said that the exhibition depicting insulting images of the prophet Muhammed (PBUH), scheduled to take place in the Dutch town of Gouda, provoked bad reactions.
The Russian statement also called for refraining from practicing any activities that would discourage relations between nations and religions.
French taxis strike for second week, causing traffic snarls
PARIS, Feb 6 (KUNA) -- For the second time in two weeks, French taxi drivers went on strike here Wednesday to protest a government plan to liberalize the sector and allow more taxis on the road to meet growing demand, union sources and drivers said.
In Paris, where the largest number of taxis are based, there were over 5, 000 cars in a protest that blocked certain areas of the capital in the 16th district near the Arc de Triomphe monument.
Attempts to go to the Paris airports were not successful, sources said.
CARE International provides finencial support to Lao bird flur control project
By NNN-KPL
Vientiane : The Care International base in Laos has agreed to further providing financial support to the bird flu control project phase 2 of Laos.
It aims to reduce the risk of bird flu in localities, which is a grant from the Government of Australia through the Care International in Laos with a total cost of A$514,409 or about US$380,000.
This project will operate in Vientiane Capital and Vientiane province till 2009 covering in four districts of Hadsaifong, Saythany, Pholhong and Thulakhom.
UN council debate on Kosovo draft postponed to Friday
By Xinhua
United Nations : The UN Security Council has rescheduled a Thursday consultation on a West-sponsored draft resolution on Kosovo's future status to Friday, the council's president announced Thursday.
"At the request of the cosponsors, the discussion on the (draft) Kosovo resolution was postponed" to Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. (1500 GMT), said China's UN ambassador Wang Guangya, the council's president for July.
Ukraine vetoes Crimea’s referendum, Russia to respect choice
Kiev/Moscow : Ukrainian parliament Speaker Alexandr Turchynov Friday signed a decree vetoing the Crimean parliament's decision to hold a referendum on joining Russia even...
US concerned about Sri Lanka democracy
By IANS,
Colombo: The US has voiced concern about "threats to freedom of expression" in Sri Lanka.
EU to re-start talks on deal with Russia
By DPA,
Brussels : The European Union (EU) is to re-start talks on a strategic treaty with Russia that it froze after Russia's war with Georgia in August, EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels agreed Monday according to diplomatic sources.
EU leaders had frozen talks in protest against Russia's occupation of Georgia, demanding that it pull its troops back to pre-conflict lines. Russia has since made a partial withdrawal.
New York restaurateurs sues city over calorie counts
By XinhuaÂ
New York : Some restaurant owners in New York are fighting the city government over a new rule that makes it mandatory to list calories on their menu boards, local media reported Saturday.
    The New York State Restaurant Association filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday trying to get a judge to abandon the regulation, the NY1 television station reported.
    Under the rule, due to come into force on July 1, calories counts must appear in the same type size as the food item and price.
Floods leave two dead in Greece
By DPA
Thessaloniki(Greece) : At least two people were reported dead and a state of emergency was declared in several parts of northern Greece Monday as dozens of villages remained flooded by rising waters over the weekend.
Villages in the prefecture of Rhodopi, Thrace and Kavala in northern Greece were evacuated as army and emergency workers tried to reinforce the banks of the overflowing Evros river.
Greek officials feared more flooding in northern Greece from overflowing dams in neighbouring Bulgaria.
Japanese PM dismisses possibility of immediate dissolution of lower house
By Xinhua,
Tokyo : Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Monday ruled out the possibility of dissolving the lower house straight away.
At a budget committee of the lower house, Aso said he is not mulling over the dissolution of House of the Representatives at the moment as the largest public concern is Japan's economic outlook.
It is imperative to let the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget pass at the Diet, he added.
Media groups, activists protest massacre in the Philippines
By DPA,
Manila : Local and foreign activists and journalists marched Monday in the Philippine capital to protest the massacre of 57 civilians allegedly perpetrated by political allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The rallyists gathered outside the presidential palace in Manila to denounce the Nov 23 brazen mass slaughter of mostly women victims and journalists in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province, 930 kilometres south of Manila.
Economic downturn hits family spending in Italy
By IANS/AKI,
Rome: Italian families had less money to spend on non-essential items last year as the economic crisis deepened in Europe's fourth-richest country.
According to government statistics agency, Istat, the average disposable income of Italian families fell 2.8 percent in the final three months of 2009 compared to the same period the previous year.
Spending was down 1.9 percent and purchasing power fell by 0.2 percent as the country experienced its worst recession since World War II.
George thankful for relaxed upbringing
By IANS,
London: Actress Melissa George is thankful her mother was always relaxed and open with her about sex and alcohol when she was growing up.
Differences in powers of state not an pbstacle to Asean communities – MPs
By Ahmad Kamil Tahir, NNN-Bernama
Kuala Lumpur : Parliamentarians from the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) agree that differences in state powers or political regimes among the 10 member countries will not be an obstacle to the realization of an Asean Community by 2015.
The heads of delegation to the 28th Asean Inter-Parliament Assembly (AIPA) conference here agreed Wednesday that the differences might have some effect on the process but would not prevent the establishment of the community.
Healing from space for victims of depression
By IANS,
Washington : A futuristic NASA programme to help astronauts cope with space flight blues will also benefit people with similar conditions back home.
"This project has great potential as a self-guided treatment for many people," said NASA project leader James Cartreine, a member of National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors Team.
"Depression is the number one cause of disability days in the US, but it's not only about days lost. Depression also results in presenteeism - showing up for work but not really working," he added.
Brazil to invest $122 bn on power projects
By IANS,
Rio De Janeiro : Brazil would invest 214 billion reals ($122 billion) to build hydroelectric, solar and wind power projects in the next decade.
Kidnapped Mexican journalist found dead
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Kidnapped journalist Humberto Millan was found dead Thursday on the outskirts of the western Mexican city of Culiacan, authorities said.
Get paid 24,000 pounds just to eat
By IANS,
London : TV character Homer Simpson would have loved this job. A company in Britain is looking for a worker who has to do nothing, except eat - and the pay will be nearly 24,000 pounds a year.
Daily Mail Monday reported that the firm Proactol Ltd wants the worker to have a hearty appetite; the candidate should be happy to eat 400 extra calories every day - to test the fat-binding properties of a weight loss product.
The candidate will have their calorific intake and weight closely monitored by medics.
The firm said their fat binder was clinically proven.
Russia’s decision to ban Ukraine politicians illogical – ministry
By RIA Novosti,
Kiev : Moscow's statements on banning a number of Ukrainian politicians from entering Russia are ungrounded and illogical, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
On Thursday the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that in response to Ukraine's decision to prohibit Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov from entering Ukraine, Russia announced a number of Ukrainian politicians would not be allowed entry into Russia.
Developed countries declarations on climate change ‘make no sense’: India
By Joydeep Gupta, IANS,
New Delhi : Industrialised countries should meet their own commitments in the fight against climate change rather than asking countries like India and China to cap greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the prime minister's principal negotiator on climate change Shyam Saran said here.
Putin praises Russian-German relations
By RIA Novosti
Novo-Ogaryovo : Russia's outgoing president praised Russian-German relations Saturday at a meeting with the German chancellor.
"I am pleased to note that we have worked well in the past years - both with the previous government and with yours," Vladimir Putin told Angela Merkel, adding that trade in the last six years grew 250% to reach over $50 billion.
"Political contacts are regular, relations between public organizations are good, humanitarian and cultural relations are constantly developing," he said.
13 dissidents arrested in Cuba
Havana, Sep 28 (IANS) At least 13 opponents of Cuba's communist government who were to take part in a march here to demand better conditions for political prisoners have been arrested, said Marta Beatriz Roque, the dissident leader of the outlawed Assembly to Promote Civil Society.
Roque said Thursday that among those arrested was Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, known as "Antunez", who was released from prison in April after serving a 17-year sentence for opposing the government, reported Spanish news agency EFE.
British media say Hitler’s love child may be living in U.K.
LONDON, December 13 (RIA Novosti) - The British media was awash with rumors and speculation on Thursday that Adolf Hitler's love child may have been born in the U.K. in 1940, and that he could still be living in the country.
Martin Bright, writing in the New Statesman magazine, said that in 2002 he received a phone call from a woman named Val Hann who had read an article he had written about Unity Mitford, a British high-society fascist who was reportedly Hitler's lover.
Helicopter accident kills 11 soldiers in Mexico
By DPA,
Mexico City : Eleven soldiers died Friday and one more was injured as an Army helicopter crashed in the west Mexican state of Michoacan, authorities said.
Sources at the public prosecutor's office told DPA that one colonel, two lieutenants and eight rank-and-file soldiers were killed.
The helicopter crashed for unknown reasons in the town of Uruapan, one of the areas of Michoacan where the Army has been involved out an anti-drug operation for over a year.
Iran sanctions matter of days: Biden
By IANS,
Washington : The UN will impose sanctions against Iran for illegally pursuing nuclear weapons "in a matter of days", US Vice President Joe Biden has said.
During a live appearance on ABC's "The View" Thursday, Biden said UN sanctions, backed by the permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China, will be announced by the end of this month or in the first week of May.
IMF voting reform gets go-ahead of ministers
By DPA
Washington : A long-awaited reform of the International Monetary Fund's voting procedures that gives developing countries a modest increase in influence has received broad support from the IMF members, Italy's finance minister said Saturday.
Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa said the new voting rules unveiled last month had been "fully endorsed" by the 24 finance ministers attending the IMF's traditional spring meetings in Washington.
Chinese arms ship called back to China after protests
By DPA,
Beijing : The China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) Tuesday called home a ship carrying arms to Zimbabwe after African ports refused to allow the ship to dock.
Speaking to the reporters here, foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu defended the delivery as "a normal military product trade."
"The relevant contract was signed last year. It has nothing to do with the current situation in Zimbabwe," she added, saying that "nobody should politicize" the issue.
Russian bomber intrusion foiled before Obama visit: Canada
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS,
Toronto : In an incident reminiscent of the Cold War, Canada revealed Friday that two Russian bombers were intercepted trying to enter its airspace just hours before President Barack Obama's visit here Feb 19. Moscow has denied the incident, saying Canada's contention was "nothing but farce".
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the Russian bombers were spotted near Canadian airspace over the Arctic region Feb 18.
Canadian and US fighters chased them, forcing them to "turn tail,'' he said in Ottawa.
Man jailed after selling daughter, 14, for beer
By DPA,
San Francisco : A Mexican man living in California has been jailed after allegedly selling his 14-year-old daughter for marriage in exchange for cash, beer and meat and then calling the police when the groom failed to honour the deal, officials said.
The arrest occurred in the central California town of Greenfield, about 225 km south of San Francisco. The town is home to many immigrants from Oaxaca, Mexico, and the case represented a clash between California law and the traditional culture of the immigrants, according to the local paper, the Salinas Californian, Tuesday.
Attacks on Africans: Britain’s African Asian Organisations demand action
Accuse Indian Government of ‘Implicitly’ Justifying the Murder of Congolese National and Attacks on Africans in India, Demand Action
By M Ghazali Khan
Britain’s South Asian...
Obama to host African leaders in August
By DPA,
Toronto: US President Barack Obama will host African leaders from countries celebrating 50 years since independence in August, an administration official said.
Obama, whose father was from Kenya, announced the White House celebration during a meeting with African leaders at the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Huntsville, Canada.
"I'll be 49 in August," Obama reportedly told the gathering Friday, noting that his father was a first-generation African who studied in the US.
Cage denies Turner’s claim he was jailed
By IANS
London : Oscar winning actor Nicolas Cage has rubbished claims by actress Kathleen Turner that he was arrested for drunk driving and that he once even stole a dog.
Thesun.co.uk reports that
Cage starred with Turner in "Peggy Sue Got Married", Thesun.co.uk reports. In her memoir, Turner has claimed he was difficult to work with and was constantly in trouble with the police.
Saudi police hold Indian ‘for insult to Kaaba’
Riyadh : Saudi police arrested an Indian immigrant who allegedly disrespected Islams holy Kaaba site on Facebook, covering it with an image of Buddha,...
Rice, Gates to fly to Russia for strategic talks
MOSCOW, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is to fly to Moscow on October 12 for talks with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said Saturday.
She is to be accompanied by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates to discuss together with Russian officials matters of strategic stability issues, specifically those linked to the controversial missile shield defense system, the statement said.
"The two sides are also to discuss increased cooperation at security level between the two sides," the statement said.
Chinese negotiator flies to Taiwan for talks
By DPA,
Taipei : Chinese negotiator Chen Unlin arrived in Taipei Monday for the highest-level talks between Taipei and Beijing in half a century.
Chen and his 74-member delegation arrived in a chartered Air China plane which landed at the Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei at 11:45 a.m.
The talks will begin at the Grand Hotel in Taipei Monday afternoon and last until Thursday.
The highlights of the talks will be Tuesday when Chen and Taiwan's negotiator sign four pacts on expanding ties and Thursday when President Ma Ying-jeou is scheduled to meet Chen.
Georgian policeman shot dead near Russian checkpoint
By DPA,
Tbilisi : A Georgian policeman was shot dead Wednesday by fire from the direction of a Russian checkpoint near the recently-occupied town of Gori, the interior ministry said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear who opened fire. Russian peacekeepers and Georgian television pointed to South Ossetian militia, but peacekeepers also shed doubt on the veracity of the Georgian report.
Unemployment is 8 percent in Italy
By IANS/AKI,
Rome : Italy's unemployment rate rose to eight percent in October, the highest rate recorded in five years.
According to official statistics released by the European Union's statistics agency, ISTAT, the number of jobless in Italy rose from 7.8 percent in September.
Claudio Scajola, minister for economic development, said that Italy's jobless rate was far better than the EU average and many other countries.
"The economic crisis is moving to unemployment," he said. "However this figure is not worse than the European average, and we are doing better."
Spain’s Savater launches new political party
By IRNA
Madrid : The Spaniard Fernando Savater has founded a new political party, called Unity, Progress and Democracy.
He is a professor of European philosophy and literature and a liberal thinker on politics and religion.
He is best known for his role in fighting terrorism in the Basque Country.
In the year 2000, the founder of the Basta Ya (Enough already) movement was the first recipient of the Sakharov prize, awarded by the European Parliament, for his defence of human rights.
Turkish plane crashes near Amsterdam airport
By IANS,
Amsterdam : A Turkish passenger plane crashed Wednesday near Amsterdam's Schiphol airport just before landing, Dutch television reported.
The TV report said the plane arriving at Amsterdam from Istanbul was carrying 135 passengers on board.
The plane broke in two or three parts when it crashed in a field near the airport, with Dutch media reporting "at least 35 deaths". Ambulances and firefighters were on their way.
The A9 highway and a side-road were both closed off for all traffic.
Voting begins in Serbia’s crucial poll
By DPA,
Belgrade : Voting started Sunday in Serbian snap parliamentary elections with the country's course to European Union (EU) membership at stake.
The 6.75 million registered users are to choose from 22 tickets, but the crucial choice is between the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and President Boris Tadic's pro-EU Democratic Party (DS), both tipped to win close to one-third of ballots cast.
Five dead in China building fire
By IANS,
Beijing : At least five people were killed after a fire broke out in a residential building in eastern China's Shandong province, officials said.
Obama wants Iran sanctions within ‘weeks’
By DPA,
Washington : US President Barack Obama declared that he wants to see the UN Security Council adopt sanctions against Iran within "weeks" over the Islamic republic's refusal to resolve the dispute over its nuclear activities.
"I'm not interested in waiting months for a sanctions regime to be in place. I'm interested in seeing that regime in place in weeks," Obama said Tuesday at a press conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Penelope’s noble cause for Haiti victims
By IANS,
London : Oscar winning actress Penelope Cruz has raised $333,000 for the Haiti earthquake victims by selling her designer dresses.
The 35-year-old and jewellery maker Chopard raised the sum by organising an auction for the Jenkins-Penn Haitian Relief Organisation at the Cannes Film Festival, reported femalefirst.co.uk.
Other than Cruz, Hollywood stars Anne Hathaway, Julia Roberts, Gisele Bundchen, Charlize Theron and Salma Hayek donated for the cause. Hayek raised $21,000 for her burgundy Gucci gown, the first from the Italian brand's new couture range.
Messi joins Argentina squad ahead of Copa America
Santiago: Argentina footballer Lionel Messi arrived in Chile to join his national team in the run-up to the Copa America which kicks off on...
Arizona legislative houses open with Hindu prayers
By IANS
New York : The Arizona state senate and the house of representatives reverberated with Sanskrit chants as they opened their sessions with Hindu prayers.
Hindu chaplain Rajan Zed, who has recited prayers from ancient Sanskrit scriptures in the US Senate as well as in several states in the country, again did the honours in Phoenix Monday. Before reading, he sprinkled holy Ganga water around the prayer area.
LTTE ‘actively prevent’ civilians from leaving war-zone: UN
By IANS,
Colombo : Expressing concern over the plight of thousands of civilians caught up in the fighting in Sri Lanka's north, the UN office here said Monday the Tamil Tiger rebels were "actively" preventing people from leaving the war-zone.
"The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) continues to actively prevent people leaving, and reports indicate that a growing number of people trying to leave have been shot and sometimes killed," the office of the UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator in Colombo said.
Britain urges China restraint in Tibet
By DPA
London : Britain Monday expressed "concern" at the unrest in Tibet and said it had urged the Chinese government to exercise restraint in dealing with the protests, a spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.
He said the government was in daily touch with the authorities in Beijing and the Chinese embassy in London, and had called for restraint.
"We are following with concern recent unrest in Tibet, as well as related incidents in India and Nepal and have called on the Chinese authorities to exercise restraint," said the spokesman.
Climate change claims 300,000 lives a year: Report
By DPA,
London : Rising temperatures due to climate change already account for some 300,000 deaths a year around the world and could rise to half a million casualties by the year 2030, estimates published Friday showed.
A report on the human impact of climate change, presented by the Global Humanitarian Forum in London Friday, put the current estimated costs of global warming at $125 billion a year.
Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, President of the Global Humanitarian Forum, Friday described global warming as the "greatest emerging humanitarian challenge of our time".
Japanese premier Abe’s successor to be picked on Sep 23
By Xinhua
Tokyo : Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided Thursday to hold a presidential election on Sep 23 to pick a new party president to replace Shinzo Abe, who Wednesday expressed his intention to resign, Japanese media reported.
The LDP made the decision on a general assembly of lawmakers from the party. Abe himself originally wanted to appear on the assembly to explain reasons of his resignation, but refrained from doing so on doctor's advice.
Kenyan poll irregularities ‘unacceptable’: Britain
By DPA
London : Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband Wednesday said that the level of irregularities on "both sides" in the recent presidential elections in Kenya is "unacceptable".
"It is clear that there are major responsibilities on Kenya's political leaders both in respect of the violence being perpetrated by some of their followers and in respect of the need to reach out and find common ground," Miliband said in a BBC interview.
Over 100 die in Thailand weekend accidents
By Xinhua
Bangkok : At least 118 people have been killed and 1,254 injured in road accidents in the first two days of the weeklong New Year holidays in Thailand, the interior ministry said Sunday.
Nirand Jongwut, deputy secretary in the ministry, said that 1,147 road accidents happened on Friday and Saturday. Drunk driving was the major cause of the accidents.
Fidel Castro turns 81 away from public life
By DPA
Havana : Cuban President Fidel Castro turned 81 on Monday, more than a year after he "temporarily" transferred power to his brother Raul for health reasons.
Castro was last seen in public on July 26, 2006, and gave up power - for the first time since leading his revolution in 1959 - five days later in order to recover from an intestinal problem. He was initially to spend "weeks" away from the public eye, but his convalescence has stretched much longer.
Eurasia’s tallest building in Moscow on fire
By DPA
Moscow : The tallest structure in Europe and Asia, Ostankino Tower, caught fire Friday afternoon in Moscow, Russian emergency officials said.
Thirty-three countries facing grave food crisis: Report
By DPA,
Berlin : Thirty-three countries, chiefly in Africa and Asia, are experiencing "very serious" to "grave" food supply problems, two food assistance groups have said.
Presenting the annual Global Hunger Index (GHI) for 2008, the German food relief group Welthungerhilfe and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) warned against neglecting the fate of starving people amidst the current financial crisis.
Sri Lanka, UAE discuss trade ties
By IANS/WAM,
Colombo: Sri Lanka and the UAE have vowed to boost trade ties.
Germany tightens security after Al Qaeda video threat
By DPA,
Berlin : German airports and rail stations were under close guard Saturday after an Al Qaeda video threatened the country with a "rude awakening" just a week before a general election.
The speaker in the internet video was a German Islamist, Bekkay Harrach, 32, wearing a jacket and tie.
Using his codename Abu Talha and speaking German, he demanded Berlin withdraw troops from Afghanistan and warned Muslims in Germany to stay away from public places in the two weeks following the Sep 27 election.
Medvedev sacks navy vice admiral
By IANS,
Moscow : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has sacked the senior navy officer who was in charge of talks with France over the purchase of Mistral-class warships.
Obama or McCain – it does not matter: Chomsky
By IANS,
New York : While the world is debating the merits of Barack Obama and John McCain, leading public intellectual Noam Chomsky is not impressed with all the "rhetoric" and says the US essentially has only one party: business party.
When the German news magazine Der Spiegel asked him if he was fired up with the Democratic candidate's slogan of "Change", Chomsky said: "Not in the least. The European reaction to Obama is a European delusion.
Security Council authorizes 3,500 more UN peacekeepers for Haiti
By IRNA,
Tehran : The Security Council Tuesday backed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call to increase the overall force levels of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
According to a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) here on Wednesday, such a move is to support the immediate recovery, reconstruction and stability efforts following last week’s devastating earthquake.
Mild quake jolts surrounding areas of Qom city
By IRNA,
Tehran : A mild earthquake measuring 3.5 on Richter scale jolted surrounding areas of Qom city on Sunday early morning.
According to the report of seismography center affiliated to Tehran University Geophysics Institute, the tremor occurred at 04:55 hours local time ( 01:25 hours GMT) and its epicenter was at 34.63 degrees latitude and 50.71 degrees longitude.
There is no immediate report on possible damage.
Japanese minister attempts suicide, dies at hospital
By Xinhua
Tokyo : Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka died Monday at a hospital after he tried to commit suicide by hanging himself in his living room at a parliamentary housing building in central Tokyo.
First Japan Woman as PM Hopeful
By Prensa Latina,
Tokyo : Japan's former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike officially presented her candidature for the prime minister's post on Monday, thus becoming the first woman disputing that position in the country's history.
Koike, 56, will run for the leadership of the governmental Democrat Liberal Party, with the elections set for September 22.
The former TV anchorwoman told press she has received the enthusiastic support of her colleagues, and added the country could perfectly have a woman as head of the government to overcome the standstill in the Japanese society.
Small plane crashes into New York building
By IANS,
New York : A small plane carrying two people crashed into a building in New York's Suffolk county, leaving the building on fire and critically injuring the two on board, police said.
The two-seat Cessna crashed Saturday into the Varsity Plumbing Supplies company building near the Long Island MacArthur Airport, Xinhua reported citing a statement from WABC television.
The two people - including a student pilot - on board the aircraft were critically injured and the building was on fire, police said.
The fire was later put out and the two people were taken to hospital.
World population to be 6.75 bn on New Year’s Day
By DPA,
Hanover (Germany) : The world's population on New Year's Day is set to reach 6.75 billion, a German group that encourages birth control said Tuesday.
The World Population Foundation of Germany said the planet's human population rose by 82 million this year and according to its estimates, the world population on Jan 1 would reach 6,751,643,600.
The Hanover-based group said almost all the growth in numbers was in developing nations, where women faced multiple pregnancies whether they wanted them or not because contraception was not available.
Mob burns 11 ‘witches’ to death in Kenya
By DPA,
Nairobi : An angry mob has burned to death 11 elderly people accusing them of practicing witchcraft in Kenya's western Kisii district, according to reports Thursday.
The mob went from house to house and pulled the victims out into the street before setting fire to them and their houses, BBC reported, citing police.
The victims were largely women and were all in their late eighties or early nineties.
Local villagers justified the attack by saying they had found the minutes of a "witches' meeting," which listed the next targets for bewitching.
OPEC revenue could top $1 trillion by year’s end: US
By DPA,
Washington : Members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) took in $642 billion in oil exports revenue during the first seven months of 2008 and may well eclipse the total amount from the previous year, the US Energy Department said Tuesday.
Boosted by high oil prices and increased production, OPEC will likely set another record year in revenue on net oil exports.
Britons hit – on air, rail and road
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : British travellers and commuters were hit hard on a chaotic Friday after the collapse of one its largest tour operators and a fire in the rail tunnel connecting Britain with mainland Europe.
Some 85,000 Britons were reported to be stranded abroad after the XL Leisure Group, Britain's the third largest package holiday group, went into administration.
Taiwanese government resigns after defeat in local elections
Taipei : Taiwaness Prime Minister Jiang Yi-hua and his entire government resigned Monday following the ruling party Kuomintang's crushing defeat in local elections where...
PM Modi gifts miniature painting of Bedil tomb to Tajik Prez
By TwoCircles.net, Staff Reporter
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday presented to President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon a specially commissioned...
Sri Lankan Navy rescues fleeing civilians
By Xinhua,
Colombo : The Sri Lankan Navy has rescued a group of civilians fleeing the Tamil Tigers' last pocket in the northern Mullaittivu district, the military said Wednesday.
Some 550 civilians on 31 boats were fleeing Mullaittivu's Puttumatalan area Tuesday evening, heading for the northern Jaffna peninsula when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sea wing tried to stop them.
The Navy chased away the four rebel boats, making possible the civilian boats to make the journey to the Point Pedro area in the Jaffna peninsula, naval officials said here.
China urges Pakistan to ensure security of Chinese people
By Xinhua
Beijing : China has called on Pakistan to take more measures for the security of Chinese working in the country.
German Chancellor Merkel begins Israel visit
By DPA
Tel Aviv : German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Israel Sunday to begin a three-day visit, which both countries hope, will usher in a new phase in bilateral relations.
Merkel was received at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who thanked the German leader for her "outstanding" friendship and "deep understanding" of Israel's needs.
Merkel for her part said the visit would begin a "new chapter" in relations between the two states, who established full diplomatic ties in 1965.
Bandits killed in eastern borders
By IRNA,
Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan province : An informed source in the province said in an armed conflict on Saturday afternoon in eastern borders of the country six bandits were killed.
The source, who asked not to be named, said that police forces, who had controled parts of eastern borders during 72 past hours, in a conflict with bandits killed and wounded a number of them and discovered five tons of drug.
He added operation against bandits is in progress in the area.
The source said since the conflicts continue, more details would not be revealed now.
Rajapaksa unveils budget, asks LTTE to lay down arms
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Thursday unveiled next year's budget that proposes to hike defence spending by nearly seven percent, demanding that the Tamil Tigers surrender their weapons to avoid making the military do so.
This is the fourth budget to be presented by President Rajapaksa, who is also the minister of finance, after he was elected to office November 2005.
Anti-government protesters in Thailand demand release of leaders
By DPA,
Bangkok: Hundreds of anti-government protesters Friday defied emergency law in the Thai capital to call for the release of their colleagues arrested in a crackdown four months ago.
Thailand holds referendum on military-backed charter
Bangkok, Aug 19 (DPA) Thailand held its first-ever referendum Sunday to decide the fate of their 18th constitution since 1932 and determine the country's future democratic direction.
Some 45 million Thais were eligible to vote in the plebiscite that ended at 4 p.m. The turnout in Bangkok was similar to past elections at about 60 to 70 percent, polling booth officials said.
According to an exit poll conducted by the Rajabhat Suan Dusit Institute, 67.94 percent of voters accepted the draft charter while 32.06 percent did not.
China to bring 3rd generation n-reactors to service in 2013
By IANS,
Beijing: China will bring third generation nuclear reactors to service in 2013, a top Chinese nuclear company official has said.
Britain to launch nationwide spying project
By IANS,
London : The British government will spend up to 12 billion pounds ($21.31 billion) to create a database to monitor and store Internet browsing, e-mails and telephone calls of every Briton, the Sunday Times reported.
The government has already allocated its communications headquarters (GCHQ) one billion pounds ($1.77 billion) to finance the first stage of the project, being launched, it said, to fight terrorism and rising crime.
The Home Office said no formal decision had been taken but sources confirmed there was a general agreement on the programme.
Drought continues to wreak havoc in southwest China
By IANS,
Kunming (China): A once-in-a-century drought in southwestern China has resulted in a shortage of drinking water for millions of people and livestock, the Xinhua news agency reported Wednesday.
The Yunnan provincial climate centre said the drought, which started in September, was the worst in any living person's memory.
"The average precipitation was down by 60 percent, and the drought will persist until mid May," said Zhu Yong, head of the center.
Australian PM fears MH17 bodies will never return
Canberra : Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott Wednesday said that the crash site of downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was still not secure and...
Nepal Maoists say they recruited 23,000 rebels after truce
By DPA,
Kathmandu : Private television stations across Nepal Tuesday broadcast video footage of Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' telling his guerrilla commanders his party had successfully recruited over 23,000 soldiers after the 2006 truce and of his aim to control the army to grab absolute power.
The video footage appeared a day after the Maoist government collapsed in a power struggle between the president and the prime minister over the government's decision to sack army chief Rukmangad Katuwal.
Senior UN official warns of fresh violence in Kenya
By Xinhua
United Nations : A senior United Nations official warned here Monday that fresh violence could erupt in Kenya if there is no quick resolution to the political crisis there.
John Holmes, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, made the warning when briefing the UN Security Council on his recent trip to the east African country.
Global flu tally at 6,500: European health agency
By DPA,
Stockholm : The US accounted for over half of the almost 6,500 confirmed cases of the influenza A(H1N1) virus, according to figures released Thursday by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
The pan-European agency tallied some 6,497 global cases including 3,352 in the US, 2,446 in Mexico and 389 in Canada.
The number of cases almost doubled to 29 in Panama compared to Wednesday. Costa Rica and Brazil each had eight cases, Colombia had six while El Salvador had four cases, the ECDC said.
UN special envoy to meet Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar
By DPA,
Yangon : The United Nations special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, is scheduled to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on an official visit expected to start this weekend, government sources said Friday.
Gambari is expected to arrive in Yangon Saturday to revive his so far unsuccessful efforts to push Myanmar's ruling junta to free Suu Kyi and thousands of other political prisoners and to allow democratic reforms in the military dictatorship.
‘Free Tibet’ protesters jolt Chinese team in Nepal
By IANS,
Kathmandu : In a major embarrassment for the Nepal government that reiterated its commitment not to allow anti-China activities, a visiting delegation from China's ruling communist party Wednesday faced protests by Tibetan activists who asked Beijing to free Tibet.
Myanmar Leader Pledges To Hold General Election In 2010
By Bernama,
Yangon : Myanmar leader Lieutenant-General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo has pledged that the country will spare no efforts to hold the general election in 2010, said Xinhua news agency quoting a report in Saturday's official newspaper New Light of Myanmar.
Tin Aung Myint Oo, First Secretary of the State Peace and Development Council, made the pledge at a ceremony marking the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations Day in Nay Pyi Taw Friday evening.
Gunman in U.S. mall shooting “depressed”, convicted for drug offense
By Xinhua
Washington : The gunman who killed 8 people before committing suicide in a large U.S. shopping mall Wednesday was "depressed" and had a felony drug conviction, U.S. media reported Thursday.
The gunman was identified as 19-year-old Robert A. Hawkins of Bellevue, Neb. and police are still trying to find what led him to commit such a crime at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Neb.
Hawkins was fired from a McDonald's Corp. restaurant three days before the shootings, company spokesman William Whitman said.
Prince William’s naval team seizes £40m cocaine
By IANS,
London : Prince William was part of a naval team that raided a smugglers' speedboat on the Atlantic Ocean and seized cocaine worth £40 million Wednesday.
The prince's ship, Iron Duke, was involved in the raid. He himself was in the frigate's Lynx helicopter which first spotted the boat, off the north-eastern coast of Barbados, the ministry of defence said. US coast guard officers were on the frigate at that time.
Japan’s minister resigns over scandal
By Xinhua
Tokyo : A Japanese minister resigned over political fund scandals Wednesday, days after the ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in a parliamentary election.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has accepted the resignation of Norihiko Akagi, who held the agriculture, forestry and fisheries portfolio, Kyodo News quoted a cabinet official as saying.
"Media reports concerning myself and other factors had an impact on the election," Akagi told reporters.
Tokyo : A Japanese minister resigned over political fund scandals Wednesday, days after the ruling party suffered a crushing defeat in a parliamentary election.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has accepted the resignation of Norihiko Akagi, who held the agriculture, forestry and fisheries portfolio, Kyodo News quoted a cabinet official as saying.
"Media reports concerning myself and other factors had an impact on the election," Akagi told reporters.
Bomb injures 28 in southern Thailand provincial capital
By DPA,
Pattani (Thailand) : An explosion Monday at a crowded morning market in Yala City of southern Thailand injured 28 people, two of them critically, army officials said.
The bomb, planted inside a motorcycle that was parked near a pork meat vendor at Yala's open-air market, exploded at 7.30 a.m., injuring the civilians and three soldiers, First Army Region chief Lieutenant General Phichit Wisaijorn said.
He blamed Muslim separatists for the latest act of violence.
"We had received a tipoff to prepare for a car bomb, but they used a motorcycle instead," Phichit said.
Spain will not negotiate with ETA again: Minister
By IANS,
Cadiz (Spain) : Spain's Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba Saturday said that talks with the Basque terrorist group ETA are over and the government will not renewed it again.
"At this point, everybody ought to know that nobody in the government will negotiate with ETA again," Rubalcaba said in a statement, the EFE news agency reported.
The interior minister's statement came after Esperanza Aguirre, President of Madrid regional governmnet, expressed her fear Friday that Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government might resume negotiations with ETA again.
Japan’s oldest person dies at age 113
By SPA
Tokyo : Kaku Yamanaka, Japan's oldest person, has died of old age in central Japan, officials said Saturday.
She was 113.
Yamanaka died at a hospital where she was taken early Saturday from her nursing home in Yatomi City in Aichi prefecture (state) after falling ill, an official at her nursing home said on condition of anonymity, citing policy.
Honesty the best policy for public figures in Australia
By DPA,
Sydney : Shocking, distressing, unforgivable, unacceptable: with those words the leader of Australia's biggest state accepted the resignation of a cabinet minister who had been shown on television leaving Sydney's best-known gay sex club.
Family man David Campbell, 52, apologised to his wife, his party, to those who had elected him and to his cabinet colleagues.
"These are some choices that I've made," Campbell said. "They've caused a great deal of embarrassment."
South African President condoles Fatima Meer’s death
By IANS,
Pretoria : South African President Jacob Zuma has expressed codolence over the death of anti-apartheid stalwart Fatima Meer.
Meer, a friend and biographer of Nelson Mandela, died Friday at a hospital in Durban after suffering from a stroke for the past two weeks. She was 81.
"Our condolences go out to her family, especially her two daughters, friends and comrades. Our love, support and prayers are with them in this hour of need," President Jacob Zuma said in his message.
Nepal dailies receive threats after media baron’s murder
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu: Nearly a week after controversial Nepali media tycoon Jamim Shah's murder in a VVIP area of the capital, journalists in two of Nepal's biggest media groups have received death threats, police said.
The Kantipur Group, Nepal's biggest private media organisation, Saturday went public, saying its managing director and the editors of its two dailies, Kantipur and its sister publication in English, The Kathmandu Post, had received threats by phone and email.
Chinese astronauts test suit for spacewalk mission
By Xinhua,
Beijing : Astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou VII spacecraft Friday finished assembling a spacesuit for tests before carrying out the country's first spacewalk mission.
Two of the three astronauts unpacked the Chinese-made suit inside the orbital module of the spacecraft as the third astronaut waited in the re-entry module.
The spacewalk, or extra-vehicular activity (EVA), slated for 4.30 p.m. Saturday will last about 30 minutes, Wang Zhaoyao, spokesperson of the manned space programme said Friday.
South Sudan armed group releases 250 child soldiers
United Nations : Up to 250 child soldiers, including four girls, were released by an armed group in South Sudan over the weekend, a...
Three buses carrying migrants to US go missing
By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : Three buses carrying more than 40 migrants from Mexico's San Luis Potosi state to the US have been missing for more than a month, a top official has said.
The number of people in the two other buses that left Sierra Gorda area for the US also is not known, Fernando Rocha, a legislator in Queretaro state, said Thursday.
The buses had left March 17 for Texas and Florida, where the emigrants had pre-arranged jobs waiting for them. Most of the people on board the bus were from San Luis Potosi and Queretaro, and there were several minors among them, he said.
North, South Korea begin first military talks in two years
By DPA,
Seoul : North and South Korea began their first working-level military discussions for almost two years Thursday, a news report said.
Food crisis may reverse improvements in Africa: Unicef
By DPA,
Tokyo : The United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) Wednesday warned that rising food prices in Africa would reverse some of the improvements the continent has made in decreasing child mortality and providing education to children.
Star tenor Luciano Pavarotti dies of cancer
By DPA
Rome : Luciano Pavarotti, one of the most famous opera stars of the 20th century, died Thursday at his home in Modena, Italy, his manager said. Pavarotti was 71.
The tenor had battled pancreatic cancer for more than a year, and his death followed reports that his health had worsened overnight. Pavarotti had lost consciousness several times, the ANSA news agency had said, citing people close to the singer.
He was hospitalised last month for a lung infection but allowed to leave Aug 25 after two weeks of care.
EU seeks Asian help to resolve Myanmar crisis
By DPA
Bangkok : The European Union's (EU) special envoy for Myanmar Tuesday stressed the need for close cooperation with Asian governments in speeding up a solution to Myanmar's political crisis.
"We are open to all common initiatives and actions, all common strategies with the countries of Asia," said EU envoy Piero Fassino after holding talks Tuesday with Thai Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram.
Dalai Lama, Obama to attend religious meet
Dharamsala: Globe-trotting monk the Dalai Lama and US President Barack Obama will be together at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington next week, the...
New catalysts promise faster, cleaner research platform
By IANS,
Washington : A new class of exceptionally effective catalysts have been isolated by a team of Boston College and MIT scientists, opening up a vast new scientific platform to researchers in medicine, biology and materials.
The new catalysts can be easily prepared and possess unique features never before utilised by chemists, according to findings from a team led by Amir H Hoveyda, professor at Boston College and MIT professor and Nobel laureate Richard Schrock, who shared the 2005 prize in Chemistry for early discoveries of catalytic olefin metathesis.
5.7-magnitude quake rattles southern Mexico
By SPA
Mexico : A moderate earthquake shook southern Mexico on Thursday, without immediate
reports of significant damage or injuries, AP reported.
The 5.7-magnitude quake struck at 5:01 p.m. local time (2301 GMT) and was centered offshore, 48 miles (78 kilometers) southwest of the city of Mapastepec in Chiapas state, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
A second quake with a magnitude of 4.7 hit the same area about 14 minutes later, the survey said.
Cameron may ban British jihadis returning home
London : British Prime Minister David Cameron plans to counter threats posed by Islamic State (IS) militants and may consider banning Britain-born jihadis stationed...
South Korea complaints against North at UN
By DPA,
New York : South Korea Friday formally filed a complaint to the UN Security Council accusing North Korea of sinking one of its vessels, which claimed the lives of 46 sailors.
South Korea asked the council to consider measures "appropriate to the gravity of the situation", following the sinking of its naval ship Cheonan in March.
South Korean Ambassador Park In-kook handed a letter to the council president, Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller, calling on the 15-nation council to begin discussions.
GM to temporarily close plants and cut production
By DPA,
Washington : General Motors Corp announced Friday that it will temporarily close plants and reduce production because of plunging car sales, one day after the US Senate rejected a massive bail-out package for the automotive industry.
General Motors will idle 30 percent of its North American plants for the first quarter of 2009, citing a 36-percent drop in sales in November and a 41-percent decline in 2008 from the previous year.
China money supply to increase 14 percent
By IANS,
Beijing : China's central bank has set a target of 14 percent growth rate for its money supply in 2012.
UN bodies express concern over use of children in violent protests in S Nepal
By Xinhua
Kathmandu : The United Nations agencies based in Nepal on Friday expressed concern over the use of children in violent protests in southern Nepal.
In a press release jointly issued by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, it was stated that they are increasingly concerned at the threat of harm to children, given the violent protests that have been taking place in the Terai.
Reduction of refugees leads to decreased assistance
By NNN-ZANIS
Lusaka : The reduction in the refugee’s population in the country, has lead to a decrease in the assistance rendered to the refugees still living in the camps, Government has revealed.
Home Affairs Minister, Lt. Gen. Ronnie Shikapwasha, said the reduction has been drastic and has affected the quality of assistance rendered in the remaining camps.
Commission begins probe into Sri Lanka ethnic conflict
By DPA,
Colombo : A commission began probing the final eight years of Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict Wednesday amidst skepticism whether it would investigate allegations of war crimes.
Former attorney general C.R de Silva presided over the first meeting of the eight-member panel, which was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The commission has been given six months to complete the probe, which covers the period during which a Norwegian-backed cease-fire with Tamil rebels was in operation from 2002 to 2006.
eBay slammed with $3.8-billion lawsuit
By DPA,
San Francisco : eBay has been slapped with a $3.8-billion lawsuit by a company that claims the online auctioneer stole its ideas for online payments and then tried to patent them as its own, according to a news release for the plaintiffs Wednesday.
In the lawsuit, lawyers for XPRT Ventures claimed that it shared details of its online payments system with the company after eBay signed a confidentiality agreement, only to find that the retail giant later applied for patents for that same technology. The application was denied because of XPRT's prior patents, the lawsuit said.
Three killed in Quetta firing
By IANS,
Quetta : Three people were killed and two injured when gunmen riding motorcycles fired at them in this Balochistan capital, but it was not immediately clear whether it was a terror attack.
Quoting hospital sources, APP news agency said Friday that three people identified as Arshad Mehmood, Atef and Abdul Khaliq were sitting in front of a public call office (PCO) at Kalat Street when the motorcycle riders opened fire on them Thursday night.
Arshad Mehmood and Atef died on the spot while Abdul Khaliq succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Astrid: Chavez Essential for Colombia
By Prensa Latina
Paris : The sister of Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian citizen in the hands of guerrillas since 2002, reiterated on Wednesday that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's participation as mediator of her sibling's release is essential.
Astrid Betancourt said on Tuesday in Geneva and repeated the words on Wednesday in Paris that Chavez is the only person capable of making possible a humanitarian exchange of detainees, between FARC rebels and the Colombian government.
200,000 bronze keys for tallest statue in Argentina
By IANS/EFE,
Buenos Aires : Argentinean artists are collecting over 200,000 bronze keys to cast the tallest statue in the country in honour of indigenous people.
Bronze items including over 200,000 keys are being collected to construct the tallest monument in Argentina, which will stand 10 metres high and will pay tribute to the "native woman", historian Osvaldo Bayer and sculptor Andres Zerneri have said.
The proposed monument would replace a statue of former president Julio Argentino Roca (1843-1914), who led a military campaign against ethnic Indians.
New US jobless claims climb to 417,000
By IANS/EFE,
Washington : First-time claims for unemployment benefits rose by 5,000 last week to 417,000, the US Labour Department said Thursday.
Chavez – 10 years in power as an international maverick
By Veronica Sardon, DPA,
Buenos Aires : Controversial Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will celebrate 10 years in power Monday and has made it clear that he has no plans to leave anytime soon.
Chavez, who became president Feb 2, 1999, is now trying to cling on to power for unlimited years. On Feb 15, Venezuela is to hold a constitutional referendum which would abolish term limits and enable the leftist leader to seek unlimited re-election.
Under the present constitution, Chavez's second term ends in February 2013 without the chance of re-election.
UN summit of least developed nations begins Monday
By IANS,
United Nations : The 4th UN summit of the Least Developed Countries starts Monday in Istanbul, and would focus on ending poverty, Prensa Latina reported.
Now, a pesticide-free way of killing weeds
By IANS,
London: It could be what gardners have long wished for -- a gadget that kills weeds in a jiffy without requiring noxious pesticides.
US breaks Pentagon-Russian arms exporter ties
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The US lawmakers have passed a bill which breaks the relationship between the Pentagon and Russian state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport.
Three killed in China shipyard blast
By IANS,
Beijing : At least three people were killed and 12 injured in a shipyard blast in east China's Jiangsu province Sunday, the authorities said.
Stay lengthened for Indonesian tsunami victims in Malaysia
By Xinhua,
Jakarta : Some 24,000 Indonesian tsunami victims' stay in Malaysia has been lengthened until January 2009, spokesman of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry Teuku Faizasyah told Xinhua on Saturday.
"The deadline is supposed to be August this year, but the Aceh provincial government is not ready yet to take in," the spokesman said.
Some of the victims are employed by Malaysian people. "Those who get recommended from the companies or households they are working for may stay longer than the due time of January 9, 2009,"he said.
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