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Magnitude-6.8 quake hits Japan

Tokyo: A powerful quake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale jolted Fukushima prefecture in the northeast Japan early Saturday, Xinhua reported. There was no...

Man charged with murdering Asian agony aunt

By IANS, London : A 28-year-old man has been charged with the murder of an Asian radio agony aunt who specialised in reuniting broken families. Khalid Mamoun Sarwar, who appeared in court Monday, was charged with murdering Nasim Jamil and theft. The body of Jamil, 54, who worked on Asian community radio station Awaz FM, was discovered in her flat in the city of Glasgow by her daughter Dec 9. Sarwar, who is from Glasgow, made no plea or declaration at Glasgow Sheriff Court and was remanded in custody.

Chinese media turns black-and-white to mourn mudslide deaths

By IANS, Beijing : Online versions of major Chinese newspapers including China Daily, Global Times, People's Daily and Shanghai Daily wore a black-and-white look Sunday to mourn the over 1,200 deaths in mudslides in Zhouqu county. The mudslides hit Zhouqu county in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu province Aug 8, leaving 1,239 people dead, while 505 people are still missing.

Australia urges nationals to leave Gaza Strip

Canberra: The Australian government has urged its nationals currently in the Gaza Strip to make arrangements to depart immediately. The Australian embassy in Tel Aviv...

Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Pakistan medical team in quake zone

By Xinhua, Longnan, Gansu : Chinese President Hu Jintao visited a Pakistani medical team in Longnan city in northwest China's Gansu Province Sunday afternoon. Hu went to a tent and shook hands with several Pakistani medical workers at the First People's Hospital of Longnan City. "When the Chinese people suffered the devastating earthquake, the Pakistani people expressed concerns, offered relief materials and sent a medical team to us. The Chinese government and people feel deeply grateful," Hu said.

Oil spill off Argentina under control

By IANS Buenos Aires : The mysterious oil spill detected last week off the coast of Argentina's southern Patagonia, which killed hundreds of water birds, has been brought under control, officials in southern Chubut province have said. A thick black oil slick, which was detected by officials last Thursday, covered an area of 24 square kilometres in the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Caleta Cordova. Over 500 waterfowls died in the slick.

Maoists end three-day strike in Nepal

By IANS, Kathmandu : The three-day general strike called by Nepal's former Maoist guerrillas ended formally Tuesday with a "victory meeting" in the capital. After paralysing the country for two days and a half and shutting down transport, industries, markets and educational institutions, protesters Tuesday brought out "victory rallies" from different parts of the capital that converged in front of the interim parliament.

Use of preventive antibiotics reduces deaths in ICUs: Study

By IANS, London : Administering antibiotics to intensive care unit or ICU patients as a preventive measure reduces chances of death, according to a study. The study involved nearly 6,000 Dutch patients in 13 hospitals. Researchers compared the effect of two kinds of antibiotic treatments with the standard ICU care. They divided into three groups nearly 6,000 patients hospitalised in ICUs between 2004 and 2006. The patients in question were expected to be on a ventilator for at least two days and/or to be admitted to the ICU for at least three days.

Australian PM congratulates NZ National Party leader on his election victory

By Xinhua, Canberra : Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Sunday congratulated New Zealand National Party leader John Key on his election victory and invited him for a state visit. The New Zealand National Party won the victory in general elections held on Saturday, winning 59 seats in the 122-seat parliament, and ending nine years of Labor rule under the current Prime Minister Helen Clark. Rudd told reporters in Canberra that he telephoned Key on Saturday night to congratulate him on "a fine win for himself and his party".

14 rescued in China tunnel collapse

Beijing : Fourteen workers were rescued out of a railway tunnel collapse in China's Yunnan province early Sunday following over five days of rescue...

Chancellor Merkel to talk trade in China

By DPA Beijing : After being greeted with military honours, German Chancellor Angela Merkel began her talks with China's leaders here Monday. Before the meeting, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao praised the close personal relations he had already developed in the past with Merkel. She responded that her past discussions with Wen were "always very open and constructive". Merkel is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and is expected to meet cultural and civil rights groups in China during her three-day trip.

Switzerland, US agree to deal on UBS

By DPA, Geneva: The US and Swiss governments have reached an agreement in the case against UBS over charges of tax fraud, a US government attorney said Wednesday. During a conference call among UBS, Swiss and US government attorneys which the news media listened in on, one US attorney told Judge Alan Gold, of a Florida district court, that the deal was initialled and ready to be signed, but gave no further details. The US is demanding information on 52,000 UBS clients in connection with a crackdown on tax evasion.

Ambedkar King Study Circle conducts its first Annual Conference in California

A report By TCN: California: The first annual conference of Ambedkar King Study Circle took place in Cupertino, the Bay Area Silicon Valley, California on...

Indian restaurants in Australia packed for Vindaloo Against Violence

By IANS, Melbourne : Many Indian restaurants in Australia were booked out for Wednesday as part of the Vindaloo Against Violence initiative that is being held to show solidarity with the Indian community. Indian restaurants in Melbourne, and across Australia, were booked out well in advance of the campaign, The Age reported. Mia Northrop, 35, invited 100 friends on Facebook to dine out to support the Indian community, but her idea quickly gathered pace and many supported her initiative.

Super Tuesday battle in US presidential poll

By Arun Kumar, IANS Washington : As US presidential hopefuls made their final push ahead of Super Tuesday's coast to coast battle, Democrat Barack Obama was fast catching up in polls with rival frontrunner Hillary Clinton. Latest opinion polls indicated that the man who aspires to be America's first black president had narrowed the lead of the lady who seeks to be the first woman to occupy the Oval Office in such key states as California, Arizona and New Jersey.

Hope Egyptian governmental bodies will function normally: Russia

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Cairo: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday that he expected Egyptian authorities would ensure the normal functioning of governmental bodies.

Bird flu kills 100 people in Indonesia

By DPA Jakarta : The human death toll from bird flu in Indonesia has risen to 100, after two more people died over the weekend from the H5N1 strain of the disease, a health ministry official said Tuesday. Two Indonesians from the outskirts of Jakarta succumbed on Sunday, said Joko Suyono of the health ministry's Bird Flu Centre. Suyono said that the victims were a nine-year-old boy from West Java's Depok municipality, south of Jakarta, and a 23-year-old woman from West Java's Bekasi district, east of the capital.

US calls for UN debate on ‘deterioration’ in Zimbabwe

By DPA, Washington : The US said it was "deeply troubled" by continuing "intimidation and violence" in Zimbabwe, and called for the United Nations Security Council to "immediately" take up the issue. The call came in a statement issued late Thursday by the White House. Zimbabwe was "in clear violation" of the election standards for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) - the regional economic and political grouping - the White House said in its statement.

Hillary accused of aligning with Indian American business

By Arun Kumar, IANS

Washington : Democratic hopeful for US presidency Hillary Clinton has aligned herself with Indian American business leaders and Indian companies feared by the labour movement, a leading US daily has alleged.

The former first lady's efforts to bring an Indian firm to Buffalo in New York State, which yielded 'about 10' jobs, illustrates the bind she faces, the Los Angeles Times said in a long winded report Monday.

Britain’s first state funded Hindu school revises admission policy

By Prasun Sonwalkar, IANS London : Britain's first state-funded Hindu school has revised its admission policy in view of criticism of its efforts to define a 'practising Hindu', and has now made temple priests responsible for determining the status of a Hindu family applying for admission to the school. The school, named Krishna-Avanti Primary School, is located in the London borough of Harrow, which has the highest concentration of Hindus in any council in Britain: 40,000. The school is promoted by a charity organisation called the I-Foundation.

China-Tibet talks to resume in October

By EuAsiaNews, Brussels : Chinese authorities will resume talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama in Beijing in October, according to Kelsang Gyaltsen, envoy of the Tibetan spiritual leader. "We agreed to meet in October this year with great expectations to bring about tangible results," Gyaltsen told a press conference in the European Parliament in Brussels Tuesday evening. He noted that the seventh round of discussion held on 1-2 July between the two sides did not achieve any concrete results and the Chinese side even did not agree to issue a joint statement .

School bus driver accused of braking hard; 19 injured

By SPA, Huntley, Illinois : A school bus driver angry at children on her bus slammed on the brakes, which threw them from their seats and injured 19 of them, AP quoted police in the US said. One child was sent to a hospital and paramedics treated 18 others at the scene Wednesday. The children, ranging from 5 to 10 years old, complained of bumped heads and neck pain, Illinois officials said.

Clean sweep by African runners at Istanbul marathon

By IANS, Istanbul : Kenyan male athletes swept medals of all hues at the Eurasia marathon held here Sunday.

Nepal crown prince fit after heart surgery

By Sudeshna Sarkar Kathmandu,(IANS) Despite trying times for the royal family, Nepal's Crown Prince Paras, who suffered a major heart attack last month, has passed a stress test with flying colours. The 36-year-old, who had to have emergency cardiac surgery last month after a heart attack, checked into the same Norvic Escorts International Hospital Monday morning for tests to monitor his recovery. The headstrong prince, said to be fond of smoking and a fast lifestyle, underwent a stress test, ECG and echocardiogram.

Aliens have been visiting Earth for decades: Canadian expert

By IANS, Toronto : Accusing world famous astrophysicist Stephen Hawking of spreading misinformation about threats from aliens, former Canadian defence minister Paul Hellyer claimed Sunday that extraterrestrials have actually been visiting earth for decades. Rather than harm mankind, he said, their (aliens') spaceships have provided us information for triggering today's microchip and IT revolution on our planet.

New gas find another reason to boost defence: Chavez

By EFE, Caracas : President Hugo Chavez said a recent huge natural gas find off Venezuela's Caribbean coast underscores the need to bolster the Andean nation's defences against US "imperialism". Spain's Repsol YPF said last Friday that the Perla I well, discovered in partnership with Italy's Eni, could contain between 7 trillion and 8 trillion cubic feet of gas. Prior to the discovery, Venezuela ranked eighth worldwide in gas reserves, with 180 trillion cubic feet. The country is also the world's fifth-leading oil exporter and a key supplier of crude to the US.

Dutch show little opposition to airport ‘naked’ body scanners

By DPA, Amsterdam : Dutch politicians were Saturday expressing little opposition to the airport "naked" body scanners which have met with angry resistance or incredulity elsewhere in the European Union (EU). The appliances, being tested at Amsterdam's Schipol airport, were "absolutely discreet", Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin was quoted as saying in de Volkskant newspaper and other media.

District governor killed in Afghan attack

Kabul: A district governor in Afghanistan's Ghazni province was killed along with one policeman following an armed attack on Thursday. "Governor of Jaghatu district Mohammad...

Myanmar begins census

Yangon : Myanmar's national census, the first in three decades, started Sunday to collect data on population, economic and social facts. It was aimed...

Three killed in cargo plane crash in Philippines

By IANS, Manila : A cargo plane crashed in northern Philippines killing three of its six crewmembers on board, an official said Thursday. The Russian-made aircraft crashed in San Patricio in Pampanga province around 8.50 p.m. Wednesday, said Alfonso Cusi, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Xinhua reported. The aircraft took off from the Mactan/Cebu International Airport and was bound for Diosdado Macapagal International Airport when the incident occurred.

China fears worst flood in 12 years

By IANS, Beijing: Massive flooding similar to the one in 1998 that killed over 4,000 people in China could occur this year if rains continue to lash the country, an official said Thursday. Rainstorms hit the central and southern parts of China since July 1. Heavy rains continued to lash the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze river Thursday. Some 118 people were killed and dozens of others are missing in floods and landslides. Over one million people in 11 provinces in central and southern China have been uprooted.

Russian Troops to Provide Security

By Prensa Latina, Moscow : Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov reiterated Friday that his country will provide internal security to the rebel republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, by virtue of bilateral agreements. By a telephone conversation with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Lavrov emphasized that international observers will be deployed only around the territories already mentioned.

Adult brains can process fractions in a jiffy

By IANS, London : Although fractions seem difficult to master, the adult brain, without conscious thought, processes them in a jiffy, according to a new study. The study suggest that adults have an intuitive understanding of fractions. This may aid in the development of new teaching techniques. "Fractions are often considered a major stumbling block in math education," said Daniel Ansari of the University of Western Ontario, an expert on numerical cognition in children and adults.

Nine killed as tornadoes, storms hit US

By IANS, Houston (US) : At least nine people were killed overnight in tornadoes and storms in the US states of Arkansas and Oklahoma, Xinhua reported.

British police urge people to avoid Camden Market

By SPA London : Police have urged people to stay away from London's Camden market as engineers assess the damage to buildings caused by Saturday's huge fire that swept through one of the British capital's most popular tourist districts, reported reuters. No one was injured but the London Fire Brigade said it had to send 20 fire engines and 100 firefighters to tackle the blaze at the market in north London, a bohemian area usually crowded with shoppers and people enjoying local pubs and clubs.

Chinese president hopeful about talks with Dalai Lama Envoys

By SPA, Shenzhen : China's President Hu Jintao says he hopes for a positive outcome from talks between representatives of the Dalai Lama and Chinese officials beginning Sunday. I hope that the contacts with the Dalai Lama's side from today will yield a positive outcome, Hu told Japanese reporters in Beijing, the Kyodo News agency reported. Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharmsala, India, said Sunday the envoys were in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen and talks began in the morning. He said he had no other details.

Guinea Soldiers Mutiny for Back Pay

By Prensa Latina, Conakry : Guinea President Lansana Conte asked Defence Minister Bailo Dialloáto try and settle a mutiny of young officers to collect overdue salary. Authorities are trying to negotiate with the soldiers, whose public demonstrations have included shooting in the air in Conakry and taking one high-ranking officer hostage. The protests began Tuesday as rumors spread that the government will not honor their payment.

Climate talks continue amid north-south row

By DPA, Copenhagen : Climate change talks in Copenhagen entered their third day Wednesday amid concerns of a widening rift between developed and developing nations and looming protests by extremists. Despite initial optimism about a possible deal on slowing global warming, negotiators remain entrenched in their positions, with rich nations demanding bigger efforts from the developing world and emerging economies refusing to do more. "Developed and developing countries shoulder different responsibilities," said China's chief negotiator, Su Wei.

Are rare trees in Amazon rainforest on way to extinction?

By IANS, Washington : Common tree species will survive deforestation and road-building, but half of the rare trees in the Amazon could become extinct, Smithsonian scientists have warned. How resilient will natural systems be as they tide over decades of severe, human-induced global change? The debate is on between proponents of models that maximise and minimise extinction rates.

UN probe finds out network involved in Hariri’s murder

By Xinhua United Nations : The UN probe into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri reported on Friday a network of individuals acted in concert to carry out the assassination. In its latest report, the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) said this criminal network, or parts thereof, are linked to some of the other cases within the commission's mandate. This report is the tenth provided by the commission, and the first report of Commissioner D. A. Bellemare who took office on January 1, 2008.

52 missing tourists found in China

By IANS, Beijing : A group of 52 tourists who went missing in a China province have been found safe and secure, rescuers said.

Sri Lanka seeks international help as thousands flee war-zone

By P. Karunakharan,IANS, Colombo : Sri Lanka Thursday appealed for international assistance to provide immediate humanitarian assistance for over 103,000 civilians who have fled the northern war-zone and entered the government-controlled areas since Monday. Hailing the security forces for successfully carrying out "the largest hostage rescue operation by any military in the world", Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that an estimated 15,000-20,000 civilians are still trapped in the no-fire-zone.

U.S. says no “bold announcement” in coming Bush-Putin meeting

By Xinhua

Washington : The White House indicated on Wednesday that coming talks between U.S. President George W. Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is not likely to make any "grand new announcements."

"I would caution against expecting grand new announcements," White House spokesman Tony Snow told a news briefing.

Bush and Putin are due to meet on Sunday at the Bush family's oceanfront estate in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Myanmar parliament session to start Oct 22

By IANS, Yangon: Myanmar parliament will commence its 5th session Oct 22.

Care key to curbing aggression in children

By IANS Toronto : Children of mothers with low levels of education tend to display physical aggression in later life, but a bit of care by any adult can curb this tendency. A study by Montreal University researchers notes that physical aggression problems can be traced to early childhood, and studies have shown that low levels of maternal education are among the best predictors of high physical aggression from early childhood to adolescence. The team, led by Sylvana M. Côté, has published its findings in the November issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Modi & Erdogan: Parallel lives?

By Amulya Ganguli, The writer Amitav Ghosh has noted "striking" parallels between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "In both...

US markets plunge, S&P 500 sinks to 11-year low

By DPA, Washington : US stocks plunged Thursday, with the broadbased Standard & Poor's 500 Index losing 6.7 percent to close at its lowest point since 1997 and economic indicators signalling a recession. The S&P 500 has dropped 49 percent this year and is poised for its worst annual decline in its 80-year history.

Lee To Leave For U.S., Japan Tuesday

By Bernama, Seoul : President Lee Myung-bak will on Tuesday head to the United States for a landmark Camp David summit with U.S. President George W. Bush, marking the first overseas trip since his inauguration in February, Yonhap news agency quoted the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae as saying Monday.

US stocks plummet as quarterly earnings reports filed

By DPA, Washington : Wall Street indices tumbled again Wednesday as US investors reacted to a series of depressing earnings reports that offered more signs of a sharp economic downturn in the US and abroad. The Standard & Poor's 500 dropped 6.1 percent and hit its lowest level since April 2003. That followed market slides in Asia and Europe, where the blue-chip Stoxx 50 index dropped 5 percent in late trading as concerns set in about the outlook for the global economy and profits.

US house passes Iran nuclear review bill

Washington : The US House of Representatives approved a bill mandating congressional review of any agreement that Washington and five other world powers reach...

Sikh with turban taken back in US Army

By IANS, New York:A campaign by Sikhs in America has resulted in the US Army accepting another Sikh recruit for active duty with his religious identity intact. It will be for the first time in 23 years that Sikhs will serve in the US Army with their turbans and unshorn hair.

Shortages grip Nepal as toll rises to 3,815

By Anil Giri, Kathmandu : Food and water shortages sparked anger across Nepal on Monday as thousands remained in the open even two days after...

Cambodia calls in FBI to help find journalist’s killer

By DPA, Phnom Penh : Cambodia has called on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to help find the killer of an opposition journalist and his son, who were gunned down last month during the national election campaign, a government spokesman said Saturday. Police General Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the interior ministry, said that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Interior Minister Sar Kheng, in the interests of transparency, had decided Friday to call in the FBI over the slaying of Khim Sambo. "We want this to be public knowledge," Khieu Sopheak said.

Storms kill at least 47 across US

By IANS/EFE, Washington : Storms and tornadoes that hit the southeastern US over the weekend have left at least 47 people dead in six states.

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.

Hollywood actor among two Canadians injured in Mumbai

By Gurmukh Singh,IANS, Toronto : Two Canadians, including actor Michael Rudder, are among those injured in the Mumbai terror attack, a group conducting a meditation camp in India's commercial capital that the duo were attending, said. Six Canadians are said to be still being held hostage or missing in the worst terror attack on India. According to reports here, the two injured Canadians were part of a meditation group that was staying at the Oberoi-Trident hotel.

Chicago Accident Causes Still Unclear

By Prensa Latina, Washington : US authorities lack evidence of the causes of an accident in a train station in Chicago, where two people died and more than 20 resulted injured, the CNN television network reported on Saturday. The source quoted statements by local Police Deputy Chief Joseph Patterson, who considered insufficient the information available about the incident on Friday, when a trailer truck hit the station. We can only speak about a tragic event for now, he said.

70 percent Indians are Pakistanis, says sarcastic Kapil Mishra

New Delhi: Seventy percent Indians who had not voted for the BJP are Pakistanis, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra on Thursday said in a...

Nepal woos back ADB to controversial mega project

By IANS Kathmandu : Nepal's biggest and most controversial development project got a fresh lease of life Sunday when its Maoist minister succeeded in wooing back the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the lead financier that had last month said it was pulling out of the nearly $500 million scheme. The ambitious Melamchi drinking water supply project, which seeks to end the Kathmandu valley's chronic water scarcity by bringing daily 170 litres of water from an outer district, has been plagued with problems since it was conceived in 1998.

UK unions warn 2011 will be ‘horrible’ year

By IRNA, London : British trade union leaders are warning that 2011 will be a “horrible” year for people due to public service cuts and that the government will be faced with more angry protests.

30 feared drowned after boat capsizes in Lake Victoria

By DPA Kampala : At least 30 people, mostly women, were feared drowned after a heavily-laden boat capsized in Lake Victoria, leaving only six survivors, local media reports said. The boat left Bumba landing site on the Buvuma islands archipelago in the middle of Africa's largest freshwater lake, the reports said. It sank just before Rwanika landing site in Mayuge district on the far eastern side of the Ugandan waters of the Victoria, a Kampala-based private radio station, KFM, reported.

US man to run 5,000 km barefoot

By RIA Novosti, New York : US businessman Tellman Knudson hopes to raise $100 million for a charity by running across the the country barefoot, a media report said Wednesday. The 32-year-old entrepreneur will start his 5,000-km barefoot run in New York. He intends to give the money collected during the run to nonprofit organisations and programmes across the country involved in rebuilding the lives of homeless.

Modi arrives in China

Xi'an : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reached the Chinese city of Xi'an on the first leg of his three-nation tour that will...

Nepal parties start wooing minnows for fresh presidential poll

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Kathmandu : Nepal's ruling parties Sunday began wooing the winnows after the nation's first presidential election to choose deposed king Gyanendra's successor as the new head of state ended in a fiasco with none of the three contenders able to pull off the simple majority required for victory. Now the stage is set for a new two-way fight Monday when Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's Nepali Congress (NC) party will cross swords again with the Maoists for the top job.

Colombian troops kill five leftist rebels

By IANS, Bogota : Colombian security forces have killed five leftist insurgents in an operation in southern areas, Spanish news agency EFE reported Tuesday. Troops from a mobile brigade engaged the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) at a jungle hamlet in Meta province over the weekend and killed five of them. Among the wounded was a 14-year-old female guerrilla who was transferred to a hospital for treatment, the military said.

US denies Special Forces are in Sri Lanka

By IANS, Colombo : The US embassy denied Saturday that its Special Forces were based in Sri Lanka -- as claimed by a senior American military commander.

‘Mountain tsunami’ threatens Hillary’s beloved land

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS Kathmandu : By the year 2050, the world's glaciers may have disappeared, changing the face of the earth and endangering the mountains in northern Nepal that was the beloved land of Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary. To goad the world into action to save the mountains, the Sherpa people who live in the lap of the mountains and a quarter of the world population who depend on the Himalayan ranges for their drinking water supply, Nepal's first Hillary memorial expedition is heading for Mt. Everest in April.

Militants attack Shell oil facility in Nigeria

By DPA, Nairobi/Abuja : Nigerian militants who have declared an "oil war" Monday said they attacked and destroyed an oil flow station complex owned by Shell in the restive Niger Delta province. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said Sunday it had begun operation "Hurricane Barbarossa" after Nigerian military forces attacked militant positions with gunboats and helicopters.

Three missing teenagers kidnapped by terrorists: Israel

Jerusalem: The three Israeli teens who have been missing since Thursday evening were kidnapped in the West Bank territories by a terrorist organisation, Israeli...

Sales of household safes rocket in Britain

By DPA, London : British savers with too much cash to hide under the mattress have been buying up household safes to protect their wealth from the global market turmoil, the Times newspaper said Thursday. One company said that sales had increased by a quarter, while another said that its staff had received calls from panicking investors who now wanted to keep their savings locked away at home.

Nepali vice president elected, new date for president voting set

By Xinhua, Kathmandu : The Nepali Constituent Assembly (CA) Saturday evening declared Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF)candidate Paramananda Jha the first vice president of the republican Nepal and set the new date for next-round president election. The CA Chairman Kul Bahadur Gurung declared that Paramananda Jha was elected vice president of the federal democratic Nepal, and the new president election was to be elected at 0800 local time (0215 GMT) on Monday.

WW-II veteran finds lost wallet after 69 years

By IANS, Washington : This World War II veteran lost his wallet in 1941 but got it back 69 years later, complete with photographs and his Social Security card. Robert Bell, 88, lost his wallet in 1941, when he had gone for four months of training in hydraulics repair at the Chicago Vocational School. The wallet contained photos of Bell in his Navy uniform and of his then-girlfriend, who later became his wife and died in a car accident when their son was three years old.

White House denies agreement for talks with Iran

By IANS, Washington: The White House has denied a New York Times report that the United States and Iran have agreed for the first time to one-on-one negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.

Quake jolts Mexico

By IANS, Mexico City : An undersea earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale rocked northwest Mexico Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Hope for expedited reconciliation process, Modi to Rajapaksa

New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that he hoped that the island nation will expedite process of national...

Landslides kill 77 on Indonesia’s Java Island

By DPA Jakarta : Landslides triggered by heavy downpour killed at least 77 people Wednesday in Indonesia's densely populated Central Java province, officials and local media reports said. More than 12 hours of incessant rain triggered landslide in two districts of Central Java province, officials said. The landslides buried dozens of homes in seven sub-districts of Central Java's Karanganyar regency early Wednesday when most of the residents were asleep.

British visa rules to affect 20,000 Chinese

By IANS, Beijing : Around 20,000 Chinese students may be forced to leave Britain if new proposals to tighten British visa policies come into effect next year, a media report said Wednesday.

French court summons dogs as witnesses

London: A French court has sought help from man's best friend in a murder trial, media reported Friday. A nine-year-old labrador named Tango has testified...

Magnitude 5 aftershock rattles China quake disaster zone

By SPA, Beijing : A state news agency says a strong aftershock has rattled cities throughout China's earthquake zone. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the temblor Monday afternoon at magnitude 5. Xinhua News Agency said the aftershock shook the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu and the hard-hit city of Mianyang for about 10 seconds. It was not known whether the aftershock affected the brimming Tangjiashan lake, which was threatening more than 1 million people living downstream.

Man accused of cyber attack on Russian president’s website

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Moscow: A 30-year-old man from Russia's Krasnoyarsk region has been accused of staging a cyber attack on the president's website, the Federal Security Service said Monday.

Obama calls for a “new declaration of independence”

By Arun Kumar, IANS, Washington : President-elect Barack Obama set the tone for his historic presidency with a call to Americans to take up anew the principles of the nation's founders with "a new declaration of independence." "Only a handful of times in our history has a generation been confronted with challenges so vast," Obama said Saturday on a pre-inaugural train journey from Philadelphia from where the American fight for independence began in 1776 to the nation's capital.

UK Tory leader in Euro parliament resigns over financial scandal

By IRNA, London : British MEP Giles Chichester resigned Friday as Conservative leader in the European Parliament after a scandal surrounding expenses worth more than Pnds 400,000 (Dlrs 800,000). Chichester stepped down from his post after reports that he channeled staff allowances to a family business of which he is a paid director, but is staying on as an MEP. His resignation follows a series of financial scandals being exposed in the UK over the past year that has led to greater scrutiny of expenses in the British parliament.

5,000-carat emerald found in Russia

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Beijing: A state-owned miner in Russia has claimed to have unearthed a unique emerald weighing 5,000 carats at a deposit in the Urals.

5,000 Tunisian immigrants arrive in Italy

By IANS/AKI, Rome : Over 5,000 illegal immigrants have arrived from Tunisia over the past week, forcing Italian authorities to step up patrols on its tiny southern island of Lampedusa.

Democrats reject Bush’s speech, call for changing course

By Xinhua Washington : US Democrats lashed out at President George W. Bush's speech on Iraq, calling for "changing the course". Senator Jack Reed, who Thursday delivered the Democratic Party's response to Bush's speech, rejected Bush's plan of partially pulling back some 27,000 troops from Iraq, saying the president once again "failed to provide either a plan to successfully end the war or a convincing rationale to continue it". "The president rightfully invoked the valour of our troops in his speech, but his plan does not amount to real change," he said.

Apartheid South Africa prepped me for role of UNHCHR: Pillay

By DPA, Johannesburg : Newly-appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Naventhem Pillay said Wednesday living under apartheid in her native South Africa had given her a first-hand taste of human rights abuses. Pillay, 67, will take over the post of commissioner Sep 1 for a four-year term, replacing Louise Arbour, a former Canadian Supreme Court justice.

Hillary Clinton hopes to see a woman president, but wouldn’t run again

By Arun Kumar, IANS, Washington : Onetime rival of President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton says she hoped there would a woman US president in her lifetime but doubts she herself would run for America's top job again. It was a "daunting" challenge for a woman to run for president, Clinton now secretary of state in Obama's cabinet told NBC's "Meet the Press" programme Sunday. "It will take the right woman who can make the case and win the votes and get elected. I am certainly hoping it will happen in my lifetime."

Toddler comes under train, but survives in Australia

By DPA, Sydney: Australians were aghast Friday at security camera footage that shows a young mother watching in horror as a pram with her six-month-old baby rolls off a Melbourne train platform and is dragged 30 metres up the track. Miraculously, the baby survived Thursday's accident with only a bump to his head. The footage shows the pram rolling off the platform and landing upside down just as the train arrives. The locomotive ploughs into the pram, pushing it 30 metres along the tracks. Paramedics said that the baby survived because it was strapped into the pram.

North Korean army chief removed

By IANS, Pyongyang : North Korea's army chief, Vice Marshal Ri Yong Ho, has been relieved of his post due to his illness, Xinhua reported Monday, citing the official KCNA news agency.

Heavy rain kills nine in Colombia

By IANS, Bogota : At least nine people have been killed and 32 injured in incidents related to heavy rain for the past two days that paralysed normal life across Colombia, Spain's EFE news agency reported Thursday. The rain has affected more than 100,000 people in the country, the report quoted Social Protection Minister Diego Palacio Betancourt as saying. The rain caused flooding and mud slides in the region, the minister said.

Crisis stalks global air carriers

By Maxim Krans, RIA NOVOSTI, Moscow : A series of bankruptcies that have hit some leading air carriers and tour operators in the past month suggest that a serious crisis is brewing in global civilian aviation. Over the last six months about three dozen strong players have stopped or suspended operations. Among them are Russia's AiRUnion, Britain's XL Airways UK and Italy's Alitalia. Which comes next?

In Kathmandu, teenaged boys openly fix sex deals

By Sahil Makkar, IANS, Kathmandu : They are barely 16 years old, but it is not difficult to spot Nepali boys expertly luring customers for equally young sex workers on the capital's streets. The demons of poverty, unemployment and the lure of quick money have pushed hundreds of them into a dark trade. Dressed in simple clothes, these boys look out for foreign tourists visiting Kathmandu's Thamel market - famous for its dance bars, pubs, restaurants, shops and nightlife - especially after dusk.

Indian-origin man in Canada gets life term for killing wife

Toronto: An Indian-origin man in Canadas' Alberta province has been sentenced to life in prison for dragging his wife from a moving vehicle and...

Russia calls for more mediation in Sudan-Chad conflict

By RIA Novosti Moscow : Russia's Foreign Ministry called for increased international efforts on Thursday to stop resumed tensions between Sudan and Chad in the highly volatile region in Africa. The Chadian government said on Tuesday that insurgents backed by Khartoum had launched a new offensive in the east of the country, while Sudan on Wednesday accused Chad of violating its territory at least three times in the past two days. "Moscow expresses concern over reports about the resumption of violence between Chad and Sudan," the ministry said in a statement.

Suicide blast in northern Sri Lanka

By IANS, Colombo : A suicide explosion has taken place opposite the office of the senior superintendent of police (SSP) in the tightly-guarded Vavuniya town in northern Sri Lanka Monday morning, military sources here said. "According to initial reports, it is a suicide explosion targeting the police personnel manning a roadblock. The casualty details are not known immediately," military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara told IANS.

US ready to help in Mumbai terror probe

By IANS, New Delhi : The US is ready to offer "full cooperation" to India to investigate the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, US ambassador David Mulford told Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon Saturday. Mulford said the US offer could include sending security teams. "President (George W.) Bush has directed us to offer cooperation to Indian authorities in any way that we can. We will be doing that," Mulford told reporters after meeting Menon at South Block, the seat of India's external affairs ministry.

Nepal PM congratulates Rajnath on BJP’s victory

Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala late Friday sent a congratulatory message to BJP president Rajnath Singh over the party's splendid victory during the...

British police arrest three terrorism suspects

By DPA, London : British police has arrested three men in northwestern England on the suspicion of violating terrorism laws, authorities said. Two of the suspects were detained at Manchester Airport and the third near the town of Accrington. Police said they were searching their homes in Blackburn. All three men are believed to be in their 20s, but police released no further information on the charges. A police statement said the arrests were a joint operation between the Lancashire Police and Greater Manchester Counterterrorism Unit.

Nearly half of CPC Central Committee members are newcomers

By IANS, Beijing : Nearly 50 percent of the new Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are newcomers.

Bush: NATO opens to all nations in Eastern Europe

By SPA Zagreb, Croatia : U.S. President George W. Bush says NATO membership is open to all countries in Eastern Europe. Speaking in Croatia, which was invited to join NATO this Week, Bush told a large crowd gathered in an outdoor square that alliance membership offers the countries of the region lasting protection from outside threats to their freedom. The speech Saturday came just hours before Bush travels to Russia for his final official meeting with outgoing President Vladimir Putin, the Associated Press reported.

Shuttle Discovery launch postponed until Feb 27: NASA

By RIA Novosti, Washington : The US space agency NASA has set a new date for the launch of space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical reasons, an official said. The launch has been postponed twice and is now tentatively set for Feb 27, following an assessment of shuttle flow control valve testing. "More time was needed to complete analysis and testing," said Allard Beutel, a spokesman with NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Poland against permanent presence of Russian experts at U.S. base

By RIA Novosti, Warsaw : Poland would agree only to regular inspections by Russian military experts at a planned U.S. anti-missile base in the north of the country, but not to their permanent presence, the Polish Foreign Ministry has said. The ministry's spokesman, Piotr Paszkowski, said late on Tuesday that Warsaw would never allow the permanent presence of Russian military personnel at the base due to the "past history" of relations between Russia and Poland.

Stolen skulls returned to Peru

By IANS/EFE, Washington : The US government Wednesday returned to Peru a batch of 25 items recovered by the authorities, including 12 skulls that are over 1,100 year old. "We're very satisfied with this cooperation that allows us to recover pieces that truly are very important for preserving our culture and hand them down to future generations," Peruvian Ambassador Luis Valdivieso said.

Saudi Arabia rejects Bangladesh’s proposal to increase Haj quota

Dhaka­ Saudi Arabia has rejected Bangladesh’s proposal to increase the quota of Haj pilgrims, authorities said on Tuesday. Bangladesh's religious affairs ministry said in a...

French Bank Still under Microscope

By Prensa Latina Paris : Tension over the financial scandal in French bank Societe Generale has subsided a bit the last few days, but the bank remains very much under the eyes of French economic authorities. Rumors of a public acquisition offer by SocGen's rival BNP Paribas the most powerful French bank since the fiasco caused by the 7.35 billion dollar fraud, but a BNP Paribas source said the volatility of the markets precludes analysis now.

5.1 magnitude quake hits southwest China

By Xinhua, Beijing : An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted southwest China early Sunday but initial reports spoke of minor damage but no casualty. The quake hit Pingwu county of Mianyang city of Sichuan province at 6.59 a.m. with its epicentre about 170 km from the provincial capital Chengdu. The aftershock occurred at a depth of 22 km. County official Wang Jihui said first reports spoke of minor damage to some houses in the rural areas, no death or injuries to people.

G20 hasn’t fixed money to fight climate change: NGOs

By IANS, Pittsburgh : The G20 leaders have closed their summit here without the industrialised countries following through on their pledge to provide financial and technological assistance to help developing countries limit their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change, an umbrella group of NGOs said here Friday night. Hours after the G20 summit closed, Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said: "Overall, the Pittsburgh G20 summit represents a missed opportunity to move the ball forward on climate change.

Inmates’ relatives occupy two Venezuelan prisons

By IANS/EFE, Caracas : Relatives of inmates in two Venezuelan prisons decided to remain inside the facilities to protest the alleged "mistreatment" of their loved ones by the guards and procedural delays in bringing their cases to court, the media reported. At the La Planta detention centre in west Caracas, about 150 women decided to remain inside the prison after Sunday visiting hours to protest the procedural delays in the cases of their relatives, Globovision television said.

Pentagon announces charges for key 9/11 suspects, seeking death penalty

By Xinhua Washington : The U.S. Pentagon announced Monday numerous charges for six key suspects of 9/11 terror attacks and said it is seeking the death penalty against them. The Bush administration will submit criminal charges against the six men, who include alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Brig Gen. Thomas Hartman, a Pentagon legal advisor told a press briefing.

Myanmar junta intimidating media

By IANS Kathmandu : The Myanmar junta has stepped up efforts to intimidate the media to prevent the world from learning what is going on in the country after it began crushing public protests led by monks, media watchdogs said. Reporters Without Borders and Burma Media Association (BMA) said one reporter had been killed, six arrested and nearly 10 injured or harassed in Myanmar since the demonstrations against the junta began.

Russia tests new ballistic missile

By IANS, Moscow : Russia has successfully tested the new Bulava inter-continental ballistic missile, the defence ministry said.

Latin America’s largest illegal market

By Veronica Sardon, DPA

Buenos Aires : La Salada, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, boils with commercial activity as many thousands of people walk through its packed, narrow corridors in search of the best bargain.

German author Walter Kempowski dies

By DPA Berlin : One of Germany's most important contemporary authors, Walter Kempowski, died early Friday at the age of 78, his publisher said. Kempowski, who established himself as a bestselling author and chronicler of the German middle class, had been suffering from intestinal cancer. He is best known for his series of novels called German Chronicles and the monumental Echolot (Echo Sounder), a collection of documents on the reality of life during World War II.

Scrap English criteria in non-EU student visas: British MPs

By Venkata Vemuri, IANS, London : British MPs, cutting across party lines, have called for abolition of the English language criteria for international students, particularly from non-European Union (EU) countries, contending it would hurt not only the country's economy but also its reputation as a leader in higher education.

LTTE attack thwarted, five cadres killed: Sri Lankan military

By IANS, Colombo : The Sri Lankan Navy has killed five LTTE cadres, who were dressed as civilians fleeing the war zone and were planning to attack security forces, the defence ministry said Monday. It said the incident took place Sunday morning off Chundikulam in the north when an inshore naval patrol craft spotted four dinghies carrying civilians fleeing from the Tamil Tigers-held areas. The naval vessel approached to help them.

10 killed as storm Kai-Tak lashes Vietnam

By IANS, Hanoi : At least 10 people have died and 18 were injured as storm Kai-Tak lashed Vietnam, Xinhua reported Sunday.

Giant squid could grow to 750 kg: expert

By DPA, Wellington : A colossal squid being slowly thawed in New Zealand for an examination by a team of scientists could have grown to about 750 kg if it had lived out its life in the ocean, expert Steve O'Shea said Tuesday. Although the 475 kg squid, caught in Antarctic waters 15 months ago and frozen, pending a full-scale investigation, will not be fully defrosted until Wednesday morning, O'Shea said it was already obvious that the "absolute monster" would have got bigger.

Two killed, dozens injured in Philippine blast

By Xinhua, Manila : Two people were killed and 24 injured as a bomb rigged on a parked motorcycle exploded Tuesday morning near a shop in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, the military said. "Two were confirmed dead and 24 wounded in the blast -- mostly in critical condition," said Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, spokesman for the Philippine Navy. He said the military are still investigating who was responsible for the blast.

Myanmar officials sentenced to death for secret leak

By DPA, Yangon : A court in Insein Prison sentenced two officials to death and a businessman to 15 years in jail for revealing state secrets, officials said Friday. Army Major Win Naing Kyaw and Foreign Ministry official Thura Kyaw were sentenced to death by the prison court Thursday for leaking information last year about a trip to Pyongyang by a senior general, said the source who asked anonymity. Myanmar businessman Pyan Sein was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for his involvement in the case.

Riots, arson, firing as protests escalate in Lhasa

By DPA Beijing : Violence erupted Friday in the centre of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, as the government deployed paramilitary riot police to control protests initiated by Buddhist monks, witnesses said. US-based broadcaster Radio Free Asia reported that "police had fired into the crowds," citing witnesses. "There were shots and deaths," another source said. Another witness said that he had seen two bodies outside the Jokhang temple, the holiest site in the city for Tibetan Buddhists.

Cuba expects 3 mn tourists in 2013

By IANS, Havana : The number of foreign tourists visiting Cuba is expected to reach nearly 2.9 million in 2012 and 3 million in 2013, according to the Cuban ministry of tourism.

Ukraine seeks patriarch’s blessing for separate church

By RIA Novosti, Kiev : Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has asked the Patriarch of Constantinople for his blessing to the country's plans for a national church independent of Russian Orthodoxy. The president's request to Bartholomew I, who was in the Ukrainian capital Saturday for celebrations marking the 1,020th anniversary of the adoption of Orthodox Christianity in Kievan Rus, is likely to further anger Russia, which has resisted the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's plans to break away from the Moscow Patriarchy.

Obama’s America and Europe to stop protectionism: Gordon Brown

By IANS, London : Britain, America’s closest ally on the international stage, Wednesday rejoiced at the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the US after eight years of domestic division over the Iraq war. “This is a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written,” said Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who came to power last year after his predecessor Tony Blair was forced to step down over Britain’s involvement in the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Immigration scams could give bad name to travel industry: agents

By IANS, New Delhi : The immigration racket involving 39 fake Indian pilgrims busted in New Zealand and the BBC sting exposing a massive scam in Britain involving Indians will give the travel industry a bad name. Both countries could now become stricter with issuing visas, say travel agents.

Canadian police arrest 10 youths trying to join IS

Ottawa: Police in Canada have arrested 10 young men who, they suspect, want to leave the country to join the Islamic State (IS) terrorist...

Robot collects radiation data at crippled Japan n-plant

By IANS, Tokyo : A robot has been put into service to collect radiation data from a crippled Japanese nuclear plant hit by a tsunami last month, a media report said.

India ‘very friendly country’, says Sri Lanka

By IANS

Colombo : Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has described India as a "very friendly country" and said his government will never do anything that harms longstanding bilateral ties.

Astronauts begin spacewalk to remove ammonia tank

By DPA, Washington : Two US spacewalkers left the International Space Station (ISS) Tuesday to remove an empty ammonia tank that is crucial for keeping the station cool. John "Danny" Olivas and Nicole Stott left the ISS at 2149 GMT for the planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk. They will disconnect lines that transfer ammonia and nitrogen in the tank, unhook the electricity and unbolt the tank before lifting it away from the station and placing it on the robotic arm to be moved out of the way.

After all clear, Qantas to resume A380 flights to US

By IANS, Sydney : Australian carrier Qantas Airways will resume its Airbus A380 flights on the US route from Jan 16, after receiving the all-clear from safety regulators, the airline has said.

Bobby Jindal, ‘the great beige hope’ of the Republican Party

By Mayank Chhaya, IANS, Chicago : Being called the "great beige hope" of the Republican Party and projected these days as a likely challenger to President Barack Obama in 2012, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal finds himself awkwardly ducking unprecedented media and popular attention.

Russian Air Force to reduce officers’ number by 30 percent

By RIA Novosti, Moscow : The Russian Air Force will reduce the number of officers by 30 percent under the current military reform, an official said Tuesday. The ongoing reform of the Russian military envisions the overall reduction of the Armed Forces to one million servicemen, including 150,000 officers by 2012.

Merkel secures victory in German elections

By DPA, Berlin : German Chancellor Angela Merkel secured victory Sunday at the head of a new centre-right coalition she said was needed "to move our country forwards." "We've achieved our goal of forming a new government," she said after her Christian Democrats (CDU) and their preferred allies won a safe parliamentary majority in federal elections, television projections of partial vote counts showed. After a low-key campaign focused on a promise of moderate tax cuts, Merkel's CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), saw their vote share ease slightly.

Dalai Lama rules out retirement ’till death’

By Jaideep Sarin, IANS, Dharamsala : Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, Sunday categorically said he was not thinking of retirement and was committed to the cause of Tibet "till death". "There is no point or question of retirement. It is my moral responsibility to lead the Tibetans till my death. My whole body and flesh is Tibetan," the Dalai Lama told a press conference, a day after a crucial six-day meeting of nearly 600 top Tibetan leaders to decide the future course of the Tibetan struggle ended here.

Natural aromas best for sauna visits

By DPA, Bielefeld (Germany) : Sauna enthusiasts are advised to use only naturally scented concentrates when pouring water on hot rocks, according to Germany's Sauna Association in Bielefeld. Aromas can affect the body and can cause allergies in some people. The best products to use are those made from plant extracts or those with a quality assurance mark. Different aromas have different effects on the human nervous system. They can cause tension as well as relax the body. Conifer aromas such fir or pine have a calming affect. Lavender is also good for relaxing.

A book to teach Chinese slangs

By IANS, Beijing : For those looking to "colour up" their Chinese language, a Chinese author has written a book on slangs with chapters on "behaving badly". Eveline Chao's "Niubi - The Real Chinese You Were Never Taught in School", has chapters on "internet slang" and "behaving badly" that offer adult readers a way to "spice up" their everyday dialogue, the People's Daily reported Monday.

Sushma offers free legal aid to Indian in Kuwait

New Delhi : Once again, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has used the social media to help an Indian facing trouble abroad. "Pawan Kumar (Kuwait)...

US, South Korea military exercise to snub North Korea

By IANS/RIA Novosti, Seoul : The US and South Korea will hold military exercises in the Yellow Sea next week to send a "strong signal" to North Korea, a media report said Wednesday. The drills, to be held June 8-11, are intended to show North Korea a "firm combined defence posture" of Washington and Seoul, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a defence official as saying on condition of anonymity.
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