Dalai Lama on a visit to Japan
By IANS,
Dharamsala : Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Friday reached Japan where he will deliver a two-day lecture series on spirituality, beginning Nov 4.
"He (the Dalai Lama) reached Japan Friday where a warm welcome was accorded to him by Tibetans, Japanese well-wishers and Buddhist monks at Narita airport near Tokyo," Tenzin Taklha, the spokesman of the exiled leader, told IANS.
"The spiritual guru will visit southwestern city of Fukuoka to deliver a talk on 'Compassionate Mind: Key to a Happy Life'," he added.
On Nov 7, he will deliver a public talk in Tokyo.
Japan warned of possible nuclear leak
By SPA,
Tokyo : Japan's Foreign Ministry says the U.S. Navy has warned that a nuclear sub may have had radioactive leaks during recent port calls in southern Japan.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday that the U.S. Navy told it a small amount of radiation might have leaked from the nuclear-powered submarine USS Houston as it traveled around the Pacific. The Houston made calls in March and April in the southern Japanese naval ports of Sasebo and Okinawa.
Women in EU earn less than men
By IRNA
Brussels : Women in the European Union continue to earn an average of 15% less than men.
The gender pay gap represents the difference between average hourly pay for women and men before tax across the economy as a whole.
It reflects ongoing discrimination and inequality in the labour market which, in practice, mainly affects women, said the European Commission in a new report released Wednesday.
Eight-year-old Ukrainian gets conscription notice
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : No kidding! Age no bar for conscription. It was a shock for the Ukrainian parents whose eight-year-old son has been ordered to serve the country's armed forces.
The boy in the southwestern Ukrainian town of Ivano-Frankovsk has received a notification that he is to be conscripted to the army, UNIAN news agency reported Wednesday.
Early elections will not solve Ukraine’s political crisis – poll
By RIA Novosti,
Kiev : A recent poll said that less than 10% of Ukrainians believe early elections will help Ukraine overcome its current political crisis, the UNIAN news agency said on Thursday.
President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved parliament and called snap elections for December 7. However, Ukraine's deteriorating economic crisis and its need for financial assistance in the form of a $14 billion IMF loan forced the president to postpone snap polls by a week and reopen parliament to introduce new legislation.
Ukraine says Russia cannot have more warships in Crimea
By RIA Novosti,
Kiev : The agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the stationing of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the Crimea does not allow any increase in the number of warships, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
The Russian Navy commander said on Friday that the Black Sea Fleet could increase the number of warships at the base in Sevastopol, in Ukraine's Crimea, to 100.
World begins to accept Nepal may fail statute deadline
By IANS,
Kathmandu : With less than two months left for the promulgation of a new constitution but Nepal's squabbling parties still unable to start work on the first draft, the world has begun to accept that the Himalayan republic is unlikely to meet the May 28 deadline.
It was indicated by Britain's special representative for peace-building, Jack McConnell, who winded up consultations with Nepal's Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, opposition party chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and other key political players during a three-day official visit.
China Eastern Airlines cancels flights due to earthquake
By Xinhua,
Beijing : China Eastern Airlines (CEA) Monday cancelled all flights to southwestern Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu after a major earthquake hit the region and, according to an estimate, killed at least 5,000 people.
CEA will operate back-up flights to help move disaster relief supplies and workers, a company spokesman said.
All subsidiaries of the airliner will prioritise transportation of relief goods and staff, he said.
The company has informed the passengers of the cancelled flights, he added.
Philippine president congratulates new U.S. president Obama
By IANS,
Manila : Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama as the new president of the United States as she looked forward to working closely with the next U.S. administration in strengthening regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific.
"On behalf of the Filipino nation and the Filipino people, I congratulate Senator Barack Obama on his election as the 44th President of the United States," President Arroyo said in a statement posted on the government's website.
Tamil Nadu leaders seek Indian intervention in Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Chennai : Tamil Nadu political leaders K. Veeramani and Thol Thirumavalavan courted arrest along with over 300 supporters here Tuesday to demand India's intervention in Sri Lanka.
"The (central government) should immediately intervene in the Tamils' issue in Sri Lanka and desist from assisting the Sinhala regime in Colombo in its military misadventure," Dravida Kazhagam leader Veeramani told reporters before being arrested.
Belgian prime minister submits his resignation
By KUNA,
Brussels : Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme offered Monday night his resignation to King Albert II after failing to implement state reforms, local media reported.
Leterme has set a deadline for July 15 to reach a comprehensive accord with his coalition partners on reforms to give more power to the regions but an agreement looked virtually impossible.
He was due to present the accord to parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
King Albert is to decide Tuesday whether to accept the resignation.
Over 28 UN staff members killed in violent attacks worldwide in 2009
Tehran, Jan 6, IRNA – Dozens of United Nations personnel made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty last year with at least 28 civilian staff members and seven peacekeeping troops killed in deadly attacks, the world body’s staff union said Tuesday.
According to a press release issued by the UN Information Center (UNIC) here on Wednesday, the union urged nations to sign a global treaty protecting UN staff.
Nepal government, ethnic parties reach deal to end strike
By DPA
Kathmandu : Nepal's government and the agitating ethnic group in the southern part of the country Thursday reached a deal to address ethnic demands and end more than two weeks of crippling strikes.
The deal came after days of talks between the government and the ethnic United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) in the capital.
The UDMF announced the withdrawal of a crippling indefinite general strike it imposed across the region for the last 16 days following the agreement.
Over 824,000 people displaced by Ukraine conflict: UN
Kiev : More than 824,000 people have been displaced by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, including 430,000 within the country, according to a UN...
Four killed in Colombia bomb blast
Bogota: Colombia's police director Rodolfo Palomino has confirmed that a bomb blast killed four people, and injured 14 others outside a shelter for the...
78 killed in Nigeria school explosion
Abuja : At least 78 students were killed and 45 others injured Monday in an explosion in a secondary school in northeast Nigeria, as...
Indian-American groups to campaign on immigration issues
New York : Indian-American groups have called for a campaign on immigration issues affecting the Indian diaspora including use of H-1B visa by...
Rejection helps one to spot fake smiles
By IANS,
Washington : An honest smile is the mantra that opens doors and wins friends, but beware a phoney grin.
People in the throes of rejection are particularly good in telling the genuine from fake smile, according to a recent study.
Michael J. Bernstein, a psychologist and his colleagues from Miami University wanted to see to what extent rejected individuals would be able to identify the authenticity of a facial expression.
They induced feelings of social rejection in a group of the participants by making them think about a time when they felt socially isolated.
Geelani lauds Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir, reveals secret letter
By Aijaz Nazir
New Delhi: Two weeks after NSA-level talks between India and Pakistan derailed over the latter's insistence on raising the Kashmir issue and...
Nepal Maoists quit government yet again
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's former Maoist guerrillas Friday pulled out of the coalition government - for the second time this month - after power negotiations with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his Nepali Congress (NC) party failed to resolve a dragging deadlock, casting a shadow over the fate of the new constitution.
The seven Maoist ministers in the cabinet handed over their resignations collectively late in the evening at a meeting of the seven ruling parties even as it had seemed the warring parties were on the verge of reaching an understanding.
Indian companies unaffected by Maoist union’s strike in Nepal
By Sudeshna Sarkar,IANS,
Kathmandu : Two major Indian joint ventures operating in an industrial corridor in central Nepal remained unaffected by an indefinite strike called by the ruling Maoist-backed trade union from Friday in the area, thanks to a recent visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to that country.
Americans think healthcare system needs radical overhaul
By IANS,
Washington : The bulk of Americans, highly dissatisfied with their healthcare system, think that it needs a radical overhaul to provide better services and care to the public, according to a new survey.
Released Thursday by the Commonwealth Fund, the survey also outlined what an ideally organised healthcare system would look like, and detailing strategies that could create that organized, efficient system while simultaneously improving care and cutting costs.
Jackson’s doctor left him alone with anaesthetic: Report
By DPA,
Washington: Michael Jackson's physician left him alone after putting him to sleep with a powerful anaesthetic in order to make telephone calls to family and friends, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
The Times quoted three people familiar with the investigation as sources for the report.
The cardiologist, Conrad Murray, is being investigated on possible involuntary manslaughter charges for his alleged administration to Jackson of Propofol, a drug normally only administered intravenously in surgical operating rooms in hospital settings.
New Zealand becoming popular with Indian students
Mumbai: New Zealand has emerged as a popular destination for Indian students, the country's high commissioner to India has said.
There was an increase of...
Pakistan’s policy on extremists poses serious threat: Clinton
By DPA,
Washington : US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that Pakistan's policy of ceding territory to Islamic extremists poses a serious threat that cannot be overlooked.
During testimony before the foreign policy committee in the House of Representatives, Clinton called on Pakistanis "to speak out forcefully against a policy that is ceding more and more territory to the insurgents, to the Taliban, to Al Qaeda, to the allies that are in this terrorist syndicate".
Reggina still last in Serie A, but in good form
By DPA,
Rome : Strugglers Reggina improved an uncomfortable position at the bottom of the Italian Serie A through a 2-1 win at Bologna that fuelled their hopes to avoid relegation with four games left.
Goals from Franco Brienza and Paraguay's midfielder Edgar Barreto gave the Reggio Calabria side a crucial win Saturday over Bologna, who are in the three-team drop zone two points above Lecce and Reggina.
In the past two games, Bologna won at 1-0 Atalanta and held giants Juventus to a 2-2 draw in Turin.
Gisele Bundchen not engaged to beau?
By IANS,
London : Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen is not preparing to marry her US quarterback boyfriend Tom Brady, according to the sportstar's father.
Bundchen reportedly got engaged to Brady following his proposal on a private jet that took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and landed in Boston, Massachusetts Dec 24, according to contactmusic.com.
Brady packed the plane with four-dozen white roses and champagne for the joyous event, reportedly witnessed by Bundchen's parents who were also onboard.
Worldwide weapons sales fell in 2010: Report
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Washington: Global arms sales dropped sharply last year as the world's governments struggled in the economic downturn, according to a new study, the New York Times reported.
Serbia announces final results of May 11 parliamentary polls
By RIA Novosti,
Belgrade : Serbia's election commission announced early on Wednesday the final results of the country's May 11 parliamentary elections.
The official results were expected to be announced by May 15, but were held up until a re-vote could take place at three polling stations following breaches in voting procedures.
May-day elections to test Gordon Brown’s sway
By Dipankar De Sarkar, IANS,
London : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's faltering leadership of the Labour Party is expected to be sorely tested Thursday in key elections to the London mayor's office and local authorities across England and Wales.
Putin orders Russian troops to withdraw from Ukraine
Moscow : President Vladimir Putin Monday ordered troops along the Ukrainian border to withdraw and return to their permanent bases in Russia, the Kremlin...
Maldives holds run-off presidential election
By Xinhua,
Male : The run-off presidential election began in the Maldives Tuesday morning which will see the incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom competes with the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed.
Elections officials said 209,332 people have been registered tovote in 401 polling stations in the country which consists of 1,192 small islands scattered across 800 km of the Indian Ocean neighboring India and Sri Lanka.
Russia may send woman to ISS
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A Russian woman cosmonaut may fly to the International Space Station in 2013, a top official has said.
15 dead, 160 injured in US fertiliser plant blast
By IANS,
Washington : A massive blast at a fertiliser plant in central Texas Wednesday night killed 15 people, wounded more than 160, and damaged 50 to 60 homes, officials said Thursday.
‘Anti-piracy efforts scotched by human rights of sea pirates’
By IANS,
London : International efforts to end the scourge of sea piracy may be hampered because pirates could plead their human rights, according to a report Sunday.
"In the old days, when the navy would catch a pirate, they would tie his hands and feet and throw him back in the sea," said Captain Andres Breijo, the Spanish head of a new anti-piracy mission, in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.
"Now they have human rights," he added in comments made ahead of the arrival next month of the European Union's first naval task force in the Gulf of Aden to combat mounting piracy.
Russian strategic bombers fly routine patrol over the Arctic
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A pair of Russian Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers took off Monday from the Engels airbase in central Russia on a routine patrol flight over the Arctic Ocean, an Air Force spokesman said.
Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans last August, following an order signed by then president Vladimir Putin.
India’s exports to US fall nearly 12 percent: FICCI
By IANS,
New Delhi : India's exports to the US have fallen by 11.5 percent in the five-month period since last October, said the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), adding that this was a "matter of deep concern".
"The sharp decline in our exports to the US that accounts for 13 percent of our global exports is a matter of deep concern," FICCI president Harshpati Singhania said in a statement Thursday.
China-bashing increases during US polls, rues daily
By IANS,
Beijing : China-bashing becomes intense during US elections and American politicians compete for the toughest stance against the country, rued a Chinese daily Friday.
Amina Mohammed sworn in as UN Deputy Secretary-General
By Arul Louis
United Nations, (IANS): Amina Mohammed, the new Deputy Secretary-General, has said that Security Council reform is a priority for the world body.
"Security...
Australia concerned over radical nationals fighting in Iraq
Canberra : Australia Thursday announced it would provide A$5 million ($4.7 million) in aid to the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the violence...
Thousands more flee Sri Lanka war zone, no trace of LTTE chief
By IANS,
Colombo : Thousands of sick, injured and fatigued Tamil civilians fled Sri Lanka's shrunken war zone Tuesday in a heart rending "human avalanche", but there was no trace of the elusive Tamil Tigers chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.
Television footage showed men, women and children wearily walking out of a strip of land in coastal Mullaitivu district after troops poured into the last remaining base of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a determined bid to crush a quarter century long separatist campaign.
Georgia’s breakaway region Abkhazia requests Russia for recognition
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia has sent an appeal to Russia to recognize its independence, the republic's president said Thursday.
Sergei Bagapsh said he expected South Ossetia, another breakaway province of Georgia, to send a similar request in the coming days.
In Abkhazia's capital, Sukhumi, more than 47,000 people gathered Thursday on the central square to show support for the appeal.
"It has become clear that Abkhazia will not live in the same state with Georgia," parliament speaker Nugzar Ashuba told the rally.
Nepal ushers in 2010 with a general strike
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Continuing with the past year's legacy of turmoil, the new year in Nepal dawned amid frustration and anger Friday with disadvantaged ethnic groups calling for a nationwide strike with little prior notice, leaving thousands in difficulties.
Even as the fear of an indefinite strike declared by the Maoists from Jan 24 dampened festive spirits, the nation was caught unawares as the Adivasi Janajati Brihat Morcha, an umbrella of indigenous and ethnic communities, called a closure countrywide Friday, hitting transport and business.
Chinese premier, U.N. chief talk climate change on phone
By Xinhua
Beijing : Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and U.N.Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon exchanged views on the issue of climate change in a telephone conversation Sunday.
Climate change is now a common challenge to the whole mankind which should be actively responded to with close cooperation of the International community, with concerted efforts by all, under the framework of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, and in line with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities," Wen said.
Obama, McCain joined by 255 other candidates for president
By RIA Novosti,
Washington : All the news may be about Barack Obama and John McCain, but there are 255 other candidates running for president of the United States in Tuesday's election.
The official Federal Election Commission list includes representatives of the usual minor parties, such as the Socialist Party, the Libertarian Party, the Green Party and the Reform Party, but it does not stop there.
Nepal: Political Parties at Odds
By Prensa Latina,
Kathmandu : After intense negotiations being extended up to the night, the four Nepalese main political parties failed on reaching a common agreement to form a government, which now will be decided at the Constituent Assembly.
“We could not reach a consensus on the constitutional provision and the presidential request. But that doesn’t mean an agreement is impossible,” said Maoist Communist Party president Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Modi to visit UAE Aug 16-17 in first PM visit in 34 years
New Delhi/Abu Dhabi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit the United Arab Emirates on August 16-17, in the first visit by an Indian...
For Abe, its business in Delhi and spirituality in Varanasi
By Mohit Dubey
Varanasi : With bilateral talks and business meetings wrapped up in New Delhi earlier in the day, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe...
Failing memory in early age points to Alzheimer’s later
By IANS,
Washington : Failing memory in early age could be symptomatic of Alzheimer's disease later in life, suggests a new study.
Accordingly, clinicians may be able to train such people to remember valuable information better. This research suggests the potential for improved memory training.
For example, if you went to the grocery store but left your shopping list at home, you would at least want to remember the milk and bread, if not the jam. Or, when packing for a trip, you would want to remember your wallet and tickets more than your slippers or belt.
Bush to propose end to offshore oil drilling ban
By DPA,
New York : US President George W. Bush is to propose ending a federal ban on offshore oil drilling, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
The move reflects the growing political impact of the relentless rise in oil prices, and aligns Bush with Republican nominee Senator John McCain who proposed similar action Monday.
The paper quoted White House press secretary Dana Perino saying Bush would urge Congress to "pass legislation lifting the Congressional ban on safe, environmentally friendly offshore oil drilling".
EU emergency aid for Myanmar cyclone victims
By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : The European Commission (EC) announced here Monday that it will provide emergency relief of 2 million euro for victims of Cyclone Nargis that struck Myanmar at the weekend.
The funds, managed by the EC's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), are being mobilised rapidly to help meet the basic needs of survivors in the disaster zone.
Republican party elects first African American chairman
By Xinhua,
Washington : The US Republican National Committee (RNC) Friday elected Michael Steele as the first African American to lead the national organization of the party.
Steele beat Katon Dawson, the South Carolina Republican committee chairman, to claim the title in the sixth round of balloting, US TV networks reported.
He won with 91 votes, passing the threshold of the simple majority of 85 votes from the 168-member committee to secure his victory.
China pull-out partly for personal reasons: Google co-founder
By DPA,
New York: Google's pull-out from China was partly motivated by co-founder Sergey Brin's own memories of repression in the Soviet Union, Brin told the Wall Street Journal Thursday.
Google announced Monday that it was suspending its portal in China, months after suspects hacked into its system in a cyber-attack that originated in China, in part to access the emails of human-rights activists.
Israel to strike hard if Gaza rockets renewed
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday evening that Israel is ready to respond forcefully in case rockets firing from Gaza would renew,...
G8 agree on U.N. sanctions on Zimbabwe
By SPA,
Toyako, Japan : G8 leaders meeting in Japan on Tuesday have agreed to seek U.N. sanctions against Zimbabwe, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Tuesday.
"The need and the urgency was indicated for sanctions at the U.N. Security Council," Berlusconi said. "Given that even Russia decided to go ahead, it seemed to me important to join in, voting unanimously," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Venezuela, China sign oil, mining agreements
By IANS/EFE,
Caracas : Venezuela and China have signed several new accords, one of which calls for Caracas to sell 500,000 barrels of oil per day to the Asian country and another providing $1 billion in Chinese credit for Venezuelan mining projects.
The agreements were signed here at the end of a meeting of a high-level bilateral commission, in a ceremony presided over by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Zhang Ping.
Turkish court to apply New Zealand law in custody case
By IANS,
Wellington : A Turkish court to hear the custody case of a three-year-old New Zealand boy will apply the law of this country to decide in the case, a media report said Saturday.
Bomb explodes inside Thai Gov’t House as PM chairing meeting about security issue
By Xinhua,
Bangkok : A small bomb exploded inside Thailand's Government House complex at 2:00 p.m. (0700 GMT) on Thursday while Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was chairing a meeting of senior security officers. However, no casualty was reported.
The bomb was hidden inside a pipe behind the Thai Kufah Building where the Prime Minister was chairing the meeting while officials were clearing the compound to make preparations for Children's Day celebration, the website by The Nation newspaper reported on Thursday.
Foreigners banned from Tibet, mass arrests reported in Lhasa
By DPA
Beijing : China has suspended permits for foreigners to travel to Tibet, an official said Monday, as a Tibetan exile group reported mass arrests ahead of a deadline for protesters to surrender to police in the regional capital.
Officials stopped issuing the travel permits, which are not required for any other Chinese region, because of safety concerns, Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the regional government, told reporters in Beijing.
Cambodian PM accuses Michelle Obama of making ‘false promises’
Bangkok : Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen has accused US first lady Michelle Obama of making "false promises" during her recent visit to the...
UN renews arms embargo on Congo’s rebels
By DPA
New York : The UN Security Council has extended until the end of the year an arms embargo on rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and urged governments in the region to monitor flights that violate the measure.
The council Monday adopted a resolution extending the embargo until Dec 31 and called on UN members to prevent the direct or indirect supply or transfer of arms and related materials to groups or individuals fighting the government in Kinshasa.
Houston leads US list in number of burglaries
By IANS,
Washington: Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US, has topped a list of places that saw the maximum number of burglaries in the country, Xinhua reported.
Football coach murdered in Panama
By IANS,
Panama City : A Colombian national coaching football in the port city of Colon in Panama was shot dead in the presence of some 200 children, EFE reported Monday citing Panamanian press reports.
The 38-year-old coach, Everth Hinestroza, was sitting in the stands of a city stadium when a man shot him in the back, the reports said.
Hinestroza coached the lower division players of the Millenium Futbol Club.
Among those who witnessed the killing were one of Hinestroza's sons, who plays for Millenium, the reports said.
Bush immigration plan gets off to a slow start
By Arun Kumar
IANSWashington : President George Bush's controversial plan to give millions of unlawful immigrants, including some 300,000 Indians, legal status in the United States cleared its first hurdle with the Senate taking up the issue for debate amid widespread opposition.
Taiwan burglars use toy helicopter to spot targets
By DPA,
Taipei : Taiwan police have arrested two men accused of using a toy helicopter to search homes before burgling them, a newspaper reported Sunday.
Taipei police arrested Chang Chen-cheng and seized the model aircraft, plus stolen goods, at his home, and are searching for his partner in crime Ah Hsiang.
The pair have allegedly committed a dozen burglaries using the toy helicopter, the Apple Daily said.
According to police, Chang and Ah Hsiang would ride motorbikes in North Taiwan to search for suitable victims, then release the toy radio-controlled helicopter.
At least 124 killed in Mexico gang violence in one week
By ANTARA News/DPA,
Mexico City : At least 124 people have been killed in just one week in Mexico`s spiralling gang violence, according to media reports Monday.
The most violent area was the northwestern state of Sinaloa, where 43 deaths were reported. In Chihuahua, 40 people were killed over the past week, the daily La Jornada reported.
In Sinaloa`s capital, Culiacan, teachers, students and university employees, dressed in white, protested the increasing violence on Sunday.
Social justice an elusive goal for many people: UN
By DPA,
New York : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday social justice is denied to too many people around the world as the UN celebrated its first World Day of Social Justice.
"Tragically, social justice still remains an elusive dream for an appallingly large portion of humanity," Ban said in a message.
"Extreme poverty, hunger, discrimination and the denial of human rights continue to scar our moral landscape," he said. "The global financial crisis threatens to worsen these ills further still."
China unconvinced about Iran’s nuclear capability: study
By DPA,
New York : China, one of the veto-wielding UN Security Council permanent members, does not believe Iran has short-term capability to make nuclear weapons, the International Crisis Group said in a study released Wednesday.
China is also opposed to imposing additional sanctions against Iran, which some Western governments believe are necessary to counter Iran's advanced programme to produce weapon-grade uranium.
US Army Chief meets with Pakistani counterpart
By IRNA,
Islamabad: US Army Chief of Staff General Martin Dempsey visited Pakistan on Friday to meet with and consult with Pakistani leaders and US Embassy officials, the US Embassy said.
Cheney pushes last-ditch bid to save India-US nuclear talks
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : Indian and US negotiators kept looking for a formula to seal their civil nuclear deal Thursday with Vice President Dick Cheney getting into the act to save the day, but did not seem any closer.
Cheney met the high-level Indian delegation led by National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan Thursday afternoon after the two sides took one more crack at the vexed problem stalling the so-called 123 agreement to implement the deal.
Over 50 killed in renewed Kenya clashes
By DPA
Nairobi : More than 50 people have been killed in renewed inter-ethnic fighting in the central Kenyan town of Nakuru, local media reported Sunday.
The independent Daily Nation said battles between machete-wielding tribes left more than 100 injured since the new clashes began last week in the capital of Rift Valley province, the epicentre of the poll-related violence that has engulfed Kenya.
Scores of people continued to flee Nakuru, some 150 km northwest of the capital Nairobi, while others sought shelter in churches and police stations nearby.
Congress panel cuts funds for missile defence in Europe
By DPA
Washington : A US congressional committee voted to reduce funding for the Pentagon's plan to install missile defence in Europe, but left open the possibility of restoring the money once Poland and the Czech Republic agree to host the bases.
Hindi is a language of understanding and harmony: Ban Ki-moon
By Parveen Chopra, IANS
New York : United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised Hindi as a "language of understanding and harmony" at the inaugural function of the eighth World Hindi Conference held at the UN headquarters here.
"Hindi is a language of understanding and harmony. It unites the vast Indian diaspora, building bridges between different countries," he said Friday, accepting Hindi's growing importance in the world.
Be defensive during Sinhala, Tamil New Year: Rajapaksa tells troops
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : Confident of defeating the Tamil Tigers in the near future, Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa Sunday ordered his troops to adhere to "defensive operations" against the rebels during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year April 14, a statement from his office said.
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is a national festival in the island nation.
Fitch maintains Brazil’s investment rating at BBB
By IANS,
Rio De Janeiro : Fitch Ratings said it had decided to maintain Brazil's BBB investment grade credit rating and predicted the outlook for the South American country would remain stable.
NATO will appoint a new chief Friday, says Merkel
By DPA,
Baden-Baden (Germany) : German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she expected NATO to choose a new secretary general as early as Friday evening.
"We want to establish the succession this evening," Merkel told journalists in Baden-Baden ahead of a meeting in the German city with US President Barack Obama.
Like most other NATO leaders, Merkel supports Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen to succeed Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as NATO chief. The Dutchman has said he will leave his post at the end of July.
US Congressman questions Ambassador’s meeting with “violent” RSS paramilitary
Rep. David Trone warned Ambassador Atul Keshap against lending “legitimacy” to RSS. Trone warned that by engaging with RSS officials and discussing their ideology,...
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.
Can tropical forests save the world?
By Nalin Srivastava, IANS,
Expectations about a new global climate deal have reached a fever pitch with only a few weeks to go before the start of the 15th annual United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen to finalise a global climate pact beyond 2012, when the first term of the Kyoto Protocol will expire.
Russia, US may jointly develop spacecraft engines
By RIA Novosti,
Washington : Russia and the US may soon reach an agreement on the joint development of new engines for spacecraft designed for exploration of deep space, a Russian deputy prime minister said.
Sergei Ivanov said Monday during a US visit that future exploration of outer space will require nuclear-powered engines for carrier rockets and spacecraft, and work on these costly development projects should start as soon as possible.
Security Tightened For Olympic Torch Relay In Bangkok
By Bernama,
Bangkok : The Thai authorities are stepping up security to cope any possible protests as the Olympic torch is expected to arrive in Thailand's capital on Friday morning before embarking on the torch relay this Saturday.
The Olympic torch is expected to arrive in Bangkok at 2am Friday local time (1900GMT Thursday), amid tightened security.
General Yutthasak Sasiprapha, President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT) invited the Thai public to participate as it will be the first time for Thailand to hold an Olympic torch relay.
Russian ship to hold drills off Syria
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A Russian warship will dock at the Syrian port of Tartus before planned exercises off the country's Mediterranean coast.
NATO fighters accompany Russian bombers near Alaska
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : NATO fighters accompanied Russian Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers on a regular strategic patrol flight on Wednesday, a Russian Air Force spokesman said.
Two Bear bombers and two Il-78 aerial tankers conducted a 16-hour patrol mission on Wednesday over the Arctic and the Pacific Ocean and performed aerial refueling.
"During the flight over neutral waters near Alaska, the Russian planes were accompanied by NATO fighters," Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky said.
Venezuela proposes oil-for-food fund
By Xinhua,
Managua (Nicaragua) : The Venezuelan government has urged Latin American energy-rich countries to create an oil-for-food fund for regional development.
“The time has arrived for the Latin American and Caribbean people to discuss our right to quality food," Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's foreign minister, said at the Sovereignty and Food Security Summit in Managua Wednesday.
Computers explain browning of pears during storage
By IANS
New York : Researchers have attributed the browning of pears to restricted gas exchange inside their pulp, especially when stored under low oxygen conditions.
Researchers at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium suggested a computer model that can be used to improve long-term storage of fruit under controlled conditions.
Not a throne, but The Chair for Obama in TV studio
By DPA,
Copenhagen : US President Barack Obama was Friday rushing between meetings on the final day of the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, but if he sits down for a television interview, then it will be on a legendary Danish model known as The Chair.
According to the Danish daily Berlingske Tidende, Obama aides contacted a firm which makes the chair with a request for two of them in a provisional television studio at the climate conference.
North Korea test-fires two missiles without prior warning
Seoul : North Korea has test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters Wednesday without prior warning, a media report said.
North Korea launched...
Marriages in UK fall to record low
By IRNA
London : Marriage rates in England and Wales have fallen to the lowest level since records began back in 1862, according to new figures released Wednesday.
The Office for National Statistics reported that provisional marriage figures for 2006 show that 23 out of 1,000 unmarried men were choosing to marry, down from 25 per 1,000 the previous year.
The marriage rate for women also fell from 22 to 21 per thousand.
The popularity of marriages has been in steep decline falling from rates of over 50 per 1,000 for men and 40 per 1,000 for women in the past 25 years.
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.
Workers evacuated from oil rig in North Sea after bomb alert – TV
LONDON, February 10 (RIA Novosti) - Hundreds of oil workers are being evacuated by helicopter from an oil rig in the North Sea following a bomb alert, the British television channel Sky News said on Sunday.
Sky News said an unidentified person called the police and said that a bomb had been planted on an oil rig located more than 100 miles northwest of Aberdeen.
The operation to evacuate the oil rig personnel is involving helicopters of the Royal Air Force due to security threat, a spokesman for the U.K. Defense Ministry said.
Japan’s new government seeks deeper cuts in greenhouse gases
By DPA,
Tokyo : Japan's premier-designate said Monday that his incoming government wants to make deeper cuts in the country's emissions of greenhouse gases.
Yukio Hatoyama, who is slated to become the next prime minister after his Democratic Party of Japan won last week's parliamentary election, said the party wants emissions cuts of 25 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels.
That goal compares with an eight percent cut envisioned within the same timeframe by outgoing Prime Minister Taro Aso of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Indian Australian diaspora, Australian MP’s call for immediate end to Australian govt’s India travel...
As the Australian government has banned travel from India amid an exponential surge in Covid cases, concerned representatives of the Indian diaspora in the...
IS threatens to assassinate Twitter employees
Washington : A series of tweets by the Islamic State (IS) have called for retribution against the micro-blogging site Twitter, threatening to assassinate its...
Russia to develop new AWACS plane
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia hopes to develop a new airborne warning and control system (AWACS) plane by 2016, Air Force chief Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said Tuesday.
Obama, Hillary unite in White House bid
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the victor and the vanquished in the Democratic presidential nomination race, came together in a carefully choreographed show aimed at returning Democrats to the White House.
Obama, who would be the first black US president and the former first lady, who hoped to be the first woman chief executive, signalled the end of their long and bitter primary struggle Friday in a small town in Hampshire appropriately named Unity.
UN report warns of violence, intimidation before historic polls in Nepal
By APP
United Nations : Momentum continues to build ahead of Thursday’s historic Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal, but violent clashes and acts of intimidation involving supporters of political parties are marring the campaigning, the U.N. said today.
In its final assessment ahead of the polls, the U.N. says that while campaigning has been peaceful in many constituencies, in others there have been incidents , frequent, in some cases , of election-related violence and intimidation.
Maoist leader denies seeking poll postponement
By IANS
Kathmandu : A senior Maoist leader Saturday said his party had not proposed postponing the coming election to April even as the controversial rebel youth wing began a civic campaign here to spruce up its tarnished image.
Chandra Prakash Gajurel, also known as Gaurav, in charge of the Maoists' foreign affairs, Saturday told the official media that his party chief Prachanda had not asked for the Nov 22 election to be postponed to April 2008 as reported by the media.
Conservatives defeat socialists in European Parliament vote
By DPA,
Brussels : Conservative forces won the European Parliament elections Sunday as socialist parties in Germany, France and Italy all failed to capitalise on the global financial crisis, according to preliminary results.
A TNS opinion survey credited the European People's Party (EPP) with between 263 and 273 seats in the 736-strong assembly, a result that allowed them to consolidate their status as the parliament's biggest group since 1999.
The second-largest group in parliament, the European Socialists (PSE), was projected to have won between 155 and 165 seats.
Putin in Time influential people’s list
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia's outgoing President Vladimir Putin has been included in the Time newsmagazine's annual list of 100 most influential people of the world.
The list which was broken up into five categories included Putin in the "Leaders and Revolutionaries" section. The other categories were Heroes and Pioneers, Scientists and Thinkers, Artists and Entertainers and Builders and Titans.
Warring Canadian leaders take to streets
By IANS,
Toronto : With Canadian opposition parties joining in a coalition to oust the just elected minority government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the two warring groups took their fight to the streets Saturday.
Major Canadian cities witnessed pro and anti-coalition rallies, with each group blaming the other for precipitating the crisis just two months after the general elections in October.
In the 308-member House of Commons, the ruling Conservative Party is 12 seats short of the majority 155-mark.
‘हमारा क़सूर सिर्फ़ इतना था कि हम मुसलमान हैं’
अफ़रोज़ आलम
नई दिल्ली : दुनिया भर के कई देशों में रोहिंग्या मुसलमान शरणार्थी बनकर रह रहे हैं. दिल्ली में इनकी संख्या 1,000 से अधिक...
Significant part of SAARC summit shifted from Kandy to Colombo
By P.K. Balachandran, IANS
Colombo : A significant part of the forthcoming summit of South Asian heads of government would be shifted from Kandy in central Sri Lanka, to the capital city of Colombo, for "logistic and other reasons", an official said.
"A significant section of the summit will be held in Colombo for logistic and other reasons. A formal statement to this effect will be made later," Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona told IANS Sunday.
Biden ‘uniquely suited’ to be running mate: Obama
By DPA,
Washington : Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has praised Joe Biden, his pick for vice president, as a man capable of changing the culture of politics in Washington despite his 36 years in the national legislature.
"For decades, he's brought change to Washington but Washington hasn't changed him," Obama said Saturday, introducing Biden at their first joint rally in Springfield, Illinois. "He's uniquely suited to be my partner as we work to bring our country back on track."
Over 1,400 journalists to cover China congress
By IANS,
Beijing : Over 1,400 journalists will be covering the upcoming 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, a media report said Tuesday.
US leaves nuclear deal timing to India
By Arun Kumar
Washington, Oct 10 (IANS) The United States says it supports India in its efforts to complete the remaining steps to conclude their civil nuclear deal, but will leave the timing to New Delhi.
Apparently mindful of the crisis facing the Indian government over opposition to the deal from its communist allies, a US official sought to downplay reports that India had not yet approached the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to get its nod.
Military action ‘possible’ against IS : French president
Paris: French President Francois Hollande Wednesday said his country has been considering a military operation "if necessary" to quell the Islamic State (IS) militants...
Myanmar authorities seize nearly a tonne of heroin
By DPA,
Bangkok : Myanmar authorities intercepted nearly one tonne of heroin in Shan state in one of the biggest drug busts in recent history, Thai media reports said Wednesday.
The massive seizure, netting 950 kg of heroin and 340,000 methamphetamine pills, was made Monday in Tachilek, in northeastern Myanmar, the Bangkok Post reported, citing anti-narcotics officers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Physics Nobel gone to undeserving duo, say former colleagues
By IANS,
Toronto : After the Nobel Peace Prize for US President Barack Obama, controversy has also hit this year's Nobel Prize for Physics.
Two former colleagues of Canadian Willard Boyle and American George Smith, who won the Nobel Prize for Physics for inventing an image sensor that pioneered digital photography, say the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the wrong men.
Eugene Gordon and Mike Tompsett, who worked with the two Nobel Prize winners at Bell Labs in New Jersey in the 1960s, say the two men played no role in the breakthrough mentioned in the Nobel citation.
Iran pledges support for Iraq in fight against terrorism
Tehran: Tehran will continue supporting Baghdad in its fight against terrorism as Iraq's security was intertwined with that of Iran, President Hassan Rouhani has...
Dalai Lama reiterates call for greater autonomy for Tibet
BY DPA,
Bochum (Germany) : The Dalai Lama repeated his desire Friday for reconciliation with China and insisted he does not want independence for his homeland Tibet.
"We are not looking for independence," the Tibetan spiritual leader said on the second day of his visit to Germany. All he wanted for Tibet was more autonomy within China, he said.
The Dalai Lama said he hoped for concrete results from the talks between his representatives and the Chinese government held in the aftermath of the Tibet freedom demonstrations in March.
20 killed as trains collide in Belgium
By DPA,
Brussels : Twenty people died Monday morning and an unknown number were injured as two passenger trains collided head-on in the Belgian town of Halle, local media reported.
Flemish broadcaster VRT and the Belga news service cited the mayor of Halle as the source of the figures. The mayor's office could not confirm the report when contacted by DPA.
Earlier, police said that the two commuter trains rammed one another head-on approximately one kilometre from Halle station. Police spoke of several people being "heavily injured", but were unable to give further details.
China, Malaysia pledge stability in South China Sea
Beijing : Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak Friday agreed to strengthen dialogue to maintain stability in the South China...
35 prisoners flee after beating guards in Tunisia
By IANS/AKI,
Tunis : Thirty-five inmates held in a prison in southern Tunisia escaped by assaulting guards and making a hole in the wall, a media report said.
Sri Lanka slams German comments at slain editor’s funeral
By DPA,
Colombo : The Sri Lankan government sharply criticised German Ambassador Jurgen Weerth for his comments at the funeral of a slain newspaper editor, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday.
Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona Tuesday summoned Weerth to express the government's "displeasure", the official said on condition of anonymity.
Over 30 killed in Nigeria attacks
Lagos: More than 30 people have been confirmed dead following fresh attacks by unidentified gunmen in Birnin-Magaji area of northwest Nigeria's Zamfara state, officials...
Delhi most unsafe for foreigners, reveals NCRB data
By Rajnish Singh
New Delhi : Delhi is among the most unsafe places for foreigners in India with 164 cases of heinous crimes...
Paris court dismisses Sarkozy ‘voodoo doll’ suit
By DPA,
Paris : A Paris court Wednesday dismissed a suit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to force a French publisher to stop selling a voodoo doll in his image, French media reported.
In their ruling, the judges found that the Sarkozy voodoo doll did "not represent an offence to his human dignity or a personal attack".
Instead, its creation and sale were permitted by the publisher's right to freedom of expression and its "right to express humour".
The publisher, K&B Editions, put 20,000 Sarkozy voodoo dolls on sale on Oct 9.
Mexico police arrests 1997 Acteal massacre mastermind
By Xinhua
Mexico City : Mexico police has re-arrested an alleged mastermind of the 1997 massacre in Acteal in southern Mexican state of Chiapas that killed 45 people.
In a statement, Mexico police said Sunday that Antonio Santiz was arrested on charges of participation in the violent robberies prior to the massacre in Acteal.
Local justice officials said Santiz was believed to have provided weapons for the massacre.
US again tells Pakistan: Focus on extremists not India
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Warning that Al Qaeda and Taliban extremists in Pakistan are posing "an ever more serious threat to Pakistan's very existence," a top US general has asked Islamabad to turn its focus from India to extremists.
Pakistan must reconfigure its military forces to deal with counterinsurgency operations rather than to continue its conventional focus on traditional rival India, Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the US Central Command, told a House panel Friday.
France’s sovereign wealth fund to boost economic security
By Xinhua,
Paris : France's plan to create a sovereign wealth fund is a part of the country's efforts to guarantee its economic security in the current world financial crisis.
The fund, announced by French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week, is designed to protect the strategically important French enterprises threatened by the global credit crunch and prevent those companies from foreign takeover, the latest manifestation of economic patriotism of the country.
Ukraine minister resigns over drunken fight
By RIA Novosti,
Kiev : Ukraine's Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko has tendered his resignation over his detention in Germay last week following a drunken brawl at Frankfurt airport.
Lutsenko asked the parliament to approve his resignation and discuss the issue while he was not present in the house.
According to German media reports, Lutsenko and his 19-year-old son were not allowed at Frankfurt airport to board a flight to Seoul May 4, as they were both extremely drunk and behaving inappropriately.
Ukraine to host NATO-led Sea Breeze drills despite protests
By RIA Novosti,
Kiev : A NATO-led tactical exercise will be held in Ukraine on July 14-26 despite possible protests from locals opposed to the country's drive to join the alliance, Ukraine's defense minister said on Wednesday.
"Sea Breeze will take place regardless of any protests," Yuriy Yekhanurov told a government meeting.
Sea Breeze 2008 is a multinational military exercise led by the U.S. and Ukraine, which has been held annually since 1997.
Cyclone-hard-hit townships resume paddy planting in Myanmar
By Xinhua,
Yangon : One more cyclone-hard-hit township, Kungyangon, in Myanmar's Yangon division has been ploughed with 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) of monsoon paddy after paddy strains were provided to local farmers, the state newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Wednesday.
Chinese eateries smuggled 1,000 chefs into Germany, raids show
By DPA,
Hanover (Germany): A Chinese people-trafficking gang is thought to have smuggled more than 1,000 compatriots into Germany over the years to work as chefs, criminal investigators here reported Monday.
Hanover, state prosecutors said they were investigating on charges of people trafficking and exploitation, after 1,300 police and customs officers had uncovered evidence spanning four German states.
Raids were carried out at lunchtime in 180 Chinese restaurants and apartments, in the states of Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Baden-Wuerttemberg and North-Rhine Westphalia.
Denzel Washington gorged on junk food for ‘Pelham 1 2 3’
By IANS,
London: Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington was delighted when movie bosses ordered him to fatten up for his latest movie role in "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" because he thoroughly enjoyed stuffing himself with junk food.
The actor who appears in the movie alongside John Travolta, plays an overweight character and the slim star had to gain a staggering 40 pounds (18 Kg), reports imdb.com.
"Getting there was such fun. Milkshakes, hamburgers... middle of the night a little Haagen Daz (ice cream). Anything I wanted...just eat, eat, eat," he said.
177 confirmed dead in Brazil plane crash
By IANS
Sao Paulo : At least 177 people were confirmed dead in a plane crash at Congonhas Airport here, the worst aviation accident in Brazil's history, the Spanish news agency EFE said.
Emergency workers had recovered 174 bodies of the victims at the accident scene Wednesday evening, bringing to 177 the number of confirmed fatalities. Three people died in hospitals after being severely injured when the airliner crashed into the building where they were working.
One day in the life of Gordon Brown
By IANS,
London : Prime Minister Gordon Brown is slipping on the popularity charts - in fact, a poll published Wednesday claims the majority thinks Labour cannot win under him next year. But even his critics admire his strenuous, daily routine at 10, Downing Street, unchanged since he came to office nearly a year ago.
The Guardian newspaper has put together an hour-by-hour time line of a day in Brown's life.
Three-fourth of Germans dissatisfied with Merkel gov’t: poll
By IRNA,
Berlin : Three-fourth of Germans are not happy with the performance of the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel, comprised of her Christian Democrats and her junior coalition partner, the liberal Free Democrats.
According to a survey, released Friday by Germany's ARD public television network, some 72 percent of those questioned criticized the work of the government which has been recently involved in a series of disputes over health and social welfare reforms, tax cuts, Afghanistan and the future of nuclear energy.
Tamil of Sri Lankan origin is second richest man in Malaysia
By IANS,
New York : A Tamil of Sri Lankan origin is the second richest man in Malaysia, while a businessman of Indian origin occupies the 16th place in the list of 40 wealthiest in the Southeast Asian country published by the Forbes magazine.
T. Ananda Krishnan, 70, whose family originates from Jaffna, runs the telecom firm Maxis, with a net worth of $7.2 billion. In the list, he is behind Robert Kuok, 84, who has diverse business interests and a fortune worth $10 billion.
Greek prime minister denies any resignation plan
By IANS,
Athens : Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has denied any plans of resigning, saying that he will stay in office and move forward to a cabinet reshuffle Thursday, Xinhua reported.
Malawi, India signs three deals, show interest in joint uranium exploration
By Devirupa Mitra,IANS,
Lilongwe (Malawi) : The southern African state of Malawi Friday expressed interest in the joint exploration of potential uranium sites along with India.
"We have already one working mine in Karonga. We can work with India to jointly explore other sites," Malawian Vice President Joyce Banda told reporters after holding bilateral talks with visiting Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and witnessing the signing of three agreements.
Cell phones shown to impair lab animals’ memory
By IANS,
London : Swedish researchers have found memory impairment in rats exposed to cell phone radiation for two hours every week for more than a year.
The rats subjected to a memory test were released into a box with four objects. These objects were changed on two occasions and their position was also altered both the times.
The actual test trial was the third occasion. This time the rats encountered two of the objects from the first occasion and two of the objects from the second.
Departing UN official calls Ban’s leadership ‘deplorable’
By IANS,
United Nations : In a stinging rebuke of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, an outgoing official charged with combating corruption in the world body has accused him of having failed to maintain accountability, a media report said Tuesday.
Inga-Britt Ahlenius, a Swedish auditor who stepped down Friday as undersecretary general of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, has launched an extraordinary personal attack on the UN chief, The Washington Post reported.
The 50-page memo marks a challenge to Ban's studiously cultivated image as a champion of accountability.
Indian-origin scientist develops world’s first skin-like display
Washington: Indian-American researcher Debashis Chanda from University of Central Florida (UCF) has developed a nature-inspired technique for creating the world's first full-colour, flexible thin-film...
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