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Italy’s usury racket is worth 20 bn euros

By IANS/AKI, Rome : Growing number of Italian businesses are falling prey to loan sharks, raising the usury racket's annual turnover to 20 billion euros in the country.

Australian PM charges opponent with ‘sexism’

By IANS, Sydney : Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's attack on opposition leader Tony Abbott as "sexist and misogynist" in parliament has gone viral.

Over 6,000 people arrested in Shanghai

By IANS, Beijing : Over 6,000 people, including 31 foreigners, have been arrested in Shanghai ahead of an international expo for their alleged involvement in theft, pornography and prostitution. Police launched a 12-day crackdown in an effort to make Shanghai city safer during the upcoming international expo to be held from May 1. More than 30,000 police officers conducted around 900 raids and arrested 6,402 people on various charges, China Daily said Tuesday quoting the Shanghai public security bureau.

Chavez in Russia for Multipolarity

By Prensa Latina, Moscow : Upon his arrival in Russia Tuesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for a multipolar world order, where countries have full rights to freedom. Chavez told Prensa Latina being free is a hard task, but "it is our choice, an international order based on polycentrism, as Russian President Dmitri Medvedev says." The president recalled Simon Bolivar as saying nearly 200 years ago that only a balanced universe will allow for peace and respect for the peoples" independence. "That is the way we are paving," he added.

Republican candidate McCain wins Super Tuesday presidential nominee race

By Xinhua Washington : U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain overwhelmingly won the Super Tuesday presidential nominee race, with victories in nine delegate-rich states out of the total 21. So far, McCain has been projected to hold 487 delegates who are supposed to vote for him on the party's nomination convention, followed by former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with 176 and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee with 122.

54 die as heavy rains lash Argentina

By IANS/EFE, Buenos Aires : The toll from the heavy rains that have lashed Buenos Aires and nearby parts of the country now stands at 54, Argentine authorities said Wednesday.

WTC workers suffer from lasting sensory loss

By IANS, Washington : Workers exposed to the complex mixture of toxic airborne chemicals at the razed World Trade Centre (WTC) had a decreased ability to detect odours and irritants even two years later. "The nose performs many sensory functions that are critical for human health and safety," said Pamela Dalton, environmental psychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Centre who led the study. Individuals involved in rescue, recovery, demolition and clean-up at WTC were exposed to a complex mixture of smoke, dust, fumes and gases.

British varsity to train Indian multimedia students

By IANS Bangalore : University of Teesside, a leading British university at Middlesborough in northeast England, will train students of Takshaa Academy for the Artist in multimedia, animation and gaming under an agreement signed here Monday by the two partners. In a statement, Teeside deputy vice-chancellor Cliff Allan said the partnership was aimed at producing graduates with proficiency in the fast-emerging areas of multimedia and gaming to meet the growing demand for skilled artists in the animation industry.

Leicester is declared Curry Capital of Britain

By Prasun Sonwalkar

IANS

Leicester : The people of Leicester knew it all along, but after years of trying, the east Midlands town with a large minority of Indian origin has just been officially declared the 'Curry Capital of Britain' - a tribute to its delicious, palate-tingling tradition of Indian cuisine.

CARE International provides finencial support to Lao bird flur control project

By NNN-KPL Vientiane : The Care International base in Laos has agreed to further providing financial support to the bird flu control project phase 2 of Laos. It aims to reduce the risk of bird flu in localities, which is a grant from the Government of Australia through the Care International in Laos with a total cost of A$514,409 or about US$380,000. This project will operate in Vientiane Capital and Vientiane province till 2009 covering in four districts of Hadsaifong, Saythany, Pholhong and Thulakhom.

Nepali minister resigns after leading land grab

By DPA, Kathmandu : Nepal's Land Reforms Minister Matrika Yadav resigned Friday amid a growing dispute over a land grab by former Maoist rebels that he led and that threatens the future of the Maoist-led government. Yadav, who is a Maoist central committee member and ethnic Madhesi from southern Nepal, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

100 killed in Brazil rain

By IANS, Brasilia : More than 100 people have been killed in accidents caused by continuous downpour over the past two weeks in southern Brazil as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rushed to Santa Catarina state to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, EFE reported Thursday. Authorities said the deaths were due to mudslides and flooding, adding some 1.5 million people have been rendered homeless in the unusually heavy rain blamed by experts on climate change. Large parts of the state have been cut off from the rest of the country.

Malaysian police rescue 300 pangolins from Thailand border

By Xinhua Kuala Lumpur : More than 300 pangolins waiting to be smuggled to Thailand were seized by the Malaysian police from a mango orchard in northern Perlis state, media reports said Thursday. A total of 248 adult and 58 young pangolins - worth $20,588 (70,000 ringgit) - were seized by a team of anti-smuggling unit (UPP) of the Malaysian police in Padang Besar, a border town. The pangolins are anteaters. Some people kill them for their meat. The pangolins were brought from Kulim in northern Kedah state and headed for Thailand.

Women’s leadership worldwide to be highlighted in Vietnam

By Xinhua, Hanoi : Vietnam, a new "tiger" economy in Asia, will, for the first time, host the 18th Global Summit of Woman (GSW) early next month with the expected participation of over 850 women business, professional and governmental leaders from 61 countries and regions, GSW president Irene Natividad said here Wednesday.

Europe proposes UN Security Council reforms: Sarkozy

By DPA, Toronto : Europe's most powerful states have proposed concrete reforms to the UN Security Council to give developing powers more say, the French president said Saturday at a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Canada. The council has five permanent members with veto powers: Britain, China, France, Russia and the US. Other major states, such as Germany and India, have been calling for years for that elite group to be expanded.

Boao conference begins with focus on financial crisis

By Xinhua, Boao (China): The annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) opened in this scenic town of China's southern Hainan Province Saturday, focusing on the cooperation of Asian countries amid the global financial crisis. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is to deliver a keynote speech at the opening plenary meeting. More than 1,600 political leaders, business people and academic scholars gathered in the island resort for the conference, which will conclude Sunday.

Maoists ask Prachanda to raise thorny issues during India trip

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Kathmandu : Nepal's ruling Maoist party has asked Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" not to waste time on touristy things during his India visit from Sunday but to plunge headfast into thorny issues between the two neighbours, including the damage wreaked by the Kosi river and their contentious Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950. "We have asked him not to waste time visiting Shantivan, garlanding Mahatma Gandhi's statue or visiting the Red Fort," senior Maoist leader and the party's foreign affairs chief C.P. Gajurel said Monday.

Holocaust survivors are dying out, but trauma remains

By Jeff Abramowitz, DPA, Tel Aviv : Artur Dimant had been in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp for two days when the British 11th Armoured Division smashed through the gates April 15, 1945 and the 60,000 prisoners still alive heard a loudspeaker announce that they were finally free. Today, he is one of only 80,000 Holocaust survivors still alive in Israel. But while they now form a far smaller percentage of Israeli society, the trauma of the Holocaust still looms as large as ever in the Israeli psyche.

Can signs from nature presage ecological disaster

By IANS, Washington : Scientists taking a leaf out of the social sciences are trying to read signs from nature to know whether they presage potential collapse of ecosystems. The idea of using leading indicators in science is not new. Geologists use seismic indicators to try to predict earthquakes and physicians use measures of such things as cholesterol and blood pressure to try to predict patient health.

Greek ship runs aground, passengers wait to be evacuated

By DPA, Athens : Rescue boats, planes and helicopters were rushing to the scene of a Greek ferry than ran aground in an islet in the Aegean, carrying more than 450 passengers, reports said. The ship, the Theofilos, was making a scheduled voyage from the Aegean island of Mytilini to Hios when it ran aground on a rocky islet, with 475 passengers and crew on board. All the passengers were reported to be on deck wearing life jackets and waiting to be evacuated.

Bush takes ice bucket challenge, nominates Clinton

Washington : Former US president George W. Bush has joined celebrities across the world to take the ice bucket challenge to help raise money...

Australia’s most wanted man arrested

By IANS, Sydney : One of Australia's most wanted men has been arrested at Sydney Airport over a fatal gun fight in 2009, police said Tuesday.

Kouchner reiterates importance of allowing journalists in Tibet

By KUNA Paris : French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner announced here Tuesday that he called on the Chinese foreign minister counterpart Yang Jiechi to allow journalists in the troubled Tibet. Speaking to Europe 1 radio, the Minister indicated that he had a long talk on Monday with his Chinese counterpart over this issue and that the response he got was "there are security issues". Furhermore, Kouchner described the Chinese operations in Tibet as "not tolerable" but reiterated his countrys stance that it is against boycotting the Beijing Olympics.

20 million Britons don’t speak to family members after quarrel

By IANS, London: Nearly 20 million Britons are not speaking to members of their family after bitter arguments, a survey has showed.

Russia will stop Ukraine from annihilating opponents in east: Putin

Moscow : Russia will not allow the central Ukrainian authorities to annihilate its political foes and opponents in the embattled eastern Ukraine, Russian President...

McCain denonuces New Yorker’s Obama cartoon

By IANS, New York : Republican presidential candidate John McCain has denounced a satirical cartoon on the cover of the New Yorker magazine depicting Barack Obama in Islamic dress beside a burning US flag in the Oval Office though the weekly defended the "satire" and "spirit" behind the caricature. As the cartoon sparked a political and journalistic debate, McCain' campaign quickly condemned it. McCain himself commented at a press conference: "I think it's totally inappropriate, and frankly I understand if Senator Obama and his supporters would find it offensive."

Germany’s Deutsche Post chief Zumwinkel resigns after tax raid

By DPA Berlin : Deutsche Post chief executive Klaus Zumwinkel Friday offered to resign from his position a day after prosecutors linked him to a million-euro tax scam. The German government welcomed the decision from the head of the global logistics concern. In simultaneous dawn raids Thursday, police and prosecutors targeted Zumwinkel's Cologne home and his office at Deutsche Post headquarters in Bonn. Zumwinkel was taken away under police escort to the prosecutor's office in Bochum but later released after posting a large bond as security.

Betancourt urges FARC to be ‘good losers’

By IANS, Paris : Two days after she and 14 other hostages were rescued dramatically from the captivity of Colombia's leftist guerrillas, former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt has urged the insurgents to be "good losers" and stand down, EFE reported Saturday. The rebels "have lost," she said, "perhaps it's the moment to make things right." Betancourt, who spent six years and a half as a hostage of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), thanked the commando team that rescued her Wednesday in an extremely risky and daring mission.

US vows to cut flow of illegal guns to Mexico

By IANS Mexico City : The visiting US Attorney General Michael Mukasey has praised the success of the Project Gunrunner that aims to reduce the flow of illegal weapons from the US into Mexico, EFE news agency reported Thursday. The US justice department plans to deploy "additional resources to arrest and prosecute violent criminals, and trace the firearms used by criminal gangs in Mexico and the US", Mukasey said at a joint press conference Wednesday with Mexican counterpart Eduardo Medina Mora.

Thousands walk in cities across the globe to help UN fight hunger

By IRNA, Tehran : Some 150,000 people took to the streets in 70 countries Sunday to raise awareness and support for the efforts of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to fight global hunger during the eighth annual ‘End Hunger: Walk the World’ event.

BRICS bank to consider new memberships within six months

Ufa (Russia) : The BRICS New Development Bank will consider membership of new countries within six months, with the most probable new candidates being...

‘Million-man’ rally to kick off amid tension in Kenya

By DPA Nairobi : Defeated Kenyan presidential candidate Raila Odinga vowed to defy a police ban on a "million-man" rally and was set to meet his supporters Thursday at a downtown Nairobi park to inaugurate himself as president, charging that President Mwai Kibaki stole the win from him. A large security detail were deployed in Uhuru Park, where Odinga's party, the Orange Democratic Movement, said a million people would rally behind its candidate.

Two Canadians injured, six still hostage in Mumbai

By Gurmukh Singh,IANS, Toronto : Though Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon Thursday refused to confirm whether any Canadian was killed or injured in the terror attacks in Mumbai, two Canadians are reported to be among those injured and six among those still being held hostage. According to reports here, the injured Canadians were part of a meditation group that was staying at the Oberoi-Trident hotel.

EU welcomes release of hostages by Colombian rebels

By Xinhua Brussels : European Union's (EU) External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner Thursday welcomed the release of four hostages by the leftist insurgent group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). "I am glad to hear that the FARC has handed over to the Venezuelan government four Colombian former members of parliament who were held hostages for more than six years and are ill," Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

China, US to inject funds to boost global trade

By Xinhua, Beijing : China and the United States Friday concluded their Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED), agreeing to make available $20 billion to help emerging economies boost their global commerce. "The two export-import banks (in United States and China) will make available an additional $20 billion for trade finance, particularly for creditworthy importers in developing countries," US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told a press conference after the meeting.

FBI nabs Indian origin Briton in kickbacks sting

By Arun Kumar. IANS, Washington: In a major sting operation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 22 executives of military and law enforcement suppliers, including an Indian-origin British national, on charges of attempting to bribe the defence minister of an African country. In what is being described as the largest ever corruption expose of its kind in the US, 43-year-old Pankesh Patel, managing director of a UK firm that acts as a sales agent for companies in law enforcement and military products industries, was arrested with 21 others.

Obama’s historic speech evokes grand applause

By IANS, Washignton : US President Barack Obama, always an eloquent orator, received a thunderous applause from hundreds of thousands gathered to witness the historic occasion as he completed his 20-minute speech on rejuvenating ideals of the founding fathers. As Obama completed his 20-minute speech outlining the vision of his presidency, applause broke out at the Mall. He nodded and acknowledged the applause, and then turned to his predecessor George W. Bush, standing next to him on the podium. Bush, who was clapping, gave him a hug as his wife Michelle smiled.

One dead, 400,000 displaced in China quake

By Xinhua, Kunming (China) : At least one person was killed and over 400,000 people displaced when an earthquake measuring 6 on the Richter scale shook southwest China's Yunnan province Thursday evening, officials said. Over 75,000 houses were damaged with the impact of the tremors. A 50-year-old woman was buried under the debris of a collapsed house and she later died in hospital, said an official at Yao'an county. Officials at the disaster-relief headquarters said 325 people were injured, 24 seriously.

China downplays controversy over Mt. Everest base camp road

By IRNA
New Delhi : China Wednesday sought to downplay the controversy over its plan to build a road to Mount Everest base camp, saying the move was aimed at making travel convenient.

"Transport is an important part of development of China. The infrastructure has been planned to make it more convenient for the people," Chinese Culture Minister Sun Jiazheng told reporters here Wednesday.

NKorea says it will resume nuclear disablement

By SPA, Seoul, South Korea : North Korea says it will resume disablement works at its Yongbyon nuclear complex and allow U.S. and IAEA inspections to verify the process. North Korea's Foreign Ministry says in a statement Sunday that it made the decision after the U.S. said it would remove the communist regime from its list of terrorism-sponsoring countries. The statement was carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

China showing authoritarian tendencies in Tibet: British minister

By IANS London : British Foreign Office Minister Mark Malloch-Brown Sunday accused the Chinese government of harbouring "regrettable authoritarian tendencies" in spite of some improvements since the Tiananmen Square massacre. Lord Malloch-Brown said he was in Beijing a few days ago and noticed that all news of Tibet broadcast by international news channels such as CNN was "blacked out" in his hotel.

Canadian PM favours aggressive immigration policy

By IANS, Toronto : Scotching fears that proposed immigration changes will reduce annual intake of immigrants, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said his government "favours an aggressive immigration policy". Speaking at a Canada-India Foundation gala dinner here Friday night, Harper cited figures to point out how during his tenure the number of immigrants has gone to record levels. "We are bringing in more immigrants than any previous government. You can see this has been an upward trend in the past four decades.

Australia to assist Indonesia in education, poverty eradication

By Xinhua, Jakarta : The Australian government would provide 2.5 billion Australian dollars (some 2.2 billion U.S. dollars) funds for education development and poverty eradication in Indonesia within the next five years, Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith said here Monday. Talking to a joint press briefing with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirajuda, Smith said that the assistance was parts of Australia's efforts to help Indonesia in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Chinese premier meets Obama for climate talks

By IANS, Copenhagen: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told US President Barack Obama that the key to climate change issue is to stick to the principle of \"common but differentiated responsibilities\". Climate change is a global challenge and an important field for cooperation between China and the US, Xinhua quoted Wen as saying during his meeting with Obama Friday.

Tamil diaspora marks Sri Lanka independence day as black day

By IANS, Toronto: The Tamil diaspora in Canada marked Sri Lanka's independence day Friday as a "black day" by wearing black badges.

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.

Argentine customs seize fossils from US researcher

By EFE, Buenos Aires : Argentina's customs service seized a number of fossils from a US researcher who was attempting to take them out of the country, authorities have said. The confiscated material, a total of 45 rocks containing fossil remains, were about to be taken "illegally from the country by a US citizen with a scientific research group from the University of California", the customs service said in a communique.

One killed in suicide attack in Russia

By RIA Novosti, Rostov-on-Don : A suicide bomber was killed and five people were injured in an attack on a police checkpoint in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia Friday, a police source said. The source said that the driver of the Lada vehicle died when his car blew up near the checkpoint, not far from the republic's largest city of Nazran. "At the same time, heavy shooting came from a nearby graveyard," the source said.

African Union Building Kenya Peace

By Prensa Latina Nairobi : An African Union mission led by Ghanaian President John Kufuor is seeking to defuse the current volatile situation in Kenya. Kufuor, also current AU president, will try to resolve the crisis caused by denunciations of fraud during the general elections on December 27. The delegation, also made up of AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Said Djinnit, is expected to meet with re-elected President Mwai Kibaki, and the candidate for ODM (Orange Democratic Movement), Raila Odinga.

Schumacher’s most important F1 records

By DPA, Hamburg: The following is a list of most important records accumulated by Michael Schumacher during his nearly 16-year-long Formula One career until his retirement in 2006: Drivers' titles: 1. Michael Schumacher 7 2. Juan Manuel Fangio 5 3. Alain Prost 4 Grand Prix Victories: 1. Michael Schumacher 91 2. Alain Prost 51 3. Ayrton Senna 41 Points Accumulated in Career: 1. Michael Schumacher 1,369 2. Alain Prost 798.5 3. Ayrton Senna 614 Most Victories in a Season: 1. Michael Schumacher 13 (2004)

US sent Taiwan nuclear missile components by mistake

By AFP Washington : The United States mistakenly sent Taiwan four fuses used to trigger nuclear warheads on ballistic missiles in late 2006 and only discovered the mistake last week, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The fuses were recovered Monday from Taiwan where they were believed to have been held in storage after being mistakenly shipped as helicopter batteries from a Defense Department logistics facility in the United States, senior Pentagon officials said.

India, US to intensify cooperation on anti-terror fight: Modi

Washington: India and the US will work together on disrupting financial and tactical support for terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed. External affairs ministry...

Sri Lanka’s war-displaced yearn to return home

By P. Karunakharan,IANS, Vavuniya (Sri Lanka) : Having lost his father to long-range fire, 23-year-old Aruldasan and a group of 40 other war-displaced people recently succeeded in escaping from Mullaitivu after 20 gruelling days. He was working for an international aid agency when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forced him to undergo 10 days of "civil defence training", which was compulsory for everybody in the age group between 18 and 60 in the Tiger-held territory.

Bombs dummy run at London Eye, MI6 — The Sun

By KUNA London : British police have foiled a plot to bomb major UK tourist attraction the "London Eye" and the headquarters of Britains external security agency known as "MI6", The Sun newspaper revealed Tuesday. Terrorists tested security by leaving two bags outside the intelligence service building on the River Thames at Vauxhall, in south London, and another at the giant ferris wheel on the South Bank of the Thames, in central London. But the bags, containing small metal weights, were spotted at both iconic targets, the paper said. The London Eye was evacuated.

Obama projected as winner of N Carolina Democratic primary

By Xinhua, Washington : As polls closed in the Democratic presidential primary in North Caorlina Tuesday, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was projected by U.S. media as the winner. All major U.S. TV news networks did not hesitate and made their projections only moments after the 2330 GMT close of voting in North Carolina. The networks are basing the projections almost entirely on surveys done of voters as they exited polling places. Actual votes cast in the state haven't yet been counted.

Chinese bank employees executed for theft

By RIA Novosti Beijing : Two employees of a Chinese bank in the northern province of Hebei were executed Tuesday in the country's biggest bank heist to date, the China Daily said. Ren Xiaofeng, 34, and Ma Xiangjing, 37, who worked as vault managers of the Agricultural Bank of China in the Handan city branch stole some 52 million yuan ($7.3 million) from the vault. They spent over 45 million yuan ($6.4 million) on lottery tickets in a month hoping to replace the stolen money with a jackpot.

World waiting for climate change solution- UN chief

By APP United Nations : The world is waiting anxiously for a durable solution to the pressing issue of climate change, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told participants at U.N.-sponsored talks which began in Bangkok on Monday. People are hoping for a solution which is “based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities” and “strikes the delicate balance between globally inclusive action and the need to eradicate poverty,” Ban said in a video message to the opening of the five-day meeting.

Myanmar outlines monetary development master plan

By IANS, Yangon : Myanmar has outlined a master plan for monetary development which is to be implemented with the assistance of the World Bank, official media reported Friday.

Japan’s ruling bloc suffers defeat in parliamentary election

By Xinhua

Tokyo : Japan's ruling bloc suffered a major defeat in Sunday's parliamentary election, while the oppositions succeeded in grabbing majority in the House of Councillors.

Yahoo’s second-quarter earnings drop 18 percent

By DPA, San Francisco : Yahoo! reported an 18 percent drop in second-quarter profits Tuesday putting more pressure on the company in the aftermath of a shareholder revolt and the controversy over Microsoft's aborted attempt to buy the company. The Silicon Valley internet services company said it earned $131.2 million, or 9 cents a share, compared to $161 million , or 11 cents a share a year ago. Revenue for the three months ended June 30 was $1.8 billion, compared with $1.7 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

Hot 50 for Australia’s top job named

By DPA, Sydney : More than 34,000 applicants learned Tuesday they hadn't made the shortlist of 50 candidates for the dream job of highly paid caretaker on a paradise island in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The unlucky 34,634 are left clinging to the hope of being the sole wildcard entry when the final 11 contestants are selected and flown to Queensland's Hamilton Island in early May. The Top 50 are from Britain, the United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, Greece, India, China and 14 other countries.

Maldives’ run-off presidential election goes peacefully

By Xinhua, Male : The run-off presidential election in the Indian archipelago of the Maldives went on peacefully on Tuesday with no major violence being reported, elections officials said. The incumbent President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is competing with the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) Mohamed Nasheed in the election. Election officials said 209,294 people were registered to vote in 403 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.

Five die in US house blaze

By IANS, Washington: A total of five people, including three children, were killed Tuesday in a house fire in the rural areas of US' Ohio state, Xinhua reported.

Singapore, Australia sign agreement on defense co-op

By Xinhua, Singapore : The prime ministers of Singapore and Australia Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to further strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries. "The MOU on Defense Cooperation which we have just signed underscores our strong and multi-faceted defense ties," said Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at a lunch in honor of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who is in Singapore for a one-day visit.

Sri Lanka opposition parties boycott I-day functions

By IANS Colombo : Sri Lanka's main opposition parties boycotted functions organised by the government to celebrate the country's 60th Independence Day Monday. "There is no freedom in the country under President Mahinda Rajapaksa," said Tissa Attanayake, general secretary and spokesman of the main opposition United National Party (UNP). "The UNP will conduct religious ceremonies in places of worship to make the occasion solemn," he told the media.

Six acquitted in British nationals’ killings in Guj 2002 riots

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter, Ahmedabad/London: Exactly 13 years to the day when the post-Godhra communal violence began in Gujarat in 2002, all six accused in...

Sri Lanka rejects UN plan to form human rights panel

By IANS, Colombo : Sri Lanka has rejected a UN proposal to set up an advisory panel in the wake of alleged human rights abuses during the final phase of the war between government forces and the Tamil Tigers. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the UN move was "unwarranted" and would be perceived as "interference" in Sri Lanka's internal matters.

US House approves $14-bn bail-out for car industry

By DPA, Washington : The US House of Representatives Wednesday approved a $14-billion emergency loan to keep the country's car industry out of bankruptcy, sending the bill to a more skeptical Senate. House lawmakers approved the legislation by 237-170 after weeks of negotiations. The Senate could vote on Friday, but a group of Republican senators have vowed to oppose the loan and appeared to have enough support to block the legislation.

British electoral reform campaigner urges referendum on voting system

By IRNA, London : A leading British electoral reform campaigner, who organised thousands of voters in a demonstration yesterday, has called for a referendum on which voting system best serves the democratic interests of the people. “Politicians have an interest in which voting system give them more advantage. So it is better for us to seize the issue (of electoral reform) from the hands of the politicians and bring it back to the citizens,” Ken Ritchie the chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) said.

South America debates regional energy security

By Prensa Latina, Caracas : The 12-member Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) has announced the formation of an energy council for better integration of the region to ensure energy security. Representatives of the UNASUR states met Thursday in the Venezuelan capital and discussed aspects of the regional energy strategy as part of the arrangements for the bloc's upcoming summit in Brazil. Representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana and Uruguay, as well as delegates from Surinam, Peru and Paraguay attended the meeting.

Human Rights Watch slams Sri Lanka report

By IANS, New York: A Sri Lankan government report disregards the "worst abuses" by government forces towards the end of the war that killed the Tamil Tigers in 2009, Human Rights Watch has said.

Russian freighter disappears in Caspian Sea

By IRNA Moscow : A sea rescue center in Astrakhan, in southern Russia, on November 17 launched a search-and-rescue operation to answer a distress call from a Russian freighter that had disappeared in the Caspian Sea, the transportation ministry said. The Kamyust-1 freighter, sailing under the Russian flag and registered at the Taganrog port, was on its way from Astrakhan to the Iranian port of Anzali, but failed to arrive to its destination on schedule," a ministry spokesperson said.

Taiwan joins WTO government procurement pact

By DPA, Geneva : Taiwan has joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement that opens up government contracts to international competition, an official said Thursday. "This was not an easy process and various compromises were needed on all sides along the way," a member of the committee that finalised the government procurement agreement (GPA) late Wednesday said. Chinese Taipei, as Taiwan is known within the WTO, had been negotiating membership of the agreement for 14 years, under the name "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu".

Pitt hasn’t asked for cooking lessons: Jamie Oliver

By IANS, Los Angeles: Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is known to be good friend with actor Brad Pitt but says the latter has not asked for any cooking tips from him.

Hijacked lifeboat with US captain near Somali shore: Report

By DPA, Washington : Somali pirates were reported to have obtained fuel for their hijacked lifeboat and were moving within 35 km of Somalia's shore late Saturday with the kidnapped US captain of a US-operated cargo ship, ABC news and CNN reported. Navy officials have said they would not allow the small lifeboat, in which captain Richard Phillips of the Maersk Alabama is being held hostage, to reach the shore, CNN reported.

Hijacked Chinese ship released off Somali coast

By DPA, Beijing : A Chinese cargo ship was released off the coast of Somalia on Monday, more than two months after it was hijacked, state media reported. The De Xin Hai was now under the protection of a Chinese naval fleet, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. A ransom of around 4 million dollars was paid to the pirates, according to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. "A helicopter dropped the ransom money onto the ship. We have received 4 million dollars," a pirate named Hassan was quoted as saying.

Petition calls on British leaders to consider Diwali, Eid holidays

London : An online petition to the British House of Commons has urged the politicians to create a bank holiday for Hindu Diwali and...

Cambodian PM: ASEAN members not hostage of Thai political crisis

By Xinhua, Phnom Penh : Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that the other members of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) should not be the hostage of Thai political crisis while Thailand requested to delay the ASEAN summit to March. The summit should not be postponed, Hun Sen told reporters here, adding that "we have to meet to solve many issues, including the global financial crisis." "If we delay the summit, the ASEAN will move backward," he said.

Two Bangladeshi leaders executed for war crimes

Dhaka : Bangladesh executed two political leaders, convicted of war crimes during the country's independence war in 1971, amid tight security early on Sunday. Bangladesh's...

World leaders promote U.N. Alliance of Civilizations initiative

Florida – (IINA)February 13– World leaders from Africa and the Middle East gathered on Monday at Florida State University for an intercultural dialogue designed to support a United Nations initiative, the Alliance of Civilizations. Rwandan President Paul Kagame was one among the leaders who spoke in support of the UN initiative, which also included a presentation by Saudi Arabia's Minister of State Abdullah Alireza. The program titled “Bridging Civilizations” was sponsored by the FSU Claude Pepper Center for Intercultural Dialogue.

Australians mourn changing coastline

By DPA, Sydney: Australians were Thursday mourning an irrevocable change to the scenery along the iconic Great Ocean Road tourist drive after the collapse of the handsome Loch Ard Gorge rock formation. Two rock pillars are what is left of the formerly majestic archway that countless sightseers have photographed. Each year tens of thousands of tourists cycle or drive the Great Ocean Road - a 300-km scenic route that begins 100 km west of Melbourne and runs through Port Campbell to Warrnambool.

Early Serbian general election to be held May 11

By SPA Belgrade : Serbian President Boris Tadic has disbanded parliament and called an early general election for May 11, state news agency Tanjug said on Thursday, according to Reuters. The vote, expected to be a close race between nationalists and pro-Western liberals, is seen as Serbia's most important election since the fall of autocrat Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. The government collapsed at the weekend, with nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica blaming deep disunity in his coalition over defending Kosovo versus pursuing a place in the European Union.

NATO troops raid home of Radovan Karadzic

By SPA, Pale, Bosnia-Herzegovina : NATO troops searched Radovan Karadzic's family home Tuesday for evidence of contacts to the network that has helped genocide suspect Ratko Mladic evade arrest. NATO spokesman Derek Chappell said family members were questioned at their home in Pale, near Sarajevo. Soldiers were seen carrying out suitcases and boxes from the house. Karadzic's wife and daughter were among those at home. Former Bosnian Serb leader Karadzic has been in the custody of the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague since July, according to a report of Associated Press.

Japan, US to hold first joint missile drill

By RIA Novosti

Tokyo : Japan and the US are planning to conduct their first joint exercises on countering a potential missile attack in January 2008, a Japanese newspaper said Thursday.

Probe underway into sudden deaths of 21 polo horses in US

By DPA, Washington : An official investigation has opened into the mysterious deaths of at least 21 horses in the US, the US Polo Association said Monday. The animals died just hours before a quarter-final match Sunday at the 105th US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. The tournament concludes South Florida's winter polo season.

UN special envoy starts Myanmar shuttle diplomacy in Bangkok

Bangkok,(DPA) United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari started a regional tour in Bangkok Monday to push Myanmar's neighbours and regional partners to help resolve the Myanmar crisis. The trip comes only weeks after the military junta there cracked down on peaceful protestors in late September and early October and imposed draconian security measures including a curfew, closing of Internet access and arresting more than 1,000 protestors.

Embattled airline Mexicana to stop flying

By DPA, Mexico City : Mexicana, Mexico's largest airline by passengers carried, will halt all flights Saturday, Transportation Minister Juan Molinar Horcasitas announced in Mexico City. The action was announced after Tenedora K, an investor group that has acquired most of the embattled carrier's shares, announced that it was still seeking additional investors. The newspaper El Universal quoted Horcasitas as saying Friday that Tenedora K could not keep Compania Mexicana de Aviacion afloat by itself.

Zambian president dies in Paris

By Xinhua, Lusaka : Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has died in the Percy Military Hospital in Paris after being hospitalised there for more than a month, Vice President Rupiah Banda said Tuesday. Banda said on television that Mwanawasa died at 10.30 a.m. (0830 GMT) Tuesday. Banda appealed to his fellow citizens to remain calm and announced that Zambia would observe a seven-day mourning from Tuesday. Mwanawasa, who was around 60 years of age, suffered a stroke on June 29 in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt, where he was to attend the African Union summit.

Hu vows severe punishment over Xinjiang riots

By Xinhua, Beijing : Chinese President Hu Jintao vowed "severe punishment" for the perpetrators of the Xinjiang riots that left at least 156 people dead and over 1,000 injured, a statement said Thursday. Hu Wednesday night presided over a meeting of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) standing committee of the politburo of the central committee. Stability in Xinjiang is the "most important and pressing task", according to a statement issued Thursday. The meeting also vowed "severe punishment" to culprits in accordance with the law.

Scotland Yard sharpshooter miffed at being called serial killer

By IANS, London : Scotland Yard's very own 007 is angry that he was jokingly called a serial killer by a colleague. The force thought it best to compensate him financially to keep the matter under wraps. This happened in 2006 but the disclosure comes now. The Metropolitan Police (Met) told The Sunday Times that the sharpshooter had accepted 5,000 pounds in settlement. The expensive joke was made by Commander Sue Akers, a highly regarded Met officer, who is in charge of Scotland Yard's fight against gun crime.

Seven killed in Vietnam rockslide

By DPA Hanoi : Seven workers were killed in a rockslide at a stone quarry in central Vietnam, an official said Friday. The six women and one man, ages 24 to 52, were loading stones on to trucks late Thursday at the open-pit quarry in Ha Tinh province, 350 km south of Hanoi, when hundreds of cubic metres of rock collapsed and buried them, local policeman Tran Minh said. "Six of them were killed instantly and the other died in a provincial hospital Thursday night," Minh said, adding that more than 15 other workers were able to escape the rockslide.

Coroner’s report on Michael Jackson’s death delayed

By DPA, Los Angeles: The coroner's report into the death of Michael Jackson has been delayed for another two weeks as speculation continues to swirl about the cause of the megastar's June 25 death, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said Friday. Prior to the announcement, the coroner had been expected to issue the report at the beginning of next week. Initial comments by officials indicated that Jackson had died from cardiac arrest, possibly caused by an addiction to prescription painkillers.

Russia wants cut in N-arms in new pact

By RIA Novosti Moscow : A treaty to replace a major nuclear arms reduction agreement between Russia and the US must set lower ceilings for nuclear arsenals and limit the development of new nuclear weapons, Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday. "We insist that any document replacing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-I) should set lower ceilings, not only for the number of nuclear warheads but also for their delivery vehicles," Sergei Lavrov said on his way back from Tuesday's Middle East peace conference in the US.

Spain, US sign accord to deploy anti-missile shield

By IANS/EFE, Brussels : Spain and the US Wednesday signed an agreement at NATO headquarters here that will allow the deployment of an anti-missile shield at Spain's Rota naval base.

US campaigns against fake drugs in Sri Lanka

By IANS, Colombo : The US embassy will host a string of seminars in Sri Lanka to help combat counterfeit drugs.

Fort Hood killer will pay for his crimes: Obama

By IANS, Washington : President Barack Obama has vowed to see that justice will be done in last week's Fort Hood massacre that left 13 dead and 42 wounded and the alleged shooter will pay for his crime. "It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy," Obama told an estimated 15,000 people at a memorial service at the Texas post. "But this much we do know: no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favour."

US War Vet Joins Vietnam Victims

By Prensa Latina Hanoi : US war veteran Larry Vetter affiliated to the Vietnamese Association of Agent Orange Victims, sources from the organization informed Friday from the central province of Da Nang. Vetter, former soldier also affected by the effects of the dioxin known as Agent Orange, said he is willing to work in support of the millions of Vietnamese children, women, and men with severe after-effects caused by the dioxin several generations after the war.

‘Passengers of burnt Guatemalan bus were slain’

By IANS, Guatemala City : Guatemalan authorities have said 16 people thought to have been burnt to death in a bus fire in an eastern rural area Sunday were slain by a criminal gang, EFE reported Tuesday. Attorney General Amilcar Velasquez told reporters that "the massacre was carried out by a group of criminals who by burning the bodies tried to avoid leaving behind any evidence of their crime". He said police found at the crime site empty shell casings and a plastic kitchen utensil bearing traces of gasoline which was presumably used to cause the fire.

Law against criticising Nepal king may be axed

By Sudeshna Sarkar,IANS, Kathmandu : Members of Nepal's former royal family, once considered to be above the law, should now be treated as common citizens and all existing laws that still uphold royal privileges should be scrapped, the apex court has told the government. The Supreme Court Thursday ordered the government led by Maoists, who had fought a 10-year war to topple the country's 239-year-old monarchy, to scrap three laws that still make it a punishable offence in the republic of Nepal to criticise the royal family.

5,000 attend Jain convention in New Jersey

By Parveen Chopra, IANS 

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

YouTube says hi to high-definition

By DPA, San Francisco: Online video site YouTube is to introduce high definition video capabilities next week in a move that marks another milestone in the transformation of the internet into a full-fledged video viewing platform. The Google-owned company said Friday that users will be able to upload and view 1080p video rather than the 720p limit that has been available for just over a year. While the move will make it easier to use high definition home videos, it will also improve YouTube's ability to offer its viewers television shows and movies.

Mbeki’s removal as South African president devastating: Mugabe

By DPA, Harare : Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has described as "devastating" the removal from office of his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki, who is seen as a key ally of the of ageing authoritarian Mugabe in the last eight years. "It's devastating news that President Thabo Mbeki is no longer the president of South Africa," the Zimbabwe's state-controlled daily Herald newspaper quoted Mugabe as saying Thursday. "But that is the action of the South African people," he added. "Who are we to judge them? But it is very disturbing."

Menon to meet Obama team in US Monday

By IANS, New Delhi : It was meant to be a familiarisation trip with the incoming administration of US president-elect Barack Obama. But in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, terrorism will dominate the talks of Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon with key figures of the transition team in the US Monday. Menon leaves on a two-day visit to Washington Sunday night - India's first high-level contact with Obama's transition team. Menon will be in Washington for a couple of days, official sources told IANS.

CIA kidnapping trial suspended in Italy

By Xinhua

Rome : A trial on the kidnapping of a Muslim cleric in Milan, allegedly by the CIA, has been suspended to allow time for the supreme Constitutional Court to rule on whether prosecutors overstepped their constitutional bounds.

China wants closer ties with Myanmar

By IANS, Beijing : China Thursday pledged to boost strategic cooperation with Myanmar.

Nearly 600,000 people marooned by floods in Sri Lanka

By NNN-Xinhua, Colombo : Floods situation in east Sri Lanka has seen no improvement as continuous rains lashed the area over the last two weeks, relief officials said Saturday.

Mexico’s 2011 growth outlook improves

By IANS/EFE, Mexico City : Analysts have raised their growth outlook for the Mexican economy, the central bank said Thursday.

7 killed, 75 injured in a massive blast in Sri Lanka

By IRNA, New Delhi : At least seven persons have been killed and more than 75 others injured in a massive blast in Colombo a short while ago. The incident occurred at Fort area, commercial hub of Sri Lankan capital. Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said that the blast, suspected to have been triggered by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was targeted on a bus carrying police personnel, All India Radio (AIR) reported here.

Baby born in toilet bowl saved by cops

By IANS, Winnipeg: Two Canadian police officers are being hailed as heroes for saving the life of a baby accidentally born in a toilet bowl. The two officers were at a home on Flora Avenue and Andrews Street Sunday afternoon when they heard a woman screaming for help from the washroom. They rushed in to see what was happening, Winnipeg Police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen told the Vancouverite News Service. They found a woman had just given birth to the baby while she was seated on the toilet.

Another under-age girl in Berlusconi’s bunga bunga scandal

By IANS, London : A 19-year-old Brazilian showgirl was under age when she visited Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's villa where bunga bunga sex parties took place, believe prosecutors.

China vows to strengthen cooperation with Europe

By IANS, Hamburg: China is willing to join hands with Europe to fully tap the potential of mutually beneficial cooperation, a Chinese official said Wednesday.

Obama finds more support among Indians the world over

By Kul Bhushan, IANS,

Having faced racial prejudice at one time or another, many Indians across the globe have expressed support for Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for US president.

Although Hillary Clinton would have been the first woman in this office, which too would have been pathbreaking, Obama as the first possible non-Caucasian US president seems more popular with Indian origin people in the US and in other countries.

Kosovo’s government plans to open 20 embassies

By SPA Pristina : Kosovo's government is planning to open almost 20 embassies all over the world, Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi said, according to Xinhua. "Within this year Kosovo is trying to open its embassies in different countries of the world," said Kuqi in Pristina. He did not elaborate in which countries Kosovo is seeking to have the first diplomatic missions. It is expected that Washington, Brussels and capitals of some leading European countries would be the first host cities for Kosovo embassies.

Two dead, 10 missing in China storm

By IANS, Beijing : Two people died and 10 others were missing Saturday in China following a rain storm, authorities said.

Iran to decide downed US drone’s fate

By IANS, Tehran: Iran's foreign minister Ali-Akbar Salehi has said that the fate of the downed US spy drone would be decided by the country and rejected the US request of returning the drone.

Ricardo Alarcon re-elected to lead Cuban Parliament

By Prensa Latina Havana : Ricardo Alarcon, incumbent president of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, has been re-elected to the post during the opening of the assembly's seventh legislature. This is the third time that he has been elected as the National Assembly's president. Alarcon became active in Cuba's revolutionary struggle while at the university, where he was appointed president of the Federation of University Students in 1959.

China’s earliest household registers deciphered from Qin bamboo slips

By Xinhua Changsha : China's earliest household registers have been deciphered from a bunch of Qin dynasty (221 BC-207 BC) bamboo slips excavated from Liye, in Hunan province in Central China. "According to the registers, slaves and maids were listed as their masters' household members by the population management system in China's first united empire of Qin," said Yun Chae Sok, a Korean scholar, who specialises in reading Qin bamboo manuscripts.

Kerr cuts on foreign projects for son

By IANS, Los Angeles: Supermodel Miranda Kerr, who became a mother last year, says she has reduced her work-related international trips so that she can spend more time with her son.

Panamanian Government and doctors resume talks

By NNN-Prensa Latina Panama : Panamanian Health Minister Rosario Turner resumed negotiations on Friday with public hospital medical leaders to solve an over-a-month strike in demand for higher salaries. The meeting started again despite the demand by a spokesperson for the National Negotiating Medical Committee (Comenenal), organizing the protest, for direct talks with President Omar Torrijos. The doctors also rejected the Torrijos proposal of a 20-percent a ceiling on salary increases, who said "and not one cent more."

Explosion in Colombo’s Fort area

By IANS, Colombo : A blast shook the busy Fort area in the Sri Lankan capital Monday. There were no details of human casualties. The blast took place around 12 noon at Malwatte Road, a few hundred metres from the Colombo Fort railway station. The impact of the explosion damaged three vans and two cars, police said.

Hathaway ropes in Portman’s wedding planner

By IANS, Los Angeles: Actress Anne Hathaway has roped in Natalie Portman's wedding planner for her wedding with beau Adam Shulman.

World’s oldest submerged town dates back 5,000 years

By IANS, London : Archaeologists surveying the world's oldest submerged town have found ceramics dating back to the end of the Neolithic era. Their discovery suggests that Pavlopetri, off the southern Laconia coast of Greece, was occupied some 5,000 years ago - at least 1,200 years earlier than originally thought. These remarkable findings have been made public by the Greek government after the start of a five-year collaborative project involving the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and The University of Nottingham.

US offers $5 mn bounty for Uganda warlord

By IANS, Washington: The US has announced a $5-million bounty for Joseph Kony, head of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel outfit.

Comminist Party of Nepal gains half seats of CA direct poll

By Xinhua, Kathmandu : Data from the website of Election Commission (EC) of Nepal at Monday noon showed that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M) has bagged half seats of the Constituent Assembly (CA) election through direct elections. The updated data showed that CPN-M has won 120 seats out of the total 240 selected under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system, while Nepali Congress (NC) has won 37, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) won 32 and Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) got 29.

Israeli NGO asks Barcelona to suspend ties with Qatar Foundation

Jerusalem: An Israeli NGO has called on FC Barcelona to suspend ties with its Qatar Foundation title sponsor as it is "immoral to receive...

Nepal’s Saarc attendance under cloud

By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS, Kathmandu : Nepal's participation at the 15th Saarc summit scheduled to be held in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo Aug 2-3 has become doubtful with the former Maoist guerrillas Sunday raising strong objections to the caretaker government of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala representing the Himalayan republic at the regional forum.

Indian American in team to track laptop thieves

By IANS, Washington : Thieves are lifting hundreds of thousands of gleaming new laptops from college campuses, libraries, cafeterias and airports every year. Now a new tool created by researchers - including an Indian American - from universities of Washington and California (San Diego) will play spoilsport for such thieves.

Thai King endorses new constitution

By Xinhua Bangkok : The King of Thailand has endorsed the country's new constitution, president of the Constitution Drafting Assembly Noranit Settabutr said at a press conference here Friday. King Bhumibol Adulyadej signed the 2007 Constitution after Noranit and Meechai Ruechupan, President of National Legislative Assembly, submitted the new charter to the monarch for royal endorsement at the King's Bangkok residence Chitlarada Palace. The new constitution draft won public approval by a 57.81 percent margin in the country's first national referendum Aug 19.
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