Obama says Punjab jab a ‘mistake’
By Arun Kumar, IANS
Washington : Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama admits his campaign's Punjab jab against rival Hillary Clinton was a mistake and owns responsibility for the offending memo although he had not seen it before distribution.
India-born man jailed in Britain for fake marriage racket
London: An India-born man was sentenced to nearly four-and-a-half years in jail by a British court for running a fake marriage racket in the...
N.Korea n-test not an excuse for arms race: Russia
By IANS,
Moscow: Nuclear tests by North Korea should not be used to justify a new round of arms race, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said.
UK pressing Iran on NPT ‘hypocritical’ – Scottish peace activist
By IRNA,
London : Scottish anti-war activist and actor Gerard Kelly has accused the British government of being hypocritical over the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in its policy towards Iran.
"It is the height of hypocrisy that we ask Iran to obey the non- proliferation treaty yet our own government blatantly disregards it by commissioning a replacement for Trident," Kelly said.
"Once again, it's do as we say, not as we do," he said in sending a message of support to protesters forming a 'peace chain' around Britain's Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland.
Thai PM Forced to Postpone Speech
By Prensa Latina,
Bangkok : Thousands of demonstrators surrounded the host building of the Thai Parliament to demand the resignation of the new government and forced Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to postpone his session in the Parliament Monday.
Followers of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now in exile in Dubai, are trying to stop Vejjajiva from starting his work officially, since he is accused of having come to power after a covered coup.
Vejjajiva´s speech at the Parliament was postponed for Tuesday, said Lower Chamber president Chai Chidchob on the phone Monday.
Internet users reveal more to those they trust
By IANS
London : Here's good news for online vendors. Internet users are not chary of revealing personal information online - provided they trust the person requesting the information, a new study says.
The study, by Britain's Economic and Social Research Council, found that even those "who have previously demonstrated a high level of caution" online will reveal personal information "if they trust the recipient" of the information.
Wide-spread protests across Nepal following postponement of elections
NEW DELHI, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- Protests began across Nepal Saturday demanding the ousting of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's coalition government following its decision to postpone the November 22 crucial elections to the Constituent Assembly, at the behest of the Maoists.
The third largest party in Nepal's parliament, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), today held a demonstration in the capital Katmandu, calling the postponement a conspiracy, Indo Asian News Service reported.
Serb government seeks early parliamentary polls
By RIA Novosti
Belgrade : Serbia's caretaker government Monday asked President Boris Tadic to dissolve parliament and call general elections, the cabinet's press service said.
The move follows a standoff within the government over Kosovo and Serbia's ties with the European Union (EU).
President Tadic earlier said he would agree to a request to dissolve parliament, and that elections would be held May 11.
Radiation detected in Japanese cars imported in Russia
By IANS,
Moscow : High levels of radiation have been detected in at least 20 cars imported from Japan to a Russian port city, a media report said Tuesday.
Time needed to restore ties with Colombia: Ecuador
By Xinhua
Quito : Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said it would take time to restore diplomatic ties with Colombia even though the two countries have resolved a week-long crisis over a Colombian military raid against guerrillas hiding in Ecuador.
"We'll make a timetable. It's going to take some time," Correa said in his weekly radio address late Saturday.
Nicaragua and Venezuela announced Friday they would re-establish ties with Colombia during a Latin American summit that ended in handshakes between leaders.
Reform of World Bank, IMF would help ease poverty: Mbeki to G20
By DPA
Johannesburg : South African President Thabo Mbeki Sunday called for substantial reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to step up the fight against poverty in low-income countries.
Mbeki was speaking at the weekend G20 summit of finance ministers and central bank heads, which ended Sunday in Kleinmond, near Cape Town.
The G20 comprises the Group of Seven wealthiest nations (Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US), the European Union and 12 other leading economies.
Physicists assemble low cost, high tech landmine detector
By IANS,
Washington : Physicists have assembled a low-cost yet high-tech mine detector. The system costs about $10,000, or less than a hundredth of the laser-based Doppler remote detection systems sold for more than $1 million, each.
John Scales, physics professor at Colorado School of Mines (CSM), along with his associate Martin Smith and students, built a new system using microwave-based sensors to detect vibrations in the ground (or other structures).
Microwaves have many other advantages including that they can see through foliage.
U.S. Life Expectancy Rises Above 78 Years
By SPA,
Washington : U.S. average life expectancy has surpassed 78 years for the first time, the government reported Wednesday. The increase is largely due to falling mortality rates in most of the leading causes of death, federal health officials said.
Despite the improvement, the United States lags behind about 30 other countries in estimated life span, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data. Japan leads on the WHO list with a life expectancy of 83 for children born in 2006. Switzerland and Australia also are near the top of the list.
Canadian MPs vote on controversial immigration bill
By IANS,
Toronto : The process of migrating to Canada is set for drastic changes with the House of Commons finally voting the controversial Bill C-50, which will now go to the Senate before it becomes a law.
A drama of sorts was enacted by the main opposition Liberal party, which has cried itself hoarse in opposing immigration changes, when a large number of its MPs just abstained during the voting, enabling the minority Conservative party government to get the bill okayed by 120-90 votes Monday.
Hindi, Urdu teaching to be promoted in US varsity
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Indiana University in the US has been given a government grant of $119,999 to educate middle and high school teachers and students in Hindi and Urdu, two of the three "strategic languages spoken in some of the most populated countries."
The University's India Studies Programme has been given the grant from the "STARTALK" funding for a four-week residential immersion programme for high school students in Hindi and Urdu, two languages largely spoken in India and Pakistan.
US treasury secretary to visit China
Beijing: As the special representative of US President Barack Obama, Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew will visit China May 13, a foreign ministry...
Russian troops to patrol Georgian port of Poti – Gen.Staff
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian troops will patrol the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti, the deputy chief of Russia's General Staff said at a news conference Saturday.
"These patrols were envisaged in the international agreement," Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn said. "Poti is outside of the security zone, but that does not mean we will sit behind a fence watching them riding around in Hummers."
Woody Allen supports mosque at Ground Zero
By IANS,
London: Legendary Hollywood director Woody Allen supports the proposed mosque at Ground Zero in New York insisting the development will be "a step in the right direction".
European Union says economy faces strong headwinds
By SPA
Brussels, Belgium : The European Commission says the 15-nation euro zone faces strong headwinds from the turmoil in financial markets and a weakening US economy.
EU monetary affairs Chief Joaquin Almunia says it's not clear how long the turmoil will last and how much it will cost, according to a report of Associated Press.
In unveiling his latest quarterly report on the economy of the 15 countries that use the euro he says that In spite of its sound economic fundamentals the euro area is starting to feel the pinch of the credit crisis and a U.S. slowdown.
Two mummies found in Peru
By EFE,
Lima : Two mummies, dating back to around 1,460 A.D., were found near an archaeological site in northern Peruvian province of Amazonas.
"The tombs had been plundered, but one of the mummies was fully intact," said Maria Dolores Ramos, an official in charge of culture and tourism.
The discovery was made at a place opposite the Karajia archaeological complex in Luya Viejo district, the official said.
Protests in Chicago against Andhra chief minister
By IANS
Chicago : Around 300 people held a peaceful protest during Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's visit here against what they called his anti-temples policies in Andhra Pradesh.
Obama condemns brutal terror attack in Kenya
Washington: US President Barack Obama telephoned Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday to express condolences for the 147 lives lost in an attack on a...
Dalai Lama again under attack as envoys are due in China
By DPA,
Beijing : With envoys of the Dalai Lama due in China for talks with the government on the crisis in Tibet, the Chinese media Saturday again hit out at the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama was once more branded a "criminal" by Xizang Ribao newspaper, which accused the "Dalai clique" of urging Tibetans to take part in the violent March 14 protests in Tibet and other Tibetan inhabited regions in neighbouring provinces.
Neonazis Sentenced in Germany
By Prensa Latina,
Berlin : German justice condemned two members of the neo-Nazi group Strum 34, illegalized by German authorities, in a judicial process finished Wednesday.
The penal sentence was up to three and a half years of prison by a court in Dresden, east of Germany, for physical aggression and material damage.
Another accused was condemned to 12 months on parole because of complicity.
This is the second time in less than a week in which members of the xenophobic group are sentenced.
Steve Jobs memorial unveiled in Russia
By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow: A memorial to renowned tech innovator and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was unveiled in Russian city of St. Petersburg Wednesday.
No commercial activity at China’s historical sites
By IANS,
Beijing : The Chinese government has barred any kind of commercial activity at the country's historical sites as a measure to prevent any threat to the safety of cultural relics.
Not in wildest dreams, says dad of new Australian PM
By IANS,
Sydney: The father of Julia Gillard, who became Australia's first female prime minister Thursday, said he was elated but he had not anticipated "anything like this" in his wildest dreams.
John Gillard told reporters at his Adelaide home Thursday that he was "elated, excited, mindful of the enormous job ahead of binding the party together".
Julia Gillard became prime minister when incumbent Kevin Rudd stood aside in her favour. After Rudd conceded that numbers were against him, a secret ballot of the Labor Party members of parliament was not needed.
Israeli police executed Jerusalem car driver in cold blood: Hamas
Gaza/Ramallah: The Islamist Hamas movement on Wednesday accused the Israeli police of executing a Palestinian car driver from east Jerusalem who ran over two...
Russian helicopter with rescuers leaves for quake-hit China
By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : A Russian Mi-26 helicopter left for China on Saturday carrying two rescue teams to help with the relief operation following the May 12 earthquake that has left over 60,000 dead, the emergencies ministry said.
The helicopter took off from Khabarovsk in Russia's Far East, near the Chinese border, the ministry's press service said in a statement.
The teams will be working round the clock in the disaster-hit region.
Sri Lankan media activist abducted, assaulted and warned
By DPA,
Colombo : A journalist and media activist abducted and assaulted in Sri Lanka's capital said Tuesday he was warned not to get involved in any more protests related to media freedom.
The journalist, Poddala Jayantha, was recovering at the national hospital in Colombo after being beaten up overnight Monday by unknown abductors.
He told journalists that the main motive for the abduction appeared to be to threaten him and keep him away from media rights activities.
US opposes Taiwanese referendum on joining UN
By DPA
Washington : The US has opposed Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum on joining the UN alongside Saturday's presidential election.
"The United States is opposed to this specific referendum," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Wednesday.
"We believe it is unnecessary and unhelpful and will not have an effect on Taiwan's ability to join the UN or other organizations requiring statehood and has the potential to raise tensions in the Taiwan Straits," he added.
Powerful quake hits Indonesia
By Xinhua
Jakarata : A powerful earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale hit Indonesia, snapping telecommunication links with the hardest-hit area of Sinabang town in Siemelu island of Aceh province Wednesday.
The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the quake struck at 15:08 (0808 GMT) with the epicentre 42 km northwest of Sinabang town in Siemelu Island of Aceh province and 30 km beneath the earth.
But the Hong Kong Observatory said the quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale occurred west of northern Sumatra at 16:14 (0814 GMT).
Bush urges cyclone-hit Myanmar to accept U.S. help
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush urged Myanmar's government Tuesday to accept increased American aid as the country limps back to normal after being ravaged by a cyclone at the weekend.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Bush said the United States has provided some assistance, but "we want to do a lot more."
"Let the United States come and help you," Bush said, adding that he is prepared to send U.S. Navy ships to help the South Asian nation recover from the effects of tropical cyclone Nargis.
Nepal declares emergency in flood-hit areas
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Faced with his first crisis within 72 hours of being sworn in, Nepal's new Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" Thursday declared a state of emergency in the worst flood-devastated areas in southern Nepal to speed up rescue, relief and rehabilitation work.
The newly expanded council of ministers held its first meeting at Singh Durbar, at the heart of Nepal's administrative complex, to approve of the emergency proposal forwarded by the home ministry.
US closely watching Pakistan’s tightening of media
By Xinhua
Washington : The US has said it is closely watching Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's decree to tighten the regulation of media.
Blix: U.S. report makes attack on Iran less likely
By Xinhua
Geneva : The latest U.S. intelligence report on Iran's nuclear program seems to have lowered the possibility for a military attack on Tehran in the near future, former U.N. nuclear chief Hans Blix said on Wednesday.
An armed attack on Iran "is not credible, cannot happen after this over the next few years," Blix, former U.N. chief arms inspector and head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters in Geneva.
Bhutan: forest fire destroy 300-year-old monastery
By NNN-KuenselNews
Thimpu : A 300-year-old lhakhang (monastery) was razed to the ground by a forest fire that started on Thursday, above Satsam Chorten in Paro district, and has still not been brought under control.
According to a Paro dzongkhag official, nothing could be salvaged from the Dogsum lhakhang, a private lhakhang, which was destroyed in minutes by the fire.
Japan’s suicide rate exceeds 30,000 for 10th year
By DPA,
Tokyo : The number of suicides in Japan exceeded 30,000 in 2007 for the 10th year in a row, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
The number of suicides rose 2.9 percent in 2007 to 33,093, which was the second highest in record, compared to a year before, an agency survey showed. The highest was recorded in 2003 at 34,427.
The agency said 26 percent of suicides were triggered by depression, while others were caused by physical ailments and financial concerns from mounting debts.
UN chief makes three demands on Myanmar’s rulers
By Betwa Sharma, IANS,
United Nations : United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked the Myanmar leadership to release all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, resume a dialogue between the government and opposition, and create conditions for credible and legitimate elections to be held next year.
"I made specific proposals with a particular focus on three outstanding concerns, which if left unaddressed could undermine any confidence in Myanmar's political process," he told the Security Council in a briefing following a two-day visit to the country July 3-4.
World’s leading nations violate human rights: Amnesty
By DPA,
New York : Amnesty International Wednesday delivered fierce charges against the US and the European Union (EU) for failing to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), demanding they apologise to the world.
The London-based human rights advocacy group also singled out several countries for their failures, including China, for consistently flaunting the UDHR, which celebrates its 60th birthday this year.
"World leaders owe an apology for failing to deliver on the promise of justice and equality in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," Amnesty said.
Four killed in US shooting
By IANS,
New York : Four people, including two women, were killed and equal number of people injured in a shooting spree at a restaurant in the US Saturday, police said.
Keith Johnson, 25, has been charged with four counts of second-degree murder. Further charges are pending, local news website buffalonews.com reported.
The incident occurred outside the popular Main Street restaurant in the heart of the downtown Buffalo business district, where several parties, including a wedding anniversary, were being. Eight people were shot in the incident.
Nepal Army kills three Dalit women
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Only 48 hours after Nepal's communist-led government declared International Women's Day a national public holiday, soldiers shot dead three Dalit women, including a 12-year-old girl, while the authorities tried to hush it up by alleging it to be a shoot-out.
The three victims were identified as Chandrakala Bishwokarma, 12, Devisara Bishwokarma, 35, and Amrita Bishwokarma, 32.
PM meet security officials on Nepali ex-King’s leave from royal palace
By Xinhua,
Kathmandu : Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala consulted with Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula as well as security officials here Wednesday morning, as the ex-King Gyanendra prepares to vacate the Narayanhiti palace in Kathmandu Wednesday evening.
According to a leading website, nepalnews.com report, Koirala held talks with the security officials on the security arrangement for the palace and ex-royals.
At least five senior officials of the Nepali Army including chief of army staff Rookmangud Katwal were present at the meeting.
Every government under threat, Gordon Brown warns
By IANS,
London : Every government in the world is under threat from the current economic downturn, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Sunday, just days after his Labour party suffered a mauling in local government elections.
"In politics at the moment, you can look around the world and every government is under pressure - every government, because of what's happening to the world economy," Brown said amid mounting criticism that he has failed to deliver a strong message to the British electorate about how he plans to help them cope with the effects of the global downturn.
Uncertainty over North Korea nuclear talks
By IANS
Tokyo : Japanese government officials said Friday that they were uncertain whether North Korea would unconditionally return to six-nation talks to end its nuclear programme even after frozen North Korean funds were transferred from a Macau bank and South Korea warned that progress would only get tougher from here.
Pentagon policy chief to step down
By IANS,
Washington : US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Michele Flournoy has decided to quit the job, the Pentagon said Monday.
US journalist admits faking story about Iraq attack
Washington: Veteran journalist Brian Williams, the popular host of NBC's nightly prime time newscast, has apologised after admitting that he made up the story...
Deeply disturbed by Quran burning plan: UN chief
By DPA,
New York : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that no religion in the world can condone the burning of the Quran.
47 Croatian school kids injured in accident
By IANS,
Belgrade : At least 47 elementary school children were critically injured when their bus skidded off the highway near Karlovac in Croatia, media reports said.
Hospital officials at Karlovac general hospital said four of the injured, including a teacher were critically injured and most of them were in a state of shock, Xinhua reported Thursday citing a statement from Croatian news agency Hina.
The students from Velika Gorica town, south of the Croatian capital of Zagreb, were heading toward the Adriatic coast on a school excursion.
Sri Lanka slams US on rights report
By IANS
Colombo : Sri Lanka Friday slammed the US State Department's report on the human rights situation in the island, saying that it was based on "hearsay, innuendo and exaggeration" and charged that it had thrown a "life line" to the Tamil Tiger terrorists.
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama summoned US Ambassador Robert Blake to register his country's "serious" concerns about the report, which he said, was a "litany of unsubstantiated allegations, innuendo and vituperative exaggerations".
Sarkozy to meet Monday with G8 foreign ministers
By KUNA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet Monday evening with foreign ministers from the powerful Group of Eight (G8), Sarkozy's office announced here.
Four killed in Venezuela plane crash
By IANS,
Caracas : At least four people were killed and eight injured when a small plane crashed into a residential area in northern Venezuela, officials said.
The two-engine plane crashed Monday into a three-story house next to a school in Catia La Mar in Vargas province, some 30 km from the capital Caracas, officials said, adding that the pilot had reported engine problems shortly after takeoff.
The plane was travelling from Venezuela's main airport, Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, to the island of Curacao, Spain's EFE news agency reported Tuesday.
New York Governor Spitzer resigns over sex scandal
By DPA
Washington : New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer announced Wednesday that he was resigning after federal investigators linked him to a prostitution ring.
"There is much more to be done and I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt my public work," Spitzer said.
"For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor," Spitzer said in a press conference in New York.
Spitzer's resignation will be effective Monday and he will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor David Paterson.
Asia Not At Risk Of Another Financial Crisis, Says IMF
By Bernama
Danang (Vietnam) : The Asian region is not at risk of another financial crisis similar to the 1997 meltdown, a top International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said on Wednesday.
Daniel Citrin, IMF's deputy director (Asia Pacific department), said the current situation was completely different from 11 years ago.
He said the region's financial policy, fundamentals and fiscal situation are strong, with little exposure to the subprime crisis in the United States.
Chavez Revokes Controversial Spying Law
By AFP,
Caracus : Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Saturday revoked a law he decreed last month creating four spy agencies and a Cuban-style national informants' network, saying the measure contained errors.
"I started listening to criticism (of the law) and in the end, I think there are some mistakes there, I have no problem acknowledging it. So I decided this morning to correct that law," Chavez said during a function of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
Bush administration pledges rapid response to financial crisis
By Xinhua,
Washington : The Bush Administration pledged Monday to move rapidly to deal with the current financial crisis.
"Conditions in US and global financial markets remain extremely strained," said the President's Working Group on Financial Markets (PWG) in a statement.
The PWG "is working with market participants and regulators globally to address the current challenges and restore confidence and stability to financial markets around the world," it said.
India-Russia pacts mark new milestone: Manmohan
By IANS,
New Delhi : The India-Russia relationship has "withstood the test of time", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a joint press conference with visiting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev here Friday.
The many agreements signed between India and Russia, he said, marked “a new milestone in the history of cooperation with Russia”.
Addressing the media after the signing of various agreements between India and Russia, Manmohan Singh said: “It's a relationship that has withstood the test of time.”
He said Russia had consistently supported India in “diverse areas”.
UN military observer group redundant: Congress
New Delhi: The Congress Sunday said the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has become redundant and has no purpose...
China: Foreign Hands behind Tibet
By Prensa Latina,
Beijing : Foreign hands seem to be behind the anti-China campaign of the self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile, according to reports quoted by local press.
Some leaders are trying to play a housekeeper for China, because even before the March 14 disturbances in Lhasa and especially since then, they have put the Tibetan issue on the international stage, China Daily commented.
It deals not only with the resolutions of the US Congress and the European parliament, but also with the roadmap prepared for coming years, revealing such interference in the campaign.
EU offers $28 mn aid to Syria
By IANS,
Brussels: The European Union (EU) has announced a 23-million-euro (about $28 mn) humanitarian aid to Syria.
Death toll in Greece wildfires crosses 50
By DPA
Athens : Raging wildfires in Greece have killed over 50 people and destroyed hundreds of houses as firemen were largely forced to wait for sunrise Sunday before renewing the battle against the massive blazes.
Residents of the Peloponnese peninsula, in southern Greece and on Euboea island hunkered down for another night of horror Saturday as an early loss of daylight caused firemen to shut down helicopters and planes working to contain the blazes.
Obama names science team
By DPA,
Washington : US president-elect Barack Obama Saturday named his top scientific advisors, including a climate expert, a Nobel prize winning cancer researcher and a researcher involved in mapping the human genome.
The team will be led by John Holdren as assistant to the president for science and technology and the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Explosion kills three Palestinians in Gaza
Gaza : At least three Palestinians were killed and 20 others injured in an explosion in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, a security official...
Canadian temple in need of government funds
By IANS,
Toronto : A Hindu temple, which was burnt down after 9/11, was repeatedly rejected financial help from the provincial government even though millions were handed out to other multicultural groups, alleges the Ontario-based temple's outgoing secretary.
"I see everyday in the newspaper that the government is handing out money to every various organisations and I appreciate it, but why are you forgetting us?" Ram Kamath of Hamilton's Hindu Samaj Temple said.
LTTE suicide bomber kills 23 in Sri Lanka
By IANS,
Colombo : At least 23 people were killed when a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber Monday exploded herself among civilians fleeing Sri Lanka's war zone, the authorities said.
The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said the woman bomber detonated herself amid frightened civilians entering the areas held by the army in the northern district of Mullaitivu.
Military officials said the bomber belonged to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), whose guerrillas are now holed up in an area measuring less than 200 sq km by the Sri Lankan military.
37 LTTE rebels, four troopers killed in N. Sri Lanka
By KUNA,
New Delhi : At least 37 rebels of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and four government soldiers have been killed in battle fatigues Northern Sri Lanka.
On the Mannar front 21 LTTE rebels and one soldier were killed in separate clashes yesterday, Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said in a statement Wednesday at Colombo.
While one LTTE cadre was killed in Elathumadduwal and Muhamalai in clashes, two soldiers were killed in Muhamalai in Jaffna yesterday, Sri Lanka's Media Centre for National Security said today.
Study sheds new light on dating violence
By IANS,
Washington : A new study sheds light on the lives of troubled teenagers, mostly from broken homes, who often witness violence at home, leading to them abusing their own girlfriends.
The study advocated taking a broader view of such behaviours within dating relationships to explore environments at school, home and community - that affect boys' lives and actions.
Car crashes into pool in botched theft attempt
By RIA Novosti
Rio De Janeiro : Robbers drove a car into a swimming pool as they tried to make their getaway in Florianopolis, in the country's south, local police said on Wednesday.
Three armed and masked robbers broke into a house attacking and wounding the householders with a knife. After taking money and jewelry, the robbers decided to make their getaway in the owner's Peugeot car.
However, the driver confused the automatic transmission with a manual gearbox and the car reversed plunging into a swimming pool.
South Africa’s ex-police chief sentenced for corruption
By IANS,
Johannesburg : South Africa's former police chief and ex-president of Interpol was sentenced to 15 years in prison for taking bribes, local judicial sources said Tuesday.
In the sentence, the judge said Jackie Selebi was found guilty of taking bribes from drug traffickers, Xinhua reported.
Selebi, who was awarded an International Human Rights Award in 1997, served as Interpol president from 2004 until Jan 12, 2008.
UN rushing aid to Haiti after deadly tremors
By IRNA,
Tehran : The United Nations is mobilizing its resources in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday, the UN Information Center in Tehran (UNIC) reported on Thursday.
According to a UNIC’s press release, a copy of which was sent to IRNA, the UN sent its experts and supplies to the Caribbean nation and stressed the urgent need for food, water, search-and-rescue teams and medical help.
One person injured in bomb explosion in southern Russia
By RIA Novosti,
Rostov-On-On : One person was injured after a home-made bomb went off in the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia, the republic's interior ministry said on Sunday.
A roadside bomb exploded early on Sunday in the village of Sagopshi in the Malgobek district in northwest Ingushetia, wounding Bagaudin Tsechoyev, brother of a law enforcement officer, the ministry said.
The bomb went off when Tsechoyev was driving in his car not far from his brother's house, the ministry said.
Measures are under way to find the attackers, the ministry said.
Brazilian president says Castro well enough to resume office
By Xinhua
Havana : Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said Cuban leader Fidel Castro has regained his health to go back to active politics.
Lula, who was on a daylong visit to Cuba Tuesday, met Castro and held talks over a variety of issues. He later said the Cuban leader was "healthy enough to reclaim his political role".
"I think Fidel will soon assume his political role in Cuba, his historic role in Cuba and the globalised world, " Lula said at Havana's international airport, winding up his tour.
Clinton to discuss energy projects in Pakistan
By IANS,
Islamabad : US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to announce a number of energy projects in Pakistan during her visit to the country, a media report said Friday.
The matter was discussed during a meeting between US envoy to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson and Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here Friday.
They also discussed other bilateral issues, the Online news agency reported.
Patterson said a US team would visit Pakistan to discuss the projects before Clinton arrives in the country.
Burdwan blast: youth arrested from Nepal
Siliguri: A 29-year-old youth was arrested Monday from Nepal in a joint operation by NIA, West Bengal and Nepal police in connection with the...
British MP sent to jail for fiddling expenses
By DPA,
London : A long-standing British Labour Party politician Friday became the first parliamentarian to be sent to jail for making false expenses claims, following a scandal exposed in 2009.
US growth facing serious headwinds: Official
By IANS,
Washington : Growth in the US faces serious headwinds and the country's high unemployment will linger for many years, said a senior Federal Reserve official Tuesday.
US cites India’s economic sacrifice for Iran deal
Washington : The White House has again warned that if the Republican controlled congress unilaterally kills the Iran nuclear deal it would greatly damage...
Indian flag upside down at Modi-Abe meet
Kuala Lumpur : The Indian flag was upside down at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe here...
Two US Congressmen object to Vedanta’s Asarco takeover
By IANS,
New York : Two Congressmen have raised objections over Vedanta Resources' purchase of the US mining company Asarco, expressing concerns about the London-based metals and mining major's environment track record.
The two Arizona members of House of Representatives, Gabrielle Giffords and Raul Grijalva, sent a letter Wednesday to US Attorney General Michael Mukasey, urging the Department of Justice to investigate Vedanta's environmental record before allowing the deal to proceed.
2 North Africans arrested in Italy for plotting terror attacks
Rome : Italian police on Wednesday arrested two North Africans on suspicion of planning Al Qaeda-inspired terrorist attacks in Italy and the Maghreb. A...
Modi visit won’t hurt Sri Lanka-China ties: Chinese commentary
Beijing : China-Sri Lanka relations will not be affected by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit but only grow stronger, a commentary in the...
Women face sexual abuse even during childbirth: WHO
New York: Women face both physical and sexual abuse in health facilities during childbirth, a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows.
The authors...
‘Half of Americans disapprove of inviting Netanyahu to address Congress’
Washington: Nearly half of American voters think that US House Speaker John Boehner should not have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address...
UN chief urges donor countries to honor pledge to double aid to Africa
By Xinhua,
United Nations : UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in remarks at the high-level meeting on Africa's development needs on Monday, urged donor countries to implement their 2005 pledge to double their aid to Africa.
"I appeal to all donors to implement the 2005 Gleneagles summit to more than double aid to Africa," Ban said, referring to the summit meeting held at the Scottish town of Gleneagles by the Group of Eight -- the United States, Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia.
Canadian apology for Air India bombing demanded as inquiry ends
By Gurmukh Singh, IANS
Toronto : Blaming intelligence, policing and systemic failures for the 1985 Air India bombing, families of the victims have demanded a formal apology from the Canadian prime minister. They have also demanded more compensation from the government for bungling the worst mass murder case in Canadian history.
143 killed in clashes against IS in Iraq
Baghdad: A total of 143 people were killed Sunday in the ongoing clashes between the Iraqi security forces and militants, including of the the...
Forest fire forces 1,400 to evacuate in northern California
By DPA,
San Francisco : A wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains has forced the evacuation of 1,400 residents as more than 175 firefighters fought the blaze, local media has reported.
Warm, dry winds have accelerated flames, and from just 75 acres in the afternoon the fire grew to up to 300 acres by early evening Wednesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Congo, Rwanda agree to attend summit on Congo violence
By DPA,
Nairobi : The Congolese and Rwandan presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit aimed at resolving the conflict in the east of Congo, reports said Saturday.
The European Union (EU)'s aid commissioner Louis Michel, who held talks with both leaders, told the BBC that Joseph Kabila and Paul Kagame had agreed to meet at a summit involving the African Union and other African leaders.
Top US envoy for Africa Jendayi Frazer was in Congo, while French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband were also due to visit Congo and Rwanda.
French civil servants strike as transport walkout drags on
By DPA
Paris : Schools and post offices were closed, planes were late, newsstands were empty of newspapers and hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in cities throughout France Tuesday as civil servants carried out a 24-hour strike to demand higher wages and fewer job cuts.
In addition, train service throughout the country and public transport in the greater Paris area were disrupted for a seventh consecutive day as unions continued their strike to protest a government pension reform proposal.
G8 summit: A peep into past
By Xinhua
Heiligendamm (Germany) : Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations will start their annual three-day summit, on the theme of "Growth and Responsibility", in this German Baltic resort Wednesday.
Polls critical step in Myanmar reform: UN
By IANS,
United Nations : The UN Security Council has praised the by-elections held in Myanmar as important progress in the country's democratic reform process.
Sikh gurdwara in US embroiled in controversy
By IANS
New York : A Sikh religious flag displayed at a soon-to-be-opened gurdwara in California is at the centre of a controversy, with some residents saying the American flag should also be put up there.
Donations to quake-hit areas exceed $17 mn: Red Cross
By Xinhua
Beijing : The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) Tuesday said it has so far received public donations worth more than 120 million Yuan ($17 million) for victims in the earthquake-hit areas in southwest China's Sichuan province.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, relief supplies in both cash and goods worth 14.6 million Yuan (about $2 million) have been forwarded to the quake-hit areas, RCSC said.
Among the supplies were tents, cotton-padded quilts, food, medicine, and drinking water disinfectant.
Migrants most exposed to rights violations: UN
By IANS
Geneva : Migrants are the most vulnerable to human rights abuse and will continue to be so unless appropriate actions are taken, the UN agency for human rights has said.
Migration is a worldwide phenomenon, and touches virtually all countries in all regions of the world, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour in a statement Tuesday to mark the International Migrants Day which falls on Dec 18, WAM news agency reported.
Rio’s gay pride parade draws 800,000
Rio de Janeiro, (DPA) More than 800,000 people participated in the gay pride parade in Rio de Jainero along the famous Copacabana Beach.
Politicians such as Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral and tens of thousands tourists were among the revellers at the 12th annual parade Sunday.
Despite the relatively cool temperatures, many participants were scantily clad as they danced to samba music and waved the rainbow flag.
Two foreigners among six dead in Myanmar protests
By DPA
Yangon/Oslo : At least six persons, including two foreign nationals, were feared dead Thursday in more confrontations in Myanmar between the heavily armed military and thousands of civilian demonstrators, reports in Yangon said.
The Oslo-based opposition radio Democratic Voice of Burma corroborated the reports and said thousands of people carried forward their anti-military protest initiated by Buddhist monkhood in defiance against the hated junta.
India privileged to be Mongolia’s spiritual neighbour: Modi
Ulan Bator : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told his Mongolian counterpart Chimed Saikhanbileg that India is privileged to be considered as Mongolia's...
Earthquake kills three, injures 290 in southwest China
By Xinhua
Kunming (China) : Three people were killed and at least 290 injured after a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale struck southwest China's Yunnan province Sunday.
Ten-year plans for Russia from 2008
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : Russia is to introduce a 10-year financial planning system beginning in 2008.
Bright student commits suicide after 200 job rejections
By IANS,
London : A bright 21-year-old Briton committed suicide after over 200 unsuccessful job applications and a family member said that she found "it humiliating that she had been out of work for so long".
Vicky Harrison was keen for a career as a teacher or a television producer, but a day after her latest rejection, she took a massive drug overdose, Daily Mail reported Friday.
"Vicky found it humiliating that she had been out of work for so long and couldn't take it any more," her mother was quoted as saying.
Bush rejects criticism over DPRK nuclear issue
By Xinhua,
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush rejected on Saturday suggestions that he is softening American stand on the policy toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying he would not accept a deal that damaged the interests of the region.
Speaking to reporters after his talks with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak at the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland, Bush said that "Obviously, I'm not going to accept a deal that does not advance the interests of the region."
Troops captured LTTE base, 40 rebels killed: Sri Lanka
By P. Karunakharan, IANS,
Colombo : Sri Lanka Wednesday said its troops battling the Tamil Tiger rebels had captured a rebel base in the northwestern Mannar district after fierce clashes killed 40 rebels.
The defence ministry here said the advancing troops backed by artillery and aerial bombardment had “captured the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) 18-Base in Vepankulam area and brought the entire area under control” in the north-west of Giant Tank in Mannar.
Lib Dems need veto in UK coalition government, says deputy leader
By IRNA,
London : Liberal Democrat MPs should have a veto on policies put forward by Britain’s coalition government, according to the party’s recently-elected deputy leader Simon Hughes.
“The parliamentary party on behalf of the wider party on big issues has to be able to say: ‘No, we can't go down this road’," said Hughes.
His call coincided with the centre-right Conservative-led government marking its first 100 days in office and a new poll showing a further decline in support for the Lib Dems, the centre-left junior partners in the coalition.
Mexico gets $205 mn from World Bank to combat swine flu
By DPA,
Washington : Mexico will get $205 million from the World Bank, including $25 million immediately, to combat the growing swine flu epidemic that is already believed to have claimed more than 80 lives.
Mexican Finance Minister Agustin Carstens said the $25 million would be used "to take care of more immediate needs", including medicine and equipment to help contain the epidemic.
Another $180 million would come over the "medium term" to build up the country's health institutions.
45 killed in Libya protests
By DPA,
Cairo/Tripoli : Libyan security forces were expecting violent demonstrations Friday, a day after an estimated 45 people were killed in clashes across the country.
Air Canada voted best airline in North America
By IANS,
Toronto : Air Canada has been voted the best airline in North America in an international survey of business travellers by Global Traveler Magazine.The award would not have come at a better time for the national carrier which was almost on the verge of seeking bankruptcy protection a few months ago.
The Global Traveler survey is based on the responses of more than 25,000 readers of Global Traveler Magazine. These readers are frequent travelers who average 32 round-trip flights a year, with 96 per cent of them travelling in first or business class regularly.
Myanmar seizes over 100 kg heroin
By Xinhua,
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar : The Myanmar authorities seized 103.8 kg heroin and 1,690 kg opium in one year and a half from January 2007 to June 2008, according to a latest figures disclosed at a ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw Thursday to mark this year's International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
A total of 2,462 drug-related cases were exposed and 3,298 offenders were taken action in 2007, the figures showed.
In the first quarter of this year, 626 such cases were exposed with 628 offenders punished, the statistics indicated.
Take neighbours along to fight terror, US tells Dhaka
By IANS,
Dhaka : The United States has told the new government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that Bangladesh needs to work with neighbouring countries to fight terrorism.
"Terrorism is an issue confronting both the governments in Dhaka and Washington. We hoped the incoming government would recognise that this is an issue Bangladesh needs to address and need to work with neighbouring countries to address it," US envoy James Moriarty said Thursday after meeting Foreign Minister Dipu Moni.
AMU Alumni forum UAE celebrates Independence day with fervour in Dubai
By TCN News
Dubai: The AMU Alumni Forum United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday, August 15 celebrated Independence day at Dastar Khan Restaurant in Dubai.
The...
Bullet trains to run slow on Beijing-Shanghai route
By IANS,
Shanghai : Bullet trains, which were expected to speed between Shanghai and Beijing at 350 km an hour, will now run at a slower speed of 300 km per hour, authorities have decided.
US finalises new fuel economy standards for vehicles
By DPA,
Washington : US regulators Thursday finalised new fuel efficiency rules for cars and light trucks, raising fuel economy standards and for the first time regulating greenhouse-gas emissions blamed for global warming.
The announcement is part of a broader pledge by President Barack Obama to shift the US economy towards cleaner forms of energy and curb climate change, though efforts to achieve comprehensive reforms have so far floundered in Congress.
Russia to defend Abkhazia, South Ossetia if they are attacked
By RIA Novosti,
Sochi (Russia) : Russia will defend Georgia's separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia with all necessary support if they come under attack, President Dmitry Medvedev has said.
"Under the decree recognising independence of both republics, which I have signed, our country will help Abkhazia and South Ossetia to ensure their security and if they are attacked we will certainly offer them appropriate support," Medvedev told CNN Tuesday.
Amid misery, quake’s gift: Gushing water channels
Kathmandu : Amid the widespread death and destruction that the devastating April 25 earthquake has spelt in Nepal, it has also given the nation...
Nepal king spurns asylum reports
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's royal palace has said reports in the national and international media that King Gyanendra was contemplating fleeing the country following an imminent Maoist victory and the abolition of his crown were "totally fabricated and unfounded".
Under tremendous pressure from the Maoists, whose top leadership has been urging the king to surrender his throne and become a law-abiding common citizen, the palace mustered energy to condemn the reports and indicated that the royal family had no intention to seek asylum in neighbour India or elsewhere.
US condemns attack on British soldiers in Northern Ireland
By Xinhua,
Washington : The US Sunday condemned the attack on an army base in Northern Ireland that killed two British soldiers.
"The United States condemns the attack in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, last night that resulted in two deaths and injuries two others," said a statement released by acting US State Department spokesman Robert Wood.
Wood said, "The US called on "all parties in Northern Ireland to unequivocally reject such senseless acts of violence, whose intention is to destroy the peace that so many in Northern Ireland have worked so hard to achieve."
Rana, Headley also planned to blow up Danish daily
By IANS,
Chicago : Two Pakistani origin men, Tahawwur Rana and his associate David Coleman Headley, indicted for the Mumbai terror attacks, also planned to use truck bomb filled with explosives to blow up a Danish newspaer.
A fresh indictment against Rana and Headley unsealed in a Chicago court Thursday also charges retired Pakistani military officer Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed and Ilyas Kashmiri, a leader of terrorist organisation Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI) in Pakistan described as having been in regular contact with Al Qaeda's No. 3, Sheikh Mustafa Abu al-Yazid.
Strong quake hits Chile
By IANS,
Washington : A 6.2-magnitude quake struck off the coast of Chile Thursday night, US authorities said.
OSCE chairman condemns use of force in Armenia, calls for dialogue
By RIA Novosti
Vienna : The OSCE chairman-in-office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva, has condemned the use of force against peaceful demonstrators in Yerevan earlier on Saturday.
Armenian riot police broke up a protest rally in the capital Yerevan by several thousand people protesting the results of the February 19 presidential election in the Caucasus republic.
Students’ union says Britain’s credit crunch affecting studies
By IANS,
London : The National Union of Students (NUS) has warned that the credit crunch in Britain may affect students' grades with many of them forced to take up jobs to fund their living costs.
The NUS carried out a survey of 3,145 university students, 46 percent of whom said they were not getting enough time to study because of their jobs.
Nearly 80 percent of the students were employed, with 35 percent of them working only during term time. About half of the latter told NUS they were forced to work to meet rising costs.
Ban mourns the death of Sir Edmund Hillary
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 11 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday paid tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary who gave "profound meaning to the concepts of courage and exploration." Sir Edmund, who was the first person to stand atop Mount Everest, died in Auckland, New Zealand yesterday. He was 88.
"Sir Edmund not only climbed to one of the purest victories known to humankind, thereby championing and pioneering an awareness of the treasures of our Earth -- he also worked to build health and education in the communities around him," his press office said in a statement.
In Dominican Republic, tourists experience two separate worlds
By DPA
Higuey (Dominican Republic) : Two weeks in the Caribbean for 999 German marks! Travel offers like that in the 1990s gave the Dominican Republic the image of a cheap destination. The country in the eastern part of the island of Hispaniola is increasingly trying to attract tourists with deeper pockets, however.
11 die in military plane crash in Romania
By DPA,
Bucharest : Eleven soldiers were killed in Romania Monday when a military plane crashed shortly after take-off, the country's defence ministry said.
Another three people were taken to hospital with serious injuries. Officials corrected earlier media reports of 10 dead.
The Soviet-era Antonov AN-2 plane went down in flames with 13 people on board at the Tuzla airport near the city of Constanta on the Black Sea.
Climate change likely to wipe out 80 percent of rain forests
By IANS,
London : Climate change is likely to wipe out 80 percent of rain forests by 2100 and less than one in five of the plants and animals which inhabit these rain forests will exist by then, says a study.
Rain forests currently hold more than half of all the plant and animal species on Earth, says a Telegraph report from the US.
The Amazon Basin alone could see changes in biodiversity for 80 percent of the region.
However, scientists say the combined effects of climate change and deforestation may force them to adapt, move or die.
72-hour Maoist ultimatum as Nepal PM refuses to quit
By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal's former Maoist guerrillas, who bailed out the coalition government after a midnight drama Friday, have now slapped a 72-hour ultimatum on embattled Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal after he refused to step down.
"The resignation has to come within three days," the Janadisha daily, a Maoist mouthpiece, said Monday quoting senior Maoist leader Mohan Baidya Kiran as a fresh crisis threatened to derail Nepal's fragile peace process that survived a dire crisis only last week.
Dalai Lama’s envoys leave for talks with China
By IANS,
Dharamsala : Two envoys of Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Thursday left for Beijing for the eighth round of negotiations with Chinese officials since talks began in 2002.
Besides Kasur Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, the delegation includes three senior assistants, said a statement of the Tibetan government-in-exile that is based in this Himalayan town.
"The envoys will be in Beijing for about a week as a follow-up to the seventh round of talks held in July this year," it said.
Russians move to end rift with UK
By KUNA,
London : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for a new era of relations with Britain following a torrid two years which saw the murder of a high-profile emigre and battles over British business interests.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Guardian newspaper and papers from the G8 countries Thursday, his first with foreign newspapers since taking office last May, Medvedev said Russia and Britain had endured worse crises in the past and it was time to move on.
"International relations always require people to come towards each other," he said.
Former EADS co-chief arrested
By DPA,
Paris : The former joint head of European aerospace company EADS, Noel Forgeard, has been arrested in the insider-trading scandal surrounding the company, France Info radio station reported Wednesday.
The long-term head of Airbus is currently being questioned, the radio report said, citing judicial sources.
The probe was launched after EADS executives, including Forgeard, sold shares in the company in March 2006, just three months before shares plunged after the company announced serious delays in the delivery of the A380, the world's largest jumbo aircraft.
Beijing Launches Book on Havana
By Julio Hernandez Blanco, Prensa Latina
Beijing : "Cita con La Habana (Date with Havana)" by Chinese writer and painter Yu Xi was launched on Thursday at a ceremony during which friendship with Cuba and the book's testimonial content were highlighted.
The 275-page book published by World Knowledge Publishing, boasts historic photos as well as those shot by the author, and reproductions of his watercolor paintings. It was made public at the Cuban diplomatic mission.
‘Pro-Tamil’ broadcasting station attacked in Sri Lanka
By DPA,
Colombo : A private radio and television station on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital has been attacked by an armed gang, causing extensive damage to the studio complex and interrupting its broadcasts, a spokesman for the station said Tuesday.
A gang of 15 to 20 men stormed the Maharaja TV and Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation at Pannipitiya, 20 km southeast of the Colombo, holding the staff at gunpoint and assaulting some of them before causing the damage early Tuesday, the spokesman said.
Russian Soyuz spacecraft docks with ISS
By RIA Novosti
Moscow : The Russian Soyuz-FG carrier spacecraft carrying two Russian crewmembers and the first South Korean astronaut has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), Russia's Mission Control said Thursday.
The Soyuz TMA-12 vehicle carried commander Sergei Volkov and flight engineer Oleg Kononenko, both from Russia, along with South Korea's Yi So-yeon, a spaceflight participant to the ISS on the 17th expedition.
Mediterranean Union leaders agree joint declaration
By DPA,
Paris : The leaders of the European Union (EU) and of its southern neighbours agreed Sunday to a joint declaration accompanying the creation of a Union for the Mediterranean.
The breakthrough came after heads of state and government from 43 countries, among them Israel, Syria and the Palestinian territories, overcame their differences over a reference to the Middle East peace process.
US military men to find kidnapped Nigerian girls
Washington: The US has deployed about 80 military personnel to Chad as part of its efforts to find more than 200 schoolgirls who have...
23 die as wooden ship sinks in Indonesia
By IANS,
Jakarta : At least 23 people were killed and six others were missing after a wooden ship sank last week in a river in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province, a rescuer said Monday.