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Automatically compiled digests of WORLD news stories
(originally aggregated by the Google News)


Thursday (Update 1)


  • May-24 -- Ukraine plays down Euro 2012 snubs
    MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore said he had no official plans to include a match in Ukraine during the Euro 2012 championships.
    Yevgenia Tymoshenko also said the government was trying to rig the upcoming parliamentary election in October, by arresting opposition candidates on trumped-up charges. More...

  • May-24 -- Anders Breivik will not appeal against verdict
    On July 22, the 33-year-old right-wing extremist first bombed a government building in Oslo, killing eight people, before going on a shooting rampage on Utoeya island, northwest of the capital, where the ruling Labour Party's youth wing was hosting a summer camp.
    "You would think it was a bad horror film," Eirin Kristin Kjaer testified today, the 22nd day of Breivik's trial for the killing of 77 people on July 22, 2011. More...

  • May-24 -- Malian Junta Supporters Back Coup Leader as Interim President
    BAMAKO (AFP) Supporters of Mali's coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo said they have named him head of a transition government, ignoring a deal mediated by regional leaders and signed at the weekend.
    An angry crowd, which was in favour of the ouster of President Amadou Toumani Toure and does not want Traore leading the transition, besieged his offices despite the presence of hundreds of security guards. More...

  • May-24 -- Philippines 'lacks sincerity' in sea dispute: China
    "The Philippines, therefore, demands that China's vessels immediately pull out from Bajo de Masinloc and the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone and for China to refrain from taking further actions that exacerbate the situation in the West Philippine Sea," the Foreign Affairs official said.
    "The sum of relations between the Philippines and China is not the West Philippine Sea." More...

Thursday


  • May-24 -- 5 aid workers kidnapped in Afghanistan
    KABUL: Two foreign doctors and three of their Afghan colleagues were kidnapped in a remote area in northeast Afghanistan, officials said.
    "Yesterday evening, five health workers, including two female foreign nationals, were kidnapped in the Yaftal area," the provincial governor's spokesman, Abdul Mahroof Rasikh, told AFP. More...

  • May-24 -- Clinton: US hacked Yemeni al-Qaida sites
    "Within 48 hours, our team plastered the same sites with altered versions of the ads that showed the toll al-Qaida attacks have taken on the Yemeni people," Clinton said.
    Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that experts based at the State Department swapped al-Qaida ads on a website bragging about killing Americans with ones showing the impact of the deadly impact of al-Qaida tactics on Yemenis themselves. More...

  • May-24 -- Corby a candidate for Bali day release
    "The Australian Government has consistently supported Ms Corby's application for clemency on humanitarian grounds.
    The former Queensland beauty student has served eight years in Kerobokan penitentiary for smuggling 4.2 kilograms of cannabis into Bali from Australia in 2004. More...

  • May-24 -- Can brand confusion sparked bomb scare
    Police have concluded their investigation into a mid-air bomb scare which forced an international flight to make an emergency landing in Melbourne on Wednesday.
    'Bomb' written on drink can aborts flight Skip to navigation Skip to content Help using this website - Accessibility statement JavaScript disabled. More...

Wednesday (Update 2)


  • May-24 -- Drones Kills 4 Suspected Militants in NW Pakistan
    ISLAMABAD: At least four militants were killed when a U.S. drone fired missiles on a house in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area early today, officials said.
    Shakil Afridi ran a vaccination program for the CIA to collect DNA and verify bin Laden's presence at the compound in the town of Abbottabad where U.S. commandos killed the al-Qaida chief last May. More...

  • May-24 -- 2 foreign aid workers among team reportedly abducted in Afghanistan
    KABUL: Two foreign doctors and three of their Afghan colleagues were kidnapped in a remote area in northeast Afghanistan, officials said.
    An official in the Badakhstan province told the dpa news agency that it was possible that criminal gangs had carried out the kidnapping, hoping to secure ransom money. More...

  • May-24 -- FBI charges woman who triggered jetliner scare
    A U.S. Airways flight from Paris continued its journey to Charlotte, N.C., today after it was diverted to Bangor, Maine, because of "suspicious behavior" by a female passenger.
    WASHINGTON -- A passenger flight to Charlotte, N.C., from Paris was diverted on Tuesday to Bangor, Me., because of security concerns set off when a passenger told the crew that she had a surgically implanted device. More...

  • May-24 -- Russian jet crashes in Czech Republic
    A Russian army plane caught fire as it skidded off the runway as it was landing at a military airport east of Prague on Wednesday, the Czech defence ministry said, cited by AFP. Rescuers said up to 19 people were injured, most of them seriously.
    "At the time of the accident, the plane, which was flying over the territory of the Czech republic as part of the Clear Skies observer mission, was carrying 14 Russian servicemen and nine servicemen from the NATO countries," the Investigations Committee said in a report obtained by Interfax on Wednesday. More...

Wednesday (Update 1)


  • May-23 -- Reagan 'blood' sale row
    A British auction house is currently selling a vial of the Republican leader's blood to the highest bidder.
    A spokesman for the hospital declined to comment. More...

  • May-23 -- Senior US envoy warns DPRK against new nuclear test
    BEIJING — North Korea's threat to take "self-defence" measures over U.S. pressure against its nuclear programme does not represent a change of attitude by Pyongyang, the U.S. special envoy on North Korea said Tuesday.
    Weeks after North Korean launch plans were announced in March, South Korea quoted an unidentified intelligence source as saying the North appeared to be preparing for a new weapons test. More...

  • May-23 -- Spain cannot afford to neglect education
    MADRID Spanish teachers went on strike yesterday to protest against cuts in education spending that unions say will put 100,000 substitute teachers out of work but that the government says are needed to tackle the euro zone debt crisis.
    Union officials said all but three of Spain's 17 regions took part. More...

  • May-23 -- Power Cut Protests Continue in Myanmar's Main...
    YANGON, Myanmar -- A small group of demonstrators carried candles and tied up traffic in Myanmar's largest city Tuesday evening as discontent grows over chronic power cuts in the country, which is easing toward democracy after decades of military rule.
    The article comes as demonstrations have flared up in Mandalay and other regions of the country, complaining of regular electrical outages and a shortage of power overall. More...

Wednesday


  • May-23 -- Interim president of Mali injured by protesters
    BAMAKO (Reuters) - The leader of Mali's March 22 coup condemned the beating of the interim president by demonstrators and called on Tuesday for a peaceful transition of power in the West African country.
    An angry crowd, which was in favour of the ouster of President Amadou Toumani Toure and does not want Traore leading the transition, besieged his offices despite the presence of hundreds of security guards. More...

  • May-23 -- NS climber admires woman who died on Everest
    About 200 climbers are expected to attempt to scale the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) mountain between Friday and Sunday, Nepali mountaineering official Gyanendra Shrestha said.
    An estimated 150 climbers reached the summit over the weekend. More...

  • May-23 -- Quebec Students Mark 100 Days of Tuition...
    The government should cancel the bill "before people get injured, before people die," said spokesperson Gabriel Dubois-Nadeau.
    Josh If any gov was to call there citizens terrorists that would be a human rights issue a un issue as for the Pq will rise and there will be no opposition sorry there would be a ton as for breaking off from Ontario via dynamite that would be not only illegal it would be a huge international issue and those who would do it would be called to the international courts and face huge jail time plus don't forget very few want to leave Canada. More...

  • May-23 -- Killing of a beauty queen: accused deny murdering newlywed
    LARGE CROWDS and a heavy police presence are expected at the criminal court of Mauritius this morning as the trial begins of two hotel workers accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey, the daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte.
    Mr McAreavey has also been listed as one of the witnesses to give evidence in the case, which is due to begin at the Supreme Court in the island's capital of Port Louis. More...

Tuesday (Update 2)


  • May-23 -- Royal fan, 75, knits model of queen's boat pageant
    Britain's Queen Elizabeth was cheered on by thousands of troops yesterday (19.05.12) to mark the start of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
    The lake, which can hold 20bn litres of water, was built to provide water for Bristol. More...

  • May-23 -- West seems sending soothing signals to Syria by excluding military action
    The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and now has around 12,000 peacekeepers.
    The students were met with brutal repression by security forces, despite the presence of UN military observers, who now number more than 250 across the country out of the total of 300. More...

  • May-23 -- Malaysian opposition's Anwar charged over protest
    KUALA LUMPUR, May 22, 2012 (AFP) -- Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was charged Tuesday for his part in a rally for fair elections last month, in a case he denounced as another government attempt to remove him from politics.
    The court in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday charged Anwar with breaking the court order by inciting people to breach the barriers around the square. More...

  • May-23 -- UPA's report card is a mixed bag
    In Chennai, Karunanidhi refused to rate the three-year performance of the UPA-II Government, saying there were "ups and downs" for every Government.
    As the Mamata Banerjee government completed one year of its tenure in West Bengal, the BJP castigated her performance and enticed her to quit UPA II in the same breath. More...

Tuesday (Update 1)


  • May-22 -- Merkel's Market Battle Call Echoed by Tsipras of Greece's Syriza
    Greece's election rules give the party that comes first an automatic bonus of 50 seats in the 300 seat house, meaning even the slightest edge could play a decisive role in determining who forms the next government.
    Centrifugal forces are at work in Athens to mobilise public opinion for pro-bailout parties, hoping that the ballot could come to resolve the stalemate. More...

  • May-22 -- Man in Stable Condition After Niagara Falls...
    A man survived a plunge of at least 180 feet over Niagara Falls in an apparent suicide attempt Monday -- only the third person known to have lived after going over the falls without a safety device.
    The unidentified man, who was described by witnesses as deliberately jumping into the water, is only the third person to survive an unprotected trip over Horseshoe Falls, which has a drop of 173 feet (53 meters). More...

  • May-22 -- Ryan Crocker to leave US Embassy post in Kabul
    A combination photo shows U.S Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker (L) speaking during a news conference at the U.S. embassy in Kabul and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. James Cunningham speaking prior to the United Nations General assembly in New York in these July 27, 2011 and July 20, 2004 file photos.
    Crocker was named as the top U.S. diplomat in Kabul on July 25, 2011. More...

  • May-22 -- Gurrumul to sing for Queen
    Britain's Queen Elizabeth was cheered on by thousands of troops yesterday (19.05.12) to mark the start of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
    Britons across the country will celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth by consuming more than 200,000 cups of tea and 30,000 scones, a study has said. More...

Monday (Update 2)


  • May-22 -- Paris, Berlin make Greece euro pledge
    Europe has to support investment and economic growth in Greece "at a time when it is going through a violent recession," the French minister added.
    The German government says it is worried that jointly issued bonds would increase the very low interest rates Berlin pays. More...

  • May-22 -- Pakistan blocks Twitter for several hours because of tweets considered ...
    ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan's decision toblock access tothe online social network Twitter on Sunday drew sharp criticism from human rights activists, who called the move an "ill-advised" attempt at censorship.
    Twitter spokesman Gabriel Stricker said the company had not taken down any tweets or made any other changes before Pakistan stopped blocking the site. More...

  • May-22 -- UN official warns of third party in Syria
    BEIRUT (AP) -- Syrian forces on Friday fired on protesters holding the largest opposition marches yet in Aleppo, a sign of rising anti-regime sentiment in the country's biggest city, which has largely remained supportive of President Bashar Assad throughout the 15-month uprising.
    One protester was killed in a separate demonstration Thursday night in the Aleppo neighbourhood of Salaheddin, according to the Observatory, while an officer was killed in a bomb explosion in the city on Friday. More...

  • May-22 -- Former Sri Lankan army chief released from jail
    COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will order the release of his ailing former army chief this week, sources close to the president said on Thursday, in a bid to quell criticism of the government and its human rights record.
    If not for the brave commanders we had on the ground the war would never have been won. More...

Monday (Update 1)


  • May-21 -- Moscow Reiterates Missile Defense Threats
    "Missile defense is indispensable.
    Some wonder if the system will work - and question whether there really is a missile threat to Nato territory at all. More...

  • May-21 -- Zimbabwe denies claims of state sponsored violence
    During the five-day mission, Pillay will meet President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Legal Affairs and other ministers.
    I just get off the plane and I shouldn't pretend that I know what the situation is like. More...

  • May-21 -- Suspect substance found before Dalai Lama Belgium visit
    Beijing - China has accused the Dalai Lama of "deceiving the world" and "spreading false information" after Tibet's exiled spiritual leader said he was warned of a plot by Chinese agents to assassinate him.
    VIENNA — The Dalai Lama arrived in Austria Thursday for a visit that will include a meeting with Chancellor Werner Faymann and is likely to irritate China, already angered by his previous stop in Britain. More...

  • May-21 -- Chinese police chief at centre of Neil Heywood case could be charged with treason
    The South China Morning Post, citing unnamed sources, reported Monday that a special legal team has been established for the trial of former Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun, who could face the death penalty.
    One former government official in Chongqing said that Mr Wang's fortunes have been changing in recent days. More...

Monday


  • May-21 -- Clashes between al-Qaida and Yemeni troops leave 17 dead
    SCAHILL: Well, first of all, I'm very skeptical of reports that say, you know, 11 suspected militants were killed, because we don't have reporters on the ground that are going to the scene and are evaluating who was killed.
    The residents said Yemen's air force attacked targets being used by al Qaeda as weapon storage sites. More...

  • May-21 -- Putin on Stage: Russian Theater Performs DarioFo's 'BerlusPutin'
    MOSCOW — Newly-inaugurated President Vladimir Putin has set hugely ambitious targets to catapult the Russian economy into the modern era but their realism remains in doubt despite a benign short-term outlook.
    In an early boost for Putin, Russia's first quarter growth in 2012 surprised everyone by coming in at robust 4.9 percent at a time of almost unremittingly depressing global economic news especially from the eurozone. More...

  • May-21 -- Emergency law, celebrity support giving oxygen to Quebec protesters
    It's only a day old, but protesters are already finding creative new ways around Quebec's controversial law aimed at restoring order in the province.
    In spite of the government offering concessions students were out again last night in Montreal protesting with chants that there was no offer just an insult. More...

  • May-21 -- Leader's Fall in China Put Allies in Peril
    Wang Lijun, former Chongqing police chief and a key ally of the city's former ambitious leader Bo Xilai, fled to a U.S. consulate in February, triggering a political storm that led to the ousting of Bo from the Communist Party's top ranks and sparking uncertainty ahead of a critical change of leadership.
    In the bustling southern province of Guangdong, Party Secretary Wang Yang is making a name for himself as an apparent reformer open to new ways of doing things. More...

Sunday (Update 1)


  • May-20 -- Iran helps Syria identify likely bombers
    BEIRUT (AP) -- Syrian forces on Friday fired on protesters holding the largest opposition marches yet in Aleppo, a sign of rising anti-regime sentiment in the country's biggest city, which has largely remained supportive of President Bashar Assad throughout the 15-month uprising.
    There was no independent confirmation of the claims from within Syria, which has restricted media access during the 14-month-old uprising. More...

  • May-20 -- To help East Timor, look to the sea
    DILI, East Timor (AFP) - Ten years after winning formal independence following a brutal occupation by Indonesia, East Timor is struggling to escape extreme poverty, corruption and an over-reliance on energy revenues.
    DILI, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Taur Matan Ruak, a former guerrilla leader and ex-army chief, was sworn in as Timor-Leste's president early on Sunday to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the country's independence from Indonesia. More...

  • May-20 -- Suicide blast kills 13 in eastern Afghanistan
    KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up at a police checkpoint Saturday in a volatile area of eastern Afghanistan, killing 13 people, police said.
    KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan police: 8 killed in suicide bombing at police checkpoint in eastern Afghanistan. More...

  • May-20 -- Army kills Sunni cleric in Lebanon
    BEIRUT, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour urged Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) embassies to withdraw their call on citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon in light of the deteriorating security situation there, the National News Agency reported.
    Battles first erupted on Saturday between residents of the rival neighborhoods when General Security agents arrested Shadi al-Mawlawi, a Salafist, on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. More...

Sunday


  • May-20 -- Tunnel blast kills 20 at Chinese construction site
    The blast, which occurred when a vehicle was unloading explosives in the tunnel, killed at least 19 workers at the central Chinese highway construction site on Saturday, authorities said.
    According to local media reports, the blast occurred when a vehicle with explosives was being unloaded. More...

  • May-20 -- Taiwan president takes office amid protests
    The increasingly unpopular President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday summed up four major failures over his past four years in office, as thousands of people took to the streets in Taipei protesting some of the government's recent controversial moves.
    Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Cabinet ministers, the Speaker of the National Assembly and senior government officials that during his first term, President Ma farsightedly outlined the role for Taiwan in the international community. More...

  • May-20 -- Dark-Horse Candidates Add to Egypt's Suspense
    While there are few scientifically based polls, most analysts predict that the race will come down to a choice between Abdel Moneim Abou el-Fatouh, 60, the Islamist who broke away from the Muslim Brotherhood and has struggled to portray himself as a "moderate" alternative; non-Islamist candidate Ahmed Shafiq, an ex-Air Force chief who revived Egypt Air and was Mubarak's last lackluster prime minister; or Amr Moussa, 75, a former Arab League president and foreign minister under Mubarak who is perceived by Egyptians as embracing more "secular" values.
    Secularists and liberals have at least three candidates in the running. More...

  • May-20 -- France's Hollande: Learned At G-8 Not Alone To Back Eurobonds At EU Summit
    "I just want to remember that cheeseburgers go very well with french fries."
    Due to an incorrect press pool report, an earlier version of this story misquoted President Francois Hollande's comments on Iran. More...

Saturday (Update 2)


  • May-20 -- Sunni Bahrainis stage rally in support of Saudi union
    TEHRAN - Iranian worshippers across the country held demonstrations after Friday prayers to protest the decision recently made by Persian Gulf Arab states to discuss a proposal for a closer political union that could begin with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
    Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa (right) giving a sword to his Saudi counterpart, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, in Manama on April 18. More...

  • May-20 -- Briton arrested with roasted human foetuses for use in black magic ritual
    A British man of Asian origin was arrested in Thailand after police found him in possession of six human fetuses that had been roasted and covered in gold leaf in a black magic ritual, The Telegraph reports.
    Chow said that the black magic rituals with foetuses are believed to bring good fortune for businesspeople. More...

  • May-20 -- Spectators killed as rally car hits crowd
    Two people have been killed and 15 others injured after a rally car ploughed into spectators during a race in the Var region of southern France.
    More...

  • May-20 -- 12 mountaineers from Pune scaled Mount Everest
    Kathmandu, Nepal (4E) A 73-year-old Japanese woman climbed Mount Everest on Saturday morning, smashing her own record to become the oldest woman to scale the world's highest mountain.
    Saturday's feat bettered Watanabe's own age record for conquering the mountain. More...





Saturday (Update 1)


  • May-19 -- Beijing rejects US report on Chinese military
    Delivered to Congress today, the annual report discusses China's security and military strategy, developments in China's military doctrine and force structure, the security situation in the Taiwan Strait, U.S. -China military-to-military contacts, and the nature of China's cyber activities directed against the Department of Defense.
    To make matters worse, there appears to be a disconnect between the text and the data. More...

  • May-19 -- Yemen says air strikes, troops kills seven militants
    SCAHILL: Well, first of all, I'm very skeptical of reports that say, you know, 11 suspected militants were killed, because we don't have reporters on the ground that are going to the scene and are evaluating who was killed.
    A later attack by the air force killed another 11 jihadists, a local source and residents said. More...

  • May-19 -- Tens of thousands rally in Bangkok to mark 2 years since deadly crackdown on ...
    The verdict was delivered Friday morning, with a number of UDD Red Shirt leaders and supporters showing up at court to give Mr Jatuporn moral support.
    BANGKOK, Thailand -- The anonymous phone calls began a month or two after Kamolket Akahad, a 25-year-old volunteer medic, was shot dead during a guns-blazing Thai army crackdown. More...

  • May-19 -- 7 charged with terror crimes in Real IRA crackdown
    Two brothers and a cousin of prominent dissident republican Colin Duffy have appeared in court in Northern Ireland charged with terrorism offences including conspiracy to murder.
    Ms Rafferty and Mr Kelly were also charged with directing the activities of a terrorist organisation while Mr Kelly faced a further charge of collecting information likely to be of use to terrorists. More...

Saturday


  • May-19 -- Briton arrested with roasted human foetuses for use in black magic ritual
    A British man of Asian origin was arrested in Thailand after police found him in possession of six human fetuses that had been roasted and covered in gold leaf in a black magic ritual, The Telegraph reports.
    The young Brit, planned to sell the foetuses for up to £24,200, inform Thai cops. More...

  • May-19 -- S.Sudan says aims to obtain anti-aircraft missiles
    Foreign reporters in South Sudan have witnessed bombings by Sudanese warplanes of targets including a market, a refugee camp and oil infrastructure, and border skirmishes between the two countries' armies last month included a series of air raids by the northern nation.
    Hussein Algumbulla, the chief representative for the camp's residents, said the Nuba hate asking for help. More...

  • May-19 -- China activist Chen's relatives describe beatings
    Chen Guangcheng, aged 40, who taught himself the law, came to national fame by campaigning for farmers and disabled citizens, and exposing forced abortions.
    Chinese officials brought paperwork for Mr Chen and his family to fill out on Wednesday at the hospital. More...

  • May-19 -- Yemen's hidden war with al-Qaeda
    SCAHILL: Well, first of all, I'm very skeptical of reports that say, you know, 11 suspected militants were killed, because we don't have reporters on the ground that are going to the scene and are evaluating who was killed.
    ADEN, May 17 (Reuters) - Militants linked to al Qaeda beat a retreat in southern Yemen on Thursday as warplanes attacked from the sky and ground troops advanced on insurgent-held towns, killing at least six Islamist fighters, residents and local officials said. More...

Friday (Update 2)


  • May-19 -- Alleged diamond swallower expels fake gem
    Police in the Canadian province of Ontario say they are holding a man who is accused of swallowing a $20,000 (£12,600) diamond.
    Matthews is being held at police headquarters while investigators wait for the 1.7-carat stone to pass through his system. More...

  • May-19 -- Abbas risks unity deal with new Palestinian cabinet
    The use of administrative detention was a key inspiration for the mass hunger strike that swept through the Palestinian population in Israeli jails in recent months.
    The commitment to Palestinian refugees is also unwavering. More...

  • May-19 -- Emergency Law Faces Vote in Quebec Student...
    The province, which is increasing fees by more than 80 per cent over seven years, has had to contend with massive protests for more than three months, especially in Montreal.
    I think as a country we really need to look at how higher education is provided to our children. More...

  • May-19 -- Mexico Detains 3rd General with Drug Cartel Links
    MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Two Mexican generals, including the former deputy minister of defense who helped lead the escalation of the country's war against drug gangs, are being investigated for ties to organized crime, an official at the attorney general's office said on Wednesday.
    Calderon named Dauahare as deputy defense minister upon taking office and the general retired in March 2008, according to a military spokesman. More...

Friday (Update 1)


  • May-18 -- S. Africa's ANC fumes at racy portrait of Zuma
    "The presidency is shocked and disgusted at the grotesque painting by Brett Murray depicting President Jacob Zuma in an offensive manner," spokesperson Mac Maharaj said after the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg refused to remove the painting.
    Mthembu says: "We have then instructed our lawyers to ask the Goodman gallery to remove that piece of art which in our view denigrates the President of the ANC and the president of the country. More...

  • May-18 -- Pro-EU Tadic Leading Polls Ahead Of Runoff Vote
    The outcome will determine whether Serbia keeps striving for EU membership under Tadic or turns east for political and economic ties under Nikolic's leadership.
    The two major parties, the ruling Democratic Party and the Serbian Progressive Party, will take part in the May 20 second round to decide the presidency. More...

  • May-18 -- South Sudan calls for UN sanctions on Khartoum
    Juba -- In the wake of border tensions the United Nations is airlifting 12,000 southerners from a Sudanese frontier town into South Sudan.
    Sudan's foreign minister has said that Khartoum would have to accept the resolution, with some reservations, to avoid Juba being able to portray itself as the victim of the issue. More...

  • May-18 -- Palestinians commemorate 'nakba' anniversary
    RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinians on Tuesday marked their mass displacement that followed Israel's creation with a blend of sadness and hope, stopping in their tracks for a mournful siren but also flashing victory signs and carrying banners proclaiming their right of return.
    Nakba Day, commemorated annually on May 15, is normally marked by protest, and often by clashes with Israelis in the Palestinian territories. More...

Friday


  • May-18 -- Latin America Celebrates International Day Against Homophobia
    LILONGWE--Malawians should embrace tolerance and reject discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, human rights groups said Thursday on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) which falls on 17th May.
    I think the thing with homophobia in Ireland today is that most people think they are not homophobic, except they often still are. More...

  • May-18 -- Analysis: Saudi Gulf union plan stumbles as wary leaders seek detail
    When the meetings ended on Monday, there was little hiding the fact that some leaders in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) had put the brakes on the project, if not shot it down entirely.
    Driving the GCC unity push is Saudi Arabia's desire to "organise Gulf foreign, defense and financial policies," Khalid al-Dakhil, a professor of political science at King Saud University in Riyadh, said in a phone interview. More...

  • May-18 -- David Cameron to meet with Francois Hollande at G8
    LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron will promise on Thursday to do whatever is needed to protect Britain's economy and banks from a break-up of the euro zone, and will urge leaders of the single currency bloc to "sort out its problems".
    David Cameron has warned fellow European leaders of the need for the eurozone to take "decisive action" to ensure stability in a high-level conference call to discuss the Greek crisis. More...

  • May-18 -- China sentences former fugitive to life in prison
    BEIJING - The man once considered China's most-wanted fugitive was sentenced to life in prison Friday for running a large-scale smuggling operation that paid off scores of Chinese government officials, state media said.
    The guilty verdict Thursday was expected given that Mr. Lai's guilt had long been a stated fact in the official Chinese media. More...

Thursday (Update 2)


  • May-18 -- Pentagon unveils model of Osama bin Laden's Pakistan hideout used to plan SEAL ...
    According to a press release put out by the New Mexico Film Office (where the movie was shot), Geronimo "tells the story of the manhunt for Osama bin Laden and serves as the riveting backdrop for a gripping story about the combined efforts of an extraordinary group of Navy Seals.
    Made for a more modest budget than Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty, the asking price is reportedly around $2 million. More...

  • May-18 -- 'Gaydar' guesses more right than wrong
    Dr Joshua Tabak of the University of Washington said: "We were surprised participants were above-chance judging sexual orientation based on upside down photos flashed for just 50 milliseconds.
    When the faces were flipped upside down, participants were 61 percent accurate in telling the two apart. More...

  • May-18 -- Turkey suspects bird of being Israeli spy
    The Israeli aircraft violated the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus's airspace five times in Monday's incident which saw Turkish fighter jets chase out the intruder, the army command said in a statement.
    Monday's reported air incursion coincided with tensions on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus over oil and gas exploration plans there, which could hinder U.N. -backed efforts to reunite wthe island. More...

  • May-18 -- West African troops in Guinea-Bissau to restore order after coup
    The soldiers from Burkina Faso were welcomed by officers from Guinea Bissau's police and army as well as representatives of the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African states (Ecowas).
    The tiny African nation has been at an impasse since April 12, when soldiers seized power and arrested interim President Raimundo Pereira and his prime minister. More...

Thursday (Update 1)


  • May-17 -- Defiant Greek leftist refuses to back austerity
    For obvious reasons of legitimisation, the three parties will try to make it appear as something different, perhaps by appointing Kouvelis as prime minister and limiting or even wholly avoiding the participation of PASOK and New Democracy.
    The final act of the present episode of the Greek drama took place at the meeting held before President Papoulias at 2 o'clock today, Tuesday 15th. More...

  • May-17 -- Bin Laden's lair: Intricate model of terror chief's hideout revealed
    A detailed model of the notorious compound where Osama Bin Laden was finally captured has been unveiled by U.S. Intelligence services.
    I cant under stand what all the fuss is about, and why they are milking it dry. More...

  • May-17 -- Turkish jets stop 'Israeli violation' of airspace
    The Turkish Army provided no other details about the incident nor the type of Israeli plane involved.
    Monday's incident coincided with tensions on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus over oil and gas exploration plans there, which could hinder U.N. -backed efforts to reunite the island. More...

  • May-17 -- Queens locked in stalemate
    Madrid Spain's Queen Sofia on Wednesday cancelled the trip to London she had planned for later this week for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee because the Spanish government feels that it would be "unsuitable" after the fishing conflict with Gibraltar and the announced visit to The Rock by Britain's Prince Edward.
    "The government considers it is hardly adequate that in the current circumstances, Queen Sofia take part in Queen Elizabeth's jubilee," a spokesman for the Spanish royal household said Wednesday. More...

Thursday


  • May-17 -- David Cameron sticks to his chartered course
    Europe faces the potential break-up of the single currency unless it takes urgent action to deal with the euro crisis, Prime Minister David Cameron warned today.
    Mr Cameron's intervention came just two days after Chancellor George Osborne warned that "open speculation" about the future of some eurozone members was damaging the European economy. More...

  • May-17 -- Navigating the city during NATO summit will be a trip
    Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said today that officers have done a good job handling protests so far this week and are prepared for the much larger crowds expected to demonstrate during this weekend's NATO summit.
    "We, Afghanistan and Iraq veterans from around the country will converge in Chicago on May 20 to ceremoniously return our medals to NATO generals," according to the blog. More...

  • May-17 -- Gillard to attend NATO meeting in US
    AUSTRALIA will contribute $300 million as part of a joint international effort to help support Afghan forces after foreign troops have withdrawn from the war-torn country.
    Ms Gillard said Australia's troop withdrawal from Afghanistan was on track - and could be completed ahead of schedule. More...

  • May-17 -- Chen Guangcheng 'to get passport within 15 days'
    Washington (CNN) -- Chen Guangcheng, the Chinese human rights activist who ignited a diplomatic frenzy when he escaped house arrest last month, has received passport applications for himself and his family, he said Wednesday.
    "Officials visited yesterday, we filled out passport application forms for my myself, my wife and children," said Chen, who triggered a diplomatic crisis when he fled to the U.S. embassy last month. More...

Wednesday (Update 2)


  • May-17 -- Manny Pacquiao: Shoppers surprised by boxer's ban from the Grove
    WBO Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao has spoken out in opposition of same-sex marriage in response to the recent comments from President Barack Obama on the subject.
    Pacquiao, bearing a conservative stance on the Reproductive Bill which is still pending in the Philippine Congress for approval even after contemptuous debates, believes the sweeping campaign of Obama favoring the gays and lesbians to legally marry is nothing more than a direct attack on the moral society and against the creative power and will of God. More...

  • May-17 -- Massive cost of Greek exit from euro emerges
    Growth forecasts have been downgraded by economists for the fifth straight quarterly Reuters poll.
    Jobless claims rose by 5,000 in April, according to a separate survey. More...

  • May-17 -- Palestinian prime minister reshuffles Cabinet in West Bank
    RAMALLAH, West Bank, May 16 (Reuters) - A Palestinian leader widely credited by the West with introducing transparency to a corruption-plagued and donor-dependent economy lost his job as finance minister in a government reshuffle on Wednesday.
    A unity deal reached in February was to have ended five years of separate Palestinian governments, one run by Fayyad in the West Bank and the other by the Islamic militant Hamas in the Gaza Strip. More...

  • May-17 -- A look at the major issues for the United States and NATO as leaders meet in ...
    While NATO leaders are preparing for discussions on future cooperation, protesters are gearing up to demonstrate.
    Streets and expressways will be clogged. More...

Wednesday (Update 1)


  • May-16 -- Witness says Breivik killed with joyous 'battle cry'
    The man doused himself with liquid and set himself on fire before attempting to breach the security fence around the courthouse, police spokesman Kjell Kverme said.
    Anders Behring Breivik (center) is escorted out of court by police during his trial proceedings in Oslo, Norway, Friday. More...

  • May-16 -- Ukraine dismisses EU plea over jailed Tymoshenko
    The appeal to a seven-year prison sentence of the former Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko has been delayed until 26 June.
    Schulz and Azarov also agreed that the European Parliament will send an observer to monitor a separate trial of Tymoshenko, on charges of tax evasion. More...

  • May-16 -- Bahrain and Iran in diplomatic row over union proposal
    The "option of a (Gulf Cooperation Council) union has become urgent," Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman was quoted as saying by the Saudi Al-Riyadh daily.
    Last year, Saudi forces led 1,500 Gulf troops into tiny Bahrain to help prop up the kingdom's Sunni dynasty against a Shiite-led uprising, which is now in its 15th month. More...

  • May-16 -- Australia pledges $300m to Afghanistan
    AUSTRALIA will contribute $300 million as part of a joint international effort to help support Afghan forces after foreign troops have withdrawn from the war-torn country.
    Ms Gillard said Australia had a responsibility to the Afghan people well after Australian troops had withdrawn. More...

Wednesday


  • May-16 -- South Korea: Myanmar Pledges To Stop Buying North's Weapons
    President Lee Myung-Bak headed to Burma Monday on the first visit by a South Korean leader since a North Korean assassination attempt in Rangoon almost three decades ago.
    Lee flew to the capital Naypyitaw to meet with Myanmar President Thein Sein as part of a two-day visit that is expected to strengthen ties between the Asian countries, a statement from Lee's office said. More...

  • May-16 -- Self-immolations in Tibetan regions politically motivated: lawmaker
    BEIJING — China has accused the Dalai Lama of "deceiving the world" and "spreading false information" after Tibet's exiled spiritual leader said he was warned of a plot by Chinese agents to assassinate him.
    Police and bailiffs cleared the protesters' camp in February. More...

  • May-16 -- Ex-minister target of Colombian bomb
    Later authorities confirmed that someone travelling on a motorbike placed the bomb directly on top of Londono's car.
    A noon bombing Tuesday in a busy commercial district of Colombia's capital has killed at least two and left more than a dozen wounded, including former interior minister Jose Londono, according to local reports. More...

  • May-16 -- Queen takes Jubilee tour to Burnley
    In the chill of predawn, crowds converged on the capital to participate in an event that promised to be a piece of history.
    At the time, his Coronation was a stark reminder that the young Princess would one day face the great responsibility of succeeding her father. More...

Tuesday (Update 2)


  • May-16 -- Iran says Saudi-Bahrain union plan deepens crisis
    The "option of a (Gulf Cooperation Council) union has become urgent," Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman was quoted as saying by the Saudi Al-Riyadh daily.
    Al Faisal said that the ministers would submit recommendations to the GCC leaders at an extraordinary summit to be held in the Saudi capital Riyadh. More...

  • May-16 -- Anti-whaling activist held by German court
    In the statement, the anti-whaling group said the incident in question took place on the high seas in Guatemalan waters after a Sea Shepherd ship encountered the Costa Rican vessel 'Varadero.' It said Varadero was at the time engaged in illegal shark finning operation, the practice of catching sharks, slicing off their valuable fins and returning the fish to the water where it subsequently dies of its injuries.
    "With Costa Rica's rich biodiversity, it would be a travesty for them not to stand up for sharks, which sit at the highest levels of the food chain assuring balance among ecological communities in the ocean," Sea Shepherd said on its website. More...

  • May-16 -- Bosnian victim eager to see Ratko Mladic in court
    THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- Ratko Mladic appealed Monday for a six-month delay in the start of his Yugoslav war crimes trial, saying delays by prosecutors in disclosing evidence could lead to a miscarriage of justice.
    Prosecutors at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) accuse Mladic of genocide, murder, acts of terror and other crimes against humanity during the 1992-95 Bosnian war. More...

  • May-16 -- South Sudan Seeks Zimbabwe Support Over Conflict With Khartoum
    The first planeload of refugees stranded for months in a camp in Sudan has arrived in South Sudan.
    South Sudan briefly seized the Heglig oilfield inside South Kordofan, which is vital to Sudan's economy because it produced almost half of the country's output of 115,000 bpd. More...

Tuesday (Update 1)


  • May-15 -- Anti-whaling activist held by German court
    In the statement, the anti-whaling group said the incident in question took place on the high seas in Guatemalan waters after a Sea Shepherd ship encountered the Costa Rican vessel 'Varadero.' It said Varadero was at the time engaged in illegal shark finning operation, the practice of catching sharks, slicing off their valuable fins and returning the fish to the water where it subsequently dies of its injuries.
    Captain Watson will captain one of at least two ships that will leave Australia next month for Fiji to begin the hunt for illegal shark finners. More...

  • May-15 -- Queen's Jubilee tour reaches Bromley, Merton, Richmond
    Rick W in BC Retired Vet I served Canada for 34 years in the Royal Canadian Navy and have always viewed the monarchy under Queen Elizabeth as one of the few good things that defines us as a people and country.
    Guests attending a Jubilee Road Street Party will also welcome the royal visitors to the borough before the Queen and Duke meet local business people. More...

  • May-15 -- Syrians Defy Leaders to Aid Those in Need
    The spokesman of China's peacekeeping affairs office of the Ministry of National Defense said China had selected for the mission six military officers who had good professional, foreign language and driving skills.
    A six-point ceasefire brokered by Arab League envoy and former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and later approved by the Security Council, was supposed to have gone into effect on April 12, but violence has not abated. More...

  • May-15 -- Gulf states delay decisions on closer ties
    The "option of a (Gulf Cooperation Council) union has become urgent," Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman was quoted as saying by the Saudi Al-Riyadh daily.
    Analysts note that the six GCC countries are not even in agreement about Iran, with Oman and Qatar taking a softer line than the Saudis. More...

Tuesday


  • May-15 -- Roman tomb opened in missing-teen case
    Forensic police swarmed the crypt of a Roman basilica on Monday to exhume the body of a reputed mobster as part of an investigation into one of the Vatican's most enduring mysteries: the 1983 disappearance of the teenage daughter of one of its employees.
    An overwhelming stench filled the air as medical personnel in white pantsuits and masks mingled with priests in black clerical garb and ducked into a blue tent where samples of De Pedis' remains were believed to have been brought. More...

  • May-15 -- Egypt presidential candidate blasts Islamist MP
    A handout picture obtained from the Egyptian daily Al Shuruq shows hopeful presidential candidate and former Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa, right, shaking hands with moderate Islamist fellow candidate, Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, during a live debate in Cairo.
    Satirical posters have been also published about two other prominent candidates, Ahmed Shafiq and Abdul Moneim Aboul Fatouh. More...

  • May-15 -- Mr Lee is the first South Korean leader to visit Burma since the attack.
    Lee is the latest foreign leader to visit Burma as it embraces political and economic reforms under a nominally civilian government after decades of military dictatorship.
    President Lee also held a bilateral summit with Chinese President Hu Jin-tao, where the two countries agreed to closely work together in dealing with North Korea and effectively respond to Pyeongyang's nuclear test or any additional provocation in the future. More...

  • May-15 -- A banner year for grand new cruise ships
    Princess Cruises said yesterday there appeared to have been a "case of unfortunate miscommunication," on the ship, the Star Princess, and that the alert about the disabled boat was never relayed to the British captain of the vessel, Edward Perrin.
    According to Ramos, the lawsuit will include testimony from passengers on board the cruise liner who saw the stranded fishermen and sought help from the crew. More...

Monday (Update 2)


  • May-15 -- Opening of Crypt Revives a Mystery
    ROME -- Forensic police swarmed the crypt of a Roman basilica on Monday to exhume the body of a reputed mobster as part of an investigation into one of the Vatican's most enduring mysteries: the 1983 disappearance of the teenage daughter of one of its employees.
    After denying permission for many years, the Vatican finally allowed the remains of gangster Enrico De Pedis to be exhumed. More...

  • May-15 -- China, Japan, South Korea Agree To Trade Talks
    China's Premier Wen Jiabao, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and South Korea President Lee Myung Bak met in Beijing yesterday as their trade ministers signed an investment agreement described as the "first legal document on trilateral cooperation in the economic field."
    China Earthquake Administration, Japan Meteorological Agency and Korea Meteorological Administration held three tripartite meetings on earthquake disaster mitigation from 2004 to 2006. More...

  • May-15 -- Tussauds unveils 23rd waxwork Queen
    LONDON (Reuters) - Capturing an exact facial expression of Britain's Queen Elizabeth proved a challenging task for sculptor Steve Swales during the creation of the latest royal wax figure for London tourist attraction Madame Tussauds.
    A brand new wax model of the Queen has gone on display at Madame Tussauds to celebrate her 60-year reign. More...

  • May-15 -- Uganda displays captive Kony lieutenant
    Caesar Acellam is thought to be the fourth highest commander in the LRA, under Joseph Kony.
    Uganda says it captured Caesar Achellam, a top leader of the Lord's Resistance Army. More...

Monday (Update 1)


  • May-14 -- China says Dalai Lama assassination plot claim 'groundless'
    The Dalai Lama told the Sunday Telegraph: "We received some sort of information from Tibet.
    Beijing: China accused the Dalai Lama of being deceitful on Monday after he reportedly alleged that Chinese agents trained Tibetan women to assassinate him by planting poison in their hair for him to touch during blessings. More...

  • May-14 -- Russia's Anti-Putin Camp Gets Case of Jitters
    Nearly 200 activists are camping out in central Moscow to protest the election of Vladimir Putin and the arrest of two opposition leaders.
    Build 9: 593 ms (Content).Completed macro ody_bottom_caro_six.Build 9: 750 ms (Content).Build 9: 0 ms (Content).Completed macro ody_conveyor.Parsing macro ody_footer.Parsing macro ody_analytics. More...

  • May-14 -- Nato hits back at Libya's civilian deaths report
    The absence of a clear military target at seven of the eight sites HRW visited raises concerns of possible laws-of-war violations that should be investigated.
    The UN authorized air strikes last March to protect Libyans from forces loyal to Col. Muammar Gaddafi. More...

  • May-14 -- Sea Shepherd leader held
    "The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherds of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy," said the group, which was set up in 1977 to campaign against the slaughter of ocean wildlife.
    Sea Shepherd said while in jail in Germany Watson is being assisted by the European Parliament Vice President Daniel Cohn Bendit and the European deputy Jose Bove. More...

Monday


  • May-14 -- US May Scrap Costly Efforts to Train Iraqi Police
    BAGHDAD -- A pair of bombings killed four people Sunday in attacks targeting Iraq's security forces, officials said, while the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad maintained it will continue training Iraqi police despite cutbacks to the program.
    McClellan said the move would save money but still allow advisers to help Iraq police. More...

  • May-14 -- 'Pursuit of Terrorists Is Irreversible,' Yemen's President Says
    MPs said the unauthorised disclosure risked putting the spy and his contacts at risk and appeared to be a serious breach of the usual policy of secrecy surrounding joint operations between MI6 and the CIA. The criticism, as U.S. intelligence chiefs launched their own probe into the leak, follows the publication in American media of key details about the spy's nationality and background.
    Congressional lawmakers called Sunday for a criminal investigation over the leak revealing that the so-called "underwear bomber" who boarded a U.S. -bound jet last month was actually a Saudi Arabian intelligence agent who had volunteered for the mission, warning that the leak could seriously damage American credibility. More...

  • May-14 -- China morning round-up: Tri-nation trade deal hailed
    The 76-year-old Tibetan Buddhist leader said he lives within a high-security cordon in his palace grounds in Dharamsala, in the Himalayan foothills, on the advice of Indian security officials.
    More...

  • May-14 -- Flooding kills five in Georgian capital
    A FLOOD killed five people in Georgia's capital overnight yesterday after torrential rain caused the local river to burst its banks.
    Gigi Ugulava, Tbilisi mayor, said that in the most affected area in the Ortachala district large amount of rainfall washed mud, trees and debris, blocking collector there, which in turn caused muddy torrent to flow down the settlements. More...

Sunday (Update 2)


  • May-14 -- Indonesian Investigators Look For Wrecked Plane's Black Box
    MOSCOW/MOUNT SALAK, Indonesia: A rescue team found several bodies but no survivors Thursday in the wreckage of a Russian plane that crashed into a mountain in Indonesia during an exhibition flight with 45 people on board.
    The plane was on a demonstration flight for Indonesian Ministry of Transportation officials and representatives of Indonesian airlines, the Russian Embassy in Jakarta said before the crash. More...

  • May-14 -- Dalai Lama: national service
    The 76-year-old Tibetan Buddhist leader said he lives within a high-security cordon in his palace grounds in Dharamsala, in the Himalayan foothills, on the advice of Indian security officials.
    The Dalai Lama was born Lhamo Thondup. More...

  • May-14 -- Yemen Bomb-Plot Leaks Yield Calls for Probe
    MPs said the unauthorised disclosure risked putting the spy and his contacts at risk and appeared to be a serious breach of the usual policy of secrecy surrounding joint operations between MI6 and the CIA. The criticism, as U.S. intelligence chiefs launched their own probe into the leak, follows the publication in American media of key details about the spy's nationality and background.
    The leaks, "certainly jeopardizes the asset, our ability to work" with other countries, the senator said, adding that it alerted AQAP, the al Qaeda group based in Yemen, to the operation. More...

  • May-14 -- Boycott of Ukraine during Euro 2012 carries risks
    Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko has been transferred from prison to hospital to recover from a hunger strike and receive treatment for back problems, as Kiev tries to defuse international criticism over the case ahead of next month's Euro 2012 football championship.
    Afterwards the Lithuanian leader said the rift began over the Yalta summit, postponed by Ukraine after a threatened boycott by several central and eastern European leaders. More...

Sunday (Update 1)


  • May-13 -- Sudan's conflict with South Sudan cuts both ways
    "We will implement what we want and, what we do not want, no one can impose upon us -- neither the UN Security Council nor the African Union Peace and Security Council," Bashir said.
    The UN requires that by next Wednesday the two countries "unconditionally resume negotiations", mediated by the African Union, on unresolved issues after the South's separation last July following a 1983-2005 civil war. More...

  • May-13 -- How the assassination of JFK put Fidel Castro in a delicate spot
    The daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro has revealed on Saturday that her father has been working to end sexual discrimination, possibly opening the path to same-sex marriage.
    Ms Castro is pushing for passage of legislation that would legalize same-sex unions, but stops short of endorsing gay marriage. More...

  • May-13 -- Uganda official: Top Joseph Kony commander captured
    Uganda People's Defence Forces said Caesar Achellam, a major general in Kony's outfit of about 200 fighters, had been captured in an ambush on Saturday along the banks of the River Mbou in neighbouring Central African Republic.
    "I hope Bosco Ntaganda will be arrested in Congo, Joseph Kony should be arrested, President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan should be arrested," said Luis Moreno-Ocampo. More...

  • May-13 -- EU, US Congratulate Algeria on Elections
    The three party Islamist "Green Alliance" claimed Friday the results were rigged to keep them out of power in a country that has experienced decades of violence between radical Islamist groups and security forces.
    Abdelmadjid Menasra, leader of a small Islamist party, said in a news conference Saturday that the election was characterized by "fraud from the beginning." More...

Sunday


  • May-13 -- Big-wave surfer enters record books by riding 78-foot "monster"
    Garrett McNamara of Hawaii is the new Guinness World Record holder for the biggest wave ever surfed, after surfing a 78-foot wave (!) on November 1, 2011 at Nazare, Portugal's Praia do Norte beach.
    After his friends pestered him to come out anyway, McNamara grabbed his board and hit the beach, which was off the coast of Portugal. More...

  • May-13 -- India Clears $560 Million Gun Deal
    The Indian Army got a shot in the arm today with the defence ministry clearing its long-pending $660 million (Rs.3,000 crore) proposal to buy 145 ultra-light howitzer guns to add teeth to its ageing inventory.
    The defence acquisition council on Friday cleared the government-to-government transaction under which India has to buy the guns from the U.S. The 155mm towed M777 ultra-light howitzers manufactured by BAE Systems Inc. will be bought under the foreign military sales route. More...

  • May-13 -- Turkish journalists detained in Syria released
    Two Turkish journalists detained for two months in Syria are on their way home after their release was mediated by Iran.
    Davutoglu had indicated that a plane was sent to Tehran to pick up the two Turkish journalists upon a directive issued by Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. More...

  • May-13 -- Chen Guangcheng's nephew charged with voluntary manslaughter
    Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng has accused local Shandong officials of detaining two of his relatives and hounding and harassing others in revenge for his recent escape from house arrest and for sparking an international furore.
    Chen's stay at the U.S. embassy prompted complaints of '"interference" by Chinese officials. More...

Saturday (Update 2)


  • May-13 -- Gambling, drinking monks raise hell in South Korea
    The leaders of South Korea's biggest Buddhist order have quit after secret video footage showed them playing high-stakes poker, drinking and smoking.
    The order's head, Jaseung, apologized to all of South Korea's 12 million Buddhists. More...

  • May-13 -- As Putin Postpones Meeting Obama, Analysts Seek Political Import
    There was no immediate confirmation of the change in plans from the Kremlin.
    Organisers said 20,000 people took part in a protest on Sunday against Mr Putins inauguration, though police put the figure at 8,000. More...

  • May-13 -- India Clears $560 Million Gun Deal
    The Indian Army got a shot in the arm today with the defence ministry clearing its long-pending $660 million (Rs.3,000 crore) proposal to buy 145 ultra-light howitzer guns to add teeth to its ageing inventory.
    The Indian defence ministry cleared a long-pending $660 million proposal to buy 145 ultra-light howitzer guns on Friday, reported IANS. More...

  • May-13 -- It's Official: Surfer Catches the Largest Wave Ever Ridden
    It takes a long time to measure a giant wave six months, in this case (the measuring tape keeps getting kelp in it).
    We are so fortunate, we get to surf and that's what we love to do, what we're passionate about. More...





Saturday (Update 1)


  • May-12 -- Hawaiian surfer breaks wave-riding record
    It takes a long time to measure a giant wave six months, in this case (the measuring tape keeps getting kelp in it).
    A panel of big wave surfing and photography experts, who analyzed and measured the photos and videos of Garrett's ride, determined the height of the wave. More...

  • May-12 -- Israeli president undergoes surgery for hernia discovered during state visit ...
    President Shimon Peres underwent surgery on Friday afternoon to treat a hernia in his abdomen.
    The condition was thought not to be serious enough to warrant curtailing the trip. More...

  • May-12 -- Egyptian Campaign Focuses on Islam's Role in Public Life
    A handout picture obtained from the Egyptian daily Al Shuruq shows hopeful presidential candidate and former Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa, right, shaking hands with moderate Islamist fellow candidate, Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, during a live debate in Cairo.
    Egypt's first ever televised presidential debate, aired on two private Egyptian television channels, ONTV and Dream, came as polls suggest that Mussa and Abdul Fotouh are the leading contenders in the May 23-24 polls. More...

  • May-12 -- Master Tactician in Israel Adds Power in a Coalition Deal
    JERUSALEM: There are few certainties in the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu's, monster new coalition, which holds 94 seats in a 120-seat parliament.
    The prime minister also made a commitment to promote a "responsible" peace process with the Palestinians and hold "serious" talks with Mr Mofaz about Irans nuclear programme. More...

Saturday


  • May-12 -- Israeli activists worry that Netanyahu's new majority will mean new measures ...
    JERUSALEM: There are few certainties in the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu's, monster new coalition, which holds 94 seats in a 120-seat parliament.
    Ministers taking to the podium Wednesday leveled harsh criticism at Netanyahu and Mofaz for keeping the move secret. More...

  • May-12 -- Chavez returns home after cancer treatment in Cuba
    CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Monday that he expects to return to Venezuela in the coming days after finishing his latest round of cancer treatment, and is looking ahead to this year's election campaign.
    Under one worst-case scenario, say analysts, the council could, with the approval of the largely Chavista military, declare a state of emergency and delay the election (if not outright cancel it) to give whomever replaces Chávez more time to build a bond with voters. More...

  • May-12 -- Iran, IAEA talks under scrutiny ahead of Baghdad
    Iran has made it abundantly clear that it has no intention of heeding all of the demands outlined by Netanyahu.
    One senior Iranian figure last week stated that Iran's "minimum expectation" in Baghdad talks is lifting sanctions. More...

  • May-12 -- North Koreans getting more foreign media than ever, study says
    Pyongyang, May 11 (ANI): North Koreans are secretly watching on foreign media through DVDs and radio, a new study has revealed.
    North Koreans' exposure to overseas information did not always transfer into thinking poorly about their own country. More...

Friday (Update 2)


  • May-12 -- Uniformed Attacker Kills US Soldier in Afghanistan
    An Afghan soldier opened fire on NATO troops in eastern Afghanistan on Friday, killing an American and leaving two others wounded, officials said.
    The shootings have increased the level of mistrust between the U.S. -led coalition and its Afghan partners and raised questions about the readiness of local forces to take over from NATO ahead of a 2014 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign combat troops. More...

  • May-12 -- Queen meets performers ahead of Jubilee show
    A FORMER soldier from Mountain Ash is getting set for his moment in the spotlight after he was selected to be one of the kayakers leading the Queen on her Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
    SWAFFHAM library is currently hosting a special exhibition marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year. More...

  • May-12 -- Vatican Inquiry Reflects Wider Focus on Legion of Christ
    In addition to referring the cases to the Vatican as required by church law, the Legion said it had referred cases to police where civil reporting laws require it.
    The Vatican is reported to be investigating seven priests of the Legion of Christ order in connection with allegations of child abuse. More...

  • May-12 -- Brazil Oil Startup HRT's Shares Up As It Swings To 1Q Profit
    BRASÍLIA (Reuters) - Brazilian government officials said on Thursday they are worried about high prices and low availability of hotel rooms in Rio de Janeiro during a high-profile United Nations summit scheduled for next month.
    The Brazilian army is setting up a cybercrimes defense center in Rio in June right before the conference as a test before the World Cup and Olympics. More...

Friday (Update 1)


  • May-11 -- Palestinian prisoners escalate hunger strike
    Abbas's office said that the meeting with Serry focused on the hunger strike.
    Some believe the swelling support for the strikers could trigger the Palestinians' own Arab Spring. More...

  • May-11 -- Chicago police bulk up with $1m in riot gear for 'peaceful' Nato summit protests
    Protesters are concerned about an array of issues, with only a few planned events directly in protest of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization military alliance of North American and European countries.
    Jennifer Martinez, Chicago NATO host committee spokeswoman, said the decision to close the two additional days was left to each museum. More...

  • May-11 -- North Korea failing to censor the news
    WASHINGTON — North Koreans are clandestinely enjoying access like never before to foreign DVDs and radio, shaping the views of a people cut off for decades from the outside world, a U.S. study said Thursday.
    The study provides a rare systemic and statistical analysis of North Korea's media conditions. More...

  • May-11 -- Pakistan's PM denies authorities knew Osama bin Laden was living in country
    No constitutional crisis in country: Kaira - LONDON, May 11 (APP): Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Friday said there was no constitutional crisis in the country as all state institutions fully recognized Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani as the legitimate head of the government.
    The prime minister gave a "scathing" response when asked about Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, who is expected to contest the up coming general elections against Gilani's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). More...

Friday


  • May-11 -- Lithuanian leader plans to visit Ukraine's jailed ex-PM
    KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukraine's jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, whose plight in prison has soured relations between the country's leadership and the West, was moved to a local hospital on Wednesday, eyewitnesses said.
    Western countries decried the conviction last year as politically motivated persecution by the regime of President Viktor Yanukovych, whose fraud-tainted election victory Tymoshenko helped overthrow in 2004. More...

  • May-11 -- What the #!%*? Prisoner hunger strike feeding unrest among Palestinians
    An example of silent war began in Israeli camps in late 2011 when a Palestinian prisoner, Khader Adnan, went on a two-month-old hunger strike as a token of protest against Israel's colonizing policies in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the five-year ruthless siege of the Gaza Strip.
    Over 1600 Palestinians have joined the hunger strike campaign in the Israeli military prisons. More...

  • May-11 -- Huge pageant of horses kicks off Queen's jubilee
    The last great British culture invasion will be celebrated with a slate of Beatles programming, including the premiere of the documentary Discovering Lennon, plus BBC AMERICA will get into the royal spirit with a marathon of the entire series of The Tudors.
    Around 550 horses and more than 1,000 dancers and musicians will perform over the next four nights. More...

  • May-11 -- Keywords: nuclear-capable Hatf-III, ballistic missile, Pakistan
    The military office released a formal statement informing the country about their successful test launch of Hatf III. The statement said, "The launch was conducted at the conclusion of the annual field training exercise of the Army Strategic Force Command."
    The successful test was appreciated by the President and Prime Minister, who congratulated the troops, scientists and engineers. More...

Thursday (Update 2)


  • May-11 -- Chinese Activist Says His Family Is Under Pressure
    Beijing (CNN) -- Reiterating his deep concern about the safety of members of his family, the Chinese activist at the center of a recent diplomatic storm on Tuesday dismissed personal attacks against him in state media as "utter nonsense."
    "Im pretty safe right now. More...

  • May-11 -- Iraq PM says Turkish remarks do not show respect
    Yesterday's hearing was over the assassinations of two security officials and a lawyer.
    "I don't know if we will make another evaluation on the issue in the near future but as the Turkish government, our stance on the issue is clear. More...

  • May-11 -- Search for baby after mother fell off ferry in Belfast Harbour called off ...
    A baby was missing last night after falling from a ferry in Northern Ireland.
    A 37-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of wasting police time, after reports of a baby falling from a ferry turned out not to be true. More...

  • May-11 -- Diamond Jubilee: Submit your photos of the Queen's visits
    The last great British culture invasion will be celebrated with a slate of Beatles programming, including the premiere of the documentary Discovering Lennon, plus BBC AMERICA will get into the royal spirit with a marathon of the entire series of The Tudors.
    Spokesman Richard Bradley said: "There is a lot of interest in Jubilee street parties in Oxford and I'm aware of lots taking place. More...

Thursday (Update 1)


  • May-10 -- Egyptian FM calls on Israel to free Palestinian prisoners
    The fifth detainee, Jaffar Ezzedine, has gone 48 days without eating.
    Some 300 Palestinians are held under special provisions that allow Israel to jail suspected militants without charge, based on classified intelligence material that is only shown to a military judge, for extendable six-month periods. More...

  • May-10 -- Queen's Speech: David Cameron says plans will rebuild Britain
    The governments programme showed that Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were united only in a desire to "hang onto office" for another three years rather than any shared principles or policy objectives.
    Mr Miliband said: "For a young person looking for work, the speech offers nothing. More...

  • May-10 -- As Egyptians Return to Polls, Voter Fatigue
    Abol Fotouh, in turn, has described Moussa as part of an old guard that is unfit to lead.
    The Egyptians that I know, that I talk to through my work are definitely against the peace treaty, definitely against the gas being shipped to Israel. More...

  • May-10 -- Michele Bachmann downplays Swiss citizenship
    Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann has received her Swiss citizenship, which would allow her to run for political office in the country.
    "I am proud of my husband, Marcus, the love of my life, and his Swiss heritage," Bachmann said. More...

Thursday


  • May-10 -- Ban: Charge or release administrative detainees
    An example of silent war began in Israeli camps in late 2011 when a Palestinian prisoner, Khader Adnan, went on a two-month-old hunger strike as a token of protest against Israel's colonizing policies in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the five-year ruthless siege of the Gaza Strip.
    Palestinians are not immune from the infectious revolutionary fervor that has disseminated throughout the Middle East. More...

  • May-10 -- French president-elect Hollande meets EU's Van Rompuy in Paris
    The 50-minute meeting with Van Rompuy focused on the EU and the euro zone crisis, a spokesman for Hollande said.
    "Only if savings and growth go hand in hand to form one European gesture, can the mistakes of the past be prevented," Juncker, a past critic of German-French dominance of crisis management, told Luxembourg's parliament today. More...

  • May-10 -- Norway massacre survivor recalls Breivik s cries of joy
    Fredrik Varfjell / NTB scanpix/Associated Press - Tonje Brenna stands at the Breivik trial in Oslo Courthouse, Norway Wednesday May 9 2012.
    A major public response to Breivik from the Norwegian people took place on April 26. More...

  • May-10 -- Egypt Court Suspends Vote, but Ruling Is Disputed
    The military council's statement comes one day after a row erupted between the SPEC and the lower house of Egypt's Parliament.
    Egyptian election commission announced it was suspending its preparations for the presidential vote later this month after feeling "insulted" by MPs during a parliamentary session Monday. More...

Wednesday (Update 2)


  • May-10 -- UN's Ban calls for solution for Palestinian hunger strikers
    An example of silent war began in Israeli camps in late 2011 when a Palestinian prisoner, Khader Adnan, went on a two-month-old hunger strike as a token of protest against Israel's colonizing policies in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the five-year ruthless siege of the Gaza Strip.
    The statement focused on the critical situation with Mahmoud Sarsak , a footballer on the Palestinian national team who was arrested and detained by Israeli forces in 2009 , and has been in administrative detention ever since. More...

  • May-10 -- Islamists Expected to Boost Share in Algeria Elections
    Abdelaziz Belkhadem, head of Algeria's most powerful political party, the National Liberation Front, is back-dropped by a large national flag as he addresses supporters at a rally in Algiers, Sunday May 6, 2012, on the final day of campaigning ahead of Algeria's elections.
    "Elections in Algeria do not have a good reputation. 21.6 million Algerians will vote for 44 parties, half of which were just legalized this year, for a parliament that Bouteflika promises will have a say in rewriting the constitution. More...

  • May-10 -- 'Woo-hoo': Breivik shouted with joy
    "I am absolutely sure that I heard cries of joy," testified the 24-year-old head of the ruling Labour Party's youth wing, AUF, who was the first of the Utoya survivors to take the stand.
    No kids we're not responsible,the labour party were responsible and they certainly brainwashed those naive teenagers for sure. More...

  • May-10 -- Italy's Monti Backs 'Compromise' for Europe
    A maverick comic who wants Italy to quit the euro made big gains in local elections yesterday while former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's party lost heavily, as voters joined a wave of anti-austerity anger across Europe and punished incumbent parties.
    The technocratic government that Mario Monti, the prime minister, has led since last November was largely above the confused fray that in many places saw more than ten candidates running for a mayoral post. More...

Wednesday (Update 1)


  • May-09 -- Serbia's Democrats, Socialists agree new alliance
    The alliance would likely keep Serbia on track to open membership talks with the European Union, but had a patchy record over the last four years on reforming the economy, the judiciary and the bloated public sector.
    Only the fact that the Tadic party suffered losses amounting to about 30 percent compared with the last parliamentary election showed how disappointed Serbians are with the coalition's work and the resulting economic woes. More...

  • May-09 -- UK Govt to Focus on Economy, Reform House of Lords
    The Queen promised simply that there would be a bill to reform the composition of the House of Lords.
    According to the bill, the system of SEN statements and Learning Difficulty Assessments will be replaced in England from 2014 by a "single, simpler assessment process and (an) Education, Health and Care Plan". More...

  • May-09 -- China's 'memory holes' swallow up Melissa Chan
    Protesting the expulsion, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) said Chan's ejection fit "a recent pattern of using journalist visas in an attempt to censor and intimidate foreign correspondents in China."
    Officials have also refused to allow a replacement for Ms Chan, al-Jazeeras China correspondent since 2007. More...

  • May-09 -- Turkey refuses to extradite Iraqi vice-president: deputy PM
    Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble said in a statement that the Red Notice would "significantly restrict" Hashemi's ability to travel and cross international borders.
    Interpol put Tariq al-Hashemi, who is being tried in absentia in Baghdad on terrorism charges, on its most-wanted list. More...

Wednesday


  • May-09 -- Libya PM brands Tripoli office attackers outlaws
    TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) -- Libyan militias armed with machine guns and mortars tried Tuesday to storm the prime minister's office, triggering a gunbattle with security forces that left one guard dead, government officials said.
    Gunfire was heard from inside the building, eyewitnesses said. More...

  • May-09 -- Experts say even if North Korea performs 3rd nuke test, a useable weapon may ...
    SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) - The South Korean and U.S. air forces began a large-scale, regular joint maneuver Monday to sharpen their ability to work together in simulated war situations, officials said, amid growing concerns that North Korea may conduct a third nuclear test.
    The Caribbean island country recognized South Korea in 1949 and provided the poverty-stricken South with $2.79 million during the 1950-53 Korean War. More...

  • May-09 -- All's not well? US envoy to Pakistan quits mid term
    United States Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has decided to step down this summer after serving less than two years and is likely to be replaced by a diplomat serving in Afghanistan, a move that comes at a time when the bilateral ties are at a critical juncture.
    Relations between the two countries sank to a low in November when U.S. aircraft strayed across the border from Afghanistan and killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. More...

  • May-09 -- China fully prepared to respond to anything Philippines does
    BEIJING — Chinese vice foreign minister Fu Ying said Beijing was fully ready for an escalation of a drawn-out maritime standoff with the Philippines, as a tense row over a disputed shoal continues.
    The partnership was discussed between the Philippines' Philex Petroleum Corp and Chinese offshore oil producer China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) to jointly develop the Sampaguita project, or "service contract 72." More...

Tuesday


  • May-08 -- US drone strike kills Al Qaeda chief who was plotting a new underwear bomb ...
    Hadi took over in February from longtime authoritarian leader Ali Abdullah Saleh.
    It was not immediately clear if the pre-dawn attack on the military base in the southern Abyan province was in retaliation for the death of Fahd al-Quso, a top al-Qaida leader on the FBI's most wanted list. More...

  • May-08 -- Pinched Aspirations of Iran's Young Multitudes
    "The deployment of hundreds of the U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in EU states is a blatant violation of the NPT by the U.S. and the host countries," Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said during the first session of the NPT Preparatory Committee in Vienna on Monday.
    Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Iran's nuclear strategy could eventually allow it to build an atomic bomb with just 60 days' notice. More...

  • May-08 -- NATO airstrikes said to kill civilians in two Afghan provinces
    KABUL — A soldier with NATO's US-led coalition in Afghanistan was killed by a man in Afghan army uniform on Sunday, a spokesman for the mission said, in the latest so-called "green-on-blue" attack.
    According to ISAF and Afghan government estimates, it will cost about $4.1 billion a year after U.S. troops leave at the end of 2014 to sustain what is expected to be the permanent Afghan security force numbering about 230,000. More...

  • May-08 -- Milosevic Party Emerges as Kingmaker
    BELGRADE, Serbia -- A pro-European Union candidate and a nationalist opponent are headed for a runoff in Serbia's presidential elections, while the ruling pro-Western party is likely to form the next coalition government, independent pollsters said Sunday.
    VELIKO GRADISTE, SerbiaWhen Serbian presidential candidate Boris Tadic pulled into this small town on the banks of the Danube for a late-April campaign stop, he was greeted by a cheering crowd waving the blue-and-gold flags of the European Union. More...

Monday (Update 2)


  • May-08 -- 14 civilians killed in two NATO airstrikes, Afghan officials say
    KABUL — A soldier with NATO's US-led coalition in Afghanistan was killed by a man in Afghan army uniform on Sunday, a spokesman for the mission said, in the latest so-called "green-on-blue" attack.
    NATO says a man dressed in an Afghan National Army uniform opened fire on coalition soldiers, leaving one dead. More...

  • May-08 -- Colombian president calls for French journalist's release
    "I am very pleased to know that the French journalist is in good condition.
    The rebels reportedly said on Twitter that Langlois was wearing military battle fatigues, which army Gen. Alejandro Navas denied. More...

  • May-08 -- Taliban beheads 13 Pakistan soldiers
    DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan Taliban fighters killed 14 Pakistani soldiers in a key militant sanctuary along the Afghan border, beheaded all but one of them and hung two of the heads from wooden poles in the center of town, officials said Monday.
    Risky business: The U.S. military has for several years reportedly been releasing high-value prisoners from the Parwan detention center in an effort to broker a peace deal with insurgents in Afghanistan ( Post ). More...

  • May-08 -- Costa Cruises announces safety measures as it launches new ship
    The launch of the more than 114,000-ton cruise ship comes nearly four months after the Costa Concordia ran aground off the Tuscan island of Giglio, killing 32 people.
    That means that they were not blessing the ship. More...

Monday (Update 1)


  • May-07 -- Colombia's FARC rebels: We hold French reporter
    Langlois, aged 35, went missing after a firefight on 28 April between security forces and Farc guerrillas in the south of the country.
    General Alejandro Navas, commander of the Colombian armed forces, said Langlois was wearing a helmet and body armour but was working as a journalist covering an operation of a counternarcotics battalion. More...

  • May-07 -- Curfew is imposed in Miranshah area of NW Pakistan
    Pakistan's government of Pakistan condemned the attack in the strongest terms, NBC News reported.
    MIRANSHAH: A U.S. drone attack targeting a terrorist compound killed at least 10 insurgents in the district on Saturday, security officials said. More...

  • May-07 -- Nepal Flood Deaths Rise to 17; 47 Missing
    "Altogether 17 dead bodies have been recovered from the accident site as rescue operations continued in the affected areas including Sardi Khola, Mardi Khola and Tatopani villages in Kaski district where dozens of houses and vehicles were swept away," said Superintendent of Police Shailesh Thapa.
    At least 19 people, including three foreigners, are confirmed to have died and 45 still missing till today due to the flood in Pokhara and adjoining villages in Kaski district, according to a local media report. More...

  • May-07 -- Oil conflict drills $2.4 billion hole in Sudan's finances
    KHARTOUM — Sudan on Saturday said there may be "some difficulties" implementing a United Nations resolution that aims to end weeks of border fighting and resolve outstanding issues with South Sudan.
    Sudan welcomed the resolution on Thursday, but said it retained the right to defend itself against "aggression" from the South. More...

Monday


  • May-07 -- 'Nine dead' in fire at South Korea karaoke bar
    Nine people were people were killed, including three migrant workers, and 25 others injured when a fire swept through a karaoke bar in South Korea's southern port city of Busan, police said today.
    Rescue workers carry an injured person from a burned-out karaoke bar Saturday in Busan, South Korea. More...

  • May-07 -- Panetta Says Drone Attacks Protect U.S. From Terrorists
    As many as 10 suspected terrorists were killed on Saturday when a United States drone fired multiple missiles into a house in Dra Nishtar area of North Waziristan.
    So the Pakistani-US treachery continues, the U.S. bombs, PK condems, innocent people die, and we move onto the next drone attack. More...

  • May-07 -- Peru examines deaths of more than 500 pelicans
    Peru's government has urged residents and tourists to stay away from long stretches of beach, as it investigates the unexplained deaths of hundreds of dolphins and pelicans.
    LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's government declared a health alert along its northern coastline on Saturday and urged residents and tourists to stay away from long stretches of beach, as it investigates the unexplained deaths of hundreds of dolphins and. More...

  • May-07 -- Italian Local Elections Testing Voter Sentiment
    Prime Minister Mario Monti may tighten his grip on Italian power as voters weary of recession and the debt crisis prepare to punish former ruling parties in local elections.
    Monti relies on support in Parliament from Berlusconi's People of Liberty party, the Democratic Party and the centrist Third Way, none of which "wants a change" amid Italy's fourth recession since 2001, said Robert Leonardi, a politics professor at Rome's Luiss University. More...

Sunday (Update 2)


  • May-07 -- Armenian president's party set to keep power - exit poll
    YEREVAN: Armenians vote in parliamentary polls on Sunday that look set to be a battle for supremacy between the governing party and its current coalition partner led by a super-rich former arm wrestling champion.
    "All I want is a calm election. More...

  • May-07 -- Sudan President: Ties with southerners deep
    KHARTOUM — Sudan on Saturday said there may be "some difficulties" implementing a United Nations resolution that aims to end weeks of border fighting and resolve outstanding issues with South Sudan.
    "The challenge now is to secure strategic locations whether oil or gold producing regions across the country to avert the recurrence of what happened in Heglig." More...

  • May-07 -- Afghan soldier fires on NATO troops, killing 1
    The U.S. -led coalition routinely reports each time an American or other foreign soldier is killed by an Afghan in uniform, but the military is under-reporting the number of overall attacks.
    One NATO soldier was killed in the incident. More...

  • May-07 -- Two Palestinians on hunger strike nearing death, lawyer says
    JERUSALEM — At least 1,550 Palestinians in Israeli jails are now taking part in a mass hunger strike, Israel's Prison Service said on Wednesday, with two of them marking their 64th day without food.
    Most joined the fast two weeks ago, demanding an end to Israel's imprisonment without trial for individuals the state deems a security threat, restrictive visiting rights and limited access to educational materials. More...

Sunday (Update 1)


  • May-06 -- Clinton pressures Bangladesh government in Grameen Bank row
    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was to use a rare visit to Bangladesh Sunday to throw her support behind Muhammad Yunus, the microfinance pioneer and Nobel laureate who has clashed with the state, AFP reports.
    There is a concern therefore whether it can take advantage of Hillary's visit." More...

  • May-06 -- Militants attack Pakistan military convoy
    PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - An American drone fired a volley of missiles into a house close to the Afghan border on Saturday, killing eight suspected militants and indicating U.S. resolve to continue with the attacks despite renewed Pakistani opposition, officials said.
    More than 100 raids were reported in the area in 2010, and more than 60 took place last year. More...

  • May-06 -- Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike swells
    JERUSALEM — At least 1,550 Palestinians in Israeli jails are now taking part in a mass hunger strike, Israel's Prison Service said on Wednesday, with two of them marking their 64th day without food.
    Although Israeli officials and Palestinians give different numbers of hunger strikers, it is still one of the largest prison protests in years. More...

  • May-06 -- REFILE-South Korean karaoke bar fire kills nine, injures 25
    Nine people were killed, including three migrant workers from Sri Lanka, and 25 others injured when a fire swept through a karaoke bar in the southern port city late Saturday, police said on Sunday. (Reuters/Busan Police Agency/Handout) A fierce blaze swept through a karaoke lounge in the South Korean city of Busan, killing nine people including three Sri Lankans, police said on Sunday.
    The dead included a 20-year-old Sri Lankan national, Yonhap news agency said. More...

Sunday


  • May-06 -- Ahmadinejad's support crumbles
    TEHRAN, Iran Supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have been reduced to a small fraction in Iran's legislature, hugely outnumbered by the conservatives who once backed him but then turned against him after he was perceived to challenge the authority of top clerics, according to final results from a runoff parliamentary election announced Saturday.
    Iran's Interior Ministry has officially announced the final results of the Friday runoff parliamentary elections in Tehran constituency. More...

  • May-06 -- 14 killed in Peru drug rehab fire
    A predawn fire swept through a drug rehabilitation center in a town on Lima's outskirts Saturday, killing 14 people in the second blaze in Peru this year to claim the lives of addicts trapped behind locked doors in a private treatment residence.
    Some 40 people were housed in a small space with only one exit that was locked with a chain, the news agency reported at the time, citing a fire official. More...

  • May-06 -- Armenia hopes for calm election, democratic outcome
    YEREVAN: Armenians vote in parliamentary polls on Sunday that look set to be a battle for supremacy between the governing party and its current coalition partner led by a super-rich former arm wrestling champion.
    MOSCOW -- More than 140 people suffered burns or other injuries Friday in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, when bunches of balloons at a concert and political rally exploded. More...

  • May-06 -- Bahrain arrests prominent rights activist; 4 police injured in blast
    Manama, May 5 (Xinhua-ANI): At least four policemen were injured on Saturday in a bomb attack in a Bahraini Shiite neighborhood, the country's Interior Ministry said.
    Manama: Bahrain police on Saturday called for information that would help with the investigation of an explosion that targeted on-duty policemen. More...

Saturday (Update 2)


  • May-06 -- Protests held for Palestinian prisoners
    JERUSALEM — At least 1,550 Palestinians in Israeli jails are now taking part in a mass hunger strike, Israel's Prison Service said on Wednesday, with two of them marking their 64th day without food.
    Palestinian protesters hold a mock coffin with the Arabic writing "wake up so that I will not die" as they demonstrate outside the Israeli Ofer military prison, near the West Bank town of Betunia, on February 9, 2012 against the detention without trial of Khader Adnan (poster) on suspicion of membership in the Islamic Jihad. More...

  • May-06 -- Fire at Peru rehab center kills 14
    CHOSICA, Peru (AP) -- A predawn fire swept through a drug rehabilitation center in a town on Lima's outskirts Saturday, killing 14 people in the second blaze in Peru this year to claim the lives of addicts trapped behind locked doors in a private treatment residence.
    Local health ]] health ]] health director Pablo Cespedes said officials don't yet know what caused the blaze. More...

  • May-06 -- Ahmadinejad's support crumbles in Iran runoff
    The runoff election was held Friday in 33 constituencies with 130 candidates competing for 65 seats in the 290-member parliament.
    Results from a runoff election announced Saturday show supporters of President Ahmadinejad reduced to a small fraction of the legislature. More...

  • May-06 -- Use money saved from Afghan war to pay US debt
    "We've traveled through more than a decade under the dark cloud of war.
    Build 9: 218 ms (Content).Completed macro ody_bottom_caro_eight.Build 9: 984 ms (Content).Build 9: 0 ms (Content).Completed macro ody_conveyor.Parsing macro ody_inteltxtwrapper.Build 9: 0 ms (Content).Completed macro ody_inteltxtwrapper.Parsing macro ody_footer.Parsing macro ody_analytics. More...





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