Monday, 23 Dec, 2024

International

Senator Kerry warns of instability if Pakistan unaided

ISLAMABAD: Flood-striken Pakistan urgently needs more international aid to combat potential instability and extremism, a U.S. official said, as hunger and disease threaten millions of victims.In an commentary published in Monday`s International Herald Tribune, Senator John Kerry wrote

Trapped Chile miners speak to loved ones

COPIAPO: Chile`s 33 trapped miners spoke for the first time with their loved ones, reassuring each other in brief but moving conversations by radio-telephone after 24 days underground."To hear his voice was a balm to my heart," said Jessica Chille after speaking to her husband, Dario

Maoists kill six Indian police

PATNA: Maoist guerrillas killed six policemen in a gunfight in India`s eastern state of Bihar, police said on Monday, in the latest of a series of rebel attacks on security forces.More than 150 Maoists battled with the police, who were on patrol in forests about 150 kilometres (100 miles)

Child health at risk from non-prescription drugs

LISBON: Many parents give their children too large or frequent doses of non-prescription medicines for fever, coughs and colds, putting their health at risk, according to an Australian study released Monday."Many children are being put at risk by parents’ over-use of widely-available

42 killed in Ecuador bus accident

Quito: At least 42 people were killed and 11 injured Sunday in Ecuador when a bus carrying 53 passengers fell off a cliff, the Ecuadorian Red Cross said.The accident occurred Sunday morning in the Andean region of Ecuador, Xinhua reported.Most of the injured were in serious conditions and

Nine dead in Russian retirement home blaze

MOSCOW: Nine elderly people died and one was injured Monday when flames swept through a retirement home in the Tver region northwest of Moscow, a local official of the emergencies ministry said, quoted by Russian news agencies.The fire broke out at 0105 GMT in the retirement home in the

N.Korean leader`s China tour takes in Harbin: report

SEOUL: A convoy believed to be carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il arrived at a train station in the Chinese industrial city of Harbin on Monday during his prolonged surprise trip to China, a report said.A convoy of 35 cars believed to be carrying Kim and his entourage left Tai Yang

Israel to blame if talks fail over settlements issue: Abbas

RAMALLAH:  Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said on television on Sunday Israel would be to blame if resumed direct talks with Israel failed over the Jewish settlements issue."I have to say, and we told all parties including the United States before accepting renewed talks, that the

Core issues at heart of Israeli-Palestinian conflict

JERUSALEM: Israel and the Palestinians are set to resume direct peace talks in Washington on September 2. Seventeen years after the Oslo peace accords were signed, the two sides remain far apart on these key issues.PALESTINIAN STATE AND POWERSThe Palestinians want an independent and fully

Would-be PM in Belgium keeps striving for new govt

BRUSSELS: The man who would be Belgium`s next prime minister agreed Sunday to keep trying to form a coalition government, despite an ongoing deadlock between Flemish and francophone political parties.Socialist leader Elio Di Rupo, asked by King Albert II on July 9 to cobble together a

Netanyahu spells out essentials for peace deal

JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Palestinian recognition of Israel as the Jewish homeland is chief among essential components for a peace deal, days ahead of renewed direct talks.Netanyahu repeated his conditions for a settlement ahead of Thursday`s summit

Mayor assassinated in violence-hit Mexico border state

NUEVO LAREDO: Unidentified gunmen murdered the mayor of a small town in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas where 72 migrants were massacred last week, a source in the state prosecutor`s office said Sunday."They`ve just killed the municipal president (mayor) of Hidalgo," the source

I can`t have birth certificate plastered on my forehead: Obama

Washington: US President Barack Obama says he`s not concerned about rumours about his birthplace or faith blaming an online campaign of misinformation by his conservative enemies for perpetuating the myth that he`s a Muslim.There`s "a network of misinformation that in a new media era can

Child health at risk from non-prescription drugs

LISBON: Many parents give their children too large or frequent doses of non-prescription medicines for fever, coughs and colds, putting their health at risk, according to an Australian study released Monday."Many children are being put at risk by parents’ over-use of widely-available

North Korea`s Kim not seen heading for retirement yet

SEOUL: North Korea`s ruling party holds its biggest meeting in 30 years early next month to pick a new leadership and likely anoint an heir to the dynasty as Kim Jong-il`s health deteriorates.Kim, suspected of suffering a stroke in 2008, is believed to have accelerated succession plans,

South Africa`s Zuma under pressure as strike widens

JOHANNESBURG: A powerful South African labour leader threatened on Sunday to withdraw support for President Jacob Zuma`s African National Congress, ending a long- standing alliance strained by a nearly three-week-old strike.Adding to the pressure, a union representing tyre makers

Over nine million Britons have never used internet

London: More than nine million adults in Britain have never used the internet, says a survey.The elderly, widowed and people in lower economic strata were less likely to be net savvy, says the the survey by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).A ‘digital divide’ in the country is

China seeks fresh nuclear talks with North Korea

BEIJING/SEOUL:  China is lobbying neighbors to sign up to a road map for renewed nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong-il is visiting China amid conciliatory words and threats of "holy war."The details of Beijing`s plan for restarting stalled six-party nuclear

Hong Kong to stage march over hostage bloodbath

HONG KONG: Tens of thousands are expected to join a rally in Hong Kong on Sunday to demand justice for victims of the Manila hostage bloodbath, as the city`s Filipino community holds an all-day memorial.The rally, which organisers said could draw as many as 50,000 people, will be a rare

Drilling of rescue shaft for Chilean miners delayed

Santiago: The start of drilling for a rescue shaft to reach 33 trapped Chilean miners was delayed until Monday because technical preparations had yet to be finished, the head of the rescue work said. They included reinforcing and settling the drill, Andre Sougarret said Saturday, the day