Monday, 23 Dec, 2024

International

Hezbollah chief calls on Lebanon to build nuclear reactor

Beirut: Seyyed Hassan Nasarllah, leader of the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, called on Lebanon`s government to follow Tehran`s footsteps and build a nuclear facility to generate electricity like the reactor in Bushehr, Iran. "The cost of building the Bushehr reactor was less than

Extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer delayed: Thai PM

BANGKOK: Thailand said Wednesday that the extradition to the United States of an alleged Russian arms dealer dubbed the "Merchant of Death" has been delayed because of legal complications. Police had said on Tuesday that Viktor Bout, who faces terrorism charges, would be escorted from

China minister hurt in plane crash

Beijing: A Chinese vice minister was amongst the 54 seriously injured in the plane crash in Heilongjiang province that left 42 people dead. The passenger aircraft overshot the runway and burst into flames while landing at Lindu airport in Yichun city Tuesday night. Xinhua news agency

200 homes evacuated due to wildfire in US

Los Angeles: Residents from about 200 homes are being evacuated as a fierce wildfire spread in a mountainous area about 96 km northwest of Los Angeles, US. The fire started around 12.25 p.m. Tuesday near the hills in the Lebec Oaks Road area of Kern county, Sean Collins, a spokesman for

WikiLeaks plans to release CIA paper on Wednesday

STOCKHOLM: WikiLeaks, the whistle-blowing website that published secret U.S. military files on the war in Afghanistan last month, said it plans to release a document from the Central Intelligence Agency on Wednesday.WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been accused by two women of sexual

Israeli settlers warn Netanyahu he faces `day of judgment`

JERUSALEM: Israeli settlers warned on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face his "day of judgment" if he caves in to pressure to further limit settlement construction in the West Bank."This is not a time to mince words as this is literally a day of judgment for our

72 bodies found on ranch in northeast Mexico: military

MEXICO CITY: Troops uncovered at least 72 bodies, including those of 14 women, on a ranch in northeastern Mexico after a clash with gunmen, the Mexican military said early Wednesday.The gruesome find came after a shootout between troops and suspected drug traffickers near the town of San

11 killed in suicide attack on police in Baghdad: official

BAGHDAD: A suicide attacker blew up his vehicle at a police post in northeast Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people and wounding 38, an interior ministry official said.The attack took place around 8:00 am (0500 GMT) in Qahira neighbourhood, the official said.The police and army

Australia independent MPs back mining tax

CANBERRA: Australia`s next minority government will be under pressure to retain a proposed mining tax, with three out of four independent and Green MPs who hold the balance of power saying they supported the controversial tax.Australia`s mining-share index hit an intraday low, shedding

Voters decide McCain fate amid key US elections

PHOENIX: Arizona voters were to decide the fate of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain Tuesday in one of several closely-watched US races seen as a test of the country`s anti-incumbent mood.The four-term senator was polling well ahead of former congressman and

US freezes assets of Al Qaeda finance chief

Washington: The US treasury department has frozen the assets of the finance chief of Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden`s son-in-law.The department Tuesday froze all assets Muhammad Abdallah Hasan Abu-al-Khayr has under US jurisdiction and prohibited US nationals from engaging in any

UN says 800,000 people cut off by Pakistan floods

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has launched an urgent appeal for more helicopters for Pakistan where it said 800,000 people have been cut off by the country`s devastating floods and were only reachable by air."As monsoon floods continue to displace millions in southern Pakistan, an

ASEAN head sees need for closer terrorism cooperation

DANANG: Southeast Asian nations need closer cooperation to deal with incidents like the Philippines bus hijacking that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead, the regional bloc`s head said Wednesday."I think there is room for more cooperation and more exchange of best practices, training for

Myanmar parties struggle for candidates in `sham` vote

PAKOKKU: With undercover police lurking nearby, breakaway opposition leader Than Nyein pleaded in vain with local democracy activists to contest army-ruled Myanmar`s first election in 20 years.Standing up to the junta is fraught with risk, and with democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi

Philippines in national day of mourning for slain tourists

MANILA: Flags across the Philippines flew at half mast Wednesday on a national day of mourning for Hong Kong tourists killed in a hostage crisis, amid a hailstorm of criticism over alleged police blunders.President Benigno Aquino called the day of mourning to remember the eight tourists

43 dead in China plane crash

BEIJING: A Chinese airliner crashed and burst into flames while attempting to land in northeast China on Tuesday, killing 43 people on board, state media reported.The Henan Airlines plane overshot the runway while trying to touch down at an airport in the city of Yichun in remote

Somali gunmen storm hotel, 31 reported dead

MOGADISHU: Gunmen in army uniforms stormed a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu frequented by government officials Tuesday, killing at least 31 people including legislators, the government said.Hardline al Shabaab Islamists linked to al Qaeda have been waging an insurgency for three

43 dead in China plane crash

BEIJING: A Chinese airliner crashed and burst into flames while attempting to land in northeast China on Tuesday, killing 43 people on board, state media reported. The Henan Airlines plane overshot the runway while trying to touch down at an airport in the city of Yichun in remote

Two Iraq judges killed in violence claimed by Al-Qaeda

BAGHDAD: Two Iraqi judges were killed last week, an official said Tuesday, in a spate of attacks claimed by Al-Qaeda which says it was avenging death sentences being handed down to Sunnis in Shiite prisons.The latest murders recall a series of attacks against judges across Iraq in 2004

China warns India over PM talks with Dalai Lama

BEIJING: China on Tuesday voiced its opposition to a recent meeting between the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, warning New Delhi not to "disturb" overall ties.The exiled Buddhist monk made a "routine call" on Singh in New Delhi earlier