Top World News- IBNLive.com

New Maldivian President expands cabinet today

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:14:43 +0530

New Maldivian President Mohammed Waheed Hassan expanded his cabinet on Sunday amid the ongoing crisis in the island nation. The expansion includes two key players from former dictator Gayoom's administration.

Gunmen kill provincial judge, child in Afghanistan

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:01:03 +0530

Afghan officials say gunmen have killed a provincial judge and his young niece in eastern Afghanistan.

Praveen Reddy stabbing: 3 Indians charged in UK

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:22:17 +0530

Three Indians have been charged with the attempted murder of Praveen Reddy, an MBA student at the London Business School, who was critically stabbed on Friday night in the Newham borough of London.

Mandela's image to appear on S African banknotes

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:23:57 +0530

The image of 93-year-old Nelson Mandela will appear on South Africa's new currency notes to mark the 22nd anniversary of the anti-apartheid icon's release from prison. "On behalf of Government and the people of South Africa, it is my honour and pleasure to announce that the new South African bank notes will bear the image of President Mandela, the President of a free, democratic South Africa," South African President Jacob Zuma said at the Reserve Bank headquarters.

Maldives: Waheed inducts 7 ministers in Cabinet

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:14:06 +0530

New Maldives President Mohammed Waheed Hassan on Sunday inducted seven ministers into his Cabinet. The south Asian country continues to be on the boil ever since the forced ouster of former president Mohammed Nasheed. Male witnessed sporadic protests by the supporters of Nasheed on Saturday. However, the main concern is now slowly shifting to the island of Addu.

UK hacking: 5 'The Sun' journalists arrested

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:02:37 +0530

Britain's biggest-selling newspaper was fighting to contain the damage after five employees at The Sun tabloid were arrested on Saturday in an inquiry into the alleged payment of bribes to police and other officials.

Romney ends losing streak with Maine victory

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:58:30 +0530

Mitt Romney eked out a narrow win in Maine's Republican caucuses, state party officials announced Saturday, providing his campaign for the party's presidential nomination a much-needed boost after three straight losses earlier this week.

Maldives crisis: Nasheed upset with India, US

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:45:04 +0530

Former president Mohammed Nasheed hit out at India in an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN. Nasheed said he is disappointed with India's reaction to the mutiny in his country and hopes that it would change its course soon.

Major Cabinet expansion in Maldives today

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:20:54 +0530

Maldives new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan is set to conduct a major Cabinet expansion on Sunday, even as his deposed predecessor Mohammed Nasheed postponed his scheduled visit to his power centre Addu, where his supporters had alleged a violent crackdown.

Maldives: Addu tense, Commonwealth meet expected

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:51:11 +0530

There seems to be no end to the political crisis in the Maldives. Male remained tense on Sunday with sporadic protests by the supporters of former president Mohammed Nasheed. However, the main concern is now slowly shifting to the island of Addu. Days after armed policemen and the military took over the entire area, reports of serious violations of human rights have emerged from the region.

Is UK safe for Indian students anymore?

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:37:26 +0530

Yet another Indian student has come under attack in Britain. Pravin Reddy, from Hyderabad, was a student of MBA at the London Business School. On Friday night, he was stabbed several times at a party he was attending in Newham, London, the Scotland Yard said. The boy is currently recuperating at the London Royal Hospital.

'US committed to work with new Maldivian Govt'

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:16:28 +0530

The US on Saturday backed President Mohammed Waheed Hassan's plan for a "national unity" government in Maldives and ignored his ousted predecessor Mohammad Nasheed's demand for snap polls, giving a diplomatic boost to the new regime.

UK police arrest 5 at Murdoch's Sun newspaper

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:44:10 +0530

British police on Saturday arrested five senior members of staff at News Corporation's flagship newspaper The Sun, the company said, as part of investigations into alleged payments to police by journalists for information.

UK judge bans public prayers

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:04:27 +0530

The right of Christian worship in British schools and parliament faced a fresh assault after a High Court banned prayers at council meetings.

UK's oldest couple to give advice on Twitter

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:37:27 +0530

A British couple who have been married for 76 years - the longest in the country - have now joined Twitter to speak about the secret of their remarkable romance.

UK police looking for Indian 'tantrik'

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:40:38 +0530

The UK police is looking for an Indian-origin man who posed as a 'spiritual healer' and allegedly sexually assaulted a teenager.

Another Indian student stabbed in London

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:31:37 +0530

As questions of safety arise for Indians, the British High Commissioner said that UK is a safe country.

Disappointed with India: Maldives ex-President to CNN-IBN

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:06:18 +0530

CNN-IBN's Sumon K Chakrabarti spoke exclusively to deposed President Nasheed who said he is disappointed with India's reaction to the mutiny and hoped India would correct its course soon.

Iran to announce nuclear progress: Ahmadinejad

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:32:49 +0530

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday the Islamic Republic would soon announce "very important" achievements in the nuclear field, state TV reported.

Maldives: Waheed to announce his cabinet soon

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:16:26 +0530

Maldives new President Mohamed Waheed Hassan is likely to announce his "national unity" cabinet soon and has ordered a probe into the recent events that unfolded in this archipelago nation.

Maldives crisis: US, UK call for negotiated talks

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:37:48 +0530

The United States and the United Kingdom stepped in to try and diffuse the Maldives political crisis on Saturday. The UK government said the new Maldives government must prove its legitimacy first.

London: Indian student stabbed; 11 arrested

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:13:27 +0530

An Indian student, Pravin Reddy, doing an MBA at the London Business School was stabbed on Friday in the London borough of Newham Scotland Yard on Saturday said.

Russia: Man dumps 1 kg gold bar in charity box

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:06:47 +0530

A gold bar weighing one kilogram was dropped into a charity collection box in the Belarussian city of Brest, a media report said on Friday

Tension in Maldives as 200 taken into custody

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:43:26 +0530

There are reports of tension in parts of Maldives, especially in Addu, where some people are believed to have been tortured.

Maldivian tourism: Shaken but not stirred

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:53:08 +0530

Political instability in Maldives might have tarnished a bit of the country's image as the tropical tourist paradise but everyone in the island nation is keeping their fingers crossed.

Indians among world's happiest people: Poll

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:11:29 +0530

Despite economic woes, wars, conflicts and natural disasters the world is a happier place today than it was four years ago and Indonesians, Indians and Mexicans seem to be the most contented people on the planet.

Indians safe in unrest-hit Maldives

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:30:37 +0530

Indians, who constitute a significant chunk of the total population of over three lakh in Maldives, are safe in the country, where as unrest erupted following a regime change four days ago.

US defence department braces for budget cut

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:10:05 +0530

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said on Friday that the defence budget proposals will have a topline request of $525 billion for fiscal year 2013, set to begin in October, with $88.4 billion more for overseas contingency operations, mostly in Afghanistan.

Maldives: New president rules out early polls

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:29:48 +0530

Just days after being sworn in as the new President, Mohammad Waheed ruled out the possibility of early polls. Rejecting former president Mohd Nasheed's demands calling for early elections, Waheed said that the current situation in the island nation was not conducive to holding "free and fair elections".

Maldives ex-prez demands election, warns of protests

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:52:35 +0530

The former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, on Friday demanded new elections and vowed mass street protests if the new government did not relent, raising the prospect of a protracted crisis on the Indian Ocean islands famed as a beach paradise.

Obama budget to forecast $901 bn deficit in 2013

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:47:11 +0530

President Barack Obama will unveil a budget on Monday that projects a $901 billion deficit in fiscal 2013 while earmarking billions of dollars for jobs and infrastructure, a senior White House official said on Friday.

Ground report: The Maldives crisis

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:11:28 +0530

CNN-IBN's Sumon K Chakrabarti brings you the latest from the crisis-hit island nation.

Swiss bank says US tax case a 'major challenge'

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:08:48 +0530

A state-owned Swiss bank has described a US tax evasion probe as 'major challenge' to it and Switzerland's entire banking industry. Zurich-based Zuercher Kantonalbank is one of at least 11 Swiss banks under pressure from the US to give up tax-evading American customers and the bankers who aided them.

People in Maldives raise a voice against Waheed Govt

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:54:37 +0530

In the power tussle between politicians, police and the army, people in Maldives say they do not support Waheed and his government.

Maldives: Nasheed to move SC against his ouster

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:02:40 +0530

Former Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed has said that he will challenge his ouster in the Supreme Court. Speaking to CNN-IBN, Nasheed blamed the old order for the crisis.

ED notice to Google on foreign exchange violation

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:42:04 +0530

The Enforcement Directorate has issued a foreign exchange violation notice to internet giant Google for alleged irregularities in transfer of funds to its foreign entities.

Kate and Pippa bumped Lady Gaga off fashion's map

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:11:20 +0530

Britain's Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa have bumped Lady Gaga off the international fashion map.

Chinese officials asked to prepare for war in Tibet

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:48:24 +0530

China has ordered authorities there to prepare themselves for a war against secessionist sabotage by the Dalai Lama amid reports that security forces shot dead two Tibetans protesters.

Maldives: Video shows Nasheed asking for help

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:29:15 +0530

Before he was led out of his office, the former Maldives president urged his security forces to control the military.

High rate of denial of US visas to Indians: Report

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:44:02 +0530

US immigration authorities, in the past four years, have increased denial of work-related visas, with India-born professionals being refused at higher rates than nationals of other countries, an American think tank said in a report on Friday.

Maldives: Nasheed to meet top leaders today

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:35:47 +0530

Former Maldives president Mohammed Nasheed is slated to meet top leaders after the Friday prayers.

450 die across Europe due to cold waves

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:15:32 +0530

Temperature continues to remain freakishly low in eastern parts of Europe. In Belgrade, the Danube river has frozen in several portions, crippling shipping on Europe's busiest waterway.

Homs fears big push by Syrian tanks

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:13:27 +0530

Assad bolstered by Russian support, ignored appeals from world leaders to halt the carnage.

Maldives on the boil, India readies military plan

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:46:08 +0530

Two days after being forced to step down as President, Mohammad Nasheed is now facing an arrest. A criminal court has issued a warrant against him though the charges against him are still unclear.

Kerala: Settled Maldivians a worried lot

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:42:27 +0530

As the crisis in the Maldives worsens and India gets ready for a military intervention if called upon, Maldivians in Kerala are a worried lot. Just as thousands of Indians call Male home, thousands of Maldivians, too, are settled in Kerala. CNN-IBN spoke to some of them.

9 British-Asians jailed for London terror plot

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:09:25 +0530

A UK court on Friday jailed 9 British-Asian men for plotting to bomb various London landmarks, including the London Stock Exchange, and organise a terrorist training camp in Pakistan. The men of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin pleaded guilty during the trial and were convicted last week. The court also noted that the nine were trying to recruit more British Muslims to forward their cause.

Euro ministers question deal to bail out Greece

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:42:31 +0530

Greece gave in to more painful spending and job cuts on Thursday, only to have European ministers question whether they were enough to deliver a euro130 billion bailout and stave off bankruptcy.

Maldives ex-president defiantly awaits arrest

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:18:52 +0530

Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed awaited arrest in his house on Thursday, vowing to stay and fight against the government he says ousted him in a coup with the connivance of the police and the military.

Maldives: ex-president's family flees to Lanka

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:42:04 +0530

Maldives former president Mohammed Nasheed's family has fled to Sri Lanka, but Nasheed remained in Male and was safe.

Relatively calm in Maldives: Minivan News Editor

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:31:55 +0530

Minivan News Editor John James Robinson speaks to CNN-IBN on Skype about the law and order situation in Maldives.

Maldives: has India moved too fast to condone the Nasheed 'coup'?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:21:15 +0530

Over 200 people have been injured and several govt installations have been attacked in the Maldives. Supporters of ousted President Nasheed - took to the streets on Wednesday against the military.

India not interfering in Maldives affairs: Satyamurthy

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:58:37 +0530

But India's role in the Maldives crisis is under the scanner with some feeling India moved too quickly in welcoming the new President.

Ex-US speaker urges China for dialogue on Tibet

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:10:07 +0530

Former US speaker Nancy Pelosi has said there is a need for the Chinese government to change its repressive policies regarding Tibet, a statement said on Thursday.

Greece bailout: Fin Minister heads to Brussels

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:38:04 +0530

Greece's partners in the European Union and the International Monetary Fund are increasingly exasperated by a lack of agreement on the measures they demand in return for a 130 billion euro.

Maldives remains on the boil as protests spread

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:05:36 +0530

While protesters burnt several government offices across Maldives, the police continued to crack down on them.

Maldives: arrest warrant against ex-president

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:17:43 +0530

As the violence and protests spread across Maldives, a criminal court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against former president Mohammed Nasheed.

2 Indians to file case against Chinese traders

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:31:34 +0530

Two Indian traders who were illegally detained by local merchants at the Chinese trade hub Yiwu have decided to file a criminal case against 15 local suppliers for illegally detaining them.

Violence continues unabated in Syria, 53 dead

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:05:27 +0530

Violence continues unabated in Syria as reports claim that President Bashar Al Assad's forces are continuing the assault on Homs. The city has been the epicentre of the uprising against embattled president Assad.

Maldives: Violence spreads as Nasheed protests

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:38:59 +0530

The political transition may have appeared to be peaceful, but it hasn't lasted long in the island nation of Maldives. Violence is spreading beyond the capital city of Male after further reports of military atrocities on political leaders.

Ousted at gunpoint, says ex-Maldives President

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:41:09 +0530

The ousted president of the Maldives, credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean islands, said on Wednesday he had been forced out of power at gunpoint, prompting clashes between police and angry supporters.

Airbus A380 wing checks extended to entire fleet

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:24:01 +0530

European air safety officials extended checks for Airbus A380 wing cracks to the entire superjumbo fleet on Wednesday and said the widespread defects could pose a safety risk if left unremedied.

Focused on next steps to solve Syrian crisis: US

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:33:38 +0530

The United States hopes to meet soon with international partners to consider how to halt violence in Syria and provide humanitarian aid, the White House said on Wednesday.

UK: Teacher shocks pupils with wild posts on FB

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:53:43 +0530

A woman schoolteacher shocked parents and pupils at a village primary school by boasting on the social networking site Facebook about drinking, swearing and having sex while partying.

Egypt's PM says US threats to cut aid won't work

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:19:46 +0530

Egypt refused to back down on Wednesday in a dispute with the US over Cairo's crackdown on nonprofit groups despite Washington's threats to cut aid, while the military deployed troops to the nation's streets after a surge in violence and protests against its rule.

Maldives situation tense, former president alleges coup

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:41:51 +0530

Deposed president Mohamed Nasheed said he was forced to resign at gunpoint, demonstrated on the streets along with his party.

US: World Trade Centre cost rises to $14.8 bn

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:21:08 +0530

The agency that is building the new World Trade Centre is "dysfunctional" and has let costs get out of control on the $14.8 billion project, auditors said on Tuesday.

Former Maldives president surrounded by police

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:06:35 +0530

It seems the situation is spiraling out of control in Maldives, says Minivan News Editor John James Robinson.

US: Teen girl gets life for killing 9-year-old

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:36:26 +0530

A central Missouri teenager who confessed to strangling, cutting and stabbing a 9-year-old girl because she wanted to know how it felt to kill someone was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Krishna meets two Indian traders in China

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:01:44 +0530

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday met the two Indian traders who were illegally detained by Chinese merchants in December and assured all possible help by the Indian government.

Ready to ease tension over Tibet: India to China

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:56:18 +0530

Describing Tibet issue as an internal affair of China, India on Wednesday said it was "willing to offer any help" to ease the recent spurt in tensions, striking a cautious note on the self immolations by Buddhist monks and subsequent violence.

India wants to see a non-nuclear Iran: Powell

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:25:23 +0530

Differing with some lawmakers' views that India was defying American sanctions by continuing to import Iranian oil, US Ambassador-designate Nancy Powell has said New Delhi shared a desire to see a non-nuclear Iran.

Ex-Maldives Prez calls for successor to quit

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:59:42 +0530

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed said on Wednesday he was forced from office in a coup and he demanded that his successor immediately resign.

Maldives President wants to meet Manmohan

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:51:45 +0530

India has pledged support to new Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed who spoke with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on telephone on Wednesday and sought a meeting with him, a day after the dramatic regime change in the archipelago nation.

Lanka govt releases video of LTTE's atrocities

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:09:56 +0530

Facing an onslaught from the international community for alleged war crimes, the Sri Lankan government released a video on Wednesday which they claimed carries authentic evidence of LTTE's atrocities during the last phase of the military assault.

Taiwan man dies after 23 hours of gaming

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:41:54 +0530

A man from Taiwan was found dead after playing a computer game for 23 hours at an internet cafe. Police found the body of 23-year-old Chen Rong-Yu slumped in a chair at the cafe in the Taipei area with his hands stretched out towards the keyboard and mouse, the Herald Sun reported.

Costa Concordia captain faces 2,500 years in prison

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:25:08 +0530

The captain of the capsized Costa Concordia could be sentenced to a cumulative total of more than 2,500 years in prison if convicted of causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship and multiple counts of manslaughter, it emerged on Monday.

Rajat Gupta's NY trial date moved to May

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:29:02 +0530

The criminal trial of Rajat Gupta has been moved from April to May after his lawyer grumbled that prosecutors want to keep changing the charges.

Argentina condemns UK 'militarization' in Falklands

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:02:28 +0530

Argentina's president on Tuesday accused Britain of "militarizing the South Atlantic" and vowed to complain to the United Nations as tension rises ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Falklands war.

India assures support to new Maldives president

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:30:39 +0530

In the latest development in the Maldives, Vice President Mohammed Waheed Hassan has been sworn in as the new President of the island nation. He has taken over as the new President after Mohammed Nasheed resigned in the wake of mutiny by a section of the police.

Syrian troops shell Homs again, several killed

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:56:14 +0530

Activists say Syrian troops have continued shelling residential neighborhoods in the central city of Homs for the fifth straight day, killing scores of people.

US: Gurdwara defaced with anti-Muslim graffiti

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:44:00 +0530

An under construction Gurdwara in the American State of Michigan has been vandalised and defaced with anti-Muslim graffiti.

Maldives new president Hassan calls for calm

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:51:07 +0530

Maldives new president promised to protect his predecessor from retribution after he stepped down amid protests and clashes between the army and police over his decision to arrest a top judge.

Twin victories revive Santorum's White House hopes

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:18:34 +0530

Former Senator Rick Santorum rejuvenated his presidential hopes on Tuesday with overwhelming victories over front-runner Mitt Romney in Republican nominating contests in Missouri and Minnesota.

Argentina, Britain at loggerheads over Falklands

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:51:57 +0530

Tensions continue to escalate between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Turmoil hits Maldives as president resigns

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:47:47 +0530

Turmoil hit the tourist hotspot of Maldives on Tuesday after the man who symbolised democracy in the island nation, President Mohammed Nasheed, was toppled by a police loyal to the former dictator.

Europe continues to reel under cold wave, 250 dead

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:28:36 +0530

At least 250 people have died due to cold in Europe even as more record low temperatures and snow are in the forecast.

Nigeria's lead poisoning 'worst' in modern history

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:14:13 +0530

A lead poisoning in Nigeria's northern state of Zamfara which has killed more than 400 children and affected thousands is "worst" in modern history, an international watch dog has said.

Snow cuts off hundreds of villages in Europe

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:21:20 +0530

Heavy snowfall across eastern Europe cut off hundreds of villages on Tuesday and rescue teams struggled to evacuate people in southern Bulgaria where rain and melting snow had caused a dam wall to break, flooding an entire village.

Krishna to hold talks with 4 Chinese leaders today

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:53:43 +0530

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna is set to hold talks on Sino-India ties with four senior Chinese officials in Beijing on Wednesday besides inaugurating the new Indian embassy building.

Last known WWI veteran Florence Green dies at 110

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:32:29 +0530

Florence Green never saw the front line. Her war was spent serving food, not dodging bullets.

Russia pushes Syria reforms as bloodshed mounts

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:43:07 +0530

Days after blocking a US-backed peace plan at the UN, senior Russian officials pushed for reforms on Tuesday during an emergency meeting with Syrian President Bashar al Assad, promoting a settlement to end the uprising without removing him from power.

US: Man who killed self, sons in fire left voicemail

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:46:04 +0530

Before setting his house ablaze and killing himself and his two young sons, Josh Powell left a voicemail for family members saying he couldn't live without the boys and didn't want to go on anymore.

BAE may cut price of Eurofighter to secure deal

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:22:19 +0530

The UK-based defence major BAE Systems is considering lowering the price of its Eurofighter Typhoon to win back the $ 11 billion Indian contract for 126 combat jets from France's Dassault Rafale.

US: Court strikes down California gay marriage ban

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:42:59 +0530

A US appeals court on Tuesday found California's gay marriage ban unconstitutional in a case that is likely to lead to a showdown on the issue in the US Supreme Court.

Address concerns of IT industry: India to US

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:22:00 +0530

India on Tuesday expressed hope that the current economic woes in the US would not lead to protectionism and said that concerns of the Indian IT industry over anti-outsourcing measures announced by President Barack Obama recently will be addressed quickly.

Maldives VP takes over after President quits

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:45:23 +0530

The first democratically elected president of the Maldives resigned on Tuesday and was replaced by his vice president after the police and army clashed in the streets of the island nation amidst protests over the arrest of a top judge.

Kuwait lifts 5-month ban on commercial visit visa

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:29:08 +0530

Kuwait, which has large number of expatriates from India, has lifted a five-month ban on transferring commercial visit visas to work permits. The ban had been imposed to regulate the influx of unskilled labourers into the country, thereby maintaining demographic balance, the country's Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MSAL) said.

Iran's Parliament summons Ahmadinejad

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:19:34 +0530

Iran's Parliament on Tuesday decided to summon President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for questioning over a long list of accusations, including that he mismanaged the nation's economy.

Pak-American admits he funded J&K terrorists

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:11:06 +0530

A Pakistani-American, charged with sending money to the now-believed-to-be-dead al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri, has pleaded guilty before a court here for providing money for terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

India closely monitoring Maldives situation

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:31:58 +0530

India on Tuesday said it was "closely" monitoring the situation in the Maldives, where President Mohamed Nasheed, elected only four years ago, resigned following overnight protests.

Devas lobbies with US lawmakers for India deal

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:25:19 +0530

Devas Multimedia, whose satellite communications contract with the Indian government-owned Antrix was scrapped after a controversy, has been lobbying in Washington to push forward its case before the US President and other lawmakers and has paid $ 140,000 so far for the same.

Suu Kyi hits the campaign trail in Myanmar

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:39:27 +0530

Crowds of supporters greeted Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi with thunderous applause as she embarked on Tuesday on her first campaign trip since becoming an official candidate for April elections. The Nobel Peace laureate traveled for the first time in two decades to the Irrawaddy delta, Myanmar's rice bowl and the region most devastated by Cyclone Nargis in 2008.

Maldives president quits amidst protest

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:10:41 +0530

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on Tuesday announced his resignation following weeks of public protests over his controversial order to arrest a senior judge.

US may apologise for Nov 26 NATO raid to Pak

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:28:27 +0530

The United States is considering to apologise to Pakistan for the November 26 incident that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in a NATO cross-border fire, a media report said on Tuesday.

Coup attempt in Maldives, president resigns

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:28:08 +0530

The Maldives is undergoing a coup attempt led by Opposition demonstrators and rogue elements of the police. According to reports, the demonstrators have taken over the state broadcaster.

Iranian envoy speaks on oil payment, N-weapons

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:57:50 +0530

The Iranian Ambassador to India said on Tuesday that although Tehran was "not unhappy" with New Delhi's stand on the country, it would urge India to "pay attention to the realities that are being shaped". Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, the diplomat said that India and Iran had worked out an agreement for the payment of oil.

Former intern reveals 18-month affair with JFK

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:37:50 +0530

A former White House intern is speaking out about an 18-month affair she had with President John F Kennedy while he was in office, revealing intimate details in a new book to be published on Wednesday.

Obama leads over Romney in opinion poll

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:29:15 +0530

US President Barack Obama is leading over his potential Republican challenger Mitt Romney by six points, a latest opinion poll has said. The opinion poll results by The Washington Post and ABC news came a day after Obama said that he deserves to be re-elected for the second term given that his administration has successfully led the nation in revival of its economy.

Obama leads over Romney in opinion poll

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:26:10 +0530

US President Barack Obama is leading over his potential Republican challenger Mitt Romney by six points, a latest opinion poll has said.

After Barbie, Iran bans Simpsons dolls

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:46:52 +0530

Iranians hoping to buy a doll replica of Homer Simpson and his family won't find them on store shelves anymore. That's because the Iranian Government has added the dolls based on the popular American cartoon series to a list of banned toys in the country as it believes they promote Western culture.

Maine girl bouncing back following 6-organ transplant

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:34:55 +0530

A 9-year-old Maine girl is home from a Boston hospital healthy, active and with high hopes - and a new stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine, pancreas, and part of an esophagus to replace the ones that were being choked by a huge tumour.

IMF bailout fallout: Greece to cut 15,000 jobs

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:20:30 +0530

Labour unions in Greece have called for a strike after the Government said it would cut 15,000 public sector jobs by the end of the year. Greece is under pressure from its eurozone partners to accept another round of strict austerity measures in exchange for the $171 billion bailout loan that was promised in October.

Intense cold waves in Europe, Romanian PM quits

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:10:41 +0530

Europe continues to battle the intense cold and heavy snowfall and the condition is likely to stay the same at least till the end of the week.

Death toll in 6.9 Philippines quake rises to 15

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:06:39 +0530

Rescuers digging for survivors among dozens of people buried by earthquake-triggered landslides on a central Philippine island have found only bodies. The death toll climbed to 15 on Tuesday, and at least 73 people were still missing.

Violence continues in Syria, 60 killed

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:56:58 +0530

Violence continues unabated in Syria with heavy artillery attacks in Homs on Monday, killing at least 60 people. US President Barack Obama has urged for resolving the crisis without outside military intervention.

Obama to host dinner to honour Iraq sacrifices

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:46:42 +0530

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle will host a dinner at the White House on February 29 to honour members of the armed services who served in Iraq.

US blocks Iranian banks, Govt properties

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:06:17 +0530

US-Iran ties hit a new low on Monday as the Obama administration ordered blocking of Iranian government properties and financial institutions in America. Obama said that additional sanctions are needed due to the "deceptive practices" by Iran's banks including the Central Bank to conceal transactions. The US has accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons programme against stiff world opposition.

US closes Syrian embassy as diplomacy collapses

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:09:49 +0530

The US closed its embassy in Syria and Britain recalled its ambassador to Damascus on Monday in a new Western push to get President Bashar Assad to leave power and halt the murderous grind in Syria - now among the deadliest conflicts of the Arab Spring.

Syria upset with India for its UN resolution vote

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:32:53 +0530

India has voted for an Arab and Western-backed UN resolution denouncing the violent crackdown in Syria.

US closes its embassy in Syria, asks Assad to go

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:40:48 +0530

The US closed its Syrian embassy on Monday and Britain recalled its ambassador to Damascus in a dramatic escalation of Western pressure on President Bashar al-Assad to give up power, just days after diplomatic efforts at the United Nations to end the crisis collapsed.

IMF warns Europe downturn could cut China growth

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:55:33 +0530

A sharp downturn in Europe could cut China's economic growth rate nearly in half, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, adding to warnings about a possible severe global slowdown this year.

Philippines quake leaves 13 dead, 40 missing

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:35:32 +0530

Rescuers dig with picks and shovels trying to reach dozens of people trapped under houses collapsed by a strong earthquake on Monday that shook a central Philippine island and set off landslides.

Rafale deal: Voices against aid to India rise in UK

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:53:18 +0530

Public unease has given way to increasing fury in London over giving millions of pounds in aid to an increasingly prosperous India, as the David Cameron government continues to resist pressure to stop it despite being in the throes of an economic crisis.

Greece coalition party leaders face EU deadline bailout

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:10:58 +0530

Greece's coalition parties must tell the European Union on Monday whether they accept the painful terms of a new bailout deal as EU patience wears thin with political dithering in Athens over implementing reforms.

US concerned as Egypt activists face trial

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:50:09 +0530

The United States has said it was "deeply concerned" at the news that dozens of activists including 19 Americans could go on trial in Egypt over the alleged illegal funding of aid groups.

6.8 quake hits Philippines, tsunami alert issued

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:49:56 +0530

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued the tsunami alert for the central Philippines, saying the quake, which hit in a narrow strait just off Negros Island, could trigger a 3-foot (1-meter) wave along the island's eastern coast as well as west of Cebu City, the country's second largest.

No Israel decision on attacking Iran: Obama

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:55:15 +0530

US President Barack Obama has said that Israel has not made a decision yet on attacking Iran's nuclear installations, noting that he still prefers to use diplomacy.

Barack Obama says he deserves another term

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:02:39 +0530

Buoyed by the signs of improvement in the American economy, US President Barack Obama has said that he deserves another term. "I deserve a second term," Obama, who is seeking re-election in the November presidential polls, told NBC news in an interview.

Europe: Snowfall in Rome after 27 years, 300 die

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:03:50 +0530

Europe continues to reel under intense cold wave with snow covering Rome after almost 27 years and over 300 people dying. Rome has experienced its first snowfall since 1985 while the Heathrow Airport of London has cancelled nearly half of its flights.

Iran warns to hit any country used to attack its soil

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:29:36 +0530

Iran will target any country used as a launchpad for attacks against its soil, the deputy Revolutionary Guards commander said, expanding Tehran's range of threats in an increasingly volatile stand-off with world powers over its nuclear ambitions.

Mubarak to be moved to prison for the 1st time

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:49:27 +0530

Egyptian officials say Hosni Mubarak will shortly be moved to a prison hospital as soon as the facility is upgraded to house the 83-year-old former president.

London: Queen prepares to mark 60 years on throne

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:38:15 +0530

Queen Elizabeth II braved the cold and snow to attend church on Sunday on the eve of her Diamond Jubilee anniversary. Bundled in a brown coat and matching fur hat, Elizabeth was joined by her husband, Prince Philip, at the service at West Newton church on her Sandringham Estate in eastern England.

Car bomb kills 7 people in southern Afghan city

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:32:40 +0530

A car bomb exploded just outside the police headquarters of a southern Afghanistan city on Sunday, killing at least seven people, officials said.

Flights cancelled as snow swamps UK

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:10:18 +0530

In the wake of heavy snowfall and severe weather warnings, London's Heathrow Airport cancelled 30 per cent of flights that were scheduled to take off on Sunday.

Republican Romney sails to easy win in Nevada

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:55:27 +0530

Republican front-runner Mitt Romney cruised to an easy victory in Nevada on Saturday, crushing his three remaining rivals and taking firm command of the party's volatile presidential nominating race.

Syria violence: UN resolution in tatters after vetoes

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:15:48 +0530

China and Russia have blocked a UN resolution that called for the immediate end to violence in Syria.

Protesters ransack Syrian embassies

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:22:59 +0530

Syrian demonstrators ransacked their country's embassy in Cairo and broke into the missions in London and Kuwait, part of protests around the world against the worst bloodshed of the 11 month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

Iran says oil ban will not halt nuclear work

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:09:49 +0530

Iran's oil minister said the Islamic state would not retreat from its nuclear programme even if its crude oil exports grind to a halt, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:46:43 +0530

Russia and China have vetoed a Security Council resolution backing an Arab League peace plan that calls for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down.

Has the promise of the Arab Spring faded?

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:30:54 +0530

In January 2011 we saw images of hope and the rise of people power in Egypt's Tahrir Square. The crowds pushed President Mubarak out then, but a year later the protestors are still there. Has the promise of the Arab Spring faded?

UK varsity to set up scholarship in Bidve's memory

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:08:48 +0530

Anuj Bidve's alma mater, Lancaster University is setting up a scholarship in memory of the Indian student whose killing in an unprovoked attack in the UK evoked widespread sympathy and outrage.

US changing visa rules to attract highly-skilled

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:30:32 +0530

To make America more attractive to highly-skilled foreign students and workers, the United States has announced a series of reforms, including changes in the F-1 and H-1B visa rules, that may benefit professionals from India.

Russian city to slap fine for promoting homosexuality

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:05:03 +0530

The bill, pushed by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, was backed by 28 out of 35 deputies in Kostroma town's legislature. A similar ban is already in place in the southern Astrakhan and central Ryazan regions but it was shelved in St Petersburg, Russia's second city, last November after MPs failed to agree on its "legal definitions".

200 dead in government assault: Syrian activists

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:39:40 +0530

In a barrage of mortar shells, Syrian forces killed 200 people and wounded hundreds in Homs in an offensive that appears to be the bloodiest episode in the nearly 11-month-old uprising, activists said Saturday.

Hackers attack law enforcement websites

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:25:56 +0530

Saboteurs stole passwords and sensitive information on tipsters while hacking into the websites of several law enforcement agencies worldwide in attacks attributed to the collective known as Anonymous.

World's longest married couple spill the beans

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:57:55 +0530

A Las Vegas couple who married in 1933 recently celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary with an unexpected present. The Worldwide Marriage Encounter says Wilbur and Theresa Faiss have been married longer than any other couple in the world.

Ties with India, China not zero-sum game: US

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:34:55 +0530

Seeking strong ties with both India and China, the United States has said that its relations with the two Asian giants are not a zero-sum game.

US economy growing strong: Barack Obama

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:53:50 +0530

US President Barack Obama has said country's economy is growing strong and recovery is speeding up. Obama's remarks on the state of the economy came hours after latest report showed that unemployment rate has dropped to 8.3 per cent as added more than 2.4 lakh new jobs in January.

Day 3: Egypt continues to simmer over soccer violence

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:46:17 +0530

There seems to be no end in sight to tensions in Egypt with the protesters now demanding an end to the country's military rule.

Gaddafi's shirt, wedding ring up for sale

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:26:43 +0530

The wedding ring and shirt worn by former Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi when he was killed by rebels is up for grabs for a starting price of Rs 10 crore.

Egypt soccer deaths bring new cycle of violence

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:25:07 +0530

Protesters filled the streets and clashed for a second day on Friday with police who fired tear gas and birdshot in Cairo, as a deadly soccer riot focused rising public anger over lawlessness and collapsing security a year after Egypt's uprising.

US: Romney heavily favored to win Nevada caucuses

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:04:49 +0530

Mitt Romney, heavily favored to win Nevada's presidential caucuses Saturday, focused on the state's unemployment rate - which is well above the national average - rather than campaigning against chief Republican rival Newt Gingrich.

Taliban leader sent letter to Obama: Sources

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:49:49 +0530

Reclusive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar wrote to US President Barack Obama last year indicating an interest in talks key to ending the war in Afghanistan, current and former US officials told The Associated Press.

US jobless rate at 3-year low as payrolls surge

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:46:02 +0530

The United States created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months in January and the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to a near three-year low, giving a boost to President Barack Obama.

India, Japan fighter deals intensify arms race

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:46:09 +0530

Big decisions on warplane purchases by Japan and India have intensified competition in the multi-billion-dollar global market, with Western defense firms scrambling for orders in Asia and the Middle East as their home-country budgets shrivel.

Hackers intercept FBI, Scotland Yard call

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:02:39 +0530

Trading jokes and swapping leads, investigators from the FBI and Scotland Yard spent the conference call strategizing about how to bring down the hacking collective known as Anonymous, responsible for a string of embarrassing attacks across the Internet.

Nuclear experts barred from Iran site: diplomats

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:14:08 +0530

Iran's apparent reluctance to let UN inspectors visit a military site near Tehran underlines the uphill task they face in convincing the Islamic state to address suspicions it may be seeking to develop nuclear weapons, Western diplomats say.

NATO mulls paying for Afghan forces after 2014

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:24:10 +0530

NATO's top official said on Friday that the alliance expects regional powers to contribute to a multibillion dollar fund to finance the Afghan army and police after they assume full responsibility for the war in 2014.

Indian-American student triggers Harvard probe

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:40:41 +0530

A complaint from an Indian-American student who was near the top of his high school class but was rejected by both Harvard and Princeton universities has triggered an investigation by the US Education Department.

Over 120 feared killed in PNG ship tragedy

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:20:45 +0530

More than 120 people are feared dead after a ship with over 350 on board sank off Papua New Guinea's north coast, even as ships and helicopters are continuing to search for missing people, officials said Friday.

Egypt soccer riots: 2 more die in fresh protests

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:42:13 +0530

Police shot and killed two protesters in Suez, Egypt, early on Friday, a health official said, the first to die in clashes that erupted around the country after a riot at a soccer stadium killed 74, as sports violence spiraled into a new political crisis for Egypt.

UN diplomats fail to reach agreement on Syria

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:21:06 +0530

Diplomats have failed to reach agreement on a UN resolution aimed at ending the bloodshed in Syria, leaving discussions in limbo pending consultations with their home governments.

US asks citizens to avoid gatherings in Pakistan

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:06:27 +0530

The US has issued a travel alert, warning its citizens about the risks in travelling to Pakistan in view of recent developments and tension in US-Pak ties following the NATO raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

US Senate passes insider trading ban bill

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:49:50 +0530

The United States Senate has passed a bill that would ban lawmakers from trading stocks based on the information they acquire while performing their Congressional duties.

US indicts Swiss bank on tax charges

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:31:45 +0530

The United States has indicted the oldest bank of Switzerland on charges of conspiracy to hide more than $1.2 billion. Significantly, this is the first time an overseas bank has been charged by the US for allegedly facilitating tax fraud by US taxpayers.

Palestinians hurl shoes at visiting UN chief

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:57:52 +0530

Dozens of Palestinians on Thursday tried to block UN chief Ban Ki-moon from entering the Gaza Strip and pelted his armoured convoy with shoes and sticks, accusing him of being unfairly biased toward Israel.

Khar's visit to Kabul good, well timed: US

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:34:54 +0530

The visit of the Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar to Kabul was good and well timed, the United States has said even as it awaited the details of the trip from the two countries.

UK's new policy only for 'quality' migrants

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:30:47 +0530

Britain's new immigration rules will now allow only those immigrants 'who add to the quality of life'. Two proposals outlined in a major speech by Immigration Minister Damian Green are likely to affect Indian professionals and migrants.

Don't jump the gun on Afghan pullout: US expert

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:28:17 +0530

Instead of diving into a 'pseudo' reconciliation process to justify an early pullout of troops from Afghanistan, Obama Administration must pay attention on the fact that Taliban will use any negotiations to strengthen their hold in the country, an eminent US expert has said.

Aiyar confronts JuD chief, calls for his arrest

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:05:09 +0530

Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed appeared to lose his cool on a TV talk show on Thursday when parliamentarian Mani Shankar Aiyar questioned his contention that Indians did not accept Pakistan, and said he should be arrested and brought before a terrorism court.

Pakistan causing problems in Afghanistan: US

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:43:41 +0530

Doubting the 'willingness' of Pakistan to go after the militant groups enjoying sanctuary in the country, a top US intelligence official has said these elements have caused major problems for the Afghan and coalition forces working for a 'new' Afghanistan.

India, US sign MoU on workers' rights

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:29:16 +0530

Signed by the US Secretary of Labour, Hilda Solis, and India's Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, the MoU establishes a framework for conducting dialogue and cooperative activities between the US and India on labour and employment issues.

India moving towards US position on Iran: Report

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:10:34 +0530

Despite India's assertion that it will not scale down its petroleum imports from Iran, lawmakers in Washington have been told by a Congressional report that India is "cautious" on any expansion of energy relations with Iran.

Europe under worst cold spell in years; 160 dead

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:39:23 +0530

An extreme cold wave across Europe over the past few days has left 160 people dead in its wake. The mercury plunged to record lows throughout the continent, with Bulgaria recording its lowest temperature in over a century.

Syria locks down Hama on anniversary of massacre

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:35:12 +0530

Syrian troops closed public squares in Hama on Thursday after residents poured red paint symbolising blood on the ground to mark the 30th anniversary of the massacre President Bashar al-Assad's father carried out to crush an uprising.

US: Romney plays Trump card in Las Vegas

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:28:16 +0530

Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney, struggling to recover from a remarks that critics said showed indifference to America's poor, on Thursday won the endorsement of real estate mogul Donald Trump.

Egypt police, protesters clash after soccer riot

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:23:50 +0530

Anger over a deadly soccer riot erupted in fresh clashes that injured nearly 400 people on Thursday as security forces fired tear gas at fans and other protesters who accused police of failing to stop the violence.

Precedent warning as Assange extradition case ends

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:14:12 +0530

Britain's Supreme Court risks jeopardising extraditions to many neighbouring countries if it stops WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange being sent to Sweden for questioning over sex crimes, a lawyer for Swedish prosecutors argued on Thursday.

Kolar, wife were murdered for mobiles, watches

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:20:57 +0530

Indian-origin Avtar Singh Kolar and and his wife Carole Kolar were bludgeoned to death in a lump hammer attack in their Birmingham home earlier in January for just two mobile phones and two watches, a media report said on Thursday.

Treasure hunter says he found $3bn WWII wreck

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:49:10 +0530

A treasure hunter said on Wednesday that he has located the wreck of a British merchant ship that was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Cape Cod during World War II while carrying what he claims was a load of platinum bars now worth more than $3 billion.

Has the promise of the Arab Spring faded?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:57:22 +0530

Ferry with 350 aboard sinks off Papua New Guinea

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:57:14 +0530

Several people are feared dead after a ferry carrying as many as 350 passengers on board sank off the north coast of Papua New Guinea, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Thursday.

British PM wants India to reconsider Rafale deal

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:49:03 +0530

A 'disappointed' British Prime Minister David Cameron said that he would do 'everything he can' to 'encourage' India to reconsider its decision to acquire 126 French-made Rafale fighter jets instead of the UK-backed Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

US to end combat role in Afghanistan by 2013

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:25:24 +0530

The US is planning to end its combat operations in Afghanistan by mid 2013 and would switch to a 'train-and-assist' role, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said. Last June, Obama ordered all 33,000 US surge troops home from Afghanistan by the middle of 2012.

Four admit plotting to bomb London targets

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:50:44 +0530

An al Qaida-inspired group wanted to target the London Stock Exchange, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

Cut off ISI-Taliban links, US tells Pakistan

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:39:48 +0530

The US on Wednesday said it has "long standing concerns" over ISI's links with the Taliban and wants Pakistan to "cut-off" those ties, hours after a NATO report blew the lid off the intelligence agency's "manipulation" of Afghan Taliban's senior leadership.

Russia says will veto unacceptable Syria resolution

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:01:49 +0530

Russia said on Wednesday it would veto any UN resolution on Syria that it finds unacceptable, after demanding any measure rule out military intervention to halt the bloodshed touched off by protests against President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

Four admit to Mumbai-style terror plot in London

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:22:17 +0530

Four radical Islamists admitted in court on Wednesday plotting to bomb the London Stock Exchange as part of a campaign of al Qaeda-inspired attacks across the British capital in the run-up to Christmas 2010.

Egyptian soccer fans clash after game, 73 dead

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:03:41 +0530

Seventy-three people were killed and at least 1,000 injured on Wednesday after a soccer pitch invasion in the Egyptian city of Port Said, in what a deputy minister called the biggest disaster in the nation's soccer history.

Cut off ISI-Taliban links, US tells Pakistan

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:33:04 +0530

The US on Wednesday said it had "long standing concerns" over ISI's links with the Taliban and wants Pakistan to "cut-off" those ties, hours after a NATO report blew the lid off the intelligence agency's "manipulation" of Afghan Taliban's senior leadership.

4 UK men admit to al Qaeda plot to bomb LSE

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:48:47 +0530

Four British men have admitted involvement in an al-Qaeda inspired plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange. The men were among nine defendants to be tried in London over various terror offenses.

London: Assange's hearing enters final stage

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:34:19 +0530

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's hearing entered the final stage on Wednesday. Assange appealed for the third time to the Britain's Supreme Court not to extradite him to Sweden over accusations of sex crimes - a move that could push his anti-secrecy website further toward oblivion.

Pak considers India an existential threat: US intel

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:41:46 +0530

Pakistan continues to consider India as an "existential threat" despite the two countries taking significant appreciative steps in improving their ties, a top American intelligence official said on Wednesday.

India preparing for conflict with China: US intel

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:34:53 +0530

Noting that India is increasingly getting concerned about China's posture on its border, a top US intelligence official on Wednesday said that the Indian Army is strengthening itself for a "limited conflict" with China.

UNSC: India opposes use of force against Syria

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:33:25 +0530

Voicing its opposition to the use of force to resolve the crisis in Syria, India on Wednesday asked all sides to cooperate with the Arab League and start a political process that should respect Damascus' sovereignty.

Pak aiding Taliban in Afghanistan: NATO report

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:04:53 +0530

The Pakistani security services are directly aiding the Taliban in Afghanistan and have direct influence over its top leadership, a leaked NATO report has claimed. The report alleged that Pakistan's top spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has complete information about whereabouts of the top Taliban commanders.

Italian shipwreck: those missing presumed dead

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:04:51 +0530

Divers in Italy have abandoned the search for survivors of the Costa Concordia. The 16 missing people including Indian crew member Russell Rebello are now being presumed dead.

Assange to appear before British Supreme Court

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:02:29 +0530

This will be the third but not necessarily the last stage in Julian Assange's attempts to resist extradition to Sweden.

Internal situation in Pak still strained: US

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:58:20 +0530

Acknowledging the 'strain' in US-Pak relationship, a top US intelligence official has said that the internal situation in Pakistan is 'fraught' and will take some time to get back to normalcy.

Assange to appeal extradition to UK's top court

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:28:32 +0530

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will appeal to Britain's Supreme Court Wednesday not to extradite him to Sweden over accusations of sex crimes, a move that could push his anti-secrecy website further toward oblivion.

Syria troops push back rebels as UN fight looms

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:04:31 +0530

Syrian troops crushed pockets of rebel soldiers on Tuesday on the outskirts of Damascus and the UN Security Council took up a draft resolution demanding that President Bashar Assad halt the violence and yield power.

US: Romney wins Florida Republican primary

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:21:52 +0530

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has won the Republican primary in Florida, defeating Newt Gingrich. The victory has brought him closer to bagging the Republican nomination to challenge the incumbent, Barack Obama, in November presidential elections.

US govt asks court to reject Rana re-trial plea

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:45:47 +0530

The US government has asked a court in Chicago to deny Pakistan-born Canadian Tahawwur Rana's plea for a new trial in cases related to the Mumbai and Denmark terror plots, arguing that the court was right in convicting him for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Birmingham murders: Accused found dead in jail

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:35:14 +0530

A Lithuanian national arrested for the twin murders of Indian-origin Avtar Singh Kolar and his English wife in Birmingham has been found hanging in his prison cell, where was he lodged since early this month.

As Florida votes, Romney seems in driver's seat

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:08:31 +0530

Florida's Republican voters go to the polls on Tuesday in a high-stakes presidential primary election that could determine the direction of the race. In what shapes up as a two-man contest, most opinion polls show Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, holding a double-digit lead over Newt Gingrich, a former US House speaker.

Syrian troops push dissidents back

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:55:54 +0530

Syrian forces have pushed dissident troops back from the edge of Damascus in heavy fighting, escalating efforts to take back control of the capital's eastern doorstep ahead of key UN talks over a draft resolution demanding that President Bashar Assad step aside.

Pakistan lacks the will to fight terror: Obama

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:45:57 +0530

During his first ever live video conference hosted by Google+ Hangout, US President Barack Obama hit out at Pakistan for its inability to fight terrorism. Obama was responding to a war veteran's question but defended his government's move to continue giving Islamabad millions in aid.

US nuclear reactor loses power, venting steam

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:22:43 +0530

A nuclear reactor in northern Illinois shut down on Monday after losing power, and steam was being vented to reduce pressure, according to officials from Exelon Nuclear and federal regulators.

EU leaders pledge to stimulate growth, create jobs

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:28:07 +0530

Heads of European state and government meeting in Brussels on Monday pledged to offer more training for young people to ease their transition to the work force, deploy unused development funds to create jobs, reduce barriers to doing business across the EU's 27 countries, and ensure that small businesses have access to credit.

Obama criticises Pak for its inability to fight terrorism

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:46:59 +0530

However, Barack Obama has defended his government's move to continue giving Islamabad millions in aid.

Chinese security forces surround Tibetan-dominated area

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:37:03 +0530

A series of self-immolations by Tibetans has spurred the unrest in the region situated in southwest China.

NATO sticks to 2014 Afghanistan pullout date

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:01:57 +0530

NATO's top official said Monday that the alliance will adhere to its plans to hand over security to local forces in Afghanistan by the end of 2014, comments that came after France said it would push NATO to speed up its timeline for the handover of combat operations by a year.

Relations with Pak complicated but important: US

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:35:54 +0530

America's relationship with Pakistan was and continues to be 'complicated', the White House has said while acknowledging that in country's security interest and region's stability the bond is 'important'.

Assad troops fight back against Syria rebels

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:47:44 +0530

Street battles raged at the gates of the Syrian capital on Monday as President Bashar al-Assad's troops sought to consolidate their grip on suburbs that rebel fighters had seized only a few miles from the centre of government power.

Defence cutbacks force US to keep U-2 spy planes

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:39:49 +0530

The US may rely on its aging fleet of 33 high-flying U-2 spy planes longer than expected due to defence cutbacks, according to a media report. For more than 50 years, the CIA and US military have relied on U-2s to go deep behind enemy lines for vital intelligence-gathering missions.

US to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapon

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:06:07 +0530

US will take every possible step to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear-capable state, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said.

US, Taliban prisoner release talks fail: Report

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:04:33 +0530

The initial talks between the US and Taliban in Qatar on the release of five of the militant group's prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention center have failed, a media report said on Monday.

3 Canadians jailed for life for 'honour killings'

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:12:01 +0530

Three members of an Afghan Canadian family were found guilty of the 'honor killing' of three siblings and a fourth relative on Sunday after a high-profile trial that has fascinated Canadians.

India defies US, EU; won't cut Iran oil imports

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:14:59 +0530

India has stood up to the US saying it will not cut its oil imports from Iran despite America and European Union's sanctions against Tehran. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee boldly made this clarification during his visit to the US on Sunday.

Ahead in Florida, Romney turns focus back to Obama

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:32:43 +0530

Mitt Romney strode into the final 48 hours of the pivotal Florida Republican primary campaign with the confidence of a resurgent front-runner, predicting he'll win in Tuesday's voting while looking ahead to future contests.

Researchers find cancer in ancient Egyptian mummy

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:51:29 +0530

A professor from American University in Cairo says discovery of prostate cancer in a 2,200-year-old mummy indicates the disease was caused by genetics, not environment.

300 arrested in daylong Occupy Oakland protests

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:17:30 +0530

Dozens of police maintained a late-night guard around City Hall following daylong protests that resulted in 300 arrests. Occupy Oakland demonstrators broke into the historic building and burned a US flag, as officers earlier fired tear gas to disperse people throwing rocks and tearing down fencing at a convention center.

'Education system driving young to be mundane'

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:19:32 +0530

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Sunday blamed the education system for driving the young to be very mundane and detracting them from pursuing social objectives. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, he said that money is now the king, becoming an "intoxication in the system".

29 Chinese workers captured by Sudanese rebels

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:38:22 +0530

Sudanese rebels attacked a camp belonging to a Chinese company in the troubled south Kordofan state of Sudan, taking hostage 29 Chinese workers amidst a battle with the Army. Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that a camp belonging to a Chinese firm was attacked by rebels and several Chinese nationals "have gone missing" after that.

Iran says oil may hit $150 per barrel on EU ban

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:07:06 +0530

Oil prices could rise as high as $150 a barrel because of the European Union ban on imports of Iranian crude, the country's deputy oil minister was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency on Sunday.

Romney widens lead over Gingrich in Florida: poll

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:58:18 +0530

White House hopeful Mitt Romney widened his lead over rival Newt Gingrich to 11 percentage points in Florida, according to Reuters/Ipsos online poll results on Saturday, up from 8 points a day earlier, as he cemented his front-runner status in the Republican nomination race.

Peru: 27 killed in fire at rehabilitation centre

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 10:43:37 +0530

A fire swept through a two-story private rehabilitation centre for addicts in a poor part of Peru's capital, killing 27 people and critically injuring five as firefighters punched holes through walls to rescue residents locked inside.

India to enter into agreement with US Institute

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:46:01 +0530

India will provide a $ 500,000 grant to the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago, where Swami Vivekananda delivered a landmark address on Hinduism in 1893, as part of initiatives to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the 19th century luminary.

UK: Five held in phone hacking scandal

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:38:57 +0530

British police arrested 4 Sun newspaper journalists in the phone-hacking controversy.

Topless protesters detained at Davos forum

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:00:57 +0530

Three topless Ukrainian protesters were detained on Saturday while trying to break into an invitation-only gathering of international CEOs and political leaders to call attention to the needs of the world's poor. Separately, demonstrators from the Occupy movement marched to the edge of the gathering.

IAEA team heads to Iran to seek nuclear answers

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:39:25 +0530

Senior United Nations nuclear inspectors will arrive in Tehran early on Sunday to press Iranian officials to address suspicions that the Islamic state is seeking atomic weapons.

NOTW phone hacking: Sun journo among 5 arrested

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:09:23 +0530

British police arrested four current and former staff of Rupert Murdoch's best-selling Sun tabloid plus a policeman on Saturday as part of an investigation into suspected payments by journalists to officers, police and the newspaper's publisher said.

Arab League halts observer mission in Syria

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:46:56 +0530

The Arab League halted its observer mission to Syria on Saturday, sharply criticising the regime of President Bashar Assad for escalating violence in recent days that has killed nearly 100 people across the country.

Ties with US not normal: Pakistan envoy

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:26:37 +0530

The Pakistan-US relationship is certainly not going through "normal" times, Islamabad's ambassador to Washington Sherry Rehman has said. Rehman further asked the Pakistani-American community for their support to bring the two countries closer.

Magnitude 4.9 earthquake rattles Crete

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:18:52 +0530

Greek authorities say an earthquake with preliminary 4.9-magnitude has shaken the country's southern Aegean islands, including Crete. No injuries or damage were immediately reported in the quake, which was the third in three days in the area.

China refutes criticism over human rights situation

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:34:43 +0530

China on Saturday refuted Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticism over deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet, amid tense stand off in the region over a spate of suicides by Buddhist monks and anti-regime protests. The People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC), denied HRW criticism that "police dominate criminal justice system, which relies disproportionately on defendants' confessions."

US making powerful 'bunker-busters' to hit Iran

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:02:25 +0530

The US military has stepped up efforts to make their largest conventional weapon, the 13.6 tonne "bunker-buster" bomb, more powerful and capable of destroying Iran's most heavily fortified underground nuclear facilities.

US: Indian-origin woman dies after hunger strike

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:19:16 +0530

An Indian-origin woman, who was being held at a Chicago jail for allegedly failing to show up for jury duty, has died in custody after a 15-day hunger strike.

Pak doctor provided information about Laden: US

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:59:17 +0530

Shakil Afridi ran a vaccination program for the CIA to collect DNA and verify Osama bin Laden's presence in the compound.

5.5 quake jolts Japan, no tsunami warning issued

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:32:57 +0530

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 jolted eastern Japan on Saturday morning, but there were no immediate reports of injury or damage and no tsunami warning was issued.

Obama's Indo-American IT head Chopra, quits

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:40:27 +0530

Aneesh Chopra, President Barack Obama's information technology honcho, who was the highest ranking Indian American in the Obama administration, is leaving the White House, apparently to try his hand at politics.

Dutch plan ban on Muslim face veils next year

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:52:17 +0530

The Dutch minority government plans to ban Muslim face veils such as burqas and other forms of clothing that cover the face from next year.

Children among 74 dead in 2 days of Syrian turmoil

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:34:39 +0530

Two days of bloody turmoil in Syria killed at least 74 people, including small children, as forces loyal to President Bashar Assad shelled residential buildings and fired on crowds in a dramatic escalation of violence, activists said on Friday.

Bangladeshi pirates kill 4 Indian fishermen

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:18:29 +0530

Two groups of Bangladeshi pirates on Friday night killed four Indian fishermen, injured eight others and hijacked a trawler carrying twelve fishermen in the Bay of Bengal, police said.

Bus-sized asteroid comes close to Earth

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:57:54 +0530

A bus-sized newly discovered asteroid on Friday came extremely close to the Earth, coming much nearer than the Moon, space scientists said. However, the space rock posed no danger of impacting the Earth.

London Games: Organisers firmly behind Dow

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:14:01 +0530

Despite protests by anti-Dow activists and resignation of the Ethics panel chief, the organisers of the London Olympic Games have refused to terminate their sponsorship deal with the company.

Children among 74 dead in 2 days of Syrian turmoil

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:22:24 +0530

Iran hits back at EU with own oil embargo threat

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:49:54 +0530

Fighting sanctions with sanctions in a trial of strength with the West over its nuclear ambitions, Iran warned on Friday it may halt oil exports to Europe next week in a move calculated to hurt ailing European economies.

US seeing high levels of poverty and inequality: Geithner

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:03:25 +0530

In a candid admission of the problems plaguing the world's largest economy, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Friday the country was seeing "very high levels of poverty and inequality".

13 killed in clashes in Russia's volatile Caucasus

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:29:23 +0530

Russian officials say an Islamist warlord, seven militants, four officers and one civilian have been killed in three separate incidents in Russia's violence-plagued southern Caucasus region. Russia's Anti-Terrorist Committee spokesman Nikolai Sintsov said the leader of Islamist separatists in the province of Ingushetia was killed in a shootout on Friday in the village of Ekazhevo along with two other militants.

China a 'formidable challenge to global trading'

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:11:00 +0530

China is keeping its currency below its fair value and it represents a "formidable challenge" to the global trading system, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Friday. Sharply criticising the Communist giant's state-led economic system, Geithner said, "China does represent a really unique and formidable challenge to the global trading system because the structure of its economy... is overwhelmingly dominated by the state."

Suicide bomber kills 32 at Baghdad funeral march

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:30:58 +0530

A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near a funeral procession in southeastern Baghdad today, killing at least 32 people half of them policemen who were guarding the march in the latest brazen attack since the US troop withdrawal from Iraq.

UK chef buys jet to deliver Indian food

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:54:08 +0530

The owner of a popular Indian eatery joint in Kent has bought an unusual vehicle to ferry his curries around the world - an Iraqi fighter jet. Rob Abdul, who owns Cafe Taj in Gravesend, Kent has started taking flying lessons.

JK protests against sexual abuse on Pak scientist

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:03:02 +0530

A radical Kashmiri women's group on Friday held an anti-US protest against the imprisonment and alleged sexual assault on Pakistani scientist Aafia Siddiqui, who is serving a prison term in an American jail.

Can't be linked with Bhopal gas tragedy: Dow

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:11:26 +0530

Hours after the London Olympics Organising Committee said that Dow Chemicals would remain the official sponsor of the 2012 London Olympics, the company issued a statement clarifying its position with regard to the Bhopal gas tragedy.

EU for tighter discipline to save euro

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:24:46 +0530

The ice appeared to be melting over tackling euro crisis at the Swiss alpine resort with the leaders of several European nations agreeing to press for tighter rules and greater fiscal prudence to keep the common currency afloat.

G4 make renewed bid for UNSC expansion

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:11:19 +0530

India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, collectively known as the G4 group of countries, have made a joint bid for the expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership.

Watch: Finnair crew dance to 'Om Shanti Om'

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:31:22 +0530

This is something an air passenger will least expect on a flight even of an Indian carrier - a Bollywood jig by a foreign crew, all dressed in dazzling salwar kameez and traditional Indian attires!

US announces downsizing ground troops by 1 lakh

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:18:59 +0530

Faced with a $487 billion slash in its budget over the next 10 years, the Pentagon has announced downsizing its military forces by 1,00,000, even as Defence Secretary Leon Panetta asserted that US will remain a force to contend with anytime and anywhere.

Dow Chemicals to remain London Olympics sponsor

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:41:30 +0530

Despite the resignation of the Ethics panel chief, the London Olympic Committee stands firm, says Dow will remain a sponsor for the Olympic Games. The London Olympics Organisisng Committee said on Friday that Dow Chemicals will remain the sponsors of the 2012 London Olympics.

NY Police Commissioner's son accused of rape

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:36:55 +0530

The son of New York Police Commissioner has been accused by a woman of raping her, a charge that he has denied. Greg Kelly, who is anchor at a local television show, is the son of Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

US: Hillary Clinton dodging political high wire

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:07:06 +0530

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says she wants to step off the "high wire of American politics" after two decades and is again tamping down speculation that she might stay in government if President Barack Obama wins a second term.

Muslims call for NYPD chief to resign over movie

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:31:29 +0530

Muslim groups are calling for New York's police commissioner to step down because of his appearance in a film they say paints their religion and its adherents in a bad light.

Did not sideline Pak in Taliban peace talks: US

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:03:03 +0530

US has termed as 'untrue' sentiments inside Pakistan that it was being sidelined by the Obama Administration in peace talks with the Taliban.

Four dead, 22 missing in Rio buildings collapse

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:52:30 +0530

At least 22 people were still missing on Thursday after rescuers recovered four bodies from the rubble of three buildings that collapsed in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Mayor Eduardo Paes said. Paes told a news conference six others had been pulled alive from the rubble.

Resignation a moral decision: Olympics Ethics Panel chief

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:51:26 +0530

Meredith Alexander quit, taking a moral stance, in support of the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy and said the London Games organisers should scrap the sponsorship deal with Dow Chemicals.

Arab League chief, Qatar PM to go to UN over Syria

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:56:19 +0530

The Arab League chief and the Qatari prime minister will present an Arab peace plan for Syria to ambassadors in the UN Security Council in New York early next week, the council president said on Thursday.

Somali captors move US hostage after SEAL raid

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:28:04 +0530

Pirates moved an American hostage at least three times in 24 hours and threatened on Thursday to kill him after US Navy SEALs rescued an American and a Dane in a bold, dark-of-night raid that raises questions about whether other Western captives are now in greater danger.

Syrian troops fight rebels near Damascus

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:02:35 +0530

Syrian troops battled rebels in a town just north of Damascus on Thursday and a provincial governor spoke of negotiating local ceasefires as a 10-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad crept close to the capital.

Iran is ready to return to nuclear talks

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:02:33 +0530

Iran is ready to revive talks with the US and other world powers, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday, but suggested that Tehran's foes will have to make compromises to prevent negotiations from again collapsing in stalemate.

Little bit of elbowing, but all will be well: Khar

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:04:51 +0530

Describing Pakistani Parliament as the "new kid on the block", Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday said a "little bit of elbowing" was taking place in Pakistan but things would "very soon fall in place".

Pakistan wants to work with India: Gilani

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:33:42 +0530

Pointing out that Pakistan has 'excellent' relationship with India, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said cooperation between the two countries to tackle climate change was 'doable'.

Gita: Russian prosecutors planning to file appeal

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:43:23 +0530

Undeterred by a Siberian court's rejection of their plea seeking a ban on a translated version of the Bhagvad Gita, Russian prosecutors are planning to file an appeal against the verdict on the holy book dubbed by them as "extremist literature".

US plans to expand its drone fleet: Report

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:46:35 +0530

With China in mind, US plans to set up a new base in Australia and expand its existing one in the Philippines, besides increasing its fleet of drones to cut its burgeoning defence budget, media reports said on Thursday.

India, US to consolidate global partnership

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:21:20 +0530

India and the United States have agreed to continue efforts to consolidate upon the 'tremendous progress' made in strengthening the India-US global strategic partnership, the two countries announced after a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao.

London 2012 Olympics Ethics Commissioner quits

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:39:42 +0530

A top London Olympics official has quit over the Dow sponsorship row. Ethics Commissioner Meredith Alexander put in her papers in protest of the sponsorship deal with the company because of its connection to the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

Japan to lend $63 million to Bangladesh

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:14:09 +0530

Japan will lend $63 million to Bangladesh for a maternal and child health project.

Egyptians mark first anniversary of protests

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:53:17 +0530

Tens of thousands massed in Cairo's Tahrir Square and other Egyptian cities on Wednesday, a year after an uprising erupted that toppled Hosni Mubarak, spurred on revolts across the region and exposed rifts in the Arab world's most populous state.

US commandos free 2 hostages in Somalia raid

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:36:05 +0530

US special operations forces swooped into Somalia on Wednesday and rescued two hostage aid workers after killing their nine kidnappers, a rare and daring raid in the Horn of Africa nation to free foreign captives.

Iraq al Qaeda says US withdrew to save money

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:42:16 +0530

The US pulled its troops out of Iraq because its economy is collapsing and it needed to save money, an al Qaeda front group said in a message posted on its website on Wednesday, its first online comment since the US completed its pullout last month after nine years of war.

France, Britain join Syria peace push at UN

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:16:15 +0530

Arab League monitors said the withdrawal of colleagues by Gulf Arab states would not hinder their work in Syria while France and Britain on Wednesday joined efforts at the United Nations to end President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

India to push for early comprehensive UNSC reform

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:47:28 +0530

India will push hard for an early implementation of comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council and expansion in its membership when inter-governmental negotiations on the issue begin on Thursday.

US probing business visa sponsorships: Infosys

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:49:11 +0530

IT bellwether Infosys on Wednesday said the company and some of its employees are target of US probe related to its sponsorships of B1 business visas. Infosys had received a 'subpoena' from a grand jury in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in May last year.

US Special Forces rescue hostages in Somalia

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:25:52 +0530

Helicopter-borne elite US Navy Seals struck deep into Somalia in a daring pre-dawn raid and freed two hostages - an American woman aid worker and a Dane - after a shootout with pirates holding them, leaving at least nine gunmen dead, a rare mission in the restive African nation.

Norway NRI case: Uncle to get custody of kids

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:21:37 +0530

NRI couple Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya's children, who are in the custody of Norway's Child Welfare Services, would be handed over to Anurup's brother Arunabash Bhattacharya. The lawyer of the couple told the Indian Embassy in Oslo that Arunabash would take custody of the children. He would travel to Norway when the custody case came up for hearing in the court.

Jay Leno sued over Golden Temple remark

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:42:10 +0530

US talk show host Jay Leno has been sued by an Indian-American in California for his 'racist' comments on the Golden Temple and ridiculing the entire Sikh community by portraying the holy shrine as a vacation home.

Obama's address on terrorism, outsourcing and Iran

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:48:20 +0530

US President Barack Obama listed out the achievements of his first term, topping that list the improved state of the economy and the end of the America's most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden.

US happy with Pak talking to resolve stalemate

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:09:07 +0530

The United States has expressed satisfaction that various wings of the establishment in Pakistan are talking to each other to resolve the ongoing stalemate.

Obama calls for a fair shot economy, more jobs

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:59:09 +0530

US President Barack Obama during his last address before the Presidential elections on Tuesday night said for the first time in two decades Osama Bin Laden is not a threat to US.

One year on, Egypt will demonstrate, celebrate

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:38:29 +0530

Egyptians head to Tahrir Square on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak with some seeking a new revolt against army rule and others celebrating the changes already achieved.

Yemen: Saleh seeks exile in reluctant Oman

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:16:33 +0530

Outgoing Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh is seeking exile in neighbouring Oman but the sultanate is reluctant to host him for fear of harming relations with Yemen, diplomats said on Tuesday.

Tibetan govt-in-exile condemns China police fire

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:55:24 +0530

The Tibetan government-in-exile on Tuesday condemned the incident in which a Tibetan was allegedly killed and several others injured in clashes with police in China's southwest Sichuan province.

Assange to interview leaders on new TV series

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:42:32 +0530

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has announced that he will soon host a television series comprising interviews with 'key political players, thinkers and revolutionaries' from around the world.

Twin car bombs kill 11 in Baghdad

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:44:37 +0530

Two separate car bombs exploded in a Shiite district in eastern Baghdad on Tuesday, police officials said, killing 11 people as violence surges in Iraq amid an escalating political crisis a month after the US military withdrawal.

Oil prices up on EU deal to ban Iran crude

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:28:08 +0530

Oil prices rose after the European Union agreed to ban imports of Iranian crude from July, Tehran threatened again to close the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel, and on additional support from the weak dollar.

US defends Jay Leno's right to free speech

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:24:10 +0530

Amid controversy over popular TV host Jay Leno's remarks on the Golden Temple, the US has defended his right to free speech terming his comments as "satirical" while applauding contributions of Sikh-Americans.

US asks Iran to cooperate with IAEA

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:40:55 +0530

The US has asked Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency when their inspectors visit the country, even as Tehran threatened to close down the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for oil sanctions.

Iran slams European Union oil embargo

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:26:39 +0530

The EU measures include an immediate ban on all new contracts to import, purchase or transport Iranian crude and petroleum products.

Russia Syria jet deal reports concerning: US

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:19:02 +0530

The US has expressed concern over reports that Syria has inked a $ 550 million contract to purchase advanced training fighter jets from Russia.

Iran slams EU oil embargo, warns could hit US

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:01:12 +0530

Iran accused Europeans on Monday of waging "psychological warfare" after the EU banned imports of Iranian oil, and US President Barack Obama said Washington would impose more sanctions to address the "serious threat presented by Iran's nuclear program."

Italy ship disaster: 2 more bodies found

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:06:09 +0530

Nudged gently by the tides off Tuscany, the capsized Costa Concordia has been deemed stable enough on its rocky perch for salvagers to begin pumping fuel oil from its giant tanks as early as on Tuesday.

World needs 600 mn new jobs in next decade: ILO

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:53:45 +0530

The International Labour Organization sounded the alarm on the global jobs situation in its annual report on Monday and called for more coordination of fiscal policies, repair and regulation of the financial sector and support for the real economy.

Italy boat tragedy: two more bodies found

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:12:59 +0530

Nudged gently by the tides off Tuscany, the capsized Costa Concordia has been deemed stable enough on its rocky perch for salvagers to begin pumping fuel oil from its giant tanks as early as Tuesday.

Egyptian Parliament holds first session

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:09:49 +0530

The Islamists dominated new Egyptian Parliament on Monday held its first session after the landmark polls since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak with a candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood tipped to become its first speaker.

EU imposes embargo on Iranian oil

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:34:54 +0530

European Union ambassadors agreed on Monday to impose an embargo on Iranian oil imports, but decided to delay the full implementation of the ban until July 1, an EU diplomat said.

Syria rejects Arab call for Assad to quit

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:01:58 +0530

Syria rejected on Monday a request by Arab League foreign ministers that President Bashar al Assad hand over power to a deputy and set up a new unity government, saying the plan was part of a "conspiracy against Syria".

Russia hands over Nerpa nuclear sub to India

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:54:54 +0530

Russia's K-152 Nerpa nuclear-powered attack submarine has been handed over to the Indian Navy, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Monday.

US talks to Afghan ex-PM's insurgent group

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:17:24 +0530

Anxious to accelerate peace moves, top-level US officials have held talks with a representative of an insurgent movement led by a former Afghan prime minister who has been branded a terrorist by Washington, a relative of the rebel leader says.

Romney to release taxes, Gingrich ready for Obama

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:28 +0530

Newt Gingrich worked to capitalise on Sunday on his upset victory in South Carolina's Republican presidential primary, while Mitt Romney moved quickly to cut his losses before the next contest with a promise to release his income tax returns within 48 hours.

India objects to Jay Leno remark on Golden Temple

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:23:39 +0530

India has strongly "objected" to the remark on the Golden Temple by popular US television host Jay Leno, terming it "quite unfortunate".

Yemen's Saleh leaves for US, opponents protest

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:17:26 +0530

Outgoing president Ali Abdullah Saleh apologized for "any shortcoming" in his 33-year rule before leaving Yemen for the United States on Sunday, paving the way for a transfer of power after a year of unrest.

Arab League extends Syria mission by 1 month

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:08:35 +0530

A clash between Syrian forces and army defectors today erupted in a suburb of the tightly held capital of Damascus, adding urgency just as the Arab League was extending an observers' mission that so far has failed to end long months of bloody violence.

SL frees 73 rehabilitated ex-LTTE members

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:27:42 +0530

Sri Lankan authorities released a batch of 73 rehabilitated ex-members of the rebel outfit LTTE in the eastern district of Batticaloa on Sunday.

China Docs rush to save girl only to find it a dog

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:25:01 +0530

Doctors who rushed to attend an emergency call to save a "girl" in Beijing were in for a shock when the patient turned out to be a female pet dog suffering from cardiac complications.

Nigeria attacks: Indian among 162 killed

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:15:22 +0530

An Indian was killed in a terror attack in the Nigerian city of Kano that left about 162 people dead, said authorities. Another six Indians, including two children, were injured in the attack.

Indian killed in Nigeria terror attack

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:47:26 +0530

Nigeria has imposed a 24-hour curfew and sealed its borders with neighbouring Cameroon and Niger.

US: Newt Gingrich wins South Carolina primary

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:42:58 +0530

Newt Gingrich jolted the Republican presidential race on Saturday with a resounding victory in South Carolina, where voters rejected frontrunner Mitt Romney's pitch that he is the best bet to fix a broken economy and defeat President Barack Obama.

Tributes paid to Anuj Bidve at UK university

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:22:13 +0530

Tributes were paid to the memory of Indian student Anuj Bidve at Lancaster University, where he was enrolled for a post-graduate qualification before being killed in an unprovoked attack in Salford on December 26.

Search resumes on doomed Italian cruise ship

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:10:50 +0530

Divers resumed their search for survivors from the Italian cruise ship on Saturday.

Police info about threat not true: Salman Rushdie

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:23:17 +0530

An 'angry' Salman Rushdie claims he has found out that the intelligence provided to him by Rajasthan police about threat to his life if he attended the Jaipur Literature Festival was concocted to prevent him from going to India.

Yemen parliament passes law granting Saleh immunity

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 02:32:53 +0530

Yemen's parliament approved a law on Saturday granting outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh immunity from prosecution over the killing of protesters, in a bid to push ahead with a plan to ease him out of power and end nearly a year of unrest.

Pak govt trying to prevent my testimony: Ijaz

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:52:44 +0530

US-based businessman Mansoor Ijaz, the man who could severely embarrass the Pakistani government in the memo scandal, is now claiming the government is doing its best to prevent him from testifying before the Supreme Court, in front of which is scheduled to make an appearance.

Obama to 'lay out' blueprint for an American economy

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:50:30 +0530

US President Barack Obama on Saturday asked his supporters to watch his State of the Union Address which he said would lay the blue print of rebuilding the country's economy. "I'm going to lay out a blueprint for an American economy that's built to last," Obama said in a video email message sent to his supporters by the Obama for America.

Egypt polls: Islamists notch around 2/3rd seats

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:26:48 +0530

Egyptian Islamist parties have swept the parliamentary polls with a Muslim Brotherhood linked political group alone notching 235 seats in the 498 member House, the first polls since the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak, nearly a year ago.

US Embassy to streamline visa process

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:11:20 +0530

President Obama has announced that he is willing to relax visa regulations for tourists in order to boost the US economy. He also identified India, Brazil and China as the countries, whose travellers will be granted this leeway. Obama declared the new initiative when he was campaigning in Florida, a state heavily reliant on tourism.

'Taliban may go for secret deal with US'

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:47:58 +0530

Afghan officials are concerned that the Taliban may make a possible "secret deal" with the US as they expressed worries on not being kept in the loop fully about the direction of the peace talks, including whether Pakistan will be involved in the negotiations.

Malawi: Women protest attacks over skirts, pants

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:17:44 +0530

It's been 18 years since the late dictator Hastings Kamuzu Banda's "indecency in dress" laws were repealed in Malawi, but mobs of men and boys in the largely conservative southern African country have recently been publicly stripping women of their miniskirts and pants.

Anand Jon appears in NY court over sexual assault

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 10:16:55 +0530

Celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon appeared in a New York court for a pre-trial hearing. The Indian-born designer is accused of sex crimes against 12 women and girls.

Italy ship tragedy: Indian crew still missing

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:32:06 +0530

A week after the Costa Concordia struck rock, Italy has declared a formal emergency for the island to helping with the rescue operations.

US: Barack Obama croons 'Let's stay together'

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:16:03 +0530

US President Barack Obama sang the Al Green number during one of his re-election campaigns.

US mulls closing Syria embassy as security worsens

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:03:22 +0530

The United States warned on Friday that it may soon close its embassy in Syria due to the worsening security situation, a move that could exacerbate tensions between Washington and Damascus over its bloody crackdown on protests.

UK team to visit India to assure student safety

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:54:50 +0530

A high-level British delegation will visit India in the next couple of months to assure parents of Indian students planning to study in the UK that the killing of Anuj Bidve in Manchester is a one-off incident.

Murdoch wracked by 13 probes into phone-hacking

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:47:41 +0530

At least 13 inquiries and legal cases are being conducted into questions raised by the unethical practice of phone-hacking at the now defunct News of the World, with media baron Rupert Murdoch's empire in the UK coming under unprecedented scrutiny.

Obama counts Manmohan, Merkel as his friends

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:48:20 +0530

Countering allegations that he is 'aloof', US President Barack Obama counted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel among leaders with whom he has forged 'friendships and bonds of trust'.

Bangladesh coup: Two ex-Army officers arrested

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:36:35 +0530

The Bangladesh Army has arrested two ex-officers and a court of inquiry has been ordered against them over an alleged coup plot. There are serving and ex-officers who are behind the plot. Two top ranking officers also faced interrogation.

2011 was ninth-warmest year since 1880: NASA

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:33:22 +0530

The global average temperature in 2011 was the ninth-warmest in the modern meteorological record, continuing a trend linked to greenhouse gases that saw nine of the 10 hottest years occurring since the year 2000, NASA scientists said on Thursday.

Russia slams hacker's extradition to US

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:10:11 +0530

Moscow has accused Washington of unlawfully extraditing a Russian national from Switzerland, the Russian foreign ministry spokesman said.

Woman with Italian ship captain defends his effort

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:48:50 +0530

A young Moldovan woman, who says she was called to the bridge of the stricken Costa Concordia to help evacuate Russian passengers, defended the embattled captain on Thursday, saying he worked tirelessly and "saved over 3,000 lives."

Interpol wanted list grew 50 per cent in 2011

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:59:20 +0530

Interpol's wanted list increased by 50 per cent in 2011, to 75,000 names from 50,000 in 2010, Interpol chief Ronald Noble said.

Magnitude 5.6 earthquake jolts Iran, 36 injured

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:21:49 +0530

At least 36 people were injured in a magnitude-5.6 earthquake that struck Iran on Thursday, an official said.

UK: 20 mn pounds aid for Nepal's peace process

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:58:12 +0530

The UK on Thursday pledged full support to Nepal's peace process and offered an aid of 20 million pounds to conclude the reconciliation efforts in the country.

Pakistan scandal's latest twist: naked wrestling

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:19:11 +0530

A scandal over a secret memo to Washington that could bring down the Pakistani president took a strange turn Wednesday when a music video surfaced featuring the chief accuser acting as a commentator for a naked female wrestling bout.

Phone hacking: Murdoch pays out millions of pounds

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:04:38 +0530

Media baron Rupert Murdoch's group on Thursday agreed to a multi-million pounds out-of-court-settlement with 19 high-profile victims who had filed cases when they realised their phones had been hacked by the now defunct News of the World.

Bangladesh Army foils attempt to topple govt

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:31:00 +0530

The Bangladesh army has foiled a coup attempt against the Sheikh Hasina government in the neighbouring country. According to the Bangladesh army, certain officers with 'extreme religious views' were behind the bid.

Topless Ukraine activists protest at Indian embassy

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:24:16 +0530

Four activists belonging to a women's group in Ukraine went topless at the Indian embassy in Kiev to protest New Delhi's alleged plan to block Ukrainian, Russian and Kazakh women from entering India as part of a national anti-prostitution campaign.

US: Indo-origin candidate faces racist attack

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:47:15 +0530

Raja Krishamoorthi, a Democratic Congressional candidate of Indian-origin for Illinois' newly created district, has come under apparent racist attacks from Tea Party bloggers for protesting against an event organized by them.

Nigeria: Bomber flees, President grills top cop

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:11:08 +0530

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday questioned Nigerian police chief over the embarrassing escape of a suspected bomber behind the Christmas day attack just hours after police announced that they had arrested him.

Rushdie silent, no hint about his India visit

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:15:58 +0530

Even as uncertainty looms over Salman Rushdie's appearance at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the India-born author himself is not giving any hints about his plans to visit India and has maintained a stoic silence on Twitter where he has been a regular commentator.

Lithuanian man charged with Birmingham murders

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:44:37 +0530

A 37-year-old Lithuanian national, who was arrested on Monday, has been charged with the murders of Indian-origin Avtar Singh Kolar and and his wife Carole Kolar in Birmingham last week.

Divers suspend search of capsized Italy liner

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:49:31 +0530

Divers searching the capsized Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia suspended work on Wednesday after the vast wreck shifted by more than a metre, delaying plans to remove the oil from the liner to prevent a possible environmental disaster.

Can work with India on missile shield, says US

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:11:38 +0530

Weeks after offering to sell its F-35 fifth generation fighter jets, the US on Wednesday said it was open to work with India on joint development of a ballistic missile shield.

SM Krishna flies to Jaffna to meet Lankan Tamils

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:04:16 +0530

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday flew from by chopper to Kilinochchi on way to Jaffna in the northern province of Sri Lanka to meet ethnic Tamils.

US: White House locked down for smoke bomb

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:14:35 +0530

The White House was locked down for more than an hour on Tuesday night as authorities investigated what appeared to be a smoke bomb tossed over the fence of the executive compound, a Secret Service spokesman said.

US: Smoke bomb tossed over White House fence

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:02:12 +0530

A US Secret Service spokesman on Wednesday said that the White House was locked down after a smoke bomb was thrown over its fence as hundreds of Occupy protesters massed outside the gates.

Coast Guard to Italian captain: Go back aboard!

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:09:07 +0530

"You go on board! Is that clear? Do you hear me?" the Coast Guard officer shouted as the captain of the grounded Costa Concordia sat safe in a life raft and frantic passengers struggled to escape after the ship rammed into a reef off the Tuscan coast.

Pak, Afghan to double bilateral trade to $5 bn

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:17:37 +0530

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to increase bilateral trade volume to $5 billion by 2015 from the present near $2.5 billion, said officials.

Syria ready to let Arab monitors stay

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:27:03 +0530

Syria is ready to let Arab monitors extend their mission beyond this week, an Arab source said on Tuesday, but a rebel army chief said they should go as they had failed to curb a crackdown on protesters seeking President Bashar al-Assad's overthrow.

'Support those in Pak who are willing to fight terrorism'

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:00:41 +0530

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Baroness Catherine Ashton said it's important to support those in Pakistan who are clear in their intention to deal with terrorism.

China: Woman wanted a girl, cuts son's penis

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:51:03 +0530

A young mother in eastern China has cut her son's penis because she wanted a girl, a media report said on Tuesday.

US: Indian-origin woman delivers baby on train

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:10:14 +0530

A New Jersey woman got the morning commute of her life when she gave birth to her first child on a Path commuter train to New York.

Romney opposes peace talks with Taliban

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:47:33 +0530

Identifying Taliban as America's enemy, leading Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has strongly opposed Obama Administration's decision to hold peace talks with the militant outfit which ruled Afghanistan before 9/11.

China GDP growth at 2.5-year low

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:22:22 +0530

China's economy grew at its weakest pace in 2.5 years in the latest quarter and it appeared headed for an even sharper slowdown in the coming months as export demand fades and the housing market falters.

Obama, Romney race could be very close: polls

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:36:19 +0530

A presidential race between incumbent Barack Obama and leading Republican candidate Mitt Romney would end up in a very tight finish, two different polls have said.

Parties pick 1st Islamist Egypt parl speaker

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:25:36 +0530

Top parties in Egypt's incoming Parliament have agreed to select an Islamist politician as house speaker for the first time in decades, party leaders said on Monday. The Muslim Brotherhood, the big winner in the first election since the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak last February, said it joined several other parties in backing Saad el-Katatni, the secretary-general of the Brotherhood's own party.

Europe in a very grave situation: Draghi

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:39:48 +0530

Europe is an a "very grave" economic situation, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said on Monday, but he added that euro zone governments are progressing well with efforts to put their finances in order.

Rivals assail Romney in South Carolina debate

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:28:42 +0530

Under heavy debate pressure from his rivals, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney defended his record as a venture capitalist, insisted he bears no responsibility for attack ads aired by his allies and grudgingly said Monday night he might release his income tax returns this spring.

UK's Clegg says Israeli settlements 'vandalism'

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:57:20 +0530

Britain's deputy prime minister accused Israel today of carrying out "deliberate vandalism" by continuing to build settlements on land the Palestinians hope will form part of a future state.

Aus PM asked to condemn China for firing at Tibetans

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:22:45 +0530

The Australian government has been asked to step up its condemnation for China after the latter's security forces fired into a crowd of Tibetans during the weekend in a restive area of Sichuan Province.

One killed, 30 injured in gas leak in China

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:19:29 +0530

One person was killed and about 30 others injured after carbon monoxide gas leaked in a steel company in Harbin, capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

Palestinians not interested in talks: Israeli PM

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:57:04 +0530

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday charged that the Palestinians have no interest in restarting peace negotiations, suggesting that newly resumed contacts between the sides are producing little progress.

UK scientists find 'lost' Darwin fossils

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:51:05 +0530

British scientists have found scores of fossils the great evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin and his peers collected but that had been lost for more than 150 years.

Wikipedia to go dark to stop anti-piracy act

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:41:22 +0530

Wikipedia, the popular community-edited online encyclopedia, will black out its English-language site for 24 hours to seek support against proposed US anti-piracy legislation that Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales said threatens the future of the Internet.

Missing raised to 29 in Italian cruise disaster

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:19:25 +0530

Italy's cruise liner tragedy turned into an environmental crisis on Monday, as rough seas battering the stricken mega-ship raised fears that fuel might leak into pristine waters off Tuscany that are part of a protected sanctuary for dolphins, porpoises and whales.

Stricken Italian liner shifts, rescuers despair

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:30:46 +0530

A stricken Italian cruise liner shifted on its rocky resting place on Monday as worsening weather disrupted an increasingly despairing hunt for any survivors among some 16 people still missing.

Italian shipwreck: Captain says he's not at fault

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:48:53 +0530

More than 48 hours after the hull of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia was torn apart by rocks off the Tuscan coast, its captain, Francesco Schettino says he's not at fault.

Palestinian prez loses VIP status with Israel

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:24:04 +0530

Israel has stripped Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of VIP status and given him a watered-down travel permit that is valid for just two months, Palestinian officials charged on Sunday. The officials said that Abbas complained about the permit at an internal meeting of his Fatah Party last week.

Russia assails US over Guantanamo prison

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:19:24 +0530

Russian space probe crashes into Pacific

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:04:30 +0530

A Russian space probe designed to boost the nation's pride on a bold mission to a moon of Mars came down in flames today, showering fragments into the south Pacific west of Chile's coast, officials said.

Obamas celebrate King's b'day at prayer service

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:35:44 +0530

President Barack Obama and his family have celebrated Martin Luther King Jr's birthday at a morning worship service. Obama, his wife, Michelle, and daughters Sasha and Malia sat in the second row of Washington's historic Zion Baptist Church, as bright sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows.

Italian shipwreck: 201 Indians rescued, 1 missing

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:02:57 +0530

Two hundred and one Indians have been rescued from aboard the sinking ship Costa Concordia, that hit rocks off the coast of Italy on Friday night, said Sunil Aggarwal, First secretary, Indian Embassy, Rome. He added that one Indian was still missing.

Syrian president must stop violence: UN chief

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:45:00 +0530

The UN Secretary General on Sunday demanded that Syria's president stop killing his own people, and said the "old order" of one-man rule and family dynasties is over in the Middle East.

Funny 'Shit Girls Say' videos hit the bull's eye

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:45:18 +0530

A wacky idea combined with the power of social networking can do wonders. 'Shit Girls Say' is an awesome example of the same.

Miss Wisconsin is the new Miss America

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:40:27 +0530

The nation's newest Miss America is a 23-year-old Wisconsin brunette who had long conversations with her family mulling whether or not to make her father's jail time for mail fraud the heart of her campaign in the beauty pageant.

Philippines seeks ASEAN summit on disputed islands

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:01:20 +0530

The Philippines is urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to hold a summit of China and five other Asian claimants to disputed South China Sea territories.

Obama's daughters find him embarrassing

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:35:16 +0530

Though her father may be the US president, Malia Obama finds her father Barack very embarrassing, her mother Michelle has said.

Italy: 3 dead as a luxury cruise ship sinks

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 09:03:48 +0530

Italian cruise ship with more than 4,000 on board capsized off Italy's west coast.

Italy: 3 dead, 40 missing in ship disaster

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:26:34 +0530

About 40 people were still missing Sunday more than 24 hours after an Italian cruise ship with more than 4,000 on board capsized off Italy's west coast, killing at least three people and injuring 70.

Iran sends rare letter to US over scientist

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:58:37 +0530

Iran said on Saturday it had evidence Washington was behind the latest killing of one of its nuclear scientists, state television reported, at a time when tensions over the country's nuclear program have escalated to their highest level ever.

Kolar murder case: One held for questioning

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:24:15 +0530

A man has been arrested in connection with the twin murder of Indian-origin Avtar Singh Kolar and his English wife in Birmingham. The confirmation about the arrest was made by the West Midlands police.

It is time to focus on insourcing: Obama

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:07:22 +0530

US President Barack Obama on Saturday said that it was time to focus on "insourcing" and not on outsourcing, which takes jobs outside the country.

Thieves dig tunnel to ATM with limited funds

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:14:20 +0530

In a Hollywood-style heist, a group of thieves prepared for months and dig a 100-feet tunnel to reach an ATM only to get away with 6,000 pounds due to limited funds in the machine.

Pentagon says Iran provoked US warships

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:32:38 +0530

As tensions mounted in the Persian Gulf, Iranian Navy high-speed boats taunted two US vessels earlier this month in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran Navy harassed US ships in the Gulf, says US

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:59:18 +0530

Tensions rising by the day, the Obama administration said on Friday it is warning Iran through public and private channels against any action that threatens the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf. The Navy revealed that two US ships in and near the Gulf were harassed by Iranian speedboats last week.

Venezuela will close consulate in Miami: Chavez

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:24:14 +0530

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez today said his government will close its consulate in Miami after the US government expelled a diplomat. Chavez said his government has decided the consulate will shut its doors in what he called an "administrative closing" in response to the consul's expulsion by the US State Department.

S&P downgrades nine euro zone countries

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:45:40 +0530

Standard & Poor's downgraded the credit ratings of nine euro zone countries, stripping France and Austria of their coveted triple-A status but not EU paymaster Germany, in a Black Friday the 13th for the troubled single currency area.

US headed in right direction in Afghan: Panetta

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:18:46 +0530

US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta believes the US is headed in the right direction in Afghanistan where 2011 was a "pivotal" year that witnessed weakening of the Taliban.

UN chief condemns killing of Iran nuke scientist

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:02:48 +0530

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist, saying terrorist action against anyone is not acceptable.

Indian doc charged with sexually abusing patients

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:45:55 +0530

An Indian pediatrician in New York has been charged with sexually exploiting some of his young female patients and secretly videotaping and photographing them in his clinic.

Marines urinating on dead Taliban identified

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:42:48 +0530

Two of the soldiers appearing in a shocking video showing marines urinating on corpses of the Taliban militants have been identified, even as top US officials strongly deplored the incident.

India should implement nuclear deal: US

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:04:18 +0530

A senior Obama administration official has said that India should ensure the full implementation of the India-US civil nuclear deal and that New Delhi is aware about this but has not done it yet.

US Embassy warns of terror threat in Bangkok

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:23:12 +0530

The US Embassy in Thailand has sent an "emergency message" to American citizens warning of a possible terrorist attack in Bangkok. The message says that "foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future."

Sikh man wins turban case against France in UN

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:13:34 +0530

The UN's rights body has concluded that France had violated the religious freedom of a 76-year-old Sikh man when he was asked to remove his turban for his ID photograph, a US-based Sikh group has said.

US biz panel wants more India-US deals

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:16:50 +0530

The US needs to negotiate more bilateral investment treaties with India and China if it wants to be competitive in the global market, the US Chamber of Commerce has said.

Nehru jacket among top political fashion

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:43:07 +0530

The stylish 'Nehru jacket' popularised by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's has been listed among the top global political fashion statements.

Romney not a job-killer: Republicans

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:34:18 +0530

An array of Republicans and conservatives - including some of Mitt Romney's sharpest critics - rushed to the GOP presidential front-runner's defence on Thursday to counter efforts to paint the former venture capitalist as a job-killer. Under fire, Romney rival Newt Gingrich tempered his attacks on Romney's tenure at the helm of Bain Capital, but Rick Perry defended his approach.

US hits Chinese, other firms over Iran business

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:27:07 +0530

US has unilaterally imposed sanctions on three foreign firms, including one from China, for selling refined oil products to Iran as part of the American effort to tighten the economic sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme.

Simple measures can reduce global warming: NASA

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:35:17 +0530

Simple and inexpensive ways to cut back on two major pollutants - soot and methane - could slow climate change for years to come and significantly reduce premature deaths, particularly in South Asian countries like India, Nepal and Bangladesh, according to a latest NASA study.

N Korea: Kim Jong-il to be immortalised

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:27:34 +0530

The body of North Korea's late leader Kim Jong-il, who died in December, will be on permanent display in a Pyongyang mausoleum alongside his father. The 69-year-old leader is the second North Korean leader whose embalmed body will be on public display.

UK double murder: no headway in probe

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:27:15 +0530

There has been no headway yet in the probe into the murder of Indian origin man Avtar Singh Kolar in the UK. The 62-year old and his English wife Carole were found killed in Birmingham on Wednesday. 60 detectives are involved in the investigation.

Obama seeks $1.2 trillion debt limit rise

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:58:20 +0530

President Barack Obama formally notified Congress on Thursday that he plans a $1.2 trillion increase in the US debt limit, prompting Republicans to level election-year charges that deficits are out of control.

Obama, party allies raise $68 mn for re-election

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:52:02 +0530

US President Barack Obama's re-election campaign and its Democratic allies raised more than $68 million in the last three months of 2011, dwarfing Republican rivals as the White House race approaches.

Sophy: the dog who helps people cross the road in NY

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:03:08 +0530

Sophy, the dog, serves as a crossing guard and even sports her own tiny 'stop' sign.

US assures full probe into Afghan video

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:58:03 +0530

Pentagon leaders scrambled on Thursday to contain damage from an Internet video purporting to show four Marines urinating on Taliban corpses - an act that appears to violate international laws of warfare and further strains US-Afghan relations.

Reduce dependence on Iranian oil: US to India

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:33:01 +0530

The Obama administration is in talks with India to reduce New Delhi's dependence on Iranian oil, as the US is leading an international effort of imposing tough sanctions on Tehran.

British PM refuses to apologise for BBC show

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:28:16 +0530

A diplomatic row has been brewing over BBC's auto show 'Top Gear'. British Prime Minister David Cameron has refused to apologise for a special episode, which portrays India in a poor light, saying it's a matter for the BBC to handle.

Two Indians sued in US for illegal trading

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:24:42 +0530

Two Indian nationals have been sued in the US for allegedly engaging in an illegal trading scheme to earn more than $118,000 in profits.

'Two Marines in Afghan corpse video identified'

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:45:03 +0530

Two of the four Marines seen in a video appearing to urinate on the bodies of dead Taliban have been identified, a Marine Corps official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Hillary Clinton condemns Afghan corpse video

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:21:24 +0530

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday condemned a video that apparently shows US Marines urinating on the corpses of Afghan men, footage that the Pentagon acknowledged did not appear to be fake.

IMF sending mission to Egypt for possible aid

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:05:40 +0530

The International Monetary Fund confirmed on Thursday it was sending a mission to Egypt to discuss possible financial aid to the country, even as analysts cautioned that the potential lifeline may not be enough to stem serious economic worries that materialised following former President Hosni Mubarak's ouster.

UK: Indian-origin man held for colleague's death

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:41:29 +0530

Devinder Sivia, an NRI Mathematics lecturer at the University of Oxford, was arrested on Thursday night for the death of fellow academic Prof Steve Rawlings, an astrophysicist, in a case that has shocked the academic community in the ancient seat of learning.

UN visit to Tehran set for January 28

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:37:21 +0530

A senior UN nuclear agency team will visit Tehran on January 28 with Iran saying it is ready after years of refusal to discuss allegations that it was involved in secret nuclear weapons work, diplomats said Thursday.

Iran embargo gathers support in Asia, Europe

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:06:07 +0530

US allies in Asia and Europe voiced support on Thursday for Washington's drive to cut Iran's oil exports, though fear of self-inflicted economic pain is curbing enthusiasm for an embargo that a defiant Iran says will not halt its nuclear programme.

Iran asks UN to condemn nuclear scientist killing

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:16:42 +0530

The Iranian government has called on the United Nations to condemn the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist, calling it a "terrorist attack," and blaming foreign powers.

US wants 'strong' ties with Pakistan military

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:03:17 +0530

Amid the stand off between the army and the civilian leadership in Pakistan, the US on Thursday said that was for political leaders and the military to sort out their differences.

Apologise for offensive show, India tells BBC

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:13:57 +0530

India has demanded an apology from the BBC over its presenter Jeremy Clarkson mocking Indian culture during a Christmas special programme while driving around the county, calling it a "breach" of agreement.

Dempsey calls Kayani to discuss military ties

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:39:48 +0530

General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called Pakistani Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani to discuss with him military-to-military ties between the two countries, his spokesman has said.

US forces urinate on Taliban corpses, probe on

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:05:59 +0530

The US Marine Corps said on Wednesday that it would investigate a video showing what appear to be American forces in Afghanistan urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters.

Indian appointed adviser to Harvard President

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:01:41 +0530

Indian academician Krishna Palepu has been appointed as senior adviser to President of Harvard University to help guide the prestigious institution's international strategy.

Coup fear: US monitoring situation in Pak

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:47:27 +0530

The United States has said it is monitoring the situation in Pakistan and reiterated its commitment to a civilian-led democracy there. The strong statement in support of the civilian government gains significance in the wake of the increased tension between the government led by the President, Asif Ali Zardari, and the Pakistani military led by its Army Chief, Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

No assurances against military coup in Pak: US

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:24:01 +0530

Amid growing tension between the civilian and military leadership in Pakistan, the US has said it had not sought or received any assurances from the Pakistani Army that it would not stage a coup.

US wants to pursue strong relationship with India

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:13:57 +0530

US hopes to sustain a strong relationship with the Indian military, a top Pentagon official has said. 'We have and certainly hope to continue a very strong relationship with the Indian military,' Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt John Kirby told reporters at a news conference.

Indian origin man, wife killed in UK

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:22:32 +0530

An Indian origin man and his English wife have been murdered in Birmingham, weeks after an Indian student was killed in an apparent hate crime in Manchester.

Magnitude 5.2 earthquake hits northern Iran

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:38:10 +0530

Iran says a moderate earthquake has rattled a town in north Iran on the Caspian Sea.

US denies any role in killing Iranian scientist

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:54:07 +0530

The United States categorically denied any role in the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist on Wednesday and called Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz "dangerous and provocative."

Bomb kills Iran nuclear scientist as crisis mounts

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:38:23 +0530

An Iranian nuclear scientist was blown up in his car by a motorbike hitman on Wednesday, prompting Tehran to blame Israeli and US agents but insist the killing would not derail a nuclear programme that has raised fears of war and threatened world oil supplies.

India backs dialogue between Israel, Palestinians

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:42:31 +0530

Pitching for continuation of dialogue between Israel and Palestinians, India on Wednesday reaffirmed its strong commitment to the Palestine cause and hoped that recent parleys held between the two sides will help find a permanent solution.

Indian-origin man, wife killed in UK

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:57:28 +0530

An Indian-origin man and his English wife have been murdered in Birmingham, the British police said on Wednesday, weeks after an Indian student was killed in an apparent hate crime in Manchester.

Lanka blames LTTE's of influencing foreign govts

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:38:32 +0530

Sri Lanka has accused the LTTE's international fronts of influencing foreign governments, including India, to support their separatist cause. Addressing a public lecture in Colombo on Tuesday titled 'Future Challenges to National Security in Sri Lanka', Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, claimed these elements have won over a number of politicians overseas.

Bomb kills Iran nuclear scientist

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:49:23 +0530

An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed by a bomb placed on his car on Wednesday in an attack Tehran's deputy governor blamed on Israel, raising the diplomatic temperature in a stand-off with the West over Iran's nuclear programme.

Indian bureaucracy rated worst in Asia

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:05:03 +0530

Indian bureaucracy is the worst in Asia with a 9.21 rating out of 10, according to a report by a prestigious consulting firm based in Singapore. India fared worst than Vietnam (rated at 8.54), Indonesia (8.37), Philippines (7.57) and China (7.11), said the report released on Wednesday by Hong Kong-based Political & Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd.

Military expenses in S Asia increased by 50 pc

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:11:23 +0530

In 10 years from 1995 to 2005, the military expenditure in South Asia increased by 50 per cent, and one in every 10 military personnel in the world are in this part of the globe, a US report has said.

US: Indian cab driver arrested on rape charges

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:00:26 +0530

An Indian cab driver in New York has been arrested on charges that he raped and robbed a 26-year-old passenger in his taxi last year.

Indonesia lifts tsunami warning after quake

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:50:01 +0530

Indonesia lifted a tsunami warning on Wednesday after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off northern Sumatra, calming local residents who had earlier fled their houses to higher ground.

US: Mitt Romney wins New Hampshire primary

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:44:56 +0530

Mitt Romney cruised to a solid victory in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday night, picking up steam from his first-place finish in the lead-off Iowa caucuses and firmly establishing himself as the man to beat for the Republican presidential nomination.

UK: Missing Indian-origin student found dead

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:46:48 +0530

The body of 20-year-old Indian-origin student Gurdeep Hayer has been found in Manchester city centre, eight days after he went missing.

Hillary slams Iran nuclear move, urges serious talks

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:34:59 +0530

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday Iran's decision to enrich uranium near the city of Qom was "especially troubling" and urged Tehran to return to serious talks with Western powers over its atomic program.

China, US pledge to advance economic recovery

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:39:22 +0530

China and the US on Tuesday pledged to enhance their cooperation to advance the global economic recovery. The global economic recovery must remain the priority for all nations as the world economic situation is still "very complex and grim", Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan said.

US probes alleged hacking by Indian Govt spy unit

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:24:56 +0530

The US authorities are investigating allegations that an Indian government spy unit hacked into emails of an official US commission that monitors economic and security relations between the United States and China, including cyber-security issues.

Russia concerned about Iran's uranium enrichment

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:48:58 +0530

Russia expressed regret and concern on Tuesday about Iran's launch of an underground uranium enrichment facility, but urged all parties involved in the nuclear standoff with Tehran to avoid hasty moves.

Syria: Assad vows to crush 'conspiracy'

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:58:07 +0530

By turns defiant and threatening, President Bashar Assad vowed on Tuesday to use an "iron hand" to crush what he called the terrorists and saboteurs behind Syria's 10-month-old uprising in which thousands of people have been killed.

7.3 quake jolts Indonesia; tsunami warning issued

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:32:22 +0530

Indonesia issued a tsunami warning on Wednesday after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off northern Sumatra, panicking local residents who fled their houses.

India won't come in way of Israel-Pak ties: Krishna

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:47:20 +0530

India on Tuesday said it was up to Israel and Pakistan to decide the kind of ties they want to have after former Pakistani military ruler Pervez Musharraf suggested establishing diplomatic ties with the Jewish nation to counter its "pro-India" policy.

Missing Indian student found dead in UK

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:24:12 +0530

The body of 20-year-old Indian-origin student Gurdeep Hayer has been found in Manchester city centre.

India, Israel vow to 'checkmate' terror

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:10:04 +0530

India and Israel on Tuesday vowed to upgrade their relations in all fields amid the emphasis by External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on working out a joint strategy to "checkmate" the scourge of terrorism affecting both the countries.

Missing Indian-origin student found dead in UK

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:49:27 +0530

The body of 20-year-old Indian-origin student Gurdeep Hayer has been found in Manchester city centre, eight days after he went missing.

UK foreign students accused of shop-lifting

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:32:46 +0530

A plan to restrict the entry of foreign students into shops to combat rampant shop-lifting and theft in Britain's south-western coastal city of Plymouth has sparked an outrage, with residents and immigrants branding it as "racist".

Kate Middleton right on the top of style trends

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:05:39 +0530

The Duchess of Cambridge has been crowned the beauty icon of 2011. She beat her own fashion icon Angelina Jolie, who is at number 18, to snag the top spot.

Darwin's 'extinct' tortoise might be alive?

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:57:44 +0530

Scientists claim that a species of giant tortoise which influenced Charles Darwin's ideas about evolution and has been feared extinct for 150 years may still be alive in the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

US probes alleged hacking by Indian govt spy unit

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:27:45 +0530

US authorities are investigating allegations that an Indian government spy unit hacked into the emails of an official US commission that monitors economic and security relations between the United States and China, including cyber-security issues.

Krishna visits Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:41:39 +0530

Agreeing to set the agenda for the next decade, India and Israel on Monday came together to raise a toast to each other with Israeli President Shimon Peres saying that India is the greatest democracy on earth and that Tel Aviv was following New Delhi with "great care and interest".

Bidve murder: Indians vulnerable to attacks abroad?

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:00:29 +0530

Indian Student Anuj Bidve's murder in Manchester has brought the focus back on racially motivated crimes in the UK.

Iran imposes death sentence on US man for spying

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:57:50 +0530

A former US Marine interpreter arrested while on a trip to visit his Iranian grandmothers has been sentenced to death as a CIA spy, state radio reported on Monday, in a case likely to become a new flashpoint in the escalating tensions between Tehran's defiance over its nuclear program and Washington's efforts to impose more crippling sanctions.

Iran's leader visits Venezuela amid tensions

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:48:53 +0530

President Hugo Chavez defended his close ally Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday as tensions rose with the US over Tehran's nuclear program and a death sentence against an American man convicted of working for the CIA.

Iran sentences ex-Marine to death in CIA case

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:02:16 +0530

Working to improve ties with Pakistan: US

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:26:44 +0530

The Obama Administration is working to improve its relationship with Pakistan as this is in the interest of the US, top officials said on Monday.

Bombs hit Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq, kill 15

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:23:59 +0530

Two bombs exploded near Shi'ite pilgrims travelling through Iraq's capital on Monday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 52 others, police and hospital sources said.

China launches remote-sensing satellite

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:39:28 +0530

China on Monday launched a high-resolution remote-sensing satellite for civilian use from its Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi province.

India and Israel come together in Jerusalem

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:51:18 +0530

'Joint rise of India, China irreversible'

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:06:34 +0530

Notwithstanding border dispute and visa row, India and China on Monday projected a positive outlook of their relations, with China saying that the rise of the two countries together was "irreversible" which no force can stop even as some countries are trying to "drive a wedge".

China set for 'sweeping' leadership changes

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:23:51 +0530

China is set for "sweeping" leadership changes next year as President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao were due to retire, an official media report said without confirming the widely held view that Vice President Xi Jinping would succeed Hu.

Aus deports Pak student on security grounds

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:49:29 +0530

A Melbourne-based Pakistani student was on Monday deported on security grounds after being questioned by Australian security intelligence officials over his suspect phone calls to Pakistan.

Malaysia: Anwar Ibrahim freed of sodomy charge

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:42:10 +0530

Malaysia's High Court acquitted opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising a former aide, citing unreliable DNA evidence in a verdict on Monday that surprised supporters who saw the case as an attempt to sideline him.

Asia-Pacific region priority No 1, says Obama

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:35:12 +0530

The United States is boosting its military presence in the Asia Pacific region as it looks to counter China's rising power. President Barack Obama made the announcement following a wide-ranging review into defence spending. China is now reacting to the newly implemented strategy.

Missing NRI: UK taxi driver holds vital clues

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:25:52 +0530

The Greater Manchester Police looking for a 20-year-old Indian-origin man, who has been missing since January 2, on Monday said that a taxi driver may hold vital information about him.

Kayani to appear before memogate panel

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:30:24 +0530

Pak memogate panel will hear General Kayani on Monday. At least 10 civilians and 11 soldiers killed in Syrian violence.

Snapped bungee plunges tourist into African river

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:15:27 +0530

An Australian tourist bungee jumping in Africa plunged 365 feet (111 meters) into a river when her cord snapped, but she managed to swim to safety with a broken collarbone and her legs tied together.

Qantas plane hits turbulence over India, 7 injured

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:49:20 +0530

In yet another mid air incident, seven passengers of a Sydney-bound Qantas airlines, from London, reportedly suffered injuries after it was hit by severe turbulence.

Stephen Hawking misses 70th birthday celebration

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:32:38 +0530

Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking was not well enough to attend a conference in honor of his 70th birthday, a University of Cambridge official said on Sunday.

Trinidad & Tobago offers to host PBD

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 09:31:04 +0530

Indian-origin Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Sunday expressed readiness to host the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in her country, saying it would help in sharing "new understandings" and developing appreciation for the diaspora.

Stephen Hawking to turn 70, defying disease

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:38:59 +0530

British scientist Stephen Hawking has decoded some of the most puzzling mysteries of the universe but he has left one mystery unsolved: How he has managed to survive so long with such a crippling disease.

Thousands hold prayers for Syria bombing dead

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:06:52 +0530

Thousands of regime backers massed at a mosque in the Syrian capital on Saturday for funeral prayers for policemen killed in a Damascus bombing, as the government vowed to respond with an "iron fist" to security threats.

Iran must prove nuclear drive peaceful: Ban

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:48:20 +0530

As tensions continue to simmer between Iran and the Western world, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has asked the parties to resolve their differences through peaceful means, but stressed that it is Tehran's responsibility to prove their nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.

Suicide bomb kills 26 in Syria

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:29:33 +0530

A suicide bomber killed 26 people and wounded 63 in Damascus, Syria's interior minister said, vowing an "iron fist" response to Friday's carnage in the heart of the capital after similar attacks two weeks ago.

3 trains collide in US, no casualties reported

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:39:36 +0530

In a freak accident in the US, three freight trains crashed in Northwest Indiana on Friday. One of them was ferrying highly flammable material. The accident occured when one of the trains rear-ended another that had stopped on the tracks for unknown reasons. The crash triggered an explosion. Firefighters struggled to control the blaze. No casualties were reported.

NASA questions Apollo 13 cmdr's right to sell list

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:51:51 +0530

NASA is questioning whether Apollo 13 commander James Lovell has the right to sell a 70-page checklist from the flight that includes his handwritten calculations crucial in guiding the damaged spacecraft back to Earth.

Suicide bomb kills 26 in Syria: interior minister

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:29:05 +0530

A suicide bomber killed 26 people and wounded 63 in Damascus on Friday, Syria's interior minister said, vowing an "iron fist" response to the carnage in the heart of the Syrian capital after similar attacks two weeks ago.

Indian among Pope's 'princes of the Church'

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:27:54 +0530

Pope Benedict, putting his stamp on the future of Roman Catholicism, named 22 new cardinals on Friday, the red-hatted "princes of the Church" who are his closest aides and will one day choose his successor.

Taliban chief Mullah Omar talking peace with US

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:20:08 +0530

The elusive Afghan Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, who had called on his warriors last November to continue the war against NATO-led forces in Afghanistan, has now confirmed having opened peace talks with the US authorities, Geo News reported.

Bidve's family visits the place he was killed

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:50:50 +0530

Demanding justice for his son Anuj Bidve, the family of the slain Indian student on Friday visited the spot where he was killed and thanked the British government for its support.

Iran to hold new naval drill near Hormuz

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:31:28 +0530

Iran is planning new military exercises near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to a naval commander, after threatening to close the strait and completing another set of maneuvers.

EU break-up would be catastrophic: Soros

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:42:18 +0530

A collapse of the euro and break-up of the European Union would have catastrophic consequences for the global financial system, billionaire investor George Soros was quoted as saying in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Panetta again counts India as a challenge for US

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:32:35 +0530

For the second time in less than two months, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said that the country is facing challenges from rising powers in Asia - China in particular and also includes India in 21st century.

Reveal benefits made by Rajat Gupta: US court

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:46:05 +0530

A US judge has asked prosecutors to provide specific financial benefits they allege former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta made by passing inside information to his friend Raj Rajaratnam amidst allegations that he also tipped him about Proctor and Gamble's 2008 sale of Folgers Coffee Co to JM Smucker.

US sets up new office for human rights, democracy

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:29:11 +0530

The US has established a new office to deal with issues like democracy and human rights in a bid to strengthen institutions that address present-day transnational threats.

Egypt: Prosecutor seeks death for Mubarak

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:45:27 +0530

Egyptian prosecutors have demanded the death sentence for former President Hosni Mubarak and other defendants including the former interior minister for their role in the killing of protesters in the uprising that swept him from power.

US to remain engaged globally: Pentagon

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:41:23 +0530

The United States would continue to remain engaged globally but would do this in a creative and different way, a top Pentagon official said on Thursday.

Five-member US delegation to visit India

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:45:52 +0530

A high-level Congressional delegation, led by Senator Mark Warner, will be visiting India on Saturday, during which it will discuss a range of bilateral issues, including business, trade and defence.

Chinese daily criticises India for trader reports

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:40:18 +0530

A pro-government Chinese daily has come down heavily against India over the recent incidents involving traders. 'The Global Times' claims that Indian diplomat S Balachandran who fainted in a Shanghai court on Saturday tried to "secretly" take away two detained Indian nationals under the pretence of going to the toilet.

Hindu, Muslim groups condemn New York attacks

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:05:01 +0530

Strongly condemning the recent attacks on an Islamic centre and a temple in New York, Hindu and Muslim groups have urged people of all faiths to come together and take it as an opportunity for generating better understanding.

Landslide kills 25 in Philippine mining area

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:46:49 +0530

A landslide buried shanty houses in a mining area on a southern Philippine island, killing at least 25 people and leaving dozens missing, local disaster and security officials said on Thursday.