US steps up support for Syrian opposition

Washington, May 9 (IANS) The US is taking additional measures to support moderate Syrian opposition, State Secretary John Kerry told a visiting opposition leader Thursday. The Obama administration is working with Congress to provide more than 27 million dollars in new non-lethal assistance for the Syrian opposition and stepping up deliveries of such aid to Free […]

US to help in rescuing abducted Nigerian girls

Washington, May 9 (IANS) The US government has said a specialist team is set to commence work in Nigeria to help find over 200 schoolgirls abducted by militants last month, BBC reported. The US team, working with the Nigerian government, would do everything possible to free the girls, US Secretary of State John Kerry added. As […]

Kim, Kanye yet to sign pre-nuptial agreement

Los Angeles, May 9 (IANS) Socialite Kim Kardashian and rapper Kanye West’s wedding planning is on in full swing, but the couple can’t get married yet as their pre-nuptial agreement is still to be signed. Source close to the duo have told tmz.com that the pre-nuptial agreement won’t be signed until next week. If sources are […]

Kosovo to hold early parliamentary polls

Pristina, May 9 (IANS) A day after the assembly’s dissolution, Kosovo leader Atifete Jahjaga Thursday set June 8 as the date to hold early parliamentary elections. “Based on consultations with political parties and with the head of Central Election Commission (CEC) and in accordance with my constitutional authorities, I’ve decided to decree early parliamentary elections for […]

Russia to retaliate US, Canadian sanctions

Moscow, May 9 (IANS) Russia Thursday vowed to retaliate upon new sanctions from the US and Canada, but stressed it would not publicise the individuals placed on the Russian blacklist. “Of course, we will not leave such unfriendly actions unanswered,” Xinhua quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich telling reporters. “Sanctions are not our method, but […]

Nadal to face Tomas Berdych in quarter finals

Madrid, May 9 (IANS) Top seed and home favourite Rafael Nadal will face Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open Tennis tournament after both won their respective last 16 matches Thursday. Nadal swept past Finland’s Jakko Nieminen 6-1, 6-4, while number 6 seed Berdych has to fight back from a set down before defeating […]

Four killed in Ghana chopper crash

Accra, May 9 (IANS) At least four people were killed while one went missing after a helicopter carrying eight people crashed into the sea off the coastal city of Takoradi, Ghana, media reported Thursday. Three people were rescued following the crash, Xinhua quoted the report as saying. The victims were said to be workers of Luk […]

Nigerian president vows to end terror

Abuja, May 9 (IANS) The abduction of teenage girls in the northeast region of Nigeria will mark the end of terrorism in the country, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said Thursday. Jonathan made the statement about his West African country in a speech delivered at the opening of the plenary sessions of the ongoing World Economic Forum […]

Strong quake hits Mexico

Mexico City, May 9 (IANS) A strong earthquake, measuring between magnitude 6.4 and 6.6, jolted Mexico Thursday noon and shook the capital of Mexico City, rattling buildings and prompting offices to be evacuated. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the temblor measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted 15 km north of Tecpan de Galeana […]

Leonardo Dicaprio eyeing surfer art

New York, May 9 (IANS) Actor Leonardo DiCaprio reportedly wants to buy surfer paintings. The “Wolf of Wall Street” star has reportedly taken a keen interest in artist Raymond Pettibon’s exhibition at the Venus Over Manhattan gallery here and is so keen on the artwork that he and his girlfriend Toni Garn visited the showcase every […]