Lima, April 18 (IANS) Peruvian authorities Thursday began evacuating some 4,000 residents near the Ubinas volcano after detecting an increase in volcanic activity. Peruvian news website RPP said Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Juan Manuel Banites travelled from Lima to Arequipa, the country’s second-largest city, to supervise the evacuation process, Xinhua reported. The minister said it […]
Washington, April 18 (IANS) US President Barack Obama announced Thursday that eight million people have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and 35 percent of them are under the age of 35, surpassing projections about the programme’s first year performance. Speaking at a televised White House press conference, Obama said his […]
Warsaw, April 18 (IANS) Two days before the 71st anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, a ceremony honouring the memory of Jews and Poles murdered during the World War II was held Thursday in Warsaw. “The anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising is an opportunity to honour the memory of Jewish fighters, […]
United Nations, April 18 (IANS) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was encouraged by “concrete and urgent steps” aimed at de-escalating the Ukraine situation agreed at four-way talks in Geneva Thursday. Ban welcomed the initial round of diplomatic negotiations on the crisis in Ukraine in Geneva by top diplomats from Ukraine, Russia, the US and the […]
Washington, April 18 (IANS) US President Barack Obama Thursday spoke cautiously about an agreement on the Ukraine crisis and warned that Russia could face additional sanctions if situation fails to improve. “I don’t think we can be sure of anything at this point. I think there is the possibility, the prospect that diplomacy may de-escalate […]
Paris, April 18 (IANS) The Cannes International Film Festival Organising Committee announced the finalists of this year’s Film Festival Thursday. Fifty films were selected, of which 18 films will be in the main competition, Xinhua reported. “After three years of absence, renowned French director Jean-Luc Godard will return to Cannes with the film ‘Goodbye language […]
Washington, April 18 (IANS) Calling India South Asia’s growth engine, a US official wondered whether the new Indian government will make the reforms necessary to attract investment and capitalise on opportunities ahead. “Those are the questions that India’s voters are asking as they cast their ballots and those are the questions that we want to […]
New York, April 18 (IANS/WAM) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has written to South Korean President Park Geun-hye expressing condolences over the sinking of the ferry “Sewol” in which at least 14 people were believed drowned. In a letter Wednesday, Ban extended sympathy to the bereaved family members and to the South Korean government and people. […]
Warsaw, April 18 (IANS) Krakow’s 2022 Winter Olympics bid committee Thursday appointed Warsaw’s deputy mayor as the new head after Jagna Marczulajtis-Walczak resigned amid a scandal last week. Magdalena Sroka’s appointment came during an extraordinary meeting as her predecessor stepped down Saturday after her husband was alleged to have offered money to the media in […]
Raipur, April 18 (IANS) An estimated 62 percent of about 4.6 million voters in Chhattisgarh cast their votes Thursday, amid rain and Maoist threats, in three Lok Sabha constituencies – Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon and Kanker – in the second round of polling in the state. The polling was by and large peaceful barring a few incidents […]