Kiev, Dec 12 (IANS/EFE) Ukraine confirmed Friday the cessation of hostilities between its troops and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern part of the country, as a new truce accord reached earlier this week entered into force. A spokesman for the Ukraine Security Council, Andriy Lysenko, said the ceasefire was taking hold gradually and mutually in […]
Beijing, Dec 12 (IANS) China’s central government Friday said it supports the Hong Kong government and the police’s decision to clear the Occupy protest sites and roads. The central government “fully agrees with and firmly supports” the Hong Kong government and the police’s decision to stop these illegal activities, thereby maintaining social order and safeguarding […]
Baghdad, Dec 12 (IANS) The holy city of Karbala in Iraq is expected to host 20 million pilgrims for the Arba’een ceremony, Iraqi officials have said. Black-clad pilgrims were walking towards Karbala, where they would take part in the mourning ceremonies around Imam Hossein’s shrine, Press TV reported. According to Iraqi authorities, some 17 million […]
Rome, Dec 12 (IANS/EFE) Pope Francis I and the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the XIV Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, Friday expressed their hopes for achieving world peace and encouraged humanity to resolve its conflicts through a vision of global brotherhood. At Friday’s opening ceremony of the XIV World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, Pope […]
Jerusalem, Dec 11 (IANS) A joint forensic team Thursday ruled in a preliminary autopsy report that the death of Palestinian cabinet minister Ziad Abu Ein during a protest Wednesday was caused by “blockage to the coronary artery”. The Israeli health ministry circulated the initial results of the autopsy, which was carried out by two Israeli […]
Siliguri, Dec 11 (IANS) Chilly and foggy conditions continued to play havoc with air and train traffic in northern West Bengal for the second day Thursday. While as many eight flights were cancelled from Bagdogra airport, several trains were running well behind schedule. With fog reducing visibility below 50 metres, air traffic from Bagdogra remained […]
Oslo, Dec 10 (IANS) India’s child rights crusader Kailash Satyarthi Wednesday said that his life’s aim was to “make sure that every child is a free child” after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize here along with Pakistani girls’ education activist Malala Yousafzai. “My only aim in life is to make sure that every child is […]
Washington, Dec 6 (IANS) The US says “now is not the time for business as usual with Russia” but insists Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming India visit would not cast a shadow on President Barack Obama’s own trip in January. “Let’s wait and see what comes from the visit,” State Department spokesperson Marie Harf told […]
Washington, Dec 6 (IANS) Dr. Arun Majumdar, an Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay alumni is among four eminent scientists chosen to serve as US Science Envoys beginning in January, 2015. Majumdar, a professor at Stanford University and an expert in energy, climate change, and innovation was named by the State Department along with Dr. Peter […]
Manila, Dec 6 (IANS) A Swiss national was rescued from the Abu Sayyaf militant group Saturday after being held hostage for more than two years, the Philippine security forces said. Lorenzo Vinceguerre, 49, is one of the two European bird watchers held by the militants in the Sulu province, Xinhua reported. He was reportedly injured […]