Egypt court jails 126 Morsi supporters

Cairo, May 18 (IANS) An Egyptian court Sunday sentenced 126 supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to 10 years in prison for violence during protests in July 2013. They were accused of storming police stations and inciting violence last July following Morsi’s ouster, Xinhua reported. The charges also included membership of the Muslim Brotherhood which […]

Greece confident about exit from debt crisis

Athens, May 18 (IANS) Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras Sunday voiced confidence about the country’s exit from a painful four-year debt crisis, as the first round of local elections got underway. “In a democratic manner and with unity we are exiting the crisis,” Xinhua quoted the conservative leader as saying, after he voted at the southern […]

10 killed in Afghanistan explosions

Kabul, May 17 (IANS) At least 10 people were killed Saturday in separate blasts in Afghanistan, an official said. In one attack, one civilian was killed and 12 injured when a bomb attached to a motorcycle went off in northern Takhar province, the official told Xinhua. Five militants were killed early Saturday, when a bomb they […]

Turkey mine disaster toll rises to 299

Ankara, May 17 (IANS) The toll in Turkey’s coal mine disaster rose to 299 after 15 more bodies were recovered from the mine in the western town of Soma, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said Saturday. Rescue teams entered parts of the mine that were previously inaccessible due to a fire after the blaze was largely […]

Dracula’s castle up for sale?

London, May 17 (IANS) You may have some images of the dreaded Dracula’s castle in your mind – the 13th-century fortress in Transylvania called Bran Castle. It is another thing the castle did not actually belong to Dracula but to the Habsburg royal family. The Romanian government has now placed an $80 million (Rs.470 crore) bid […]

Two negative attributes cancel each other in job hunt

Washington, May 16 (IANS) A gay black man may not be as disadvantaged as a gay white or a black straight man in securing a job as was presumed. Researchers now indicate the negative attributes associated with being both a black man and a gay may cancel each other out. Gay men are stereotyped as effeminate […]

Obama asked to reach out to Modi

Washington, May 14 (IANS) With exit polls suggesting that Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi is likely to become India’s next prime minister, a leading US expert has suggested that the US reach out to him. “Whatever else may be believed about Modi, there is universal agreement that he is a decisive leader,” writes Ashley […]

157 killed in Turkish coal mine explosion

Istanbul, May 14 (IANS) At least 157 miners were killed, 75 injured and more than 200 workers were trapped underground after an explosion in a coal mine in the western Turkish province of Manisa Tuesday, officials said. “According to unofficial information, we have 157 dead and 75 injured workers,” Xinhua quoted Manisa Mayor Cengiz Ergun […]

Slovakia lags behind EU in food self-sufficiency

Britislava, May 14 (IANS) Slovakia is lagging significantly behind the rest of the European Union (EU) in terms of food self-sufficiency, a minister said Tuesday. Slovak Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Lubomir Jahnatek made the remarks at an international conference organised by the Slovak Agriculture and Food Chamber (SPPK), Xinhua reported. The minister said the […]

Hungary court sentences 92-year-old to jail

Budapest, May 14 (IANS) Bela Biszku, a high-ranking former senior official, was Tuesday sentenced by a Budapest court to five years and six months of imprisonment. The decision is subject to appeal. Biszku was charged with conspiration to commit multiple homicides which qualify as so-called war crimes, Xinhua reported. On December 6, 1956 three people […]