World
Obama: N. Ireland must be brave when peace attacked - (20 hours ago)
AFPUS President Barack Obama on Monday told the people of Northern Ireland that they must respond with bravery whenever their hard-won peace fashioned after years of violence comes under attack.Obama told an audience of mostly young people in Belfast that the United States would always stand by them, as a new generation tries to forge a new identity from the province's bitter past."You are the
Celebrities make nuclear plea ahead of G8 - (20 hours ago)
AFPHollywood stars including Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas and Morgan Freeman are calling on Group of Eight leaders meeting in Northern Ireland this week to eliminate nuclear arms.Oscar-winning Austrian actor Christoph Waltz and Matt Damon are also among the stars lending their faces and voices to the two-minute video plea by the anti-nuclear campaign group Global Zero."The message from
Obama arrives in Northern Ireland for G8 summit: AFP - (20 hours ago)
AFPUS President Barack Obama arrived in Northern Ireland on Monday for the first day of the G8 summit, an AFP reporter on board his plane said.Obama's Air Force One jet landed at Belfast International Airport outside the capital shortly after 8:35am (0735 GMT). He is due to give a speech in the city centre before meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin for
Afghan police chief survives suicide attack - (22 hours ago)
AFPThe police chief of Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province survived a suicide attack on Monday when his convoy was bombed in the city of Lashkar Gah, officials said.Nabi Ilham's armoured car was badly damaged by the early-morning explosion in the provincial capital, and three of his guards were wounded."At around 7:00 am (0230 GMT) the motorcade was passing through the city. A suicide car
5.8-magnitude quake strikes central Mexico - (2 days ago)
AFPA 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Mexico early Sunday, so far without any casualties or damage reported, officials said.The quake struck just after midnight local time (0519 GMT), southwest of the city of Huitzuco, in Guerrero state, at a depth of about 30 miles (50 kilometers), according to Mexico's National Seismological Service.The officials downgraded the tremor's magnitude from an
Italy rescues 159 boat migrants including newborn baby - (2 days ago)
AFPThe Italian coast guard has rescued 159 Syrian, Afghan and Egyptian migrants from a boat in the sea off Calabria, including a newborn baby and seven children, Italian media said Saturday.The alarm was sounded just before midnight on Friday after a boat, which is believed to have set off from Turkey a few days ago, was reported to be in trouble off the coast near Roccella Jonica in southern
Greece hit with general strike amid fury over state TV closure - (5 days ago)
AFPPublic services ground to a halt in Greece Thursday as unions launched a 24-hour general strike in protest at the government's decision to shut down public broadcaster ERT as part of sweeping cost-cutting measures.Trains and ferries stood still, hospitals were operating on an emergency footing and government offices were shut across the country as part of the action.Air traffic controllers
Visit by Ethiopia's Orthodox Church head to Cairo postponed - (5 days ago)
A planned visit by the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church to Cairo has been postponed, Al-Ahram Arabic news website has reported.The Ethiopian church leader was scheduled to arrive in Egypt 17 June for a four-day visit to look at means of tackling the ongoing stalemate over Ethiopia's controversial Renaissance Dam project.Egypt sounded the alarm two weeks ago when Ethiopia began
6 Afghan policemen found shot dead at checkpoint - (5 days ago)
APSix Afghan policemen were found shot at their checkpoint in the country's south and two other policemen were missing, raising suspicions they killed their comrades, an official said Thursday.District chief Nayamatullah Samim said that the policemen's bodies were discovered in the shelter near their checkpoint Wednesday night, after they did not check in with their superiors. Two other officers
Police check of veiled woman sparks clashes near Paris - (5 days ago)
AFPPolice fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse an angry crowd in a town on the outskirts of Paris where clashes erupted on Wednesday night after they questioned a woman wearing a full facial veil, which is banned in France.A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the trouble started when police stopped a 25-year-old woman in the centre of Argenteuil, a suburb north-west
Obama aides split on arming rebels: US officials - (5 days ago)
APPresident Barack Obama's top advisers will meet to air reservations about arming Syria's rebels, with officials saying the U.S. is unlikely to take any immediate action to arrest the Assad regime's military advance.The administration's caution persists despite its nearly two-year-old demand that President Bashar Assad step down, vows to help the besieged Syrian rebels on the ground and threats
'All of Africa praying for Mandela' says Guinea leader - (5 days ago)
AFPGuinea's President Alpha Conde Wednesday said all of Africa was praying for Nelson Mandela, adding that he wanted the anti-apartheid icon to live "as long as possible".The 94-year-old was admitted in a Pretoria hospital on Saturday for a recurring lung infection and was Wednesday said to be responding better to treatment after spending days in a serious but stable condition."What we want, and
UN wants better protection for Golan peacekeepers - (5 days ago)
AFPUN leader Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday called for better protection for UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights to counter the growing threat of spillover violence from the Syria conflict.Ban made the call as Austrian troops started withdrawing from the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) following attacks and abductions of peacekeepers. Croatia and Japan have also withdrawn in recent months.UN
Russian protesters march as Putin seeks firmer political footing - (5 days ago)
ReutersThousands of Russians marched through Moscow demanding Vladimir Putin resign on Wednesday, as the president took the helm of a loyalist movement designed to broaden his power base.With helmeted riot police looking on, some 10,000 protesters chanted "Russia without Putin!" and called for the release of activists who face long jail terms over violence at a protest against his inauguration to
Strike over EU plan snarls France, UK airports - (6 days ago)
APA strike by air traffic controllers is snarling flights around France, as workers protest a plan to simplify Europe's patchwork airspace and open up more air traffic duties to private enterprise.About 1,800 flights were canceled for a second day in France — about half the normal number of flights, according to the French authority that tracks airport conditions. In Britain, delays were
Turkey protests 'serious test' for EU membership: Italy - (6 days ago)
AFPMass anti-government protests are "the first serious test" for Turkey in its bid to join the European Union, Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said Wednesday, describing the excessive use of force against demonstrators as unacceptable."The Turkish government is in the process of sitting a maturity test in the squares and the streets. It is probably the first serious test for the endurance
Greece says to relaunch state TV in weeks as protests mount - (6 days ago)
Greece's government promised on Wednesday to relaunch a slimmed-down state broadcaster ERT in a matter of weeks after a firestorm of protests from journalists, trade unions and coalition partners over its sudden closure.The government yanked ERT off the air at midnight just hours after announcing the move on Tuesday, in the most dramatic public sector closure yet in the struggle to shore up
Mandela still in 'serious but stable' condition in hospital - (6 days ago)
ReutersFormer South African president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela's condition remained unchanged at "serious but stable", a government spokesman told local radio on Wednesday morning.Mandela, who is spending his fifth day in hospital for a recurring lung infection, continued to receive close care from doctors, Presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj told SAFM radio.President Jacob Zuma also
Czech prime minister files for divorce - (6 days ago)
ReutersCzech Prime Minister Petr Necas said on Tuesday he had filed for divorce from his wife, with whom he has two adult sons and two daughters.In January, the centre-right leader told media that he had separated from Radka, his college sweetheart."We are trying to resolve this personally difficult situation with respect, especially in regards to our children," Necas said in a statement.Divorce
White House says concerned about events in Turkey - (6 days ago)
ReutersThe White House said on Tuesday it was concerned by attempts in Turkey to punish individuals for expressing free speech and called for dialogue to resolve differences between the government and protesters."We continue to follow events in Turkey with concern, and our interest remains supporting freedom of expression and assembly, including the right to peaceful protest," White House
Austrian UN troops begin pullout from Golan Heights - (6 days ago)
AFPAustrian troops in the UN monitoring force on the Golan Heights began withdrawing on Wednesday, days after Vienna decided to quit the mission over security concerns, an AFP correspondent said.A group of around 70 soldiers entered the Israeli side of the strategic plateau through the Quneitra crossing, the only direct passage between Israel and Syria, he said.The troops, the first wave of the
Mali's Tuareg rebels ready to sign peace deal: Source - (6 days ago)
AFPRebels from Mali's minority Tuareg group are ready to sign a regionally brokered peace deal with the government paving the way for the conflict-torn country to hold elections, a source in their delegation said Tuesday."We won't obstruct the process," the source told AFP. "When the time comes, we'll sign no problem," he added in neighbouring Burkina Faso, where a source in the Malian
Venezuela unveils statue of former Egyptian president Abdel-Nasser - (6 days ago)
A statue of former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel-Nasser was unveiled in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on Monday.According to the Caracas-based news website Telesur, Venezuela's vice-minister for foreign affairs in Africa, Reinaldo Bolivar, recalled during the event that former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has considered himself to be a “Nasserist,” identifying with the
UN expert rejects calls to quit over Israel criticsm - (6 days ago)
AFPAn embattled UN rights expert who probes Israel's conduct towards Palestinians rejected calls to step down on Tuesday, saying his opponents were trying to silence his criticism of the Jewish state by labelling him anti-Semitic."I don't intend to resign, and there doesn't seem to be any formal initiative that is seeking my dismissal," Richard Falk told reporters, a day after calling for an
Spanish coach Flores 'sadly' ends UAE adventure - (6 days ago)
ReutersFormer Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores is going back to Spain after quitting Al Ahli on Tuesday to become the latest high-profile departure from the United Arab Emirates's Pro League.He had been widely expected to sign a new two-year contract, having led Al Ahli to second place in the league this season, but instead announced he would be leaving with immediate effect."I'm
Taliban willing to hold talks on reducing civilian casualties: UN - (6 days ago)
AFPThe Taliban have said they are willing to discuss how to reduce civilian casualties in the ongoing insurgency in Afghanistan, a top UN envoy said on Tuesday.Jan Kubis, the UN special representative for Afghanistan said that the militants had agreed to hold talks with the UN and discuss the issue of civilian deaths, which rose by 24 percent in the first half of 2013 compared to last year."I can
Sudan formally orders firms to shut South's oil flow - (6 days ago)
AFPSudan's oil ministry on Tuesday formally told oil companies to block the export flow of South Sudanese crude, following an order from President Omar Al-Bashir.Oil Minister Awad Ahmad al-Jaz presented the written directive in a meeting Tuesday with senior executives of the GNPOC joint operating company and Petrodar, the ministry said in a statement.It orders them "to stop the process of
Mandela spends fourth day in hospital - (7 days ago)
AFPNelson Mandela was spending his fourth day in hospital Tuesday where he was being treated in intensive care for a lung infection.The 94-year-old former president was rushed to a Pretoria hospital early Saturday and was said to be in serious but stable condition.His latest health scare has been met with prayers and a growing acceptance among South Africans that their hero may be nearing the end
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AFPTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rallies supporters after riot police again clash with thousands of anti-government demonstrators in a second week of nationwide unrest.Three people have died in the protests against Erdogan and his Islamic-leaning Justice and Development Party (AKP), in power since 2002.Following are the main events of the past days:- May 28: A peaceful local protest
AFPTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing one of the biggest challenges of his decade in power with anti-government protests that critics say have exposed growing discontent with his increasingly authoritarian and conservative agenda.Here are the key events since Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) assumed power in the predominantly Muslim but staunchly
AHRAM ONLINEFounders of Egypt’s 'Rebel' campaign, a newly established movement that aims to withdraw confidence from President Mohamed Morsi by collecting citizens' signatures, spoke at an open forum on Wednesday to discuss the campaign, which has recently gone viral online and on the streets.'Rebel' campaigners hope to collect 15 million signatures and hold a mass sit-in on 30 June –
BBC SportWhen it's put to him that he might be the most talented athlete in the world to hold a racquet, a bashful Ramy Ashour admits "that's pretty great".The 25-year-old Egyptian is more than just the current squash world number one - his elastic, unorthodox brilliance and charisma could be the key to squash breaking out beyond its four walls and regaining a place on the wider sporting
