World News latest RSS headlines - Houston Mirror.com

India and China agree to boost trade and paper over border differences

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:19:57 -0400

NEW DELHI - India and China Monday played down a recent border stand-off and agreed to maintain peace along their disputed boundary as well as boost economic relations. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who decided to make India the first stop of his maiden foreign jaunt as premier, stressed that the population of the two nations comprised one third of the world. Both countries have seen ...

Former Pakistani military dictator Musharraf granted bail

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:10:36 -0400

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Former Pakistani military dictator Pervez Musharraf was Monday granted bail in a case related to the assassination of ex premier Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf has been under house arrest because he is accused of failing to provide adequate security for Bhutto who was murdered in a bomb and gun attack in December 2007 while campaigning for elections. The assassination ...

Over 60 killed in Iraq terror attacks

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:05:19 -0400

BAGHDAD, Iraq - More than 60 people, including Iranian Shia pilgrims, were killed in a series of car bombings and shootings across Iraq Monday, officials said. The worst hit in Monday's violence was Baghdad where eight car bombs and a roadside bomb ripped through bus stops, marketplaces and other crowded areas in Shia neighbourhoods. The attacks left 12 people dead and 109 wounded, a senior ...

23 militants of Hezbollah group killed in clash with Syrian rebels

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:58:56 -0400

BEIRUT, Lebanon - At least 23 elite fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, fighting alongside the Syrian government troops, were killed near the Lebanese border Monday, an activist group said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks Syria's war, said more than 100 Hezbollah members also have been wounded in the fighting around the opposition-held ...

Mexicos tourism sector goes up

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:20:01 -0400

Economic activity associated with tourism grew 4 percent in 2012 compared with the year before, Mexico's INEGI statistics service said. Spending by foreign and domestic tourists increased by 4.7 percent last year. In the fourth quarter of 2012, tourism activity topped the same period in 2011 by 4 percent, INEGI said Monday. By segments, spending by domestic tourists rose 4.8 percent, while ...

Governments failing to protect minorities says US

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:20:01 -0400

US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed concern at global problems of discrimination and violence against religious groups, including Baha'is, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs besides increasing use of blasphemy and apostasy laws. "In too many places, governments are also failing to protect minorities from social discrimination and violence," he said Monday ...

Oklahoma City faces second deadly tornado in 13 years

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:00:02 -0400

A devastating tornado in the Oklahoma City suburbs in southcentral US, that has killed at least 51 people, including seven children at an elementary school, was second only to one in May 1999 in its fury. The twister 13 years ago, rated a maximum EF5 on the Fujita Tornado Scale, killed 36 people and smashed some of the same communities, according to CNN. On May 3, 1999, a total of 74 tornadoes ...

Justin Timberlake is in demand on Cannes red carpet

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:00:02 -0400

Teenage girls went wild when singer and actor Justin Timberlake stepped onto the red carpet at Cannes as part of the team that made the Coen brothers' movie "Inside Llewyn Davis". Hundreds of girls waited hours Sunday to catch sight of Timberlake, some with the singer's name written across their bosoms. Hearing the screams for an autograph of their idol, he spent a fair amount of time signing ...

Paraguay becomes South Americas used car paradise

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:00:02 -0400

Paraguay has become the main destination in South America for used cars from Japan, the US and other countries, thanks to new regulations aimed at making it easier to import automobiles so low-income consumers can purchase vehicles. Used cars are all the rage in Paraguay, where vehicles that have been shipped from thousands of kilometers away are put to use as soon as they are repaired and made ...

90-year jail for Turks who poisoned Russians

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:40:01 -0400

Four Turkish nationals were sentenced Monday to 90 years in prison after they were found guilty of lethal poisoning a group of Russian tourists in 2011, a lawyer said. Some 20 Russian tourists were hospitalised with severe alcohol poisoning in Bodrum in late May on their return from a sailing tour organised by a local company. Four of them died in Turkish hospitals, while another victim died ...

US lawmakers seek more internal-security cooperation with India

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:20:01 -0400

Ahead of the second US-India Homeland Security dialogue here Tuesday, the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans has sought expanded cooperation between the two countries on internal security issues. Indian Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who arrived here Sunday, will be co-chairing the dialogue with the US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. He will also meet Federal ...

World Bank UN chiefs to visit African Great Lakes region

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:01 -0400

The World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will make a joint visit to Africa's Great Lakes region, a World Bank statement said Monday. The visit is to be undertaken in support of a landmark peace agreement and to push for economic development in the troubled region. "The visit will draw attention to the plight of fragile and conflict-affected countries ...

Situation on Korean Peninsula still serious

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:40:01 -0400

The security situation on the Korean Peninsula is still serious after North Korea's recent missile launch and its defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons, South Korea has said. "We continue to face a grave situation due to a series of provocations and nuclear threats by North Korea," said South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se at an annual conference of chiefs of overseas diplomatic missions in ...

Jolie to play own mother in biopic

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:10:01 -0400

Actress Angelina Jolie will reportedly play her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, in a biopic made by her partner Brad Pitt's production banner Plan B. Bertrand died of cancer in 2007. She was 56. Jolie recently announced that she opted for a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of getting breast cancer. If reports are to be believed, the biopic will go into production in 2014. But a release ...

Longoria misses the Beckhams

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:00:02 -0400

Actress Eva Longoria "misses" spending time with her close friends Victoria and David Beckham now that the couple has moved to London. The 38-year-old became close to the couple when they lived here. She admits it was a shame for her when they moved, but she is keen to visit them in London, reports contactmusic.com. "I think David and Victoria are an amazing couple who have an amazing reach ...

Rochelle Humes delivers girl

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:30:02 -0400

The Saturdays singer Rochelle Humes has become a first-time mother after giving birth to a baby daughter. The 24-year-old welcomed a baby daughter, her first child with fellow British pop star Marvin Humes of boyband JLS, reports contactmusiccom. Proud dad Marvin took to Twitter to share the happy news. "This morning we welcomed our baby girl Alaia-Mai Humes. Mum is doing great and baby is ...

51 killed as powerful tornado slams Oklahoma City

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:50:02 -0400

At least 51 people, including seven children at an elementary school, were killed as a massive tornado slammed Oklahoma City in south central US leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Emergency personnel were scouring the rubble at flattened Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma, hours after the tornado struck Monday afternoon, a video from CNN affiliate KFOR showed. As ...

Israel cancels UNESCO delegations visit

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:50:01 -0400

Israel has cancelled a planned visit by a UNESCO delegation to Jerusalem due to the efforts of Palestinian factions to politicise it. The Israeli foreign ministry said Monday the Palestinians were trying to turn this visit into a "fact-finding mission of Israel's moves in Jerusalem ". "The delegation's visit has been postponed, " reported Xinhua citing a source. "This was supposed to be a ...

95 killed in Syrian violence Report

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:30:02 -0400

A total of 95 people, including 23 Hezbollah members, have been killed in an intense fighting in Syria's Al-Qussair city since Saturday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Monday. The toll comprises four civilians, 56 rebel fighters, 12 government troops and 23 fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group, Xinhua reported. The army pushed its way into al-Qussair ...

812 drug suspects held in joint Mekong patrolling

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:02 -0400

A total of 812 drug crime suspects have been arrested as part of a joint anti-drug campaign launched by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand on the trans-boundary river of Mekong, Xinhua reported. Drug trafficking has long plagued transportation on the Mekong river, which runs through the opium-producing Golden Triangle Region. Launched around mid-April, the ongoing two-month drive also included ...

Winona Ryder proud of forehead lines

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:00:01 -0400

Actresses might typically go for treatment if their face wrinkles too much, but Winona Ryder says she is very much proud of the lines on her forehead. "I'm not trying to knock it, but, I have a little bit of traffic now on my forehead, which I'm like very proud of actually, and it's interesting how people just instinctively are like, 'Oh, maybe you should get something done for that.' And it's ...

Russia needs 3 to 5 years for an efficient economy

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:50:01 -0400

Russia will need three to five years to exit stagnation and build an efficient economy, former finance minister Alexei Kudrin has said. "Even if we roll up our sleeves and set to work right now, we'll need from three to five years to achieve new elements of efficiency," Kudrin said at an Open Tribune meeting held by the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament. He also said the ruling ...

Massive tornado jolts Oklahoma City in US

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:30:01 -0400

A gigantic tornado Monday ripped through a suburb of Oklahoma City in the US , destroying a school, sparking fires and flattening homes across whole neighbourhoods. The twister struck about 4.00 p.m. (local time) Monday in Moore city, a suburb of about 55,000 people just south of Oklahoma City in the Oklahoma state. Rescuers were searching for survivors as scores of primary school children were ...

Radcliffe peoples confidant in pubs

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:20:01 -0400

Actor Daniel Radcliffe, who battled alcohol addiction once, says he often comes across drunk people who are comfortable sharing their problems with him. "I've been people's confidant in pubs. Somebody will be drunk and start telling you something about their relationship with their parents. You can end up provoking a huge range of reactions," femalefirst.co.uk quoted him as saying. Radcliffe, ...

British PM seeks joint effort against tax evasion

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:20:01 -0400

British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for joint effort to tackle tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance weeks ahead of the Group 8 Summit. Cameron, in a letter to leaders of crown dependencies and overseas territories, said that he has made the fight against tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance a priority for the G8 Summit, reported Xinhua Monday. It is the "critical moment to ...

Spears under fire for giving toy gun to son

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:10:01 -0400

Singer Britney Spears is facing criticism for allowing her 6-year-old son Jayden to play with a large toy gun. A not-for-profit gun-control group is outraged after Jayden was photographed aggressively pointing the toy weapon at people during the family's stay at the Four Seasons hotel in Westlake Village, California May 4, reports contactmusic.com. "As parents, it is our responsibility to set a ...

Leona Lewis keen on adoption

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:20:01 -0400

Singer Leona Lewis says she would prefer to adopt a child in future rather than having any of her own. "I will definitely adopt children. I'm not sure if I want my own," The Times newspaper quoted Lewis as saying. The 28-year-old, who rose to fame after winning the third season of "The X Factor" in 2006, credits her mother Maria for giving her a sense of independence, reports contactmusic.com. ...

US anti-corruption expert expelled from Russia

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:20:01 -0400

A retired US diplomat and expert on the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been banned from entering Russia. The New York Times said Moscow-based Thomas Firestone, who works for the Baker amp; McKenzie law firm, was declared persona non grata when returning to Russia from a trip abroad May 5. No official explanation for the incident was available. Baker amp; McKenzie confirmed the expulsion ...

Man held for sexually assaulting girlfriend in Italy

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:20:01 -0400

Police in the central Italian city of Perugia Monday arrested a 22-year-old Congolese migrant on suspicion of sexually assaulting his Italian girlfriend after she refused to have sex with him. Doctors said the 20-year-old girl will need 30 days to recover from the injuries she sustained in the attack Sunday. The girl has bruises all over her body and a fractured right eye socket that will ...

61 killed in Iraq attacks

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:20:01 -0400

A series of car bombings and shootings, mainly targeting Shia Muslim areas across Iraq, Monday killed at least 61 people, including Iranian pilgrims, and wounded around 200 others, officials said. The worst violence occurred in Baghdad, when eight car bombs and a roadside bomb ripped through bus stops, marketplaces and other crowded areas in Shia neighbourhoods in the capital city, killing 12 ...

Talibans talks offer should be taken seriously Nawaz Sharif

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:20:01 -0400

The Taliban's offer for peace talks should be taken seriously as every issue cannot be solved through use of power and bullet, Pakistan's prime minister-designate Nawaz Sharif said Monday. Holding negotiations was the only way to effectively solve problems, he said. "We have lost several lives, our economy is deteriorating. If the Taliban offer us an option to have dialogue, we should take it ...

Four killed in twin blasts in Russias North Caucasus

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:50:01 -0400

At least four people were killed and 35 others injured Monday in twin car bombings in Russia's North Caucasus region, officials said. Two cars were blown up, one after the other near the court bailiff service headquarters in Makhachkala, capital city of Dagestan republic, Xinhua quoted a government spokesperson as saying. No one was killed in the first explosion. Two policemen and one bailiff ...

Terror attack foiled in Moscow

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:50:01 -0400

Police killed two suspected militants and detained another in a special operation outside Moscow Monday, preventing a terror attack in the capital, the National Anti-terrorism Committee said. The special operation took place in Orekhovo-Zuyevo in the Moscow region. "The militants were besieged in the course of a special operation, but opened fire after they were asked to surrender. Two of them ...

Three Syrian refugees die in Jordan

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:30:02 -0400

Three Syrian refugees, including a 10-year-old boy, have died in Jordan, the country's official Petra news agency said Monday. Two Syrians died from injuries they sustained while fleeing the civil war in their country, while the young boy died of an illness at the Al-Zaatari refugee camp. Three other refugees who were shot while crossing over to Jordan last week have been admitted to Al-Mafraq ...

Saudi Arabia beheads Syrian drug trafficker

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:02 -0400

A convicted Syrian drug trafficker has been beheaded in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi interior ministry said in a statement Monday. Mohammed Yousuf Ezzeddine was executed in Qurayat city in the north of the country, the state-run SPA news agency reported. Another convicted Syrian, Mohammed Khalaf, was executed in the kingdom May 6. Saudi Arabia has executed around 40 people since the beginning of ...

Indian girl invents device that can charge phone in 20 seconds

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:40:01 -0400

An 18-year-old Indian-origin girl in the US has developed a potentially revolutionary device that can charge a mobile phone in just 20 seconds, a media report said. The charging device has been dubbed a supercapacitor by Esha Khare of Saratoga, California, the Daily Mail reported. Khare won $50,000 for her invention at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, held in Phoenix. ...

Drinking alcohol during puberty makes you addicts

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:20:02 -0400

People who begin drinking alcohol during puberty are more likely to become addicts, a German study has said. Many parents think that supervised early drinking encourages children to have a more responsible attitude to alcohol. But a new study has said that those who begin to drink during puberty, tend to drink more later in life, the Daily Mail reported. Researchers from the University of ...

Two FBI officers killed in training exercise

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:02 -0400

Two special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were killed during a hostage rescue training exercise off the coast of Virginia Beach. Christopher Lorek, 41, and Stephen Shaw, 40, were assigned to the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group, CNN reported. The FBI said the cause of the incident was under review. "We mourn the loss of two brave and courageous men," FBI Director ...

Bieber booed by fans at Billboard Music Awards

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:50:01 -0400

Pop star Justin Bieber was reportedly booed by his fans at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards when he went on the stage to receive an award and gave a speech. Protesting against the booing, the singer said that he is an artist who should be taken seriously, reports thesun.co.uk. The 19-year-old competed with singers Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars to grab the Milestone Award, which recognises musical ...

Vitamin D from sun may treat asthma says study

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:20:01 -0400

Time spent by asthma patients soaking up the sun may help in the treatment of the illness, a research has said. A team of scientists at King's College London said vitamin D, which is made by the body in sunlight, calms an "over-active" part of the immune system in asthma, BBC reported. However, treating patients with vitamin D has not yet been tested. People with asthma find it hard to breathe ...

Chinas state-sponsored hackers attack US again

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:20:01 -0400

Chinese "state-sponsored" hackers have renewed attacks on the US, after a unit of the Chinese army was named in February as the source of many cyber attacks on US companies, a media report said. According to BBC, cyber-defence company Mandiant told the New York Times daily that the army's Unit 61398, believed to operate from a heavily guarded building in Shanghai, has recently stepped up its ...

Need more freedom for filmmaking in India Anurag Kashyap

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:10:01 -0400

India's rising star director Anurag Kashyap has complained that filmmakers in in the country still do not enjoy the kind of freedom of space and expression that would allow them to make meaningful films. "Today, we are forced to treat our audience as children of less than five years and hence we have to only make goody-goody films with a huge dose of escapism. I want to have the option making ...

Nepali-Canadian first to climb Everest without prosthetic limbs

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:50:02 -0400

In a bid to prove to the world that "disability was not inability", Sudharshan Gautam, a Nepali-Canadian citizen, became the first amputee to climb Mount Everest without the help of prosthetic limbs, officials said Monday. "We received information that Gautam, who has no hands, climbed Mount Everest," Dipendra Paudel, an official at Nepal's mountain department under the ministry of tourism and ...

AFC Asian Cup India women ready for Myanmar challenge

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:50:01 -0400

Indian women's football team will have to be at their best when they take on Myanmar, a higher ranked team, in their first match of the AFC Asian Cup (qualifiers) here Tuesday. There's a difference of five places - Myanmar are 46th in the FIFA rankings while India are 51st. "This match will decide our fate. We need a good start. The first match always sets the tone. The real test begins now," ...

Hot air balloons collide in Turkey two dead

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:40:01 -0400

A hot air balloon crashed while flying over a popular tourist destination in Turkey, and collided with another balloon just 300 metres above the ground, killing two people and injuring 23 Monday. The crash occurred around 6 a.m. over Cappadocia in the central province of Nevsehir, Xinhua reported citing the Today's Zaman website. A Brazilian tourist was killed at the scene, while another ...

Saudis not accepting newly-designed Indian passport

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:40:01 -0400

Passport authorities in Saudi Arabia are refusing to accept new passports issued by Indian missions in that country and submitted by Indian expatriates for updating. The Saudis have refused to transfer data from old passports to the new ones, saying they were officially not informed about the new design of the Indian passports, the Arab News reported Monday. While the old passport had its ...

Japan sinks Singapore at Sudirman Cup

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:40:01 -0400

Japan showed all-round strength by sweeping aside Singapore 5-0 in their group match at the Sudirman Cup here Monday. Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa made it 1-0 for Japan in the men's doubles by beating Chrisnanta Danny Bawa and Terry Zhao 21-7, 21-18. World No.24 Gu Juan of Singapore was beaten by No.10 Minatsu Mitani at 21-10, 21-19 in women's singles while in men's singles, Derek Wong ...

British Open squash Ghosal wins opener Joshana makes main draw

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:30:02 -0400

Saurav Ghosal blanked Jonathan Kemp in his men's first round match while Joshana Chinappa rallied past Deon Saffery to make the women's draw at the Allam British Open Squash Championships here Monday. World No.19 Ghosal played a solid match to get past the English qualifier at the KC Stadium. Ghosal had to fight hard in the first game before completing an 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 win, sending the ...

UAE ratifies prisoner exchange deal with India

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:10:02 -0400

United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ratified a deal that allows the transfer of prisoners between his country and India. The decree endorses an agreement on the transfer of sentenced prisoners signed by the two sides in November 2011, The National daily reported Monday. "The agreement comes from the desire of the UAE government and the government of the ...

Boxers Nanao Dilbagh settle for silver in Russia

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:10:02 -0400

The Indian boxers' campaign came to an end at the Khabarovsk International Competition here with two silver and three bronze medals. The two Indians in the finals -- national games gold medallist Nanao Singh (49kg) and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Dilbagh Singh (69kg) -- had to be content with a silver medal finish after they lost to their respective opponents in the title round Sunday. ...

Indian boxers win European title create history

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:10:02 -0400

Indian boxers scaled new frontiers as they powered through to claim the top rank and bag the 2013 Invitational FXTM International Limassol Boxing Cup. The Indian pugilists displayed grit and talent throughout the tournament and a stunning performance particularity in the finals Sunday with a total tally of 10 medals -- four gold, three silver and three bronze -- ensured a first place in the ...

Indians among 170 illegal expats held in UAE

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:01 -0400

Many Indians are among 170 expatriates rounded up by police in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for breaking residency laws. Of the 170 arrested, 100 were working illegally as street vendors, 53 violated the law by entering the country illegally, and 17 were found working for employers other than their legal sponsors, local media reported Monday. The campaign was carried out by ...

Chinese man dies trying to climb Lhotse peak in Nepal

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:50:01 -0400

A 58-year-old Chinese climber died Monday while attempting to climb the Lhotse peak, the world's fourth highest, officials said. Xiaoshi Li died in Sagarmatha region, after falling sick on his way to the 8,516 metre high Lhotse peak, Nivesh Karki, manager of the expedition organiser, Seven Summit Treks Pvt. Ltd., told Xinhua. The mountaineering section of Nepal's ministry of tourism said ...

US team visiting India to boost womens numbers in ICT

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:50:01 -0400

A tech delegation of top women executives in the information and communication technology sector is visiting India this week to explore ideas to increase the number of women in ICT professions and academia. Led by the US State Department, the delegation will be meeting with leading companies, foundations, educational institutions and government ministries engaged in promoting women in ICT and ...

Indian university lecturer arrested in UAE

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:30:01 -0400

An Indian university lecturer who had come to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a short visit has been arrested by police here for blogging against a Dubai-based university. Though a report in the Gulf Times did not name either the lecturer or the university in India he works in, it said that he had finished his term in the private university at Dubai's Academic City a year ago, but his contract ...

Ahead of strategic dialogue US official goes to India

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:30:01 -0400

Ahead of US Secretary State John Kerry's June visit for the India-United States Strategic Dialogue, a senior American diplomat is travelling to New Delhi this week to exchange notes on the preparations. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, who will be in New Delhi May 24-25, will meet External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and other ...

Mount Everest ice cores to help study climate change

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:20:01 -0400

Scientists from China have obtained three ice cores from Mount Everest with the aim to understand more about climate change, an expedition leader said Monday. During the expedition that lasted more than a month, scientists drilled the ice cores at a mountain pass near the East Rongbuk glacier, which covers the north collar of the Mount Everest, Xinhua reported. The longest ice core measures 142 ...

22 killed in nine car bombings in Iraq

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:10:01 -0400

At least 22 people were killed and more than 130 others injured in a string of nine car bombings Monday in the Iraqi capital and in the southern oil hub of Basra, police said. Two car bombs went off almost simultaneously in Basra, 550 km south of Baghdad, killing at least 11 people and wounding 35 others, police told Xinhua. In Baghdad, seven car bombs ripped through different parts of the ...

Musharraf gets bail in Bhutto case but will stay in detention

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:01 -0400

A court in Pakistan Monday granted bail to Pervez Musharraf in the 2007 assassination case of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, but the former president will remain in detention in a case relating to keeping judges in illegal confinement. Musharraf has been accused of failing to provide security to Bhutto, who was killed in December 2007. In spite of the Anti-Terrorism Court's release ...

14 killed in Afghan suicide bombing

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:50:01 -0400

A Taliban suicide bomber Monday blew himself up in front of a government office in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province, killing at least 14 people and wounding 13 others, the interior ministry said. The bombing took place in front of the entrance gate of the Baghlan provincial council headquarters in Pul-e-Khumi around 10.30 a.m., Xinhua reported. Mohammad Rasoul Mohseni, the head of the ...

Karzai leaves for state visit to India

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:40:02 -0400

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai Monday left on a two-day visit to India, the president's office said in a statement. "President Hamid Karzai, leading a high-level delegation, left this morning (Monday) on a two-day state visit to India at the invitation of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying. During his visit, Karzai is scheduled to meet Mukherjee, Prime ...

Hindu board in Malaysia files complaint over missing gold

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:40:01 -0400

A Hindu endowment board that conducts the affairs of the Hindu community and temples in a Malaysian state has lodged a police complaint after three gold bars went missing from its office. The Penang Hindu Endowment Board lodged the complaint May 17 over the three gold bars that went missing Dec 26 last year from its office in Georgetown, capital of Penang state, the Malaysian Star reported ...

Malaysian Indian Congress leader denies quitting party post

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:30:01 -0400

K.P. Samy, a member of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), has denied reports that he would quit the post as he was not offered a senatorship in the upper house of the Malaysian parliament. "I had merely offered to step down to give way to younger leaders but the president urged me to stay on," the Malaysian Star quoted him as saying in a press conference ...

Two Chinese acquitted of rape after 10 years in jail

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:30:01 -0400

A court in China will compensate two men after they were acquitted of rape charges that led to their wrongful imprisonment for 10 years. The court in Zhejiang decided to give Zhang Hui and and his uncle Zhang Gaoping 1.11 million yuan (around $179,000) each to compensate them for depriving them of their personal freedom, as well as for causing mental damage, Xinhua reported. Zhang Hui was given ...

Indian womens football team gears up for AFC qualifiers

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:10:01 -0400

High on confidence after notching up a double-win over Bahrain in two international friendlies in the latter's own backyard, the Indian women's football team will look to carrying on the good form for the AFC Asian Cup (Qualifiers) starting here Tuesday. The 23-member squad and officials reached here Sunday afternoon. A large posse of local journalists and photographers mobbed the team upon ...

Heart disease linked to job stress

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Scientists have shed light on how stress at work affects the heart, says a study. The results, published in the 'Scandinavian Journal of Public Health', link this situation to dyslipidemia, a disorder that alters the levels of lipids and lipoproteins in the blood. Experts have been saying for years that emotional stress is linked to the risk of suffering cardiovascular disease as a result of ...

Paddy Lowe to join Mercedes early

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:50:02 -0400

Agreement has been reached between Mercedes and McLaren for Paddy Lowe to join the works team ahead of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix June 9. The announcement of Lowe leaving McLaren for Mercedes was made in February and the British racing engineer was supposed to join the team at the end of 2013. "Paddy will strengthen the team in the role of executive director (technical) and will work ...

Malaysian Indian Congress to hold working committee meeting May 23

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:40:01 -0400

The Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) will hold its meeting Thursday, thereby setting into motion the process of holding the party's presidential election. Party vice president M. Saravanan said the CWC members will mainly discuss the formation of the election committee, the New Straits Times reported Monday. Formed in 1946, MIC is one of the oldest ...

North Korea fires two more short-range missiles

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:30:01 -0400

North Korea Monday fired two more short-range missiles, a day after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the regime to return to talks on its controversial nuclear programme. "North Korea fired one KN-02 short-range missile between 11 a.m. and 12 noon and a second one between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday. The second missile is the same type as the KN-02 short-range missile launched on Monday ...

Indian jailed in Singapore for prostitution

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:10:01 -0400

A 24-year-old Indian man has been jailed by a court in Singapore for managing a prostitution ring. Kothandan Vinod has pleaded guilty to managing three Indian women after promising each of them a salary of Rs.30,000 (S$684) to work as prostitutes in Singapore, the Straits Times reported Monday. Vinod was in Singapore on business for less than a week when he was caught. Two of the women - ...

Sri Lankan president to visit China

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:50:03 -0400

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse will pay a state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping between May 27 and 30, an official said Monday. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the announcement at the daily press briefing Monday, reported ...

Corinthians beat Santos to win Campeonato Paulista

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:50:02 -0400

Corinthians won their 27th Campeonato Paulista title after a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the final against Santos. The result at the Vila Belmiro stadium Sunday gave the reigning FIFA Club World Cup champions a 3-2 aggregate victory, reports Xinhua. Cicero scored the opener for Santos just before the half-hour with a stunning left-foot volley before Danilo equalised two minutes later with a ...

Bad blood resurfaces in wrestling over Olympic axe

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:50:02 -0400

Recriminations over wrestling's exclusion from the Olympics re-emerged Monday, as supporters of the sport's former chief were accused of hurling insults at an official meeting. Wrestling was cut from the 2020 Olympics in February by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), amid low spectator interest and claims of corrupt refereeing in some major bouts. After the IOC decision, Raphael ...

Bradley Cooper takes cooking lessons from Ramsay

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:50:02 -0400

Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper is reportedly taking cooking lessons from well-known Scottish chef Gordon Ramsay to prepare for his role in director John Wells's "Chef". Cooper is playing a cook named Adam Jones, who destroys his career with drugs before getting clean and trying to open a restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars. Ramsay, who also hosts TV cookery shows, was the first ...

Rights liberties threatened in Sri Lanka says rights body

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:50:01 -0400

Respect for basic rights and liberties has declined in Sri Lanka in the four years since the government defeated the Tamil Tigers, Human Rights Watch said Monday. This week marks the fourth anniversary of the brutal civil war's end. Since the end of the 26-year-long civil war, the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has resisted taking meaningful steps to investigate and prosecute alleged ...

Accused in Indian-origin New Zealanders murder owed money

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:30:01 -0400

One of the two men accused of burning alive an Indian-origin man in New Zealand Jan 30 this year owed the victim money, the police report on the case has revealed. Bryan Pelmar, 20, and Shivneel Shahil Kumar, 18, have been charged with the murder of Shalvin Prasad, 21, whose burnt body was recovered from the side of a rural road in south Auckland, Fairfax NZ News reported Monday. Prasad was ...

India lose 1-4 to Indonesia exit Sudirman Cup

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:20:02 -0400

Indian shuttlers Monday lost their second and final Group A tie to Indonesia 1-4 to exit the Sudirman Cup on the second day of competitions at the Putra Stadium here After suffering a humiliating 0-5 loss Sunday to four-time defending champions China in the biennial tournament, India only managed to win one match out of five as Parupalli Kashyap was the lone bright spot. In the first match of ...

Text of PMs statement on China

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:02 -0400

Text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement to the media Monday on Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to India: It is an honour for me to welcome Premier Li on his first official visit to India. It has been an immense pleasure to get to know him personally. I sincerely appreciate his reaching out to me on his first day in office and his choosing India as his first foreign destination as ...

AC Milan seize Champions League spot on last day

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:02 -0400

AC Milan scored two late goals in four minutes to secure a dramatic 2-1 win against Siena as well as the final Champions League place on the last day of the Italian Serie A season. Milan had to beat Siena, who had already been relegated, to make sure of a Champions League spot for the next season, but the hosts surprisingly took the lead in the 25th minute through Claudio Terzi Sunday, reports ...

Mazzarri quits Napoli with next destination undecided

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:01 -0400

Walter Mazzarri announced that he has decided to quit as Napoli head coach and will be ready to evaluate offers from other clubs. "I have ended my era here at Napoli," Mazzarri said after his side lost away to Roma 1-2 Sunday, reports Xinhua. "I had already made the decision some time ago. I thank the president and director Riccardo Bigon for trying to change my mind to the last minute. I had ...

Arsenal finish fourth as Premier League season ends

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:40:02 -0400

Arsenal beat city rivals Tottenham Hotspurs to a top-four spot in the final game of the Premier League season. The Champions League qualification was the only suspense before the last-round campaign as Wigan, Reading and OPR had already been relegated before the final day Sunday, reports Xinhua. French defender Laurent Koscielny scored from close range to earn Arsenal a 1-0 victory at ...

World TT Holder Zhang to face Wang in all-Chinese final

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:40:02 -0400

In a rematch of last year's Olympic final, defending champion Zhang Jike will fight for the men's singles title against Wang Hao at the World Table Tennis Championships here Monday. Zhang, the fourth seed, crushed top seed and teammate Xu Xin 11-8, 11-2, 11-9, 12-10 while Wang beat second seed Ma Long in the other all-Chinese semifinal 11-9, 11-7, 11-3, 7-11, 12-14, 11-3 Sunday night, Xinhua ...

Barca celebrate title in front of fans

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:30:01 -0400

FC Barcelona celebrated their conquest of the La Liga season with a 2-1 win at home to Valladolid. Although they were without the injured Lionel Messi Sunday night, Barcelona were never in trouble against a Valladolid side who had little to play for and the fact there were just 10 fouls in the entire match showed the lack of tension in the match, reports Xinhua. Barcelona opened the scoring ...

India-China consensus big stride forward Li

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:20:01 -0400

Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Monday described the consensus reached on various issues between China and India as "a big stride forward" and called for conducting dialogue in a "mature and sensible way". It was fair to say that the two sides had "arrived at multiple, significant outcomes", Li said in his statement to the media alongside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Both countries had ...

Three arrested after fracas near British gurdwara

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:03 -0400

Three men have been arrested after a fracas outside a gurdwara in the city of Norwich in England. Two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested on suspicion of public disorder offences and taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre and a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and taken to Great Yarmouth for questioning after the brawl involving 10 worshippers outside the gurdwara on ...

Ancelotti asks to leave PSG for Real Madrid

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:03 -0400

The departure of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho appeared to move a step closer when Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed he had asked to leave the French champions. Ancelotti has been widely tipped as the next man to occupy the Real Madrid dugout should Mourinho leave the club and the news coming from France appears to indicate that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ...

Caribbean T20 League builds momentum

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:02 -0400

Caribbean Premier T20 League operations manager Carlisle Powell says the key stakeholders in the six franchise countries have thrown their support behind the inaugural tournament which bowls off in July. Powell and other CPL officials recently held meetings with cricket board executives, stadium management, tourism representatives and government ministers in Antigua amp; Barbuda, Barbados, ...

Unravelling the Indian curry

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:02 -0400

Since childhood, being born in a North Indian Punjabi family, I have been fond of curries - spicy chicken curry or tangy vegetable tangy curry accompanied with rice or a crisp tandoori roti oozing with white butter. Then, there are a plethora of exotic curries such as Kerala's raw mango curry, green or red Thai curry, Indonesian curry or Burmese curry What, then, is a curry? It is a generic term ...

British economy in modest recovery central bank governor

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:02 -0400

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said in a television interview that Britain's economy had achieved "only a modest recovery". "We are seeing a recovery. It's only a modest recovery, and we certainly can't be satisfied with it," the outgoing central bank governor King said in an interview with the Sky News' Murnaghan programme Sunday. "We will need to do more to use up the spare capacity and ...

Chinese Taipei win mens doubles TT title

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:01 -0400

Chinese Taipei's Chen Chien-An and Chuang Chih-Yuan upset Hao Shuai and Ma Lin from China to win the men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships here. Chen and Chuang fought back from one game down to win three in a row but Ma, former Olympic Champion, and Hao Shuai took the fifth before the Chinese Taipei tandem sealed the victory Sunday by taking the sixth 11-8, reports ...

Cancer survivor Kleybanova makes victorious comeback

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:40:02 -0400

After a victorious comeback to professional tennis, former World No. 20 and cancer survivor Alisa Kleybanova vowed Monday to return to the sport's biggest competitions. The Russian, 23, won two WTA titles before being forced to quit the sport in July 2011 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. After an aborted comeback bid last year, Kleybanova made a successful return last week at a ...

Taylor Swift wins maximum Billboard Music Awards

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:40:01 -0400

Singer Taylor Swift swept away the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. She won in eight categories, including the artist of the year and top female artist titles. She also bagged awards for top country artist, top digital songs artist. Her album "Red" topped in the Billboard 200 and country albums categories; her "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was named the top country song, reports ...

Australian construction industry to see slow recovery

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:40:01 -0400

The Australian building and construction industry will see a mixed recovery over 2015-16 after a number of challenging years, according to Master Builders Australia (MBA) forecasts released Monday. While the forecasts predict a positive growth for the industry, MBA reports that the current economic climate is creating headwinds that may impede the timing and strength of recovery. There's light ...

Zenits Shirokov sorry for obscene gesture at fans

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:30:03 -0400

Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Roman Shirokov has apologised for making an obscene gesture at his team's fans during a game. Shirokov was booed by large sections of the crowd during Sunday's 3-1 home win over FC Volga, apparently for congratulating arch-rivals CSKA Moscow on winning the Russian Premier League title on Twitter. After scoring the third goal in injury time, the midfielder ...

Jennifer Lawrence brother being stalked

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:30:02 -0400

Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence and her brother Blaine Lawrence are reportedly being stalked by a Canadian named Han Cong Zhao. Han, 23, was said to be remanded on bail after Judge Annette Karem at Kentucky court here heard he sent Blaine 200 messages and a threatening voicemail. "You got me really upset, when I am upset, wait and see what happens," thesun.co.uk quoted Han as saying. Karem ...

Windies begin preparation for Champions Trophy

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:30:02 -0400

The West Indies will kick off preparations for next month's Champions Trophy in England when they embark on a five-day camp at the High Performance Centre (HPC) at the 3Ws Oval starting here Monday. The sessions will be overseen by West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson with assistant coach Tony Radford and the HPC's Andre Coley, also involved in the squad's preparation. The players are expected ...

Kerr suffers wardrobe malfunction

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:30:02 -0400

Supermodel Miranda Kerr suffered a wardrobe malfunction at the Miami Beach while she was shooting an ad campaign. The 30-year-old was shooting a campaign for her KORA Organics make-up line when her top fell down accidentally, exposing her breasts, reports dailystar.co.uk. She laughed off the blunder after covering up her ...

Shop alone to spend less

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:30:02 -0400

New research indicates that shopping with female friends can dent your bank balance, and that it is best to shop alone. Experts have found that 62 percent of women who go for shopping with a female friend will spend more money than those who venture to the high street on their own, reports femalefirst.co.uk. In fact, girls tend to spend 37.25 pounds more each time they go out with their friends ...

Jessie Js long nails inspired by granny

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:30:01 -0400

British pop star Jessie J says her craze for long nails comes from her grandmother. The 27-year-old star admits she got crazy nail art and pointy tips from her grandmother, who was obsessed with the colour green, reports contactmusic.com. "My nan, ever since I can remember, has had long pointy nails. And she loves green. Everything she has is green - her bathroom, her clothes. If she could have ...

Justin Biebers monkey gets a new home

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:01 -0400

Singer Justin Bieber's abandoned pet monkey Mally has found a new home at a British animal sanctuary. Mally was confiscated last month by German customs as Bieber had no papers to bring the pet to the country. Now Don Walser, from the Isle of Wight's Owl and Monkey Haven, has offered the animal a home with his pair Martin and Lulu and their baby Malou, reports dailystar.co.uk. Walser, 68, ...

Cleanliness freak Styles nicknamed Mrs. Mop

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:01 -0400

Harry Styles of One Direction is so obsessed with cleaning the band's tour bus that it has earned him the Mrs. Mop moniker. "Styles loves everything to be neat and tidy. He's fixated with keeping the tour bus clean," dailystar.co.uk quoted a crew member as saying. "He watches to make sure no-one drops food anywhere and asked people to leave their shoes at the door and wear slippers," he added. ...

For the elderly in US poetry blunts the pain of isolation

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:50:02 -0400

A woman in her seventies takes the microphone to recite a short poem, which, she warned the men present, was on the hazards of flirting. "Cheda na karo ate jatein raston mein, pale pad gayi to mushkil hogi" (Do not flirt with every girl who crosses your path, if she falls for you, you will have a problem). It was a couplet which would have been greeted with cat calls and whistles among college ...

Mexican twice summits Everest in one climbing season

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:40:01 -0400

Mexican David Liao Gonzalez Sunday became the first climber to double summit on Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, in the same season, the climb's organizers said. Liao Gonzalez reached the top of the world via both the north and south sides of Everest, Asian Trekking said. The 33-year-old Liao Gonzalez reached the summit of Everest Sunday via the Tibetan north side after climbing to ...

Pakistani daily hopes Sharif Kayani work together

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:40:01 -0400

A leading Pakistani daily Monday hoped that incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani "can at least be expected to try and work together". Nawaz Sharif, who is all set to become the prime minister for the third time, had a long meeting in Lahore with General Kayani. "Of one meeting is not made a relationship, functional or otherwise...," said an editorial ...

Have good manners Chinese official to tourists

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:30:01 -0400

If you are a tourist in China, you better have "healthy and civilised" manners. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang Sunday stressed that efforts should be made to advocate "healthy and civilized" manners among tourists. Wang made the remarks during an inspection tour to central China's Henan province, just days after he advocated polite tourist behavior and stressed that a good image of Chinese ...

Mexico aims to boost trade with Brazil

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:20:01 -0400

Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Jose Antonio Meade visited his Brazilian counterpart, Antonio Patriota, with whom he agreed to promote a series of business meetings to boost bilateral trade. Meade told a press conference that, on the topic of trade, "right now that is Mexico's goal", but that at present there is no intention to negotiate free-trade agreements with Brazil. "There's a mutual ...

Brazil midfielder Paulinho denies transfer rumours

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:00:02 -0400

Brazil international midfielder Paulinho has denied speculation that he is on the verge of a move to Europe. The 24-year-old Corinthians star is reportedly on the radar of Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk and Chelsea, among other European clubs, reports Xinhua. Speaking after Corinthians' 3-2 aggregate victory over Santos in the final of the Campeonato Paulista Sunday, Paulinho said he would ...

China-Indias large potential makes West anxious Daily

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:50:02 -0400

China and India's combined potential are large enough to make the West anxious but there are "many weaknesses in the bilateral relationship", a state-run Chinese daily has said. Said the Global Times in an editorial Monday, the second day of Premier Li Keqiang's India trip: "As China's new premier, his selection of India for his first overseas trip has widely been interpreted as a sign that ...

Nestle invests $130 mn in Mexico plant

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:40:01 -0400

Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto inaugurated a 1.6-billion-peso ($130-million) expansion of a Nestle instant coffee factory in the central city of Toluca. The project has boosted the plant's productive capacity by 30 percent, making it the world's biggest facility of its kind, Nestle Mexico CEO Marcelo Melchior said during Friday's ceremony. The factory, which covers a 14-hectare area, will ...

Roberto Carlos to coach Turkish Sivasspor club

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:30:01 -0400

Former World Cup winner and Real Madrid star Roberto Carlos has agreed to coach Turkish Super League's Sivasspor club. Sivasspor officials announced that they had offered the coaching job to the Brazilian after former coach Riza Calimbay called it quits, reports Xinhua. Carlos, 40, reportedly accepted the offer after consulting with friends from his time with Fenerbahce. Carlos is currently the ...

Yahoo to buy Tumblr in $1.1 bn deal

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:20:01 -0400

The board of web pioneer Yahoo has reportedly approved a deal to buy popular blogging site Tumblr for $1.1 billion in cash, according to various media reports. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Tumblr CEO David Karp were reported to be in talks last week. On Sunday, the board approved the deal, the Wall Street Journal first reported. The deal is expected to be announced as soon as Monday, the New York ...

Badminton becomes a victim of Chinas bird flu outbreak

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:20:01 -0400

Badminton has become an indirect victim of bird flu that has been affecting the country, given that the extensive slaughtering of infected ducks has created a shortage of feathers, an essential raw material for the birdies used in the sport, media reports said. Many cases of H7N9 bird flu have been detected at farms in the eastern Chinese provinces of Anhui, Jiangxi and Fujian, which are the ...

20 children among 51 dead in monster Oklahoma tornado

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:05:08 -0400

Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, Monday, May 20, 2013. (Paul ...

6.0-magnitude quake hits Russias far-east Kamchatka coastline USGS

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:54:00 -0400

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula early Tuesday, followed by a series of strong aftershocks, the US Geological Survey ...

Disaster city sends expert help

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:48:25 -0400

The Joplin tornado killed 158 people and injured hundreds more.On Monday Joplin put together a team of about a dozen police and firefighters to assist rescue efforts in Moore.Joplin city manager Mark Rohr said his community remembered the help it received in 2011 and felt an obligation to lend a hand in Moore.The team from Joplin will help determine areas in which Moore needs further help and ...

Court orders Rios Montt retrial

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:48:24 -0400

Constitutional Court secretary Martin Guzman said the trial needed to go back to where it stood on April 19 to solve several appeal issues.The ruling came 10 days after a three-judge panel convicted Rios Montt, 86, of genocide and crimes against humanity for his role in massacres of Mayans during Guatemala's civil war.It found he knew about the slaughter of at least 1,771 Ixil Mayans in the ...

Father in court for killing his children

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:48:22 -0400

BY JOHN LICHFIELD - 21 May 2013 A divorced British father with a history of drunkenness and domestic violence has been formally accused of killing his two children, found with their throats cut in his flat in southern ...

Maria Stubbings Murder Police Face Action

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:46:40 -0400

The family of a woman who was strangled after being left in the clutches of a convicted murderer plan to sue the police over a catalogue of blunders and are calling for a public inquiry into how forces deal with domestic violence. Maria Stubbings, 50, was murdered by Marc Chivers at her home in Chelmsford, Essex, in December 2008. He had been freed from a German prison less than a year ...

Monster tornado kills at least 51 in Oklahoma town

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:42:50 -0400

MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - A 2-mile-wide (3-km-wide) tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 51 people while destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath ...

JPMorgan investors on edge over vote on Dimon what if they win

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:38:54 -0400

JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon testifies before the House Financial Services hearing on ''Examining Bank Supervision and Risk Management in Light of JPMorgan Chase's Trading Loss'' on Capitol Hill in Washington June 19, ...

Latest updates

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:13:47 -0400

>For local coverage of Monday's devastating storms in Oklahoma, go to these CNN affiliates: KFOR, KOCO, KOKH, KOKI(CNN) -- At least 51 people -- including seven children at an elementary school -- were killed when a massive tornado struck an area outside Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon, officials said. Seven children were killed at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma, a police ...

Chinese fishing boat crew released by North Korea

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:09 -0400

BEIJING -; The owner of a Chinese fishing boat seized for ransom by unidentified North Koreans says the boat and its 16 crew members have been ...

Officials Dalton Smith let out of prison early

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:57:34 -0400

Photo credit: Police handout | Police say Dalton Smith, 30, of Hempstead, had a lengthy rap sheet and an active arrest warrant for violating his ...

Thousands protest after gay mans murder in Manhattan

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:50:17 -0400

Thousands of New Yorkers -- including mayoral candidate Christine Quinn -- marched Monday to protest the shooting death of a gay man in the neighbourhood that was the cradle of the modern US gay rights ...

Dozens dead as tornado hits US city

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:50:16 -0400

A powerful tornado swept through an Oklahoma City suburb on Monday, tearing down blocks of homes and at least two schools and leaving at least 51 people dead, local officials told US ...

More tornadoes possible in Oklahoma - meteorologist

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:47:04 -0400

photos Further tornadoes are still possible in the devastated town of Moore, according to a Kiwi meteorologist tracking the storm in Oklahoma City. Nelson-born Peter Lamb, a senior meteorologist at the University of Oklahoma, said the warning was issued half an hour before the tornado hit Moore, killing at least 51 and destroying buildings in its path. The funnel touched down 16 minutes after ...

Oklahoma tornado Complete devastation as huge tornado rips through suburbs killing dozens of people

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:44:38 -0400

Roberto Martinez was left in no doubt how much Wigan fans want him to stay on as manager as the club celebrated their FA Cup triumph with a parade through the town centre on Monday ...

Oklahoma tornado Man survives by taking refuge in horse stall

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:44:37 -0400

Lee Hoyle, of Chickasaw Nation search and rescue, digs through the debris of a mobile home in the Steelman Estates Mobile Home Park, destroyed by Sunday's tornado, near Shawnee, Okla., Monday, May 20, 2013. The tornado that slammed into Oklahoma on Sunday is now blamed for two deaths. Authorities say two men in their 70s have been found dead in or near a mobile home park outside of Shawnee. ...

Syrian Electronic Army Associated Press Financial Times and BBC have been hacked by them - but who are they

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:44:35 -0400

Boston cardinal Sean O'Malley skipped a college commencement in protest at its decision to honour Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who backs laws to permit ...

Guatemalas Highest Court Overturns Genocide Conviction of Former Dictator

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:39:55 -0400

MEXICO CITY ...

Japan April exports seen up but trade deficit to persist

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:35:34 -0400

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's exports are expected to have risen in April from a year earlier for a second straight month led by U.S.-bound shipments of cars and Asian demand for electronics parts in a sign a weak yen and global recovery are helping the export-reliant ...

Asia stocks muted ahead of Fed meeting

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:20:29 -0400

The Fed is currently conducting the third round of massive bond purchases known as quantitative easing to help drive down interest rates and spur lending. But recently improving data on the U.S. economy has led to speculation that the Fed might consider scaling back the program or winding it down earlier than ...

Latest updates

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:59:57 -0400

Guatemala top court overturns genocide conviction

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:56:41 -0400

GUATEMALA CITY -; Guatemala's top court has overturned the genocide conviction of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt's and ordered his trial to ...

Nassau legislature backs time in rank plan

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:53:45 -0400

Nassau 2012 payroll, overtime The Nassau County Legislature Monday backed a bid by correction officers to base demotions or job cuts on "time in rank" instead of years on the job and approved a requirement that all construction contracts in excess of $500,000 have apprenticeship programs.The new apprenticeship legislation, which still must be signed by County Executive Edward Mangano, ...

Disabled couple living separately offered apartment

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:53:45 -0400

Paul Forziano kisses his bride, Hava Samuels, after the disabled couple was wed in a ceremony in Wading River. (April 7, 2013) (April 8, 2013 8:34 ...

Besieged Mexican town cheers arrival of soldiers

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:52:59 -0400

After being terminated from her job as Medley Assistant Town Clerk two weeks ago, things got better very quickly for Mary Taylor last week when a special meeting was called and she was reinstated to her old ...

Cardinal snub over abortion stance

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:40:46 -0400

Boston cardinal Sean O'Malley skipped a college commencement in protest at its decision to honour Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who backs laws to permit ...

Ex-dictator died after shower fall

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:40:46 -0400

Ray Manzarek, the keyboardist and founding member of The Doors who had a dramatic impact on rock 'n' roll, has died at 74 after a battle with ...

Cot Death Risks Of Babies Bed Sharing

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:38:44 -0400

Researchers estimate nearly half of cot death cases could be prevented if parents only brought children into their beds for comfort and feeding, not sleeping. At the moment parents are told they should not share their bed only if they have been drinking alcohol, taking drugs or if they smoke. It is estimated that around 120 babies' lives could be saved in the UK every year. The new ...

7 die at Oklahoma elementary school

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:30:29 -0400

>Are you experiencing severe weather in your area? Send photos and videos to CNN iReport. But please remember to stay safe. For local coverage of Monday's devastating storms in Oklahoma, go to these CNN affiliates: KFOR, KOCO, KOKH, KOKI. Moore, Oklahoma (CNN) -- Rescue workers raced against time and the oncoming night Monday looking for survivors after a powerful tornado blasted an area ...

Pentagon to take over some CIA drone operations sources

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:29:50 -0400

A U.S. Marine, who is part of a military honor guard, takes his position before a welcoming ceremony for German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere, by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, at the Pentagon in Washington April 30, ...

Latest updates

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:16:29 -0400

Vermont allows legalized suicide

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:52:43 -0400

Vermont on Monday became the fourth U.S. state to end legal penalties for doctors who prescribe medication to terminally ill patients seeking to end their own lives.The law, which includes a number of safeguards over the next three years as the state adapts, marked the first time a U.S. state has used the legislative process to make assisted suicide legal. Oregon and Washington have similar laws ...

Canada called ‘a natural fit’ for Pacific Alliance

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:52:43 -0400

On the eve of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's trip to Latin America, Mexico - keen on putting some new zip into its relations with Ottawa - sees Canada as an ideal fit for the new Pacific Alliance trading bloc that is rapidly emerging.Mexico's vice-minister of foreign affairs, Sergio Alcocer, says Canada would see benefits in Latin America and Asia - if it's willing to do ...

In pictures Tornadoes wreak havoc across U.S. states

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:52:42 -0400

More than two dozen tornadoes were spotted in Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and local news ...

Children pulled from Oklahoma school following deadly tornado

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:52:41 -0400

Teachers carry children away from Briarwood Elementary school after a tornado destroyed the school in south Oklahoma City, Monday, May 20, 2013. (Paul ...

School budget votes being held Tuesday

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:48:16 -0400

Photo credit: Alejandra Villa | A sign urging for a "yes" vote across from Baldwin Middle School as Long Islanders prepare vote tomorrow on school budget and board elections. (May 20, ...

Justin Bieber Selena Gomez kiss causes Taylor Swift to react in disgust

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:48:16 -0400

Photo credit: Getty Images | Justin Bieber accepts the award for top male artist during the 2013 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas. (May 19, ...

Doors founder Manzarek dies at 74

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:44:59 -0400

Manzarek died in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family, said publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald. His manager, Tom Vitorino, said Manzarek died after battling bile duct cancer.Manzarek ...

Deadly tornado hits Oklahoma City suburb

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:40:16 -0400

A powerful tornado with winds of up to 200 miles (320 kilometres) per hour pulverized an Oklahoma City suburb Monday, hitting at least two schools and wiping out blocks of homes. At least 37 people were reported ...

Top White House officials knew in April of tax probe

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:40:15 -0400

Top White House aides knew of a scandal over tax officials targeting conservative groups in April, but did not tell President Barack Obama, in a possible bid to insulate him from political ...

Why Is Russia Still Arming Syria

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:37:25 -0400

two weeks ago when the United States and Russia announced plans for an international conference aimed at ending Syria's increasingly virulent civil war is fast fading -- and Russia is a big reason. Instead of using its leverage as Syria's enabler and defender to move President Bashar al-Assad toward a negotiated solution, ...

New Efforts to Undercut Health Reforms

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:37:22 -0400

Congressional Republicans are trying to exploit two controversies bedeviling the Obama administration to undermine the health care reform law. They are ...

No Public Office for Vito Lopez

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:37:20 -0400

early Monday morning . That is a relief. But Mr. Lopez is still threatening to run for City Council in Brooklyn and has raised almost $40,000 in contributions to begin a campaign. Brooklyn's residents and the city's taxpayers deserve far better than that and should demand his immediate ...

There Was a Time When Ending Hunger Was a National Goal for Republicans and Democrats

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:37:18 -0400

declared Richard Nixon in May 1969 in his now widely forgotten "Special Message to the Congress Recommending a Program to End Hunger in America." In that document, he summoned the country to a new level of generosity and concern and laid out a series of strong legislative steps and executive actions, including a significant expansion of the food-stamps ...

O’Reilly confirmed as official candidate for post of European ombudsman

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:34:45 -0400

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly, who received the backing of 80 MEPs from across Europe's political spectrum - the written support of 40 was required to qualify. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA ...

Tory efforts to delay gay marriage plans defeated with help of Labour

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:34:44 -0400

From left: Geoffrey Vero, Dillis Miles, Bob Willard and Ed Costello, part of a group of more than 30 local Conservative Party members and former members who are calling on David Cameron to abandon attempts to redefine marriage, hand in a letter to Number 10 Downing Street. Photograph: PA ...

China asks for release of 16 fishermen believed held by North Koreans

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:34:44 -0400

A North Korean soldier stands guard on the banks of Yalu River, near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong. North Korea fired two short-range missiles on Monday. Photograph: ...

EU condemns attack on gay rights rally in Tbilisi Georgia

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:34:43 -0400

European Union has denounced a violent attack by thousands of Georgians - with Orthodox priests in the vanguard - on a few dozen gay rights campaigners in the capital ...

Scores killed including seven primary school children as massive tornado causes widespread damage in Oklahoma

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:34:30 -0400

A monstrous tornado that may be remembered as among the largest and most destructive in American history roared through a heavily populated suburb of Oklahoma City, cutting swathe as much as two miles wise and flattening homes, shops, hospitals and, perhaps most devastatingly, schools that had no time to ...

British man Julian Stevenson appears in court after confessing to slitting childrens throats

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:34:23 -0400

A 48-year-old British man has appeared in a French court today after allegedly confessing to killing his two children by slitting their ...

Princes Call For Illegal Wildlife Trade Ban

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:32:52 -0400

Prince Charles and Prince William will today host a conference to call for a global partnership to stop illegal trade in wildlife. Along with Environment Secretary Owen Paterson they will tell delegates from around the world that the trade presents a grave threat not only to the natural world, but also to global security. The conference will hear that both black and white rhino are coming ...

White House counsel kept IRS probe results from Obama

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:30:20 -0400

By Kim Dixon and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON | Mon May 20, 2013 9:30pm EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two senior White House aides knew weeks ago that a probe of the Internal Revenue Service had found that the U.S. tax agency had inappropriately targeted conservative groups, but did not tell President Barack Obama, a White House spokesman said on Monday. A Treasury Department official ...

Vast Oklahoma Tornado Kills at Least 51

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:30:12 -0400

MOORE, Okla. ...

Protester unfurls banner after climbing dome of St Peters Basilica in Rome

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:25:37 -0400

A man climbed on to a ledge on the dome of St Peter's Basilica on Monday and unfurled a banner protesting against a "political horror show", an apparent reference ...

Labour saves David Camerons gay marriage bill

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:25:36 -0400

Labour's move meant the amendment, tabled by the anti-gay marriage Tory Tim Loughton, was defeated by 375 to 70 votes, a majority of 305. Photograph: Facundo ...

Dozens killed by 200mph Tornado

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:22:43 -0400

A massive tornado up to a mile wide roared through Oklahoma City's suburbs, killing at least 37, flattening neighbourhoods with winds up to 200mph and landing a direct hit on at least one school.An Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office spokeswoman said the death toll was expected to rise. Two hospitals said they were treating nearly 60 patients, including more than a dozen children. At ...

Report Cites Countries Use of Laws to Repress Faith

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:11:03 -0400

WASHINGTON ...

Heartbreaking scenes after twister

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:54:04 -0400

>Are you experiencing severe weather in your area? Send photos and videos to CNN iReport. But please remember to stay safe. For local coverage of Monday's devastating storms in Oklahoma, go to these CNN affiliates: KFOR, KOCO, KOKH, KOKIMoore, Oklahoma (CNN) -- The enormity of Monday's Oklahoma City area tornado was heartbreaking as daylight slipped away. Yellow-helmeted rescue workers here ...

Apples Web of Tax Shelters Saved It Billions Panel Finds

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:48:57 -0400

WASHINGTON ...

Cameron’s gay-marriage policy risks undermining his re-election in 2015

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:46:29 -0400

British Prime Minister David Cameron's flagship gay marriage policy deepened a rift in his own party on Monday after many of his own lawmakers defied him in a sign of growing strains on his leadership and his coalition government.Almost 40 per cent of Cameron's 303 lawmakers in the lower house of parliament voted for an ultimately unsuccessful amendment that would have allowed ...

Russian Polling Group Says It May Close

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:36:27 -0400

MOSCOW ...

At least six dead in Oklahoma City tornado

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:34:33 -0400

A powerful tornadowith winds of up to 320 kilometres per hour pulverized an Oklahoma City suburb Monday, hitting at least two schools, wiping out blocks of homes. At least six people were reported ...

Gay marriage law debate deepens UK leadership rift

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:31:53 -0400

French parliament approves gay marriage law British Prime Minister David Cameron's flagship gay marriage policy is set to deepen a rift in his own party with many of his own lawmakers preparing to defy him in a sign of growing strains on his leadership and his coalition government. Up to half of Cameron's 303 lawmakers in the lower house of parliament are expected to back an amendment ...

Egypt Sends Show of Force to Sinai After Kidnappings

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:29:53 -0400

CAIRO ...

Two daughters of Nelson Mandela seek rights to his artwork and companies

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:29:09 -0400

Former South African president, Nelson Mandela's daughter Makaziwe Mandela, (left) with her daughter Tukwini pose with a bottle of House of Mandela wine at their home in Johannesburg. Photograph: Getty ...

Israel questions Gaza boy’s death

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:29:08 -0400

The father of Muhammad el-Dura, a Palestinian child killed in Gaza in 2000 during an exchange of fire between Israeli troops and Palestinian police, says he is willing to exhume his son's body to refute Israeli claims that he was not shot by ...

Palestinians in Syria caught in the middle

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:29:07 -0400

The UN agency aiding Palestinians gives 3,000 Syrian pounds ($2.15) to every registered refugee family, "but this is not enough. A kilo of tomatoes is 100," she ...

Latest updates

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:26:52 -0400

Gay marriage debate highlights deep divide in Conservative party

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:20:06 -0400

Anti-same sex marriage activists demonstrate on 20 May as Tory traditionalists failed in a series of bids to limit the scope of the bill. Photograph: Facundo ...

Court orders prison to hand over files in Boston bomb case

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:19:16 -0400

Judge Marianne Bowler presides over the case of Robel Phillipos, the teenager accused of lying to FBI agents in the Boston Marathon bombing investigation, in court in Boston, Massachusetts in this May 6, 2013 court ...

The scenes

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:17:29 -0400

>For local coverage of Monday's devastating storms in Oklahoma, go to these CNN affiliates: KFOR, KOCO, KOKH, KOKIMoore, Oklahoma (CNN) -- The enormity of Monday's Oklahoma City area tornado was heartbreaking as daylight began to slip away. Yellow-helmeted rescue workers in Moore, Oklahoma, continued their desperate search for students and teachers at an elementary school that was almost gone. ...

Oklahoma City tornado Latest developments

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:53:29 -0400

>For local coverage of Monday's devastating storms in Oklahoma, go to these CNN affiliates: KFOR, KOCO, KOKH, KOKI(CNN) -- At least 10 people were killed and a number of other people were injured when a storm with a massive tornado struck an area outside Oklahoma City on Monday afternoon, officials said. At least one school in Moore, Oklahoma, appeared to have been hit by the tornado. ...

Severe weather

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:39:20 -0400

>Are you experiencing severe weather in your area? Send photos and videos to CNN iReport. But please remember to stay safe. For local coverage of Monday's devastating storms in Oklahoma, go to these CNN affiliates: KFOR, KOCO, KOKH, KOKI. Moore, Oklahoma (CNN) -- Rescue workers raced against time and darkness Monday night looking for survivors after a powerful tornado blasted an area outside ...