• Leaders of G8 call for peace in Syria and pledge humanitarian aid

  ENNISKILLEN - The Group of Eight industrialised nations called for a swift end to the bloody civil war in Syria and urgent peace talks but stopped short of calling for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in its joint statement at the end of talks Tuesday. Despite the lack of consensus among the G8 on the fate of Assad, as well as the use of chemical weapons by his regime, Canadian ...

• Mandela International Day launched

  The UN and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory (NMCM) Wednesday launched the Mandela International Day, even as the anti-apartheid icon spent his 12th day in hospital for a recurring lung problem. Wednesday's event marked the official launch of programmes to celebrate Mandela's 95th birthday July 18, Xinhua reported. July 18 was endorsed in 2009 by the UN General Assembly as Nelson Mandela ...

• Hamas holds talks to stop being listed as terror group

  The Islamic Hamas movement has been holding meetings with foreign officials in a bid to get its name erased from the list of international terrorist organisations, a Hamas official said Wednesday. The US, several European countries and Israel have classified the Hamas movement, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since June 2007, as a terrorist organisation. A series of meetings with European ...

• NRI lawyer wins Iran bank case in British Supreme Court

  Mumbai-born Parsi lawyer Sarosh Zaiwala Wednesday notched a remarkable success in a bank case in the British Supreme Court, with major ramifications on the international banking system, an official said. By the court verdict, the British government's sanctions on Iran's largest private bank, Bank Mellat, were lifted after the its security service's "Secret Court" failed to produce significant ...

• 14 killed in attack on UN headquarters in Somalia

  At least 14 people were killed and 15 others were wounded in an attack on the UN headquarters in the Somali capital of Mogadishu Wednesday, CNN reported. Seven militants, four UN employees and three female civilians were killed, said Abdikarim Hussein Guled, the country's interior and national security minister. The Al-Shabaab militant group linked to Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the ...

• UN headquarters in Somalia attacked

  An attacker Wednesday blew himself up at the entrance to the UN headquarters in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, CNN reported. Others wearing suicide vests entered the UN compound and a gunfight ensued, said police officer Hussein Ahmed. The compound had now been secured and was in the hands of African Union troops, according to the official Twitter account of the African Union Mission to ...

• South Korean president visits Indian book pavilion

  South Korean President Park Geun-hye Wednesday toured the Indian pavilion at an international book fair here in which India is participating as the guest of honour for the first time. She toured the Indian pavilion at the Seoul International Book Fair, spending close to 10 minutes there, said an embassy press release. It was followed by a brief interaction when Minister of State for Human ...

• Palestinians should have a state as a right Blair

  Palestinians "should have a state, not as a reward for good behaviour but as a right", Tony Blair, the official envoy of the Middle East Quartet, said Wednesday. Blair cautioned Israeli leaders that the "window of opportunity" for peace with the Palestinians might close shortly, Xinhua reported. "Some say the two-state solution is a fantasy. The fantasy is thinking one-state is sustainable or ...

• Suicide bombers attack UN office in Mogadishu

  Mogadishu, June 19 (Xinhua-ANI): Militants on Wednesday launched suicide bomb attacks on the office of United Nations Development Programe (UNDP) in Mogadishu where guards exchanged fire with the gunmen in and around the compound, police and witnesses said. "The fighting with the gunmen and suicide bombers is ongoing. We have eliminated some of the attackers but the fighting is now going on," ...

• Li Na enters second round at Eastbourne

  Second seed Li Na of China defeated French woman Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-4 to reach the second round of the Aegon International here. Li, French Open champion two years ago but beaten in the second round at Roland Garros earlier this month, will next take on former champion Marion Bartoli of France, reports Xinhua. Fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki, the former World No.1, led Tamira Paszek 6-2, 2-2 ...

• Veronica Campbell-Brown denies knowingly taking drug

  Olympic and World Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown has denied knowingly taking a banned substance Lasix, which also goes by the name Furosemide. Brown's first public reaction came in the form of a statement released by her On Track Management (OTM) group following reports that she has tested positive for the banned drug. The OTM statement says Brown is determined to clear her name and included ...

• Brazil protests will calm down Blatter hopes

  FIFA president Sepp Blatter denied that the Confederations Cup and World Cup are the causes for mass protests across Brazil. Demonstrations, which began last week in response to rise in public transport fares, have turned into a nation-wide rally against bad governance and corruption, reports Xinhua. Many marchers expressed their anger at the billions of dollars spent on new football stadiums ...

• Pakistan expresses concern over US drone attacks at UNSC

  Pakistan has expressed concerns over drone attacks to the United Nations Security Council. Pakistan told the UNSC that armed drones were violating country's sovereignty, causing civilian casualties, and putting communities at risk of reprisal attacks. According to the Daily Times, Pakistan said drone strikes radicalised disaffected communities and increased the number of terrorists, adding ...

• Protestors hack Brazil World Cup 2014 website

  Protestors have reportedly hacked the official website for the Brazil Football World Cup 2014 and replaced the site with a video of a violent police response to a peaceful protest. According to News.com.au, the FIFA website was replaced with an embedded YouTube video, showing protesters marching, before riot police release tear gas and fire on the protesters with rubber bullets. The report ...

• Kim Jong Un distributes copies of Hitlers Mein Kampf to North Korean officials to mark bday

  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un handed out copies of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf to mark his birthday. Kim reportedly distributed the copies of Mein Kampf in an effort to sow fear among top officials. According to the Telegraph, North Korea-watchers believe the move is part of an effort to make him seem powerful, rather than drawing on Nazi beliefs. Shirley Lee, the editor of the New Focus ...

• Whatmore to review flop Pak players with World Cup 2015 in mind

  Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore has said that national team will be reviewed keeping in mind the 2015 World Cup after their dismal performance in the ICC Champions Trophy in England. Poor batting led to Pakistan's defeat in all three matches as they failed to post a single total above 170 runs, with the flop performance prompting calls from former players, media and fans to overhaul the system and ...

• UN chief hails G8 leaders understanding on Syria

  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon Tuesday welcomed the understanding reached on Syria by leaders of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrial nations. Ban welcomed the commitment to bring the Syrian sides to the negotiating table, saying that he stands ready to convene the Geneva Conference on Syria as soon as possible to help the Syrian sides reach "a comprehensive agreement based on the Geneva ...

• Praising advances in Serbia UN official urges political will to solidify human rights gains

  18 June 2013 150 Visiting Serbia at "an important and transformative moment" in its history, the United Nations human rights chief today urged a steadfast focus on fundamental rights as she hailed a succession of political advances that augur well for the country itself and for the future of the wider region. "It is a positive sign that the authorities are addressing some tough human ...

• Hungary must revoke amendment threatening judicial independence - UN rights chief

  18 June 2013 150 The top United Nations human rights official today urged the Hungarian Government to revoke a constitutional amendment that threatens the judiciary's independence and endangers the country's system of checks and balances. "Hungary should seek to maintain high standards of human rights protection," said High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. "Our view is that this ...

• Senior UN officials urge restraint dialogue to defuse tensions fuelling protests in Turkey

  18 June 2013 150 Urging "maximum restraint" amid widespread anti-Government protests in Turkey, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Navi Pillay, the world body's human rights chief, called today for constructive dialogue to defuse tensions in the country. "The atmosphere is still clearly highly combustible," said Ms. Pillay, who is the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. ...

• Libyas democratic transition can benefit from national political dialogue says UN envoy

  18 June 2013 150 Managing Libya's democratic transition is bound to be difficult given the legacy of decades of brutal rule, a senior United Nations envoy told the Security Council today, adding that the country could benefit from a national political dialogue on the way forward. "The political and security challenges that now face the country may well be the legacy of decades of ...

• Mali UN officials welcome accord between Government and Tuareg rebels

  18 June 2013 150 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the signing of an agreement between the Government of Mali and Tuareg rebels, providing for an immediate ceasefire and paving the way for country-wide presidential elections set for next month. In a statement issued by a spokesperson in New York, the UN chief welcomes the accord reached between the Malian ...

• US Names New Envoy to Africas Great Lakes

  Former Senator Russell Feingold has been named the U.S. special envoy to Africa's troubled Great Lakes region. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who announced the appointment Tuesday, said Feingold will work closely with U.N. envoy Mary Robinson to advance a U.N. framework for peace in the region. The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has endured years of conflict and ...

• More Russian Oil Flows to China in Shift From Europe

  MOSCOW Russia is steeply ramping up oil deliveries to China, with Asia now importing almost a fifth of oil exports from the world's largest crude producer in a strategic shift meant by the Kremlin to end reliance on weak and saturated European markets. Russia will increase oil supplies to China by 13 percent in July-September from the previous three months, a shipping schedule obtained ...

• Kenyas Deputy Leader to Appear during ICC Trial

  The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled that Kenya's deputy president, William Ruto, must attend key segments of his trial on charges of crimes against humanity scheduled to begin in September, according to a court spokesman. Ruto and Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta face similar charges before the court in connection with their alleged role in the country's 2007-2008 post-election ...

• G8 condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria

  G8 leaders Tuesday condemned any use of chemical weapons in Syria, and that they were deeply concerned by the growing threat from terrorism and extremism in the Middle East country. In a final communique issued after the annual G8 summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, the leaders called on all parties in the conflict to allow access to the UN investigating team, Xinhua reported. It said the ...

• Royal Ascot Sun shines on day two of racing at world-famous meet

  Brilliant summer sunshine bathed Royal Ascot as the Queen arrived for another day of racing at the world-famous meet.The royal party processed along the course in a carriage with the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, who joined her yesterday for the opening of the event.Racegoers traditionally have a punt on the colour of the hat she will wear on Ladies' Day, being staged tomorrow, ...

• Ban Ki-moon recommends end to Iraq sanctions

  UNITED NATIONS // The secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, yesterday recommended moving a step closer to ending all of the UN sanctions imposed on Iraq more than two decades ago after the country's former leader, Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in 1990. Despite the fall of Saddam in 2003 after an invasion led by the United States, the UN has not fully lifted the sanctions. ...

• Globe Editorial Accountability not lack of money is the real problem on federal reserves

  A new report that says half of all status First Nations children in Canada live in poverty paints a dire picture but should also be a source of optimism. In a refreshing break from the usual handwringing, the report points out that injecting more money into First Nations reserves won't accomplish a thing until what it accurately describes as a "dysfunctional accountability system" ...

• Israel decides to export 40 percent of its natural gas remainder for local market

  JERUSALEM -- Israel has decided to export 40 percent of the natural gas it expects to produce from offshore wells, keeping a larger amount for local use than expected. The figure, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, is lower than the 53 percent recommended by an inter-ministerial committee last year. The remainder should provide Israel with enough gas for 25 years. The ...

• Correction Jordan-Syria-War Games story

  ZARQA, Jordan -; In a June 18 story about U.S.-led war games in Jordan, The Associated Press reported erroneously the organization that employs Tawfiq Hennawi. He works for the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, not the International Committee of the Red ...

• Egypt top cleric Protests against Morsi permitted

  FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011 file photo, Ahmed el-Tayeb the grand sheik of Cairo's Al-Azhar, the pre-eminent theological institute of Sunni Islam, talks to the media in Cairo, Egypt. El-Tayeb said on Wednesday that peaceful protests against the president are permitted, dismissing declarations by Islamist hard-liners that those behind protests planned for June 30 are heretics. (AP ...

• Dolce and Gabbana convicted of tax evasion

  Two years ago, a judge threw out a tax evasion and fraud case against the pair, whose label Dolce&Gabbana is a Milan fashion mainstay. Italy's high court later ruled the designers could be prosecuted for tax evasion, though not for ...

• Kerry to address top world issues on upcoming trip

  WASHINGTON -; Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Friday to visit seven countries on a trip focusing on global issues such as the Syrian crisis, Middle East peace and the West's standoffs with Iran and North Korea over their nuclear ...

• World powers to meet on Syrian rebel demands

  PARIS -; A French diplomat says officials from the United States and other countries will meet in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday to decide how to respond to requests for help from the Free Syrian ...

• Airbus clocks 59 orders for new A350 wide-body jet

  A visitor watches General Electric the GEnx jet engine, powering Boeing 787 Dremliner, during the 50th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris, Wednesday June 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Remy de la ...

• Emirates named ‘world’s best airline’ at award show

  Emirates Airline has been honoured with the title of world's top carrier at a recent award ceremony. The 2013 World Airline Awards took place yesterday (June 18th), during which Emirates was presented with the World's Best Airline gong. It also took home the prize for Best Middle East Airline and World's Best Inflight Entertainment, which is an award they have won nine years in a ...

• Another defeat for Ireland in World League

  A tough day at the office for the Irish Senior Men saw them fall 6-3 to a talented young Belgian side in Rotterdam this morning. Two goals in two first-half minutes before a Chris Cargo reply saw them go in at the break 2-1 down and fighting hard, but six goals in 20 minutes of the second period left Andrew Meredith’s side beaten by the better team on the day. The result means Belgium ...

• Backstreet Boys Debut New Song In a World Like This

  the Backstreet Boys amped up the anticipation by premiering the title track and first single, "In a World Like This," last night on New York radio station Z100. The song is uptempo in the same way as the 1997 single "As Long As You Love Me," and is about discovering love when it's needed ...

• The Martini This American Cocktail May Have An International Twist

  The martini: international drink of mystery? There's no cocktail more distinctly American than the martini. It's strong, sophisticated and sexy. It's everything we hope to project while ordering one. Baltimore-born satirist H.L. Mencken is said to have called the martini "the only American invention as perfect as the sonnet." But is the martini perfectly ...

• No easy nuke arms cuts Russia

  ST PETERSBURG, Russia - Russia voiced concern on Wednesday about US missile defences and high-precision conventional weapons, signalling that nuclear arms cuts proposed by President Barack Obama are likely to face ...

• Budapest parly evacuated over WWII bomb

  Budapest - Part of Hungary's parliament was evacuated Wednesday after an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered during excavation work for a nearby underground ...

• Iceland weighs Snowden asylum

  Stockholm - Iceland said Wednesday it has held informal talks with an intermediary of US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden who reportedly may want to seek political asylum ...

• Boston suspect gets Russia burial

  Grozny, Russia - The father of a Russian man killed while being questioned about ties to the Boston Marathon bombing suspects says he has brought the body to Russia for ...

• US Paralympics include 15 London 2012 medallists in squad for IPC World Championships

  June 18 - US Paralympics have named the majority of their track and field stars from London 2012 in their squad for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championships in Lyon next month, including T44 100 metres silver medallist Richard Browne, who recently equalled the world record in the event. Browne has been embroiled in a war of words with the man who finished ahead of him in ...

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