Beirut, Nov 19 (IANS) The Lebanese parliament Wednesday failed for the 15th consecutive time since April to elect a new head of state to replace President Michel Suleiman, whose term ended May 25. Lack of the required constitutional two-thirds quorum in the 128-seat parliament was the reason that pushed Speaker Nabih Berri to call for […]
Baghdad, Nov 18 (IANS) Iraqi security forces launched a major offensive to recapture the town of Saadiyah in the eastern province of Diyala Tuesday while troops retook control of a village near the country’s largest oil refinery in Salahudin province, security sources said. Early Tuesday, security forces backed by Shia militias and aircraft carried out […]
Beirut, Nov 18 (IANS/EFE) At least 23 people were killed Monday and Tuesday by barrel bombs launched by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad near the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). The observatory said that 13 of the victims, including two children, died Tuesday morning […]
Beijing, Nov 18 (IANS/TASS) Strengthening and expanding ties with China remains Russia’s overriding priority, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday. “Amid a highly volatile world situation, it becomes particularly important to strengthen reliable good-neighbourly relations between our countries,” Shoigu said at talks with his Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan here. “This is not only an […]
Tokyo, Nov 18 (IANS/EFE) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dissolved the lower house of parliament Tuesday — just halfway through his mandate — and announced that snap elections will be held two years ahead of schedule. Abe made the announcement at a press conference where he explained that the move resulted from his decision to […]
Madrid, Nov 18 (IANS/EFE) The Spanish police have arrested 50 people across the country as part of an ongoing operation against an Indian network accused of tax fraud and other crimes in its commercial dealings, sources close to the investigation said Tuesday. Some 150 houses in different Spanish regions were being searched, while authorities have […]
Abuja, Nov 17 (IANS) Firing shots in the air, gunmen attacked a school in central Nigeria’s Niger state Monday, police told Xinhua but declined to give details of casualties. The gunmen, who are yet to be identified, stormed the premises of Limawa Primary and Secondary School in Minna, the provincial capital, state police spokesman Ibrahim […]
London, Nov 17 (IANS) Part of the British Parliament was evacuated Monday morning after a suspicious package was discovered, media reported. People in the offices of Portcullis House, a building opposite the Houses of Parliament, were turned away Monday after a suspect package was found. However, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that the package “had later […]
Jerusalem, Nov 16 (IANS) Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman Sunday said Israel will never limit its construction activity in Jerusalem and claimed that the construction of Jewish neighbourhood in east Jerusalem did not comprise settlements. Following a meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is on visit to the region, Lieberman said Israel will […]
Barwala (Haryana), Nov 16 (IANS) While remaining defiant about his arrest, officials of controversial sect leader and self-styled godman Rampal’s Satlok Ashram Sunday evening indicated that he could appear before the Punjab and Haryana High Court Monday. Ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor said doctors will review the sect leader’s health Monday morning and see if he […]