China shuts down 110 porn websites

China shuts down 110 porn websites

Beijing, April 20 (IANS) China has shut down 110 websites as part of a national crackdown on online pornography, the State Internet Information Office said Sunday. Some 3,300 accounts on China-based social networking services, such as WeChat and Sina Weibo, as well as online forums have been deleted in the recently launched “Cleaning the Web […]

UAE firm to send citizen on space trip

UAE firm to send citizen on space trip

Abu Dhabi, April 20 (IANS/WAM) An Emirati will win the chance to travel into space as part of a nationwide competition being launched by Abu Dhabi-based Aabar Investments. The prize winner will be given a place onboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo when it begins running commercial trips into space. The tickets are currently worth $250,000 each. […]

Hopes for survivors of sunken South Korean ferry fading

Hopes for survivors of sunken South Korean ferry fading

Seoul, April 20 (IANS/EFE) Hopes of finding survivors of the sunken South Korean ferry Sewol from among the 269 people still missing were fading fast Saturday, with little progress being made at recovering the vessel, which is completely submerged. For the third day, divers tried unsuccessfully to enter the ferry, which lies turned over on […]

South Korean cargo ship catches fire in Pacific Ocean

South Korean cargo ship catches fire in Pacific Ocean

Tokyo, April 20 (IANS) A South Korean cargo ship engulfed in fire Saturday in the Pacific Ocean off Japan’s Wakayama prefecture. But all crew members are safe, media reports said. All 24 crew members including 11 South Koreans and 13 Philippines escaped by lifeboats. Japan’s Fourth Regional Coast Guard Headquarters received an emergency call in […]

China factory blast toll rises to eight

China factory blast toll rises to eight

Beijing, April 20 (IANS) The toll in the Wednesday’s blast in a chemical plant in China’s Jiangsu province reached eight after another body was found Saturday, authorities said. The incident, which also left nine people injured, occurred at Shuangma Chemical Plant in Rugao City. The wounde people’s condition is stable, Xinhua quoted a source as […]

Boston ready for 2014 marathon amid tightened security

Boston ready for 2014 marathon amid tightened security

Washington, April 20 (IANS) Over the long, cold winter, Boston has been ready to stage a marathon race this year that will be one of the biggest and safest, sources with the organiser – Boston Athletic Association (BAA) – said Saturday. The 118th Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 21, has drawn a huge field of […]

Ukraine takes first steps to apply Geneva accord

Ukraine takes first steps to apply Geneva accord

Kiev, April 20 (IANS/EFE) The Ukrainian foreign ministry announced Saturday that it has taken first steps toward applying the Geneva accord, including the suspension of active anti-terrorism operations and the beginning of a public debate on constitutional reform. “Ukraine calls on the signatories of the Geneva accord to make the greatest effort to block an […]

Dubai faces 500,000 construction workers’ shortage

Dubai faces 500,000 construction workers’ shortage

Dubai, April 20 (IANS) With the real estate sector in the Gulf Arab emirate Dubai showing no let-up in expanding, the construction sector here is all set to witness a shortage of 500,000 workers by 2015, a media report said here Saturday. According to a survey initiated by the Dubai international academic city (DIAC) and […]

27 killed in Pakistan accident

27 killed in Pakistan accident

Islamabad, April 20 (IANS) At least 27 people, including five women and two children, were killed and 20 others injured when a passenger van hit a trailer in Pakistan’s south Sukkur district Sunday, media reports said. The accident took place near Pano Akil town of the Sukkur, a district in the country’s south Sindh province, […]

Hate crime charge against Sikh professor’s attacker in US

Hate crime charge against Sikh professor’s attacker in US

New York, April 20 (IANS) New York police have arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with an attack on a Sikh professor last September and charged him with a hate crime. Christian Morales was charged with aggravated harassment and committing a hate crime in the attack on Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs […]