Egypt’s Sisi resigns as defence minister

Egypt’s Sisi resigns as defence minister

Cairo, March 27 (IANS) Egypt’s defence minister and armed forces chief Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last July, tendered his resignation Wednesday, the media reported. Sisi is expected to run for president in the upcoming presidential election, the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported. Quoting a military source, the daily said Sisi was expected […]

$140 bn lost in natural, man-made disasters in 2013: Report

$140 bn lost in natural, man-made disasters in 2013: Report

Geneva, March 27 (IANS) Global natural catastrophes and man-made disasters had brought as much as $140 billion economic losses in 2013, according to the latest report released by Swiss Re Group Wednesday. The Zurich-based insurance company noted that last year’s total loss was down from the $196 billion in 2012 and well below the 10-year average […]

Sardinia plans online vote on independence from Italy

Sardinia plans online vote on independence from Italy

Rome, March 27 (IANS) The autonomous island of Sardinia plans to hold an online referendum on independence from Italy, Russia Today reported Wednesday. Earlier, a similar referendum held from March 16 to 21 had revealed that 89 percent of the over two million people in Italy’s northeastern Veneto region were in favour of cutting ties with […]

Australia offers free visas to lost jet victims’ kin

Australia offers free visas to lost jet victims’ kin

Canberra, March 26 (IANS) Families of the people aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, now declared lost, will be given free visas if they wish to come to Australia during the search and recovery operation, the immigration authority said Wednesday. The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) was working with Malaysia Airlines and counterparts in China […]

Russia accuses Ukraine of violating flight safety agreement

Russia accuses Ukraine of violating flight safety agreement

Moscow, March 26 (IANS) Russia accused Ukrainian authorities Wednesday of violating a bilateral agreement on air transportation and putting air travelers at risk. According to the Russian foreign ministry, the Ukrainian border service has banned the crews of Russian commercial planes from leaving their aircraft after landing on Ukrainian territory. This disrupted the timetable of work […]

UN chief reiterates need for political solution in Syria

UN chief reiterates need for political solution in Syria

Kuwait, March 26 (IANS/WAM) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has sought the cooperation of the international community to end the ongoing Syrian conflict, which he said can only be resolved politically, ruling out any military solution. Ban in a wide-ranging speech to the 25th Arab League Summit in Kuwait – delivered by Lakhdar Brahimi, joint special representative […]

Free morning-after pills, condoms for British schoolgirls

Free morning-after pills, condoms for British schoolgirls

London, March 26 (IANS) Alarmed at the growing number of unwanted pregnancies in teenage British girls, the department of health has issued new guidelines for schools to give free morning-after pills and condoms to teenage girls. According to new guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), under-25s should be able to access […]

Right hand over heart can let you speak truth

Right hand over heart can let you speak truth

London, March 26 (IANS) Have you ever realised that putting your hand on heart can actually make you more likely speak the truth? Try this gesture and see for yourself! Far more than a patriotic act, the move could actually make you more likely to tell the truth, researchers say. “Morality is a prominent guide of […]

Search for Malaysian flight resumes

Search for Malaysian flight resumes

Canberra, March 26 (IANS) The search for any signs of the missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft in the Australian Search and Rescue Region is set to resume around 8 a.m. Wednesday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authorities (AMSA) said. Weather conditions improved in the area Wednesday and according to AMSA the search is split into three areas within […]

Yemen frees two UN staffers, arrests kidnappers

Yemen frees two UN staffers, arrests kidnappers

Sanaa, March 26 (IANS) Yemeni security forces have managed to free two Italians working for the UN office in the capital Sanaa, hardly over two hours after they were kidnapped earlier Tuesday, officials said. After brief clashes the security forces arrested the kidnappers at a checkpoint near the presidential palace area in south Sanaa. They were […]