Israel intercepts Iranian ship carrying rockets for Gaza

Israel intercepts Iranian ship carrying rockets for Gaza

Jerusalem, March 6 (IANS) The Israeli special forces Wednesday intercepted an Iranian ship in the Red Sea that ferried missiles for militants in the Gaza Strip, capping an intelligence operation that lasted months. Naval commandos raided the vessel on the maritime border between Sudan and Eritrea, approximately 1,500 km from the Israeli coast, while it was […]

Deaths from flu rise to 79 in Greece

Deaths from flu rise to 79 in Greece

Athens, March 6 (IANS) The outbreak of the flu in Greece has reached alarming levels with fatalities rising to 79 this winter, according to the latest data released Wednesday. In the last 24 hours five patients who had been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu strain, died from complications, Xinhua quoted health authorities as saying. According to […]

UAE exempts EU citizens from pre-entry visa

UAE exempts EU citizens from pre-entry visa

Dubai, March 6 (IANS) Dubai, March 6 (IANS) The UAE foreign ministry said Wednesday that it has exempted citizens of another 13 European Union (EU) member states from requiring a pre-entry visa to visit the country, Xinhua reported. The 13 countries that come under the new exemption include Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Latvia, […]

Hearing of Musharraf treason trial adjourned till March 7

Hearing of Musharraf treason trial adjourned till March 7

Islamabad, March 5 (IANS) A special court in Pakistan formed to try former president Pervez Musharraf for high treason Wednesday adjourned the hearing till March 7 after his lawyers voiced concerns regarding the security situation. The former army chief is facing the charge of high treason, which can carry the death sentence, for imposing Emergency and […]

42 threat alerts given before Pakistan court attack

42 threat alerts given before Pakistan court attack

Islamabad, March 5 (IANS) Pakistan’s Interior Secretary Shahid Khan has said 42 threat alerts and 22 reports about a possible terror attack were communicated to the administration and police before a judge was killed in Monday’s strike at a court here. The secretary Tuesday told this to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, which has suo motu […]

Obama, Merkel stress on de-escalating Ukraine situation

Obama, Merkel stress on de-escalating Ukraine situation

Washington, March 5 (IANS) US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on the importance of de-escalating the situation in Ukraine, the White House has said. In a telephone talk between the two leaders, they discussed potential solution to the crisis in Ukraine, including deploying international observers and human rights monitors, and initiating direct […]

Premier Li details challenges, problems facing China

Premier Li details challenges, problems facing China

Beijing, March 5 (Xinhua) China faces great challenges and complex problems in pushing forward economic and social development, Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday at the opening of the annual session of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature. “The foundation for sustaining steady economic growth is not yet firm, and the internal impetus driving growth […]

China’s annual legislative session opens in Beijing

China’s annual legislative session opens in Beijing

Beijing, March 5 (IANS) The 12th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s parliamentary body, opened its second annual session Wednesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xinhua reported. Premier Li Keqiang will deliver his first government work report at the opening meeting, chaired by Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and […]

UN urges for diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis

UN urges for diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis

United Nations, March 5 (IANS) UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson Tuesday stressed the need for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing Ukraine crisis in his meetings with the country’s acting leaders, a UN spokesman told reporters here. “In his meetings, the deputy secretary-general stressed the need for calm and international unity in the pursuit of […]

Obama plans $3.9 tn budget for 2015

Obama plans $3.9 tn budget for 2015

Washington, March 5 (IANS) US President Barack Obama has planned a $3.9-trillion budget for the 2015 fiscal year, which will be used to fund infrastructure upgrading, education and other social programmes, according to the budget plan posted on the website of the White House Tuesday. Obama has budgeted a deficit of $564 billion for 2015, or […]