29 Chinese judges, court staff punished for corruption

29 Chinese judges, court staff punished for corruption

Beijing, March 3 (IANS) China investigated and punished 829 judges and other court staff for corruption in 2013, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) said Sunday. The latest statistics show 42.3 per cent rise. Among the 829 court officials, 157 were transferred to judicial organs for prosecution, 294 punished for violation of Party disciplines, and 531 punished […]

16 Afghan militants killed in security operations

16 Afghan militants killed in security operations

Kabul, March 3 (IANS) At least 16 Taliban militants were killed in two military operations carried out by Afghan security forces, officials said Sunday. Nine militants were killed and five wounded when Afghan army commandos launched an operation in Dar-e-Sangara area of Laghman province early Sunday, Xinhua quoted local authorities as saying. Four militants were also […]

France seeks G8 preparatory talks’ suspension

France seeks G8 preparatory talks’ suspension

Paris, March 3 (IANS) France has urged for suspension of this week’s preparatory meetings for the G8 summit in Russia’s Sochi city in June. “France wishes the preparation for G8 Sochi should be suspended because our Russian partners are contrary to the principles of the G7 and G8,” Xinhua quoted French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius as […]

Egypt’s new PM urges people to stop strikes

Egypt’s new PM urges people to stop strikes

Cairo, March 3 (IANS) Egypt’s new Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab urged citizens to stop strikes and protests to let the production process to continue in a nation hit by a three-year turmoil. “I understand life pressures and hard living conditions,” Xinhua quoted Mahlab as saying in a televised speech, adding “I realise that many demands require […]

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Brussels, March 3 (IANS) NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Sunday accused Russia of “threatening peace and security in Europe”. “What Russia is doing now in Ukraine violates the principles of the United Nations Charter. It threatens peace and security in Europe. Russia must stop its military activities and its threats,” Xinhua quoting Rasmussen as saying […]

Pakistan condemns terrorist attack in China

Pakistan condemns terrorist attack in China

Islamabad, March 3 (IANS) Pakistan Sunday strongly condemned the barbaric terrorist attack at a train station in China’s Yunnan province and extended all cooperation to Beijing in “combating the menace”. “Being themselves victims of terrorism, the people of Pakistan fully understand and share the pain of the people of China,” Xinhua quoted Pakistan foreign ministry as […]

Kerry condemns Russian aggression against Ukraine

Washington, March 3 (IANS) US Secretary of State John Kerry Sunday denounced Russia’s “incredible act of aggression” against Ukraine, suggesting a set of sanctions in response. The top American envoy called on Russia to consider other options to address its concerns about the treatment of ethnic Russian and minority populations in Ukraine, echoing a message broached […]

47 killed, over 70 injured in Iraq violence

47 killed, over 70 injured in Iraq violence

 At least 47 people were killed and over 70 wounded Thursday in separate attacks witnessed in different parts of Iraq, including three deadly bombings in capital city of Baghdad, police said. In the worst incident in Baghdad’s Sadr City, a booby-trapped motorcycle exploded at a popular market, leaving at least 32 people dead and 56 […]

EU reform not ‘piece of cake’: Merkel to Britain

EU reform not ‘piece of cake’: Merkel to Britain

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that she can work with Britain to reform the European Union but it will not be “a piece of cake”, BBC reported. Merkel, following a Downing Street meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron, said both the nations could bring in laws to curb benefit tourism, as part of […]

Ex-Georgian PM found guilty of violence against protesters

Ex-Georgian PM found guilty of violence against protesters

The Tbilisi City Court Thursday declared Georgia’s former prime minister Vano Merabishvili guilty of exceeding official power and of violently breaking up opposition protesters in May of 2011, Xinhua reported. On Feb 17, the same court sentenced Merabishvili to five-and-a-half years in prison for embezzlement of public funds to foot the bills of his then […]