China calls Iran nuclear talks a ‘good start’

China calls Iran nuclear talks a ‘good start’

China Friday hailed the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna as positive and constructive, which will be “a good start for negotiation” on a comprehensive agreement. “This round of talks will help maintain the momentum of dialogue. It also laid a good foundation for negotiation on a comprehensive agreement,” said Hua Chunying, foreign ministry spokeswoman referring […]

Ukrainian president calls early election

Ukrainian president calls early election

 Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych Friday announced an early presidential election as one of a package of measures aimed at ending the country’s political crisis. The president agreed to hold the election before the end of the year, as part of a deal to end the crisis. “I am initiating an early presidential election. I am […]

Sikh American drives away with victory in Minnesota

Sikh American drives away with victory in Minnesota

 A Sikh American in Minnesota drove away with a victory when he won the right for the community in the US state to wear their turbans in driver’s licence photos. Last month when Blaine resident Jatinder Singh went to the local Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) office to get his licence renewed, he was told […]

Nepal to impose strict measures against Everest climbers

Nepal to impose strict measures against Everest climbers

 After several breaches of rules and guidelines while climbing Mt Everest, Nepal has decided to adopt strict measures for aspirants from this spring. For providing better service to the climbers, porters, sherpas, sardars, high-altitude workers and cooks, the government decided to set up an integrated office at the Everest base camp. The measure followed after […]

Obama meets Dalai Lama over Chinese objections

Obama meets Dalai Lama over Chinese objections

 In the face of objections from China, President Barack Obama met the Dalai Lama Friday, saying the US supports his “Middle Way” approach of neither assimilation nor independence for Tibetans in China. Obama’s meeting with the Tibetan spiritual leader and fellow Nobel laureate, who is in the US on a speaking tour, was closed to […]

Indian-American kills father with sledgehammer after ‘playing puzzles’

Indian-American kills father with sledgehammer after ‘playing puzzles’

 An Indian-American man in Florida is facing first-degree murder charges for allegedly beating his sleeping father to death with a sledgehammer following an evening “playing puzzles”, according to a media report. Holly Hill (Florida) resident Vinayak Shanbhag, 33, was arrested last week on charges of murdering his 66-year-old father, Pandurang Shanbhag, according to the Daytona […]

Ukrainian president, opposition sign deal to end crisis

Ukrainian president, opposition sign deal to end crisis

The Ukrainian president and opposition leaders signed an agreement Friday to end the country’s nearly four month-long political crisis which has left 77 people dead and hundreds injured. The deal includes provisions for constitutional changes that would limit presidential power, and for holding early presidential elections in December 2014, Xinhua quoted parliamentary leader of the […]

Beijing to reward terror whistleblowers

Beijing to reward terror whistleblowers

 People helping authorities in exposing terror plots in the Chinese capital city will be rewarded, police in Beijing have announced. According to Beijing municipal public security bureau, those providing extremely important information which contributes significantly to the prevention or investigation of violent terrorist activities, will be rewarded with at least 40,000 yuan (about $6,540), Xinhua […]

Chinese, France discuss relations

Chinese, France discuss relations

China and France discussed their bilateral relations as foreign ministers of the two countries held talks here Friday. The talks were held between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and visiting French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. During the talks, Wang said their bilateral relations were at an important stage as the two countries celebrate the 50th […]

12 killed in Somali presidential palace attack

12 killed in Somali presidential palace attack

 At least 12 people, including permanent secretary of the Somalian prime minister and an ex-intelligence commander, were killed Friday in an attack by Al-Shabaab militant group on Somalia’s presidential palace here, a minister said. “Nine attackers including two suicide bombers were killed when they tried to force their way into the presidential palace,” Xinhua quoted […]