Mars missions: Past, Present and Future on October 18, 2016PARIS: Long before the space age, Earthlings were already in hot pursuit of life on Mars, using primitive telescopes and even psychic mediums to seek evidence of sentient beings. Long thought to be green-skinned creatures, and long referred to as “Martials”, they were believed in the late 1800s to have built networks of irrigation canals […]
Postponing DR Congo poll to 2018 will not solve crisis: France on October 18, 2016PARIS: French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Tuesday that plans to postpone presidential elections in the troubled Democratic Republic of Congo until April 2018 were “no response to the crisis”. President Joseph Kabila’s mandate is due to end in December and political tensions already run high in the vast country. Postponement of the vote […]
Vietnam army helicopter goes missing on October 18, 2016HANOI: A Vietnamese army helicopter carrying three people disappeared from radar on Tuesday, the defence ministry said, sparking fears of another deadly military aviation accident in the communist nation. Eleven people have been killed in army air accidents this year alone, although the country has a strong civil aviation record. Officials said on Tuesday they […]
New Turkish constitution enhancing presidential powers coming soon: PM on October 18, 2016ANKARA: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Tuesday said that the government would “very soon” submit proposals to parliament for constitutional changes bolstering the powers of president. The government is seeking a three-fifths majority for the proposals in parliament, which would allow the calling of a referendum to let the people have the final say. […]
US tycoon completes Marseille purchase on October 17, 2016PARIS: American tycoon Frank McCourt on Monday officially completed his purchase of French Ligue 1 side Marseille, his communications office confirmed. The 63-year-old former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers signed the necessary paperwork in Paris having entered into exclusive discussions to buy Marseille from owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus on August 29. McCourt’s ownership takes effect […]
One killed, six missing in chemical plant blast on October 17, 2016LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany: One person was killed and at least six others were missing after an explosion on Monday at a chemical plant at BASF’s headquarters in western Germany, the firm said, advising local residents to stay indoors. The blast, which occurred around 11:30 am (0930 GMT) and triggered a huge fire, happened during work on […]
US stocks flat as big earnings week kicks off on October 17, 2016NEW YORK: Wall Street stocks opened little changed on Monday as a heavy week of earnings kicked off with solid reports from Bank of America and toymaker Hasbro. Bank of America climbed 0.6 per cent and Hasbro 5.1 per cent after both reported better-than-expected profits. Despite those results, analysts say US corporations overall remain mired […]
West Indies bowled out for 357 on October 16, 2016DUBAI: West Indies were dismissed for 357 on the fourth day of the day-night Test against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took 5 wickets, becoming the second joint-fastest bowler to complete 100 wickets in all Test cricket. England’s right-arm medium-pacer George Lohmann reached 100 Test wickets in just 16 Test matches in […]
Kuwait dissolves parliament over internal clashes on October 16, 2016KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dissolved the parliament on Sunday, the official KUNA news agency announced. “Due to the delicate regional developments and the need to face the dangers of security challenges, it became necessary to go back to the people to elect their representatives and contribute to confronting those challenges,” he […]
IS claims blast in Baghdad on October 15, 2016BAGHDAD: The Islamic State (IS) militants claimed a suicide bombing that killed at least 32 people and wounded another 36 in Baghdad on Saturday. It is the deadliest single attack to hit the Iraqi capital in over three months. The blast is the latest in a series of IS-claimed attacks targeting members of Iraq’s Shiite […]