Erdogansays Putin’s attitude towards Syria encouraging on August 3, 2015ISTANBUL – RussianPresident Vladimir Putin is having a change of heart on the Kremlin’s wholehearted support for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and may give up on him in the future, Turkish President RecepTayyipErdogan was quoted as saying on Monday. When asked if Putin could be persuaded not to support Assad, Erdogan said he saw his […]
Key Olympic powerbroker urges US bid for 2024 on August 3, 2015KUALA LUMPUR – Themost powerful people inthe Olympic movement have urged the United States to quicklyfind a replacement for Boston and push ahead with plans to bidfor the 2024 Summer Olympics. The US has not hosted the Summer Olympics since 1996,partly because of a long-running feud over television rights andsponsorship, but was widely regarded as […]
Army chief, US diplomat discuss regional stability on August 3, 2015RAWALPINDI – US Deputy Under Secretary HeidiGrantcalled on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif here at the Army Headquarters, according to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Monday. Matters of mutual interest including regional stability were discussed during the meeting, the release said. Quoting sources, the INP news service reported […]
Army will break nexus between drug dealers, terrorists, says Gen Sharif on August 3, 2015RAWALPINDI –Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has said that drug peddlers and those involved in its production are as much detrimental to national security as terrorists, according to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Monday. Thearmy chief visited Anti Narcotic Force (ANF) headquarterswhere he was given detailed briefing by […]
Sukarnoputri defends peace prize for North Koreas Kim on August 3, 2015JAKARTA –Rachmawati Sukarnoputri – daughterof Indonesia’s founding president – hasdefended honouring North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un with an award for statesmanship, dismissing criticisms of his human rights record as Western propaganda. Sukarnoputri confirmed the leader would receive an award from her organisation– theSukarno Education Foundation – inSeptember for his peace, justice and humanity.The decision to […]
UN finals roadmap to end poverty worldwide by 2030 on August 3, 2015NEW YORK – JubilantUN member states put finishing touches to a hugely ambitious roadmap aimed at wiping out poverty worldwide by 2030 and taking on climate change. After a week of heated negotiations at UN headquarters in New York, experts and diplomats from the 193 member states adopted a draft about 30 pages long entitled […]
Tamils in Sri Lankas north seek autonomy, justice on August 3, 2015JAFFNA – Theroad blocks and military checkpoints are gone, and the restrictions on foreign tourists and journalists visiting the area have been lifted. But the mostly Tamil residents of Sri Lanka’s northern Jaffna peninsula say much more still needs to be done to heal the wounds of a long civil war – andthey are pinning […]
Another US hunter suspected of killing lion in Zimbabwe on August 3, 2015HARARE – AnotherUS trophy hunter is suspected of killing a lion in Zimbabwe without a permit, authorities in Harare said, days after the killing of Cecil the lion by an American dentist caused global outrage. A government statement said a crackdown on illegal hunting since Cecil’s killing had led to the arrest of safari organiser […]
Australia to display worlds finest opal stone at museum on August 3, 2015SYDNEY – AnAustralian museum said Monday it would exhibit what it believes is the best opal stone ever found – a6.0-centimetre (2.4 inch) multi-coloured gem unearthed in the Outback named the Virgin Rainbow. The South Australian Museum said the stone – valuedat more than Aus$1.0 million ($730,000) – wouldgo on public display for the first […]
Japan calls US spying allegations deeply regrettable on August 3, 2015TOKYO – Tokyoon Monday described claims that the US spied on Japanese politicians and major firms as deeply regrettable, in its first official response to revelations from whistleblower group WikiLeaks. “I will withhold comment. But if this is true, as an ally, it’s deeply regrettable,”senior government spokesperson YoshihideSuga told a regular press briefing. He said […]