Norway allocates more funds to help refugees
Oslo, Feb 26 (IANS) Norway said that it has stepped up its efforts to help refugees in Greece by allocating more funds to strengthen Athens’ capacity to deal with the flow of refugees. The authorities…
International
Tokyo stocks rise in early trade
Tokyo, Feb 26 (IANS) Tokyo stocks rose on Friday as a halt in the slump of oil prices sent US shares higher overnight and lifted the market mood here. As of 9.15 a.m. (local time),…
Eurozone inflation revised down
Brussels, Feb 26 (IANS) Inflation in the 19-country eurozone nudged down to 0.3 percent in January, lower than its previous estimate of 0.4 percent, an official data showed. In the wider 28-member European Union (EU),…
Spanish stock market rises
Madrid, Feb 26 (IANS) The Spanish stock market index Ibex-35 rose 2.52 percent to close at 8,125.60 points, up from the 8,013.70 points of the previous session. On Thursday’s session, Mediaset shares led rises climbing…
British FTSE 100 rises
London, Feb 26 (IANS) FTSE 100 Index, British benchmark stock market gauge, rose by 2.48 percent, or 145.63 points, to 6,012.81 points. Share price of Lloyds Banking Group increased by 13.57 percent, topping the gainers…
Seven killed in Baghdad suicide bombings
Baghdad, Feb 26 (IANS) At least seven people were killed and 31 others injured in two suicide bomb attacks at a mosque here, an Interior Ministry source said. During the evening prayer on Thursday, two…
Minors among six suspected traffickers held in Sicily
Ragusa (Italy), Feb 25 (IANS/AKI) Italian police have taken into custody six suspected people smugglers including four minors that were among 327 migrants who reached Sicily late on Wednesday. The four minors piloted two of…
Major troop deployment in Libya unthinkable, absurd: Italian defence minister
Rome, Feb 25 (IANS/AKI) A large-scale deployment of Western troops in Libya is “unthinkable” and “absurd”, Italy’s Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti said on Thursday. “Can you imagine… what it means to intervene with a military…
Pakistani Marines seize two Indian boats off Gujarat
Ahmedabad, Feb 25 (IANS) The Pakistani Marine Security Agency (PMSA) on Thursday impounded two more Indian boats off the Gujarat coast along with 12 fishermen. Pakistan officials had earlier taken into custody 16 Indian boats…
British DJ gets 10-year jail for possessing drugs
Panaji, Feb 25 (IANS) A British disc jockey was on Thursday sentenced by a special court in Goa to ten years’ rigorous imprisonment for possession of synthetic drugs LSD and MDMA. The special court handling…
Japan tests first stealth fighter jet of indigenous make
Tokyo, Feb 25 (IANS) Japan successfully concluded on Thursday the ground test of the prototype of its X-2 stealth fighter jet — the first fully indigenous model — making the country the fourth in the…
US spies for genuine security reasons: Official
Washington, Feb 25 (IANS/AKI) The US does not eavesdrop on citizens of foreign countries “unless there is a specific and validated national security purpose”, a government official responded to reports alleging Washington had spied on…
Citing win over India, Obama goes aggressive on trade laws
By Arun Kumar Washington, Feb 25 (IANS) Citing a win over India in a dispute challenging India’s “localisation” rules against US solar exports, President Barack Obama served notice that his administration would move aggressively to…
Authentic taste of Myanmarese supper, culture
By Vishal Gulati Yangon, Feb 25 (IANS) What can be more soothing than seemingly floating on the gentle waters of a lake and sampling a Myanmarese supper and taking part in a cultural show? That’s…
Two smog hot spots identified in Beijing
Beijing, Feb 25 (IANS) Two smog hot spots in the heavily polluted Chinese capital Beijing, has been identified by a national environmental think tank, the media reported on Thursday. Chai Fahe, deputy head of the…
China’s funeral reforms seek to save space
Beijing, Feb 25 (IANS) Families will be encouraged to share same tombs, and ecologically friendly funerals will be promoted over the next five years in China, under a guideline designed to save land resources, the…
China enhances protection of cultural relics
Beijing, Feb 25 (IANS) China’s State Council is enhancing measures to safeguard the country’s cultural heritage, a media report said on Thursday. “Protection is the priority,” a statement issued after an executive meeting on Wednesday…
UAE mobile voluntary hospital arrives in Sudan
Abu Dhabi, Feb 25 (IANS/WAM) Emirates Mobile Voluntary Hospital, arrived in Sudan to participate in the humanitarian mission to treat one million children and elderly across the north African country. This initiative, which is the…
Tokyo shares end higher
Tokyo, Feb 25 (IANS) Tokyo shares ended higher on Thursday following an upbeat overnight US equity market and the rebounding oil prices. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average jumped 111.24 points, or 0.70 percent, higher from…
Australian widow of MH370 victim sue Malaysia Airlines
Melbourne, Feb 25 (IANS) The widow of a Melbourne-based Chinese businessman who was a passenger on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has sued the company, claiming the crew may have orchestrated its mysterious disappearance….