Egyptians are set to vote in the second round of their first free presidential election in a two-day run-off. Mohammed Mursi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, is up against Ahmed Shafiq, Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister. The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has promised to hand over power to… Continue reading Egyptians vote in the second round of their first free presidential election
Category: Front Page
Front Page news
John the Baptist bones: Oxford scientists claim positive carbon dating tests on relics found in Bulgaria
Carbon dating tests carried out at Oxford University have provided scientific evidence to support the extraordinary claim that the bones found amid the ruins of an ancient Bulgarian monastery may be of John the Baptist. A knucklebone has been dated to the 1st Century AD – a time when the revered Jewish prophet is believed… Continue reading John the Baptist bones: Oxford scientists claim positive carbon dating tests on relics found in Bulgaria
Barack Obama combines official duties with campaign events in New York and charges taxpayers
US President Barack Obama had a busy day yesterday as he appeared at not just one, but two A-list fundraising events in Manhattan – raising a total of $4.5 million. However, Barack Obama’s re-election campaign will not have to pay the full cost of his jaunt to New York City, because he combined the trip… Continue reading Barack Obama combines official duties with campaign events in New York and charges taxpayers
Greece election: parties are making their last pitch for votes ahead of Sunday’s poll
Parties in Greece are making their last pitch for votes ahead of a repeat election on Sunday seen as crucial to the debt-laden country’s future in the eurozone. New Democracy, the pro-bailout conservative party which narrowly led at the ballot last month, is due to hold its last big campaign rally. Syriza, the anti-bailout bloc… Continue reading Greece election: parties are making their last pitch for votes ahead of Sunday’s poll
Oldest cave art in Europe: red dots, hand stencils and animal figures from Spain’s caves
Researchers have found that red dots, hand stencils and animal figures represent the oldest examples yet found of cave art in Europe. The symbols on the walls at 11 Spanish locations, including the World Heritage sites of Altamira, El Castillo and Tito Bustillo have long been recognized for their antiquity. But researchers have now used… Continue reading Oldest cave art in Europe: red dots, hand stencils and animal figures from Spain’s caves
Feng Jianmei case: city officials apologize to woman forced to have an abortion in the 7th month of pregnancy
City officials in Ankang, China, have apologized to Feng Jianmei, the woman who was forced to have an abortion in the seventh month of pregnancy and suspended three people responsible, state media reports. This came after photos showing a foetus and the mother, Feng Jianmei, shocked web users. Feng Jianmei was made to undergo the… Continue reading Feng Jianmei case: city officials apologize to woman forced to have an abortion in the 7th month of pregnancy
Allen Stanford sentenced to 110 years in jail for $7 billion Ponzi scheme
Tycoon Allen Stanford has been sentenced to 110 years in jail for operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of more than $7 billion. The scheme was described as one of the largest in US history. In court, Allen Stanford denied any guilt, telling the judge at his sentencing hearing: “I did not defraud anybody.”… Continue reading Allen Stanford sentenced to 110 years in jail for $7 billion Ponzi scheme
Spain’s borrowing costs at new euro-era record after Moody’s cut
Spain’s borrowing costs have risen to another euro-era record, with lenders demanding a higher interest rate. The yield on benchmark 10-year bonds hit 7% on Thursday morning, a level which many analysts believe is unsustainable in the long term. It came as Moody’s cut Spain’s credit rating to one notch above “junk” and ahead of… Continue reading Spain’s borrowing costs at new euro-era record after Moody’s cut
Australia creates world’s largest marine reserve ahead of Rio+20 Earth Summit
Australia announces that it will create the world’s largest network of marine parks ahead of the Rio+20 Earth Summit. The reserves will cover 3.1 million sq km of ocean, including the Coral Sea. Restrictions will be placed on fishing and oil and gas exploration in the protected zone covering more than a third of Australia’s… Continue reading Australia creates world’s largest marine reserve ahead of Rio+20 Earth Summit
Euro 2012: Russia get suspended points deduction for Euro 2016 qualifying campaign because of its fans
UEFA gives a suspended six-point deduction to Russia because of the behaviour of their fans during their 4-1 win against Czech Republic at Euro 2012. Action was taken due to the use of fireworks and far-right banners. The incident, in which Russian fans attacked stewards, leaving four needing hospital treatment, is being investigated by UEFA… Continue reading Euro 2012: Russia get suspended points deduction for Euro 2016 qualifying campaign because of its fans
European Extremely Large Telescope, world’s biggest telescope, to be built in Chile’s Atacama Desert
A coalition of 15 states, members of European Union, has announced plans to build the biggest telescope in the world. The mirror inside the telescope will measure 39 metres across – four times wider than today’s biggest telescope – and it will be so powerful that astronomers will even be able to observe dark, rocky… Continue reading European Extremely Large Telescope, world’s biggest telescope, to be built in Chile’s Atacama Desert
Massive wildfires hit Colorado and New Mexico
Two of the biggest ever wildfires in the US have hit states of Colorado and New Mexico and hundreds of firefighters have joined efforts to tackle them. The Colorado blaze shrouded the state capital, Denver, some 60 miles (100 km) away in smoke on Tuesday. A woman has died in the blaze, which has burned… Continue reading Massive wildfires hit Colorado and New Mexico
Iraq: at least 62 people killed in bomb attacks in Hilla and Baghdad
Serial bomb attacks in six Iraqi provinces, including 10 locations in Baghdad, has killed 62 people and wounded dozens more, Iraqi police say. Many of the dead in the Iraqi capital were Shia pilgrims gathering for a religious festival. In Hilla, two car bombs exploded near a restaurant, killing at least 15 people. There has… Continue reading Iraq: at least 62 people killed in bomb attacks in Hilla and Baghdad
NOTT-202 metal-organic framework can selectively soak up CO2 from the atmosphere
British researchers have developed a porous material that can preferentially soak up CO2 from the atmosphere. NOTT-202 is a “metal-organic framework” that works like a sponge, absorbing a number of gases at high pressures. But as the pressure is reduced, CO2 is retained as other gases are released. The development, reported in Nature Materials, holds… Continue reading NOTT-202 metal-organic framework can selectively soak up CO2 from the atmosphere
Olympics 2012 opening ceremony details revealed
The Olympic Stadium will be transformed “into the British countryside” for the opening ceremony of the Games on 27 July, which has a £27 million ($43.2 million) budget. A cast of 10,000 volunteers will help recreate country scenes, against a backdrop featuring farmyard animals and landmarks like Glastonbury Tor. The opening scene will be called… Continue reading Olympics 2012 opening ceremony details revealed
New rules of romance for young Iranians
Young Iranians must adopt complicated and creative behavior to navigate around restrictions on their private lives, says journalist Kamin Mohammadi, writer, journalist and broadcaster specializing in Iran. Iran, in her long history, has been no stranger to repression and dictatorship, mostly from invaders. Iranians quickly developed the habit of thriving when times are tough, of… Continue reading New rules of romance for young Iranians
Alcatraz escape still a mystery after 50 years
Those who ran Alcatraz liked to say nobody ever escaped alive, but that hasn’t stopped US marshals from continuing the search for three men who made it off the island 50 years ago. According to the official version, Frank Morris, and the brothers John and Clarence Anglin were presumed drowned in the cold and choppy… Continue reading Alcatraz escape still a mystery after 50 years
Syrian forces renew attack on the city of Homs
Syrian government forces have renewed their attack on the city of Homs, one of the focal points of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad. Video published on the internet purportedly from Homs showed intermittent shelling and black smoke. UN mediator Kofi Annan is concerned civilians have been trapped in Homs and al-Haffa, a town in… Continue reading Syrian forces renew attack on the city of Homs
Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem defaced with graffiti by vandals
Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem has been defaced with graffiti by vandals denouncing Zionism. One of the slogans daubed in paint on the walls of the memorial read: “If Hitler had not existed, the Zionists would have invented him.” “This unprecedented act crosses a red line,” Yad Vashem chairman Avner Shalev said in a… Continue reading Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem defaced with graffiti by vandals
Roland Garros 2012: Rafael Nadal won record seventh French Open after beating Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal won a record seventh French Open title after beating Novak Djokovic with 6-4 6-3 2-6 7-5 in a rain-affected final. Rafael Nadal, 26, resumed leading 6-4 6-3 2-6 1-2, but his uncharacteristic wobble late on Sunday had fuelled Novak Djokovic’s belief. The Spaniard broke back in the first game of the day however,… Continue reading Roland Garros 2012: Rafael Nadal won record seventh French Open after beating Novak Djokovic
Spanish banks deal boosts Euro and stock markets in Asia
The Euro and stock markets have boosted in Asia after a deal to shore up Spain’s troubled banks eased concerns about a European currency break up. In Asian trade, the euro rose 1% versus the US dollar and Japanese yen. Stock indexes in Japan and Hong Kong rose 2%. On Saturday, eurozone ministers agreed to… Continue reading Spanish banks deal boosts Euro and stock markets in Asia
France legislative elections: Francois Hollande’ Socialists and allies set to win majority
French exit polls suggest that Francois Hollande’s Socialists and their allies are set for a majority following the first round of legislative elections. The Socialists appear tied with the right-wing UMP party on about 35% of the vote, but the support of Green allies gives them closer to 40%. The outcome of the polls is… Continue reading France legislative elections: Francois Hollande’ Socialists and allies set to win majority
Spain decides to request a loan of up to 100 BN Euros from eurozone to help its banks
Spain’s decision to request a loan of up to 100 billion Euros ($125 billion) from eurozone funds to help shore up its struggling banks has won broad support. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the bailout was big enough to restore credibility to Spain’s banks. Washington welcomed the measure as a vital step towards the… Continue reading Spain decides to request a loan of up to 100 BN Euros from eurozone to help its banks
Euro 2012: UEFA to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Football Union of Russia for improper conduct of supporters
UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Football Union of Russia for “improper conduct of supporters” during Friday’s Euro 2012 game against the Czech Republic in Wroclaw. Four stewards needed hospital treatment after being attacked by fans in the Municipal Stadium in Poland. And claims of racist abuse directed at Czech defender Theodor Gebre Selassie,… Continue reading Euro 2012: UEFA to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Football Union of Russia for improper conduct of supporters
France in key parliamentary election
France is voting in parliamentary elections expected to determine the extent and pace of reform under new President Francois Hollande. Voting for the lower house is beginning with a first round, followed by run-offs a week later. Correspondents say if Francois Hollande’s Socialist Party can win a majority, he will have the mandate to push… Continue reading France in key parliamentary election