A key US Senate committee has reported a vast numbers of counterfeit Chinese electronic parts are being used in the country’s military equipment. A year-long probe found 1,800 cases of fake parts in US military aircraft, the Senate Armed Services Committee found. More than 70% of an estimated one million suspect parts were traced back… Continue reading Chinese fake electronic parts used in US military planes
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Front Page news
SpaceX successfully launches Dragon capsule after second attempt
SpaceX has successfully launched Dragon mission to re-supply the space station, the first cargo delivery to the orbiting outpost by a private company. The firm’s Falcon rocket, topped by an unmanned Dragon freight capsule, lifted clear of its Florida pad at 03:44 EDT. The initial climb to an altitude some 340 km above the Earth… Continue reading SpaceX successfully launches Dragon capsule after second attempt
5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Bulgaria’s capital Sofia
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Bulgaria’s capital Sofia early on Tuesday, causing residents to rush into the streets, the civil defense office said. The quake, which occurred at 3 a.m. local time, shook apartment buildings and rattled windows but caused no casualties or damage, Nikolay Nikolov, an official from the office was quoted as saying… Continue reading 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Bulgaria’s capital Sofia
Facebook shares have fallen below IPO price in early trading on Wall Street
Facebook shares have fallen in early trading on Wall Street to below the price at which they were floated. Despite the wider market in buoyant mood, Facebook slid 12% immediately at the opening bell and were still 11% down at $33.92 more than one hour into the trading day. Facebook’s flotation on Friday at $38… Continue reading Facebook shares have fallen below IPO price in early trading on Wall Street
Tomislav Nikolic wins Serbian presidential election beating liberal Boris Tadic
Tomislav Nikolic is the newly-elected president of Serbia, with liberal incumbent Boris Tadic admitting defeat soon after polls closed. Nationalist Tomislav Nikolic has 50.21% of the vote, against 46.77% for Boris Tadic, with 40% of votes counted. The contest had been seen as a vote on EU membership and the newly-elected president promised that “Serbia… Continue reading Tomislav Nikolic wins Serbian presidential election beating liberal Boris Tadic
What happens if Greece quits eurozone?
There is more and more speculation that Greece is about to leave the euro. Greece has been unable to form a government, and new elections seem set to give power to parties that reject the spending cuts that have been agreed with other eurozone governments and the International Monetary Fund. But without those spending cuts,… Continue reading What happens if Greece quits eurozone?
Sun starts ring of fire eclipse visible from Asia to Western US
An “annular eclipse” has been viewed across a swathe of the Earth stretching across the Pacific from Asia to the western US. The eclipse occurs when the Moon is at its farthest from the Earth and does not block out the Sun completely. Millions of people witnessed the resulting “ring of fire” phenomenon. The eclipse… Continue reading Sun starts ring of fire eclipse visible from Asia to Western US
Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees dies at 62 after a lengthy battle with cancer
Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees has died aged 62 after a lengthy battle with cancer, his family said. The announcement was made, it said, with “great sadness”. British-born Robin Gibb’s musical career began when he formed the Bee Gees with his brothers Barry and Maurice in 1958. The group is among the biggest-selling of… Continue reading Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees dies at 62 after a lengthy battle with cancer
Bride Beth Alberts caught up in anti-NATO summit protests in Chicago
Thousands of protesters were expected to march in downtown Chicago today to the lakeside McCormick Place convention center where President Barack Obama and dozens of other world leaders will meet for the NATO summit. Newlyweds Tim and Beth Alberts left the church in the city centre on Saturday after exchanging their vows and found themselves… Continue reading Bride Beth Alberts caught up in anti-NATO summit protests in Chicago
Artic melt releases methane into the atmosphere
Scientists have identified thousands of sites in the Arctic where methane that has been trapped by ice for many millennia is bubbling into the atmosphere. The methane has been trapped by ice, but is able to escape as the ice melts. Writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, the researchers say this ancient gas could have… Continue reading Artic melt releases methane into the atmosphere
Northern Italy earthquake UPDATE: at least six people killed and serious damages to buildings
The 6-magnitude earthquake that hit northern Italy this morning has killed at least six people and caused serious damage to buildings in several towns, local officials say. The quake struck in the middle of the night, about 35 km (22 miles) north of the city of Bologna. The tremor caused “significant damage to the cultural… Continue reading Northern Italy earthquake UPDATE: at least six people killed and serious damages to buildings
Chen Guangcheng arrives in New York with his family
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has arrived in New York with his family to begin a new life in the United States. The blind human rights lawyer caused a diplomatic crisis when he escaped house arrest to arrive at the US embassy in Beijing last month. Speaking outside New York University, where he has been offered… Continue reading Chen Guangcheng arrives in New York with his family
Chelsea wins the Champions League for the first time in dramatic penalty shoot-out vs Bayern Munich
Chelsea has won the Champions League for the first time after stunned Bayern Munich in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the Allianz Arena. Thomas Mueller’s late header put Bayern on the brink of victory on home territory but Didier Drogba levelled things up with a bullet header at the death before coolly converting the decisive… Continue reading Chelsea wins the Champions League for the first time in dramatic penalty shoot-out vs Bayern Munich
G8 leaders back Greece remaining in eurozone at Camp David summit
G8 leaders of the world’s most powerful economies say they want debt-stricken Greece to remain in the eurozone. In their summit communique, G8 leaders also committed themselves to promoting growth alongside fiscal responsibility. However, the leaders acknowledged “the right measures are not the same for each of us”. Greece’s possible exit from the eurozone was… Continue reading G8 leaders back Greece remaining in eurozone at Camp David summit
Chen Guangcheng and his family has boarded a flight to Newark
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who was at the centre of a diplomatic crisis with Washington, is on his way to the United States. The blind activist and his family boarded a flight to Newark, near New York, after being taken from a Beijing hospital to the capital’s airport. Chen Guangcheng recently spent six days in… Continue reading Chen Guangcheng and his family has boarded a flight to Newark
Angela Merkel suggests Greece a referendum on euro during national elections
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has had telephone contact with Greece’s President Karolos Papoulias, amid continuing speculation that his country may have to leave the eurozone. Greek officials said Chancellor Angela Merkel had suggested Greece could hold a referendum on the euro when it votes in national elections next month. However, their German counterparts denied she… Continue reading Angela Merkel suggests Greece a referendum on euro during national elections
Facebook shares jump within minutes on stock market debut
The NASDAQ exchange saw Facebook shares jumping more than 10% within minutes of making their stock market debut. Facebook shares rose to $42, having been initially priced at $38 each, before falling back to trade flat. Mark Zuckerberg, 28, who started Facebook while at university, remotely opened trading on the Nasdaq earlier. He appeared via… Continue reading Facebook shares jump within minutes on stock market debut
Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee lunch for monarchs attracts controversy
The King of Bahrain and Swaziland’s King Mswati III are among controversial monarchs expected at a Windsor Castle lunch being hosted by the Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. Critics accuse Bahrain of human rights abuses and say Swazi king Mswati lives in luxury while his people go hungry. Campaigner Peter Tatchell criticized… Continue reading Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee lunch for monarchs attracts controversy
Lai Changxing jailed for life in China for running multi-billion dollar smuggling ring
Chinese media reports that Lai Changxing has been jailed for life for running a multi-billion dollar smuggling ring. Xinhua news agency said Lai Changxing, 53, extradited from Canada, was convicted and sentenced by a Fujian court. Lai Changxing was accused of bribing officials and smuggling goods including cars, cigarettes and oil in one of China’s… Continue reading Lai Changxing jailed for life in China for running multi-billion dollar smuggling ring
European markets fall as concern continued over Greece and Spain
European stock markets had a shaky start on Friday as concern continued over Greece and Spain. Spain’s main share index fell more than 2% before recovering, while shares in London fell by as much as 1%. Confidence in European banks was undermined by ratings agency Moody’s, which cut the credit ratings of 16 Spanish banks… Continue reading European markets fall as concern continued over Greece and Spain
Barack Obama was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii, claimed his own literary agency in 1991
The political row over President Barack Obama’s heritage was dramatically reignited today as a 1991 booklet boldly announced that he was “born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii”. In the cover for a 1991 promotional booklet by Barack Obama’s then-publisher Acton & Dystel, he is as “the first African-American president of the Harvard… Continue reading Barack Obama was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii, claimed his own literary agency in 1991
Olympics 2012: Olympic flame handed over to UK in Athens ceremony
London Olympic Games organizers have received the Olympic flame at a handover ceremony beneath a rainbow in Athens, Greece. The President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Capralos, passed the flame to Princess Anne, president of the British Olympic Association in the Panathenaic Stadium. Lit in Olympia on 10 May, the flame was taken on… Continue reading Olympics 2012: Olympic flame handed over to UK in Athens ceremony
How Non-Hispanic white births become minority in US
Estimates of the latest US census data show that children from racial and ethnic minorities now account for more than half the births in the US. Black, Hispanic, Asian and mixed-race births made up 50.4% of new arrivals in the year ending in July 2011. It puts non-Hispanic white births in the minority for the… Continue reading How Non-Hispanic white births become minority in US
Queen Sofia of Spain cancels UK visit because of disputes over Gibraltar
Queen Sofia of Spain has cancelled her visit to the UK for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee because of disputes over Gibraltar. A Spanish government statement said it was “hardly appropriate” for Queen Sofia, 73, to attend a lunch on Friday. The UK and Spain have been in dispute over fishing rights off Gibraltar, a UK… Continue reading Queen Sofia of Spain cancels UK visit because of disputes over Gibraltar
Chen Guangcheng’s passport application is done
Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng says he and his family have completed passport applications and officials say they should be ready within 15 days. The blind activist said officials had helped him fill in the forms on Wednesday at the Beijing hospital where he is staying. Chen Guangcheng spent six days in the US embassy last… Continue reading Chen Guangcheng’s passport application is done