Veterans of Chinese Communist Party have written to President Hu Jintao to ask him to sack leading politician Zhou Yongkang. Zhou Yongkang is currently in charge of China’s security apparatus. In an open letter to President Hu Jintao, the party’s general secretary, the veterans suggest Zhou Yonkkang is part of a movement to revive the… Continue reading Veterans of Chinese Communist Party urge sacking of leading politician Zhou Yongkang
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Greece sets new election date on 17 June
Greece has set the new election date on 17 June and a judge has been appointed to head an interim government. Council of State president Panagiotis Pikramenos will head the caretaker government until the election. The election date was announced after party leaders met Greek President Karolos Papoulias on Wednesday. Final talks to form a… Continue reading Greece sets new election date on 17 June
Charles Taylor’s war trial: former Liberian president accuses prosecution of paying witnesses
Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president, has accused the prosecution of paying witnesses to testify against him in his war crimes trial. Charles Taylor, 64, who was found guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes last month, is addressing judges at The Hague. It is Charles Taylor’s last chance to speak at the international court… Continue reading Charles Taylor’s war trial: former Liberian president accuses prosecution of paying witnesses
Cannes Film Festival 2012 opens today amid sexism row
The 65th Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes) opens today on the French Riviera with US director Wes Anderson’s film Moonrise Kingdom. Wes Anderson’s movie, which stars Bill Murray, is one of the 22 movies selected to compete for the festival’s biggest prize, the Palme d’Or. However, the celebrations have been marred by criticism that… Continue reading Cannes Film Festival 2012 opens today amid sexism row
Ratko Maladic goes on international trial in The Hague over Bosnian war crimes
General Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander, is set to go on trial on 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide. Ratko Mladic, 69, is the last of the main protagonists in the Balkan wars of the 1990s to face an international trial in The Hague. He is accused… Continue reading Ratko Maladic goes on international trial in The Hague over Bosnian war crimes
Black box of Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed in Indonesia has been found
The black box of Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 that crashed into Mount Salak, killing all 45 people on board, has been found by Indonesian search team. The plane vanished 50 minutes after taking off from Jakarta for a brief demonstration flight on 9 May. Data from the black box, found about 100 m from the… Continue reading Black box of Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed in Indonesia has been found
Francois Hollande’s plane hit by lightning during flight to Berlin
France’s President Francois Hollande has arrived in Berlin for key talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after his plane was apparently hit by lightning. Presidential plane was forced to turn back to Paris and Francois Hollande later completed his journey on a second plane. During his inauguration speech earlier in the day, Socialist Francois Hollande… Continue reading Francois Hollande’s plane hit by lightning during flight to Berlin
DSK counter-sues Nafissatou Diallo seeking $1M in damages
Dominique Strauss-Kahn is counter-suing New York hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo, who accused him of sexual harassment, seeking $1 million in damages. The former IMF chief was held in New York in May 2011 after Nafissatou Diallo alleged he had forced her into sex in his suite in Manhattan’s Sofitel Hotel. Prosecutors later dropped charges amid… Continue reading DSK counter-sues Nafissatou Diallo seeking $1M in damages
Greece set to go for new elections after coalition failed to agree on new government
Evangelos Venizelos, leader of Greek Socialist Pasok party, has announced that the country is set to go to the polls again after days of coalition talks failed to produce agreement on a new government. A final round of talks on Tuesday morning broke up without a deal. In elections on 6 May, a majority of… Continue reading Greece set to go for new elections after coalition failed to agree on new government
German economy returns to growth in Q1 2012
The German economy returns to growth in the first quarter of 2012 with a better-than-expected 0.5% rise in GDP, official figures have shown. In Q4 2011, the German economy contracted by 0.2%, its first dip since 2009. Meanwhile, the French economy recorded zero growth in the first quarter, after growth of 0.1% at the end… Continue reading German economy returns to growth in Q1 2012
Francois Hollande set to be sworn in as French president
Francois Hollande is set to be sworn in as French president, before travelling to Berlin to discuss the future of the eurozone with Chancellor Angela Merkel. He will be the first Socialist leader since 1995 to occupy the Elysee Palace. Francois Hollande will later try to “find a compromise” with Angela Merkel over the German-led… Continue reading Francois Hollande set to be sworn in as French president
Barack Obama’s re-election campaign ad blasts Mitt Romney Bain Capital job record
Barack Obama’s re-election campaign has released a new ad seeking to undercut Republican rival Mitt Romney’s record on jobs. The new video features former workers of a steel plant that was bought and later shut down by Bain Capital, the private equity firm co-founded by Mitt Romney. “It was like a vampire. They came in… Continue reading Barack Obama’s re-election campaign ad blasts Mitt Romney Bain Capital job record
World markets fall amid Greece’s political uncertainty
World markets are down as Greece’s continuing political uncertainty undermines confidence. Greece failed to form a coalition government through talks on Sunday and will continue discussions with political leaders on Monday evening. Bank shares are worst hit, particularly in Spain and France, with Madrid’s IBEX index down 3% and the CAC down 2.7%. The Dow… Continue reading World markets fall amid Greece’s political uncertainty
Michelle Obama ordered women close to Barack Obama to be watched and shunned Oprah Winfrey
Edward Klein’s new book claims that First Lady Michelle Obama orders women close to the president to be watched in case he cheats on her like John F. Kennedy did to his wife. Michelle Obama is supposedly “unusually jealous” and has so little trust in Barack Obama that she turns up unannounced during the day… Continue reading Michelle Obama ordered women close to Barack Obama to be watched and shunned Oprah Winfrey
Dalai Lama gives Templeton Prize money to charity
The Dalai Lama says he will give away to charity $1.7 million Templeton Prize money awarded to him. The Tibetan spiritual leader received the Templeton Prize for exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension in London. About $1.4 million will go to Save the Children in India, with $200,000 set aside for The Minds and… Continue reading Dalai Lama gives Templeton Prize money to charity
Greek coalition fails to form an emergency government to avoid new elections
Greek moderate Democratic Left party says it will not join pro-bailout parties in a coalition without the more radical far left Syriza. The Greek president has called the four main parties, including the centre-right New Democracy and the Socialist Pasok, to try to form an emergency government to avoid new elections. But Syriza said it… Continue reading Greek coalition fails to form an emergency government to avoid new elections
Barack Obama tried to keep Rev Jeremiah Wright quiet during 2008 campaign by paying him $150K, claims new book
Barack Obama tried to convince Reverend Jeremiah Wright to keep quiet during 2008 US presidential campaign and offered his former pastor $150,000, claims Edward Klein’s book, The Amateur. Jeremiah Wright, a retired pastor who came under fire after an old sermon where he said that the September 11 terrorist attacks were “America’s chickens coming home… Continue reading Barack Obama tried to keep Rev Jeremiah Wright quiet during 2008 campaign by paying him $150K, claims new book
Angela Merkel and CDU face test in North Rhine-Westphalia election
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her party Christian Democratic Union (CDU) are facing a tough task to avoid defeat in North Rhine-Westphalia election on Sunday. Opinion polls in the key state of North Rhine-Westphalia suggest an emphatic re-election victory for the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). Analysts say voters look set to reject Angela Merkel’s tough… Continue reading Angela Merkel and CDU face test in North Rhine-Westphalia election
Arsala Rahmani, senior Afghan peace negotiator, shot dead in Kabul
Arsala Rahmani, a senior Afghan peace negotiator, has been shot dead in Kabul, officials say. Arsala Rahmani was a former Taliban minister and a key member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council, which leads efforts to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban. He was reportedly close to President Hamid Karzai and a key figure in… Continue reading Arsala Rahmani, senior Afghan peace negotiator, shot dead in Kabul
Indignants movement marks its first anniversary with protests in Madrid and other Spanish cities
Tens of thousands of people have protested in capital Madrid and in a number of Spanish cities to mark the first anniversary of the “Indignants” movement. In central Madrid, many protesters occupying Puerta del Sol square ignored a midnight deadline to disperse. However, by 05:00 a.m. on Sunday police had mainly evicted them. Indignants movement… Continue reading Indignants movement marks its first anniversary with protests in Madrid and other Spanish cities
Fenerbahce football fans clash with police in Istanbul after Galatasaray won Turkish league final
Hundreds of fans from Istanbul football club Fenerbahce have clashed with police and occupied the pitch after Galatasaray won Turkish league championship final. Fenerbahce’s traditional rival, Galatasaray, won the Turkish league championship following Saturday’s goalless derby. Police used their shields to protect Galatasaray players on the pitch at Fenerbahce’s Sukru Saracoglu stadium. Officers used pepper… Continue reading Fenerbahce football fans clash with police in Istanbul after Galatasaray won Turkish league final
Mitt Romney rejected same-sex marriage during speech at Liberty University
Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican candidate in this year’s US presidential election, has rejected the legitimacy of same-sex marriage telling graduates at Liberty University, a Christian college in Lynchburg, Virginia, that marriage is “a relationship between one man and one woman”. Mitt Romney told the Liberty University commencement that marriage is an “enduring” institution that’s… Continue reading Mitt Romney rejected same-sex marriage during speech at Liberty University
Turkish journalists held in Syria released after two months following Iranian mediation
Turkish journalists held in Syria for two months are on their way home after being released following Iranian mediation. Reporter Adem Ozkose and cameraman Hamit Coskun have arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran. They are said to be in good health. Adem Ozkose and Hamit Coskun were reported to be missing at the end of… Continue reading Turkish journalists held in Syria released after two months following Iranian mediation
London 2012 Olympic Gala: Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge were the star attractions
Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge were the star attractions at last night’s gala to mark the countdown to the London Olympic Games. The royal couple attended the Our Greatest Team Rises Gala dinner at London’s Royal Albert Hall and both looked stylish and sophisticated as they walked down the red carpet. Prince William looked… Continue reading London 2012 Olympic Gala: Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge were the star attractions
Hugo Chavez returns to Venezuela after successful Cuba radiotherapy
President Hugo Chavez is back to Venezuela coming from Cuba, where he has successfully completed a court of radiotherapy for cancer. Hugo Chavez hugged ministers on the runway in Caracas and broke into song in front of TV cameras. “In the last few days we successfully completed the radiation cycle, as planned by the medical team,”… Continue reading Hugo Chavez returns to Venezuela after successful Cuba radiotherapy