The world is marking today 26 years from the worst nuclear accident and Chernobyl survivors and victims’ families have held a midnight memorial. Dozens of people died in the three months after the catastrophe but the subsequent health fallout of those who lived in the path of the leaked radiation is unknown. On April 26,… Continue reading Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster: 26 years later
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Bo Xilai spied on China’s president Hu Jintao
The New York Times has recently reported that Bo Xilai ran a wire-tapping system that extended as far as China’s president Hu Jintao. Citing “nearly a dozen people with party ties”, the New York Times said the disgraced Bo Xilai ran a wire-tapping network across Chongqing, where he was party chief. His officials even listened… Continue reading Bo Xilai spied on China’s president Hu Jintao
Syria: at least 70 people killed in a massive explosion in Hama
Syrian activists say at least 70 people have been killed in an attack on a house in Hama. They said several houses in the Mashaa at-Tayyar district in southern Hama were destroyed by a big explosion. State media said 16 people died in the blast in a house used as a bomb factory by “armed terrorist… Continue reading Syria: at least 70 people killed in a massive explosion in Hama
Madeleine McCann pictured aged nine, as detectives reveal they think she is alive
Metropolitan Police in UK have issued a computer-generated image of what Madeleine McCann might look like now, as evidence into her disappearance are reviewed. The picture, created with the McCann family, shows how Madeleine would look aged nine, the Metropolitan Police said. Having analyzed the evidence, the Met said it is possible Madeleine McCann is alive,… Continue reading Madeleine McCann pictured aged nine, as detectives reveal they think she is alive
UK economy returns to recession after three years
The Office for National Statistics in UK has announced that the country’s economy has returned to recession, after shrinking by 0.2% in the first three months of 2012. A sharp fall in construction output was behind the surprise contraction, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of… Continue reading UK economy returns to recession after three years
Newt Gingrich will quit presidential campaign next week
US media report that Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is expected to suspend his campaign next week. Newt Gingrich said on Wednesday that he expected Mitt Romney, who won five primaries on Tuesday, to be the Republican nominee. The former House Speaker’s campaign had said it would reassess its future if he did not win… Continue reading Newt Gingrich will quit presidential campaign next week
How Oh Kil-nam’s life was ruined by his defection to North Korea
Oh Kil-nam, a retired South Korean economist, says his life was ruined by his decision to defect to North Korea. Oh Kil-nam, 70, still does not know the fate of his wife and daughters – either dead or imprisoned in a labor camp. In 1985, North Korean agents approached Oh Kil-nam and suggested he defect.… Continue reading How Oh Kil-nam’s life was ruined by his defection to North Korea
Mitt Romney wows to take the White House from Barack Obama
Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee for the presidential elections in US, has vowed to take the White House from President Barack Obama and end four years of “disappointments”. Speaking while racking up a series of primary night victories, Mitt Romney said a “new campaign” was beginning, heralding the start of the road to November’s… Continue reading Mitt Romney wows to take the White House from Barack Obama
Bo Guagua, the son of Chinese politician Bo Xilai, defends his lifestyle
Bo Guagua, the son of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai, has defended his lifestyle in an open letter to his university. In the letter to the Harvard Crimson, Bo Guagua said he was “deeply concerned” about his family. Bo Guagua, 24, denied he was a bad student, citing his grades, and set out how his… Continue reading Bo Guagua, the son of Chinese politician Bo Xilai, defends his lifestyle
Cryosat mission delivers new views of the seasonal growth and retreat of sea ice in Arctic basin
Cryosat, the European radar spacecraft launched in 2010 to monitor changes in the thickness and shape of polar ice, is now watching the ebb and flow of Arctic sea ice with high precision. Scientists have spent the past two years getting to grips with its data. And on Tuesday, they reported that Cryosat was now… Continue reading Cryosat mission delivers new views of the seasonal growth and retreat of sea ice in Arctic basin
Why do so many French people vote?
French turnout in the first round of the presidential election was more than 80%, one of the highest in the world. It’s a measure of the Gallic fervor for election campaigning that the candidate who went on to earn fourth place in Sunday’s vote was able to draw crowds in their tens of thousands. Jean-Luc… Continue reading Why do so many French people vote?
US ask China to explain the origins of North Korea’s missile launcher
Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged strong ties with North Korea, amid serious tensions between the two Koreas in the wake of Pyongyang’s failed rocket launch. Hu Jintao’s promise came at a meeting with a Workers’ Party delegation headed by Kim Yong-Il in Beijing on Monday. It came as North Korea threatened “unprecedented action” against Seoul.… Continue reading US ask China to explain the origins of North Korea’s missile launcher
Lyudmila Putina, the hidden First Lady of Russia
As Vladimir Putin prepares to take up Russia’s Presidency for an unprecedented third time, speculation is mounting as to why the future First Lady Lyudmila Putina is never seen by his side. Some say an affair with spy-turned-lingerie model Anna Chapman, which has been strongly denied, is the reason Lyudmila Putina, a former Aeroflot-hostess, is… Continue reading Lyudmila Putina, the hidden First Lady of Russia
Dutch PM Mark Rutte delivers resignation
Prime Minister Mark Rutte has presented his government’s resignation to Queen Beatrix of Neatherlands, paving the way for early elections. Dutch government was plunged into crisis when Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party (PVV) quit talks aimed at slicing 16 billion Euros from the budget. Geert Wilders said he would not accept austerity demands to bring the… Continue reading Dutch PM Mark Rutte delivers resignation
Anders Breivik Trial Day 6: Norway massacre was “a small barbarian act to prevent a larger barbarian act”
Anders Behring Breivik says his killings in Norway last July were “a small barbarian act to prevent a larger barbarian act” on what may be his final day of evidence. Anders Breivik, 33, has already admitted the Oslo bombing and island shootings that left 77 people dead. The main aim of the trial is to… Continue reading Anders Breivik Trial Day 6: Norway massacre was “a small barbarian act to prevent a larger barbarian act”
French elections: Nicolas Sarkozy loses first round battle
President Nicolas Sarkozy faces an uphill struggle in the second round of the French presidential election, after coming second in Sunday’s first vote. Nicolas Sarkozy won 27.1% of the vote, while his Socialist rival Francois Hollande took 28.6%, the first time a sitting president has lost in the first round. Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy… Continue reading French elections: Nicolas Sarkozy loses first round battle
Iran is building a copy of RQ-170 Sentinel, the US surveillance drone captured last year
Iran has begun building a copy of RQ-170 Sentinel, the US surveillance drone it captured last year, after breaking its encryption codes, Tehran officials say. “The Americans should be aware to what extent we have infiltrated the plane,” General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, military aerospace chief said. The RQ-170 Sentinel was shown on Iranian state television… Continue reading Iran is building a copy of RQ-170 Sentinel, the US surveillance drone captured last year
Francois Hollande wins first round of France’s presidential election
Socialist Francois Hollande has won most votes in the first round of France’s presidential election, early estimates say. Francois Hollande got 28.4% of votes, according to projections based on partial results, against 25.5% for centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy. Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande will face each other in a second-round run-off on 6 May. The… Continue reading Francois Hollande wins first round of France’s presidential election
Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix has taken place despite continuing anti-government protests
Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix has taken place despite continuing anti-government protests and the race track has been heavily guarded by police, dogs and armored vehicles to keep activists away. On Saturday, protests intensified after the body of a Shia activist killed in overnight clashes with security forces was discovered on a rooftop. Many protesters… Continue reading Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix has taken place despite continuing anti-government protests
LED light bulb that lasts 20 years goes on sale in US on Earth Day
Prize-winning Philips LED light bulb that lasts for 20 years is going on sale in the US on Sunday – also known as Earth Day. Made by Dutch electronics giant Philips, the bulb swaps filaments for light-emitting diodes to provide illumination. Using LEDs endows the light with a long life and a hefty price tag.… Continue reading LED light bulb that lasts 20 years goes on sale in US on Earth Day
Robin Gibb wakes from coma after more than a week
Bee Gees star Robin Gibb has woken from a coma after more than a week and begun to show signs of recovery. Spokesman Doug Wright said Robin Gibb, 62, was able to nod and communicate with his family who has held a constant vigil at his beside in a central London hospital. Robin Gibb fell… Continue reading Robin Gibb wakes from coma after more than a week
First round of France’s presidential election
Polls are opened for France’s presidential election, which takes place amid widespread concern over the eurozone crisis and high unemployment. Centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy is seeking re-election, saying only he can preserve a “strong France”. But Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a tough challenge from Socialist Francois Hollande, who has said it is “the left’s turn… Continue reading First round of France’s presidential election
At least 60 people injured in a two-train collision in Amsterdam
At least 60 people have been injured in a two-train collision Saturday evening outside Amsterdam, Dutch transport police said. “There are 60 people injured – some 15 to 20 badly,” police spokesman Ed Kraszewski told AFP, after the head-on smash near Sloterdijk, in the western suburbs of Amsterdam. The accident happened at around 6:30 p.m.… Continue reading At least 60 people injured in a two-train collision in Amsterdam
Vietnam seeks international help as mystery skin disease killed 19 people
Vietnam plans to ask for international help to find out what is causing a skin infection that has already killed 19 people. More than 170 people in the country’s central province of Quang Ngai have reported symptoms. The disease begins with a rash on the hands and feet: it can progress to liver problems and… Continue reading Vietnam seeks international help as mystery skin disease killed 19 people
Czech Republic: anti-government protests in the biggest rally since the fall of communism in 1989
Anti-government protesters in the Czech Republic have staged what they describe as the biggest rally since the fall of communism in 1989. Demonstrators say 120,000 people packed the capital Prague, protesting against austerity measures and corruption. Police put the numbers at 90,000. Echoing 1989, people jangled their keys – a signal to the centre-right coalition… Continue reading Czech Republic: anti-government protests in the biggest rally since the fall of communism in 1989