Israel has started to free a group of Palestinian prisoners, whose release was agreed as part of the deal that allowed peace talks to resume. A group of 26 prisoners, all convicted of attacks that happened before 1993, were driven out of a jail in minibuses with tinted windows. Some are being taken straight to… Continue reading Israel releases 26 Palestinian prisoners
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Brazil: Public prosecutors begin legal action against Samsung over labor laws violation
Public prosecutors in Brazil have begun legal action against Samsung, alleging that it has been violating labor laws at its factory in the Amazon region. Prosecutors accuse Samsung of making its employees work long, tiring shifts without sufficient breaks. The prosecutors’ office in the city of Manaus said one worker reported packing nearly 3,000 phones… Continue reading Brazil: Public prosecutors begin legal action against Samsung over labor laws violation
American Airlines and US Airways challenged by Department of Justice
The Department of Justice has filed an anti-trust case to block the merger of American Airlines and US Airways. The $11 billion deal, which would form the world’s largest airline, was backed by a federal judge in March and has been approved by the European Union. The complaint says customers would see a price rise… Continue reading American Airlines and US Airways challenged by Department of Justice
Arirang: North Korea announces first indigenous smartphone
North Korea announces it has produced its first home-grown smartphone – Arirang – but experts have disputed its origins. The Arirang handset, described as a “hand phone” in state media, was shown to leader Kim Jong-un during a factory tour. North Korea has had a mobile network since 2008, but activity is heavily monitored and… Continue reading Arirang: North Korea announces first indigenous smartphone
Elon Musk’s Hyperloop plans unveiled
Paypal founder Elon Musk has revealed plans for a radical new “hyperloop” transport system that could “shoot” passengers 380 miles from Los Angeles to San Francisco in 30 minutes. Travellers enter aluminium pods mounted by skis either to their feet or to their cars. The pods, mounted above the ground on columns 50 to 100… Continue reading Elon Musk’s Hyperloop plans unveiled
Mali election: Ibrahim Boubacar Keita wins presidential poll in second round
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has won Mali’s presidential election after his rival Soumaila Cisse admitted defeat in the second round. Ex-Finance Minister Soumaila Cisse said he had congratulated Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and wished him good luck, AFP reported. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, 68, served as prime minister from 1994 to 2000. Mali has suffered a year of… Continue reading Mali election: Ibrahim Boubacar Keita wins presidential poll in second round
Bribes routinely paid by major foreign pharmaceutical companies operating in China
According to new reports, bribes are routinely paid by major foreign pharmaceutical companies operating in China. Five sales representatives for foreign companies told the BBC their firms paid bribes in order to increase sales of their products. None of them wanted to be identified, fearing they would lose their jobs. The revelations come as Beijing… Continue reading Bribes routinely paid by major foreign pharmaceutical companies operating in China
Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe attacks MDC rivals in his Heroes’ Day speech
Zimbabwe’s presidential election winner Robert Mugabe has launched a stinging attack on his opposition rivals in his first public speech since he won the disputed poll. Rejecting PM Morgan Tsvangirai’s claims that the vote was stolen, he said those against him could “go hang”. Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) boycotted the speech. The… Continue reading Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe attacks MDC rivals in his Heroes’ Day speech
Prince Johan Friso dies after a year and a half in coma
Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands has died after a year and a half in a coma following an accident at an Austrian ski resort, officials say. Prince Friso, who was 44, was moved from hospital in London back to the Netherlands last month, but had since suffered complications. He was hit by an avalanche… Continue reading Prince Johan Friso dies after a year and a half in coma
INS Vikrant: India unveils first indigenous aircraft carrier
India has launched INS Vikrant, its first indigenous aircraft carrier, from a shipyard in southern Kerala state. The 37,500 tonne INS Vikrant is expected to go for extensive trials in 2016 before being inducted into the navy by 2018, reports say. With this, India joins a select group of countries capable of building such a… Continue reading INS Vikrant: India unveils first indigenous aircraft carrier
Taxi Stoltenberg: Norway PM Jens Stoltenberg works as secret taxi driver
Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg spent an afternoon working incognito as a taxi driver in Oslo, he has revealed. Jens Stoltenberg said he had wanted to hear from real Norwegian voters and that taxis were one of the few places where people shared their true views. He wore sunglasses and an Oslo taxi driver uniform… Continue reading Taxi Stoltenberg: Norway PM Jens Stoltenberg works as secret taxi driver
Typhoon Utor hits northern Philippines
Powerful Typhoon Utor has hit the northern Philippines, leaving at least 23 fishermen missing. Typhoon Utor made landfall in the north of the main island of Luzon early on Monday, bringing winds of up to 124 mph and torrential rain. Power lines were brought down in some places and ferries were suspended, stranding thousands of… Continue reading Typhoon Utor hits northern Philippines
2013 IAAF World Championships: Usain Bolt regains 100 m world title
Usain Bolt regained his 100 m world title and won a fourth individual World Championships gold with a season’s best of 9.77 seconds in Moscow. In heavy rain, the 26-year-old Jamaican made amends for his false start in Daegu two years ago and further cemented his status as the greatest sprinter in history. The six-time… Continue reading 2013 IAAF World Championships: Usain Bolt regains 100 m world title
Kenneth Bae: US citizen jailed in North Korea is very ill
The family of Kenneth Bae, the American missionary who was detained in North Korea last year, says he is seriously ill and has been moved from a labour camp to a hospital. Kenneth Bae, 45, who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour for trying to overthrow the North Korean government, has diabetes and… Continue reading Kenneth Bae: US citizen jailed in North Korea is very ill
Pope Francis greets Muslims at end of Ramadan
In his Eid message, Pope Francis has urged Christians and Muslims to work together to promote mutual respect, particularly by educating new generations of believers. The pontiff greeted Muslims around the world during his Sunday blessing of pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square in Rome. Pope Francis said that “our brothers” the Muslims had just… Continue reading Pope Francis greets Muslims at end of Ramadan
Obama family’s vacation to Martha’s Vineyard could reach $2 million
The First Family departed The Disabled American Veteran National Convention in Florida for their annual eight-day vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, where they are staying at a $7.6 million vacation home with views of the Atlantic. Getting on the plane from Orlando the family sported a smart look with the President Barack Obama donning a suit… Continue reading Obama family’s vacation to Martha’s Vineyard could reach $2 million
Australia election 2013: Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott hold first debate
Australia’s Labor PM Kevin Rudd and opposition leader Tony Abbott are due to meet in the first televised debate of the election campaign. The candidates will face an hour of questioning from a panel of journalists in the capital, Canberra. Correspondents say the economy and the issue of asylum seekers are likely to dominate the… Continue reading Australia election 2013: Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott hold first debate
Mali begins voting in presidential election run-off
Mali is set to begin voting in a presidential election run-off. Many expect Former PM Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who won 40% of the vote in the first round, to defeat ex-Finance Minister Soumaila Cisse. The election follows more than a year of turmoil which included a coup and a French-led military intervention to oust Islamist… Continue reading Mali begins voting in presidential election run-off
Perseid Meteor Shower 2013
In 2013, the Perseid meteors will streak across the short summer nights – August 10-13 – from late night until dawn, with little to no interference from the waxing crescent moon. Plus the moon will be near the planet Saturn in the evening hours, giving a colorful prelude to late-night Perseid show. Best mornings to… Continue reading Perseid Meteor Shower 2013
Malaria vaccine shows promising results in early stage clinical trials
US researchers say a malaria vaccine has shown promising results in early stage clinical trials. Researchers found the vaccine protected 12 out of 15 patients from the disease, when given in high doses. The method is unusual because it involves injecting live but weakened malaria-causing parasites directly into patients to trigger immunity. The research is… Continue reading Malaria vaccine shows promising results in early stage clinical trials
Rokatenda volcano eruption kills five people in Indonesia
Five people have been killed after Rokatenda volcano erupted on tiny island of Palue in Indonesia, officials have said. Mount Rokatenda, on the island of Palue some 1,250 miles east of Jakarta, spewed ash and rocks hundreds of metres into the air. Disaster officials said hot ash covered a nearby beach, leaving three adults and… Continue reading Rokatenda volcano eruption kills five people in Indonesia
Mona Lisa: Florence tomb opened to extract model’s DNA
Italian scientists have opened a Florence tomb to extract DNA they hope will identify the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The tomb contains the family of Lisa Gherardini, a silk merchant’s wife who is believed to have sat for the artist. It is hoped DNA will help to identify her from three skeletons… Continue reading Mona Lisa: Florence tomb opened to extract model’s DNA
US diplomatic missions to reopen after al-Qaeda terror alert
Eighteen of the 19 US diplomatic missions recently closed due to security threats will reopen on Sunday. The state department says its embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa will stay closed “because of ongoing concerns”. The US closed 19 diplomatic missions in the Middle East and Africa last Sunday in response to what it said… Continue reading US diplomatic missions to reopen after al-Qaeda terror alert
Apple wins patent case against Samsung at US ITC
Giant tech Apple has won a key patent case against rival Samsung at the US International Trade Commission (US ITC). The US ITC upheld a 2011 decision which found that Samsung had infringed Apple patents in the production of mobile phones, media players and tablets. The commission has ordered that Samsung devices affected by the… Continue reading Apple wins patent case against Samsung at US ITC
Barack Obama vows greater surveillance transparency
President Barack Obama has vowed “appropriate reforms” to guarantee greater oversight of controversial US surveillance programmes. At a White House news conference, Barack Obama proposed “safeguards against abuse”, including amending legislation on the collection of telephone data. The president also urged allowing a lawyer to challenge decisions by the nation’s secretive surveillance court. He has… Continue reading Barack Obama vows greater surveillance transparency