Falkland Islands announces referendum on political status
The Falkland Islands government has announced a referendum on the islands' political status under British rule. Currently the islands are a self-governing British Overseas Territory with the UK representing their defense and foreign affairs. This year marks 30th anniversary of the Falklands war when Argentina attempted to conquer the islands.
Opposition rally takes place in St. Petersburg
The Russian opposition has marched through the center of St. Petersburg. The demonstrators were holding banners, white balloons and flags of opposition movements. Many participants were wearing white ribbons – a symbol of the movement For Free and Fair Elections that began after the parliamentary elections last December. The similar march in Moscow, police say, has gathered some 22,000 protesters.
Russian soccer fans beaten in Warsaw
Two Russian soccer fans have applied to the Russian embassy in Poland for assistance, saying they were beaten by people speaking Polish. The men told Russian diplomats that the incident took place on Monday and was registered by police. However, they said, police refused to notify the Russian embassy. The incident comes ahead of the Euro 2012 soccer game between Russia and Poland due to take place on Tuesday.
Italy might need bailout too - Austrian finance minister
The eurozone's third-largest economy, Italy, may soon need a helping hand, Austria's finance minister has warned. "Italy has to work its way out of its economic dilemma of very high deficits and debt, but of course it may be that - given the high rates Italy pays to refinance on markets - they too will need support," Maria Fekter said on Monday night. Her comments have put investors on alert over Europe’s ability to put an end to the financial turmoil it has been in for over two years now.
Syria peace conference in Moscow – Iran’s presence a must
Moscow is ready to host international peace conference on Syrian conflict, but Iran’s participation is a must, stated Russian foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. “Russia has proposed to conduct conference on concrete and clear principles,” the Minister told journalists. He stressed that any progress in solving the conflict is now entirely in the hands of the US.
At least 80 feared dead in Afghan quake – local officials
At least 80 people are feared to have died in Afghanistan following earthquakes that triggered mudslides, say local officials. Two earthquakes measuring 5.4 and 5.7 on the Richter scale struck Afghanistan’s mountainous northern region on Monday, burying a village. The governor of Baghlan province said that so far only two bodies had been recovered from the debris and 22 homes had been buried in landslides. The UN is currently working with Afghan authorities to discern what aid should be sent.
US lift sanctions on 7 states over Iranian oil
Washington has decided to exclude a number of countries from sanctions they would incur should they continue to purchase oil from the Islamic Republic of Iran. India, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Turkey will not be punished for buying oil from Tehran for at least next 180 days or even longer. In March the list was shortened by Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Great Britain.
World’s biggest telescope project begins
European states have approved construction of the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), theworld’s largest so far. Its mirror is 39 meters in diameter, and will consist of nearly 800 hexagonal segments, gathering 12 times more light than any other optical telescope operating today. The ELT will be assembled in Chile’s Atacama Desert in Antofagasta Region, on the slopes of Cerro Armazones Mountain at an altitude of 3,060 meters. The ELT will be imaging planets orbiting other suns in so-called “habitable zones” searching for traces of life in other worlds of the universe.
UN concerned at escalation of violence in Syria
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has expressed his “deep concern” over the “dangerous intensification of armed violence across Syria” over the past several days as the clashes between the government forces and the opposition escalate. "The bloodshed and fighting must stop at once," Ban’s press office said in a statement. "The government's intensive military operations, including the shelling of Homs and reportedly other population centers, as well as firing from helicopters on Talbiseh and Rastan, are resulting in heavy civilian casualties and human rights violations," the statement said. The UN chief also urged "all countries with influence on either side to convince them to put the welfare of Syrians first, to pull back from the brink and to reflect on the devastating consequences that the increasing violence is having for the people of Syria, the country and the region." The ongoing conflict in Syria has already claimed more than 9,000 lives.
Nobel Prize cut by 20% in 2012
All Nobel awards will be cut to 8 million kronor (US $1.1 million) this year, which is 20 per cent less than before. The decision by the Nobel Foundation to reduce the prize money is aimed at safeguarding its long-term capital prospects, AP reports. The cuts will also affect the award ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden, and Oslo, Norway. The decision came after the average return on the foundation's capital fell short of the overall sum of all Nobel Prizes and operating expenses. The board of directors, however, is hoping to achieve a good inflation-adjusted return on its capital during the next few years.
Yemeni army attacks Islamist stronghold killing 44
At least 44 people have been killed as the Yemeni army launched a major assault against Al Qaeda-linked militants in southern Yemen on Monday, Reuters reports. Yemeni warplanes and troops attacked the city of Jaar in Abyan province and also attacked positions near Shaqra, a coastal town on a major shipping route, as well as other areas. Southern Yemen fell under the control of the Islamists during last year’s political turmoil, which resulted in President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s ouster. "The military has just started an assault from three different fronts in an attempt to enter Jaar," a military official said, adding that armed tribesmen were supporting the troops. The crackdown on the militants is backed by the United States, which sees Yemen as a frontline in its war against Al Qaeda.
Amnesty urges Egypt to probe mob attacks on women
Amnesty International has called on Egyptian authorities to investigate the reports of sexual assaults on female protesters, Associated Press reports. The attacks against women have been on the rise since the demonstrators returned to Cairo’s landmark Tahrir Square to protest verdicts against ousted president Hosni Mubarak, his sons and security aides. The protesters say the sexual assaults are an attempt to dissuade women from protesting. On Friday, female activists organized a rally demanding an end to the harassment but instead were attacked by a mob of men who tore off their clothes and robbed them. “The authorities have so far done nothing to investigate these attacks,” said Amnesty's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. She said the lack of investigation has encouraged the attackers. “The prevailing climate of impunity must stop to bring perpetrators to justice,” she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment