Barack Obama and Xi Jinping meet as cyber-scandals swirl
RANCHO MIRAGE, California (AFP) -Throwing formality aside at a desert retreat, the US and Chinese leaders pledged a new approach in ties, but President Barack Obama took the rising power to task on cyber-hacking charges. Skipping the usual summit pageantry, Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping both went without neckties at a resort under the [...]
Shakira a certified ‘genius’
Shakira has been certified a genius with an IQ of 140. The Colombian singer must be basking in the news that she has a genius-level intelligence. According to Sinembargo, Mensa International just included Shakira on their most recent list of celebrities with above-average intelligence. Other famous folks to make the grade were Madonna (140), Quentin [...]
Mandela in ‘serious but stable’ condition
PRETORIA, June 8 (AFP) -Nelson Mandela was back in hospital on Saturday in a “serious but stable” condition, triggering an outpouring of concern for South Africa’s beloved national hero at home and across the globe. Mandela, who turns 95 next month, was admitted to a Pretoria hospital in the early hours suffering a renewed lung [...]
Hardline Modi set to be frontman of India’s opposition
PANAJI, India (AFP) -Controversial opposition politician Narendra Modi’s hopes of becoming India’s next premier could get a big boost this weekend when his party chooses its frontman for next year’s general elections. Modi, chief minister of the thriving western state of Gujarat for more than a decade, is widely expected to be named head of [...]
North and South Korea to hold first official talks in two years
SEOUL, June 8 (AFP) -South Korea today said the North had agreed to hold working-level talks in the border truce village of Panmunjom this weekend following months of soaring tensions — the first such dialogue in more than two years. The two Koreas agreed to send three delegates each to Panmunjom, a traditional point of [...]
Syria crisis: UN launches largest ever aid appeal
DAMASCUS, June 8 (AFP) – The United Nations has launched a record aid appeal for Syria, warning of a regional “explosion” if the fighting does not stop, as regime forces sought to capitalise on recent victories over the rebels. The UN was also scrambling to find replacement troops for its peacekeeping mission on the Golan [...]
Court adjourns Mubarak trial, bars lawyers
CAIRO, June 8 (AFP) – An Egyptian court in the retrial of fallen dictator Hosni Mubarak for alleged complicity in the killings of protesters barred lawyers in civil cases from the proceedings at a brief session today. Presiding judge Mahmoud al-Rashidi adjourned the court to Monday, shortly after opening the second hearing in Mubarak’s retrial, [...]
Enter The Diplomat: UN’s Ban gets black belt
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Representatives at the United Nations may think twice about crossing Ban Ki-moon in future after the secretary-general was awarded an honorary 10th degree black belt in the Korean martial art of taekwondo. While is unclear whether the 68-year-old Ban can break bricks with his bare hands, World Taekwondo Federation president Choue Chung-won [...]
Saudi prince sues Forbes for libel
Alwaleed bin Talal claims magazine listed his wealth as only $20 billion when he is actually worth $29.6 billion A Saudi prince is suing Forbes magazine for libel because it said he was only worth $20billion in its annual rich list instead of $30billion. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, one of the world’s richest businessmen, claims [...]
Revealed: The woman who lost $590 million
Mindy Crandall let elderly lottery winner cut in line before she bought the winning ticket The woman who claims to have allowed 84-year-old Powerball winner Gloria Mackenzie cut in line when she bought her lucky ticket said today she doesn’t regret the decision – even though it might have cost her $590million. Mindy Crandall, 34, [...]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel praises European solidarity in fight against floods
BITTERFELD, Germany (AFP)-German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday praised the “wonderful solidarity” of tens of thousands struggling against central Europe’s worst river floods in over a decade and promised more help for the victims on her second visit in three days to disaster-hit areas. Vast stretches along the Elbe river basin have been submerged in [...]
Down to a tea: Scientists work out how to make the perfect cup
In a bid to settle the centuries old argument, scientists have now got together to formulate a step-by-step guide for the perfect cup of tea. And whether you prefer to brew your English Breakfast in a mug or teapot, there is one area in which the experts unanimously agreed – for the best results steer [...]
Did Russian president’s ‘affair’ with young gymnast end his 30-year marriage?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife, Lyudmila, have announced that they have separated and their marriage is over. The 60-year-old and his 55-year-old wife broke the news of the end of the 29-year marriage in an obviously staged TV interview after a night at the ballet that made no mention of Putin’s alleged mistress, [...]
Turkey’s class struggle
NEW YORK – One interpretation of the anti-government demonstrations now roiling Turkish cities is that they are a massive protest against political Islam. What began as a rally against official plans to raze a small park in the center of Istanbul to make way for a kitschy shopping mall quickly evolved into a conflict of [...]
Control home appliances using only hand gestures
Too lazy to get up to switch the kettle on? Soon you may be able to simply raise your hand or nod your head from another room, and you’ll be moments away from a fresh cup of tea. This is the hope of researchers at the University of Washington who have developed technology that will [...]
