World Fwire News - Page 29

Race row: US Church bars black couple from tying the knot

A predominantly white Mississippi church has apologized for its refusal to allow a black couple to marry in its sanctuary, though the couple said Monday they knew nothing of the apology until a reporter called.

Sean Penn campaigns with Venezuela's Chavez

US actor Sean Penn joined President Hugo Chavez at an election rally in Venezuela on Sunday, bringing a dash of Hollywood to the campaign as he rode with him atop a truck past cheering supporters.

Opposition-backed group enforces transport strike in Kathmandu

An opposition-backed youth organisation enforced a transport strike here today, demanding Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's resignation to pave the way for the formation of a national consensus government.

Explosion in Pakistan kills two

Two persons were killed and 11 others injured when explosive materials used in making fireworks went off inside a building in the central Pakistani city of Multan today.

Arnie to have LA global policy institute named after him

Arnold Schwarzenegger is to get a global policy institute in his name as he relaunches his action movie career following a seven-year stint at California Governor.

Zardari, Singh to meet at NAM summit

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are likely to meet on the margins of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in the Iranian capital later this month.

Was Kofi Annan's resignation the curse of history?

Syria was the best chance for Annan, 74, to put to rest the failures of diplomacy in Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, Somalia and Iraq, which are likely to drown out the plaudits for his softly spoken mediation and efforts to eradicate poverty and AIDS that won him the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.

New US envoy to be deployed to Kabul

The US Senate has confirmed career diplomat James Cunningham as ambassador to Afghanistan, replacing Ryan Crocker, who stepped down due to health reasons.

Unicef guidelines for businesses on supporting child rights

The UNICEF today unveiled a set of guidelines aimed to ensure that businesses support children's rights through activities and investments

If global warming persists, palm trees could grow in Antarctic

Palm trees, usually found in hot climatic conditions, could grow in the Antarctic within a few hundred years if climate change continues.

Hitler's nephew wanted to fight Nazis

A nephew of Adolf Hitler wrote a letter to then US president Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 in which he begged to be allowed to enlist in the US Army to fight against his uncle's Nazi regime.

Worst air pollution in 2 yrs hits Hong Kong

The worst pollution in two years smothered Hong Kong for a second day on Thursday, prompting warnings to the old and sick to stay indoors and obscuring one of the world's most famous views.

In Italy, it's a crime to tell a man he has 'no balls'

China cracks down on terrorism: Courts in Xinjiang jail 20

China has sentenced 20 people to up to 15 years in jail for terrorist or separatist crimes in the far western region of Xinjiang.

Indian-Americans pressure US to cut aid to Pak

Ahead of the ISI chief's meeting with the Congressmen, Indian-Americans swooped down at the Capitol Hill on Thursday asking American lawmakers to cut all US aid to Pakistan.

Blind dissident Chinese lawyer Chen welcomed to US

Congressional leaders united in welcoming dissident Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng, whose case has sparked a diplomatic crisis between Washington and Beijing.

The Who fans swap 1979 tickets for upcoming concert

Ten fans of English rock band The Who traded in tickets from a canceled 1979 gig in Rhode Island for entry to the group's upcoming February show.

Vietnam soldier tortures monkeys, dismissed

State media in Vietnam say a soldier has been dismissed from the military after photos of him torturing two monkeys posted on Facebook outraged the public.

Pak wants all Indian TV channels out

Pakistan's defence establishment has demanded that the government should immediately close all illegal Indian TV channels to check "India's hostile agenda against Pakistan", according to a media report on Wednesday.

Record Oz drug haul from terracotta pots

Australian police on Tuesday seized a record half a tonne of the drug ice and heroin worth up to A$500 million ($525 million) hidden in a shipment of terracotta pots from Thailand.

Indian warships on goodwill visit to Israel

The Mediterranean tour of the four warships is being headed by Rear Admiral AR Karve.

'Pippa Middleton's backside better than her face'

After calling Adele fat, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld has now found fault with Pippa Middleton's face.

Bangla man considered 'dead' returns after 23 yrs

For 23 years, his family in Bangladesh thought he was dead. But then an anonymous caller informed a local official in May that he was alive and in jail in Pakistan.

Pak Taliban fighters asked to step up attacks in Punjab

US woman gets jail for stealing baby, raising it as her own

woman who snatched a newborn from a hospital more than two decades ago and raised the child as her own was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison by a judge who called it a "crime of selfishness" .

'Dark Knight Rises' composer writes song for Aurora victims

UN team visits North Korea after heavy rain kills 90

UN staff visited storm-pounded counties in North Korea on Tuesday, after two days of heavy rain submerged buildings, cut off power, flooded rice paddies and forced people and their livestock to climb onto rooftops for safety.