World
Ryanair says it could move into trans-Atlantic flights
Ryanair, Europe's biggest budget airline, could start selling low-cost trans-Atlantic flights if it secures enough twin-aisle aircraft and gains access to cities in both Europe and the United States, its chief executive said today. "This will be a unique opportunity to bust open the trans-Atlantic services. Trans-Atlantic fares should start at $10 or 10...
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Pope John Paul II closer to sainthood
Pope John Paul II has moved a step closer to sainthood. A Vatican commission of theologians approved a second miracle attributed to his intercession, clearing a key hurdle. The case now goes to a commission of cardinals and then Pope Francis. John...
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Britain fails to get EU backing for Hezbollah blacklisting
A British drive to put Hezbollah's armed wing on the EU's terror list again ran into resistance today from governments concerned it would fuel instability in the Middle East, diplomats said. Britain's request was discussed for a second time by a...
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China executes official for child rapes after online uproar
Authorities in central China have executed a former Communist Party official for raping 11 underage girls following an online uproar about the latest case of abuse of power. Li Xingong, who was the party's deputy head in Yongcheng city in Henan...
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Taliban say they will talk with the US...and kill four Americans
The Taliban claimed responsibility today for an attack in Afghanistan that killed four American troops just hours after it announced it would hold talks with the US. The attack underscores the challenges in trying to end the violence in Afghanistan...
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Thousands evacuated after Russian ammo dump blast
Thousands of people have been evacuated after explosions at an army ammunition store in south-west Russia. Russia's Emergency Ministry said there were initially four explosions at the base in Chapayevsk late yesterday. It said the explosions were...
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US to meet Taliban to seek Afghan peace
The US will meet the Taliban in Doha in the coming days for talks aimed at achieving peace in Afghanistan, where the US has battled the insurgents for 12 years, US officials said yesterday. The Taliban said it wanted a political solution that would...
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Hungarian man, 98, charged with WW2 crimes
Hungarian prosecutors yesterday charged a 98-year-old man who tops the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Centre’s wanted list with war crimes, saying he had helped to deport Jews to Auschwitz in World War II. Laszlo Csatary was found guilty in absentia...
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Putin torpedoes the G8’s efforts to push out Assad
Russian President Vladimir Putin derailed Western efforts to remove Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad from power at the G8 summit yesterday and, hours after meeting US President Barack Obama, said the Kremlin might sell more arms to Syria. In a final...
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Twin suicide bombs kill 29 in Baghdad
Two coordinated suicide bombings at a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Baghdad killed at least 29 worshippers at noon prayers yesterday, medics said. The first bomber detonated his charge at a checkpoint about 100 metres away from the mosque in al-Qahira...
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Dozens held in Turkey, ‘silent man’ goes viral
A lone, silent vigil by a man in Istanbul inspired copycat protests yesterday, as police detained dozens of people across Turkey in an operation linked to three weeks of often violent demonstrations against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. Overnight...
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Bulgaria proposes electoral changes
Bulgaria’s Socialists, in power for only three weeks at the head of a fragile government, yesterday promised to reform the electoral law in a bid to defuse the street protests that have resumed with new momentum despite last month’s...
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Royal baby to give £240m bump to British economy
From Union Jack booties to ‘Born to Rule’ sleepwear, the British Royal Family has joined retailers in offering baby products to mark the arrival of the royal heir. A baby sleepsuit modelled on a guardsman’s outfit is one of the gifts on sale at...
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China designs world's fastest supercomputer
A supercomputer made in China has been named the world's fastest of its kind, and runs almost twice as fast as the previous U.S. record holder. The TOP 500 list, which is complied by a group of international experts and ranks supercomputers...
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Karzai announces peace talks as Afghans take over security
Afghanistan will send a team to Qatar for peace talks with the Taliban, President Hamid Karzai said today, as the US-led NATO coalition launched the final phase of the 12-year war with the last round of security transfers to Afghan forces. Karzai's...
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Silent standing protest catches on
After weeks of sometimes-violent confrontation with police, Turkish protesters have found a new form of resistance - standing still and silent. The first such protest was carried out by performance artist Erdem Gunduz, who stood for hours at...
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Hungarian man, 98, charged with WW2 crimes
Hungarian prosecutors have charged a 98-year-old man who tops the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Center's wanted list with war crimes, saying he had helped to deport Jews to Auschwitz in World War Two. Laszlo Csatary was found guilty in absentia in...
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'Dozens detained' in police swoops
Dozens of people suspected of involvement in violence against police during a wave of anti-government protests have been detained during a series of raids today, according to Turkish news reports. NTV television said the swoops in Ankara and...
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Maersk enters into alliance with container ship rivals
The container shipping unit of Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk has entered into an alliance with its two biggest rivals MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. and CMA CGM to improve operations and services. The companies, the three...
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Turkey could deploy army to quell protests
Turkey’s deputy Prime Minister yesterday said the armed forces could be called up if needed to help quell popular protests that have swept Turkish cities in the last two weeks; this was the first time the possibility of a military role has been...
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Gaddafi officials acquitted over Lockerbie payout
Two former top associates of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi were yesterday acquitted of wasting public money, but remained in jail as part of a bigger investigation involving his spy chief and one of his sons. Ex-foreign minister Abdel-Ati al-Obeidi and...
Popular Stories
China designs world's fastest supercomputer
Ryanair says it could move into...
China executes official for child rapes...
Hungarian man, 98, charged with WW2 crimes
Thousands evacuated after Russian ammo...
Taliban say they will talk with the...
Silent standing protest catches on
'Dozens detained' in police swoops
Maersk enters into alliance with...
In Discussion
China designs world's fastest supercomputer
Ryanair says it could move into...
Thousands evacuated after Russian ammo...
China executes official for child rapes...
Taliban say they will talk with the...
'Dozens detained' in police swoops
Dutch teenage footballers jailed for...
Hope on the horizon for Iran-US nuclear...
US to meet Taliban to seek Afghan peace
