World News

Caracas, July 18 (IANS) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said US presidential hopeful Barack Obama is damaging by his hostile rhetoric possible dialogue with Venezuela and Cuba that he promised to open, should he win.

London, July 18 (IANS) Tunbridge Wells regularly keeps a date with history-makers. It was Kapil the Devil in 1983. It is Barbie the Soldier this year.

Quito (Ecuador), July 18 (Xinhua) France is willing to mediate for resumption of diplomatic ties between Ecuador and Colombia, the French ambassador to Ecuador has said.

Colombo, July 18 (IANS) Sri Lanka Air Force Friday claimed that its supersonic fighter jets have carried out two consecutive early morning air raids targeting suspected heavy weapon deployment and logistic boats of the Tamil Tigers in the northern Mullaitivu district.

Sydney, July 18 (DPA) Lleyton Hewitt's immediate tennis future could be known before the weekend after the Australian concluded a series of tests on his chronically injured hip.

Islamabad, July 18 (DPA) Senior Indian and Pakistani officials Friday began parleys on trade and travel across the two halves of Kashmir, officials said.

Johannesburg, July 18 (IANS) Indian music, dance, food and more will be on offer in South Africa as part of the 'Shared Histories Festival' beginning next month that hopes to reach out not only to the diaspora but also to others.

Johannesburg, July 18 (IANS) As million of tributes continue to pour in from all over the world for his 90th birthday Friday, there is another special treat in store for iconic leader Nelson Mandela - a film produced by a local Indian filmmaker as a tribute.

Indianapolis (Indiana), July 18 (DPA) Rattled top seed James Blake made heavy weather against a number 293 qualifier but finally gained late control to advance 6-3, 7-5 into the quarter-finals of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships.

London, July 18 (IANS) Blood pressure finally accounted for a Gurkha ex-corporal as he waited for years to get permission to live indefinitely in Britain, whose army he served for 15 years.

London, July 18 (IANS) The Gourmet Restaurant Group has become the largest Indian restaurant group in Britain after acquiring two takeaway and eat-in chains, it announced Friday.

Kuala Lumpur, July 18 (IANS) In the eye of a political storm since November, a body of Malaysian Indian activists that has five top leaders in jail wants a meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to 'put an end to problems facing Indians'.

Sydney, July 18 (IANS) Peter Lloyd, Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) South Asia correspondent based in New Delhi, has been arrested on drug trafficking charges in Singapore. If found guilty, he could face a 20-year jail term and up to 15 lashes from the cane.

London, July 18 (IANS) A British millionaire has posted on the internet details of what his wife got following their divorce to stop people from portraying him as a man who abandoned his family.

Washington, July 18 (IANS) In a pointer to the gravity of the situation, scientists have called for a last-resort conservation measure like the relocation to safer habitats of species endangered by climate change.

London, July 18 (IANS) Auction house Christie's says it has recorded a 63 percent growth entirely due to the emergence of Indian and Chinese buyers of both their own art and western art.

Bogota, July 18 (IANS) Colombia's Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo, a former hostage of the leftist rebels, has stepped down after 17 months in the job, EFE news agency reported Friday.

Dhaka, July 18 (IANS) Tarique Rahman, the jailed politician son of former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia, may be allowed eight weeks of freedom like his younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko, a media report said Friday.

Washington, July 18 (IANS) US defence leaders want Pakistan do more on its side of the border with Afghanistan to prevent Taliban and other violent groups to cross over and launch terrorist attacks from their safe havens in Pakistan's tribal areas.

Washington, July 18 (DPA) US presidential hopeful Barack Obama is expected to head to the Middle East shortly seeking to show foreigners that he's the candidate of change, which is what he has been telling Americans already for months.