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Chad

Chad opposition boycotts presidential election

25 april 2011
source : bbc.co.uk

The people of Chad are going to the polls to vote in presidential elections with incumbent President Idriss Deby expected to win a fourth term.

The main opposition figures are boycotting after their demands for electoral reform were not met.

There are concerns that the boycott could affect voters turnout.

Mr Deby, who has faced two attempted coups since the last polls, has recently mended relations with Sudan, where.....read more

Colombia

Colombia bombs ‘Farc rebel arms factory’ in Arauca

18 july 2011
source : bbc.co.uk

Colombia's air force has bombed a suspected arms factory operated by the left-wing Farc guerrilla group, killing four militants, the government says.

Two women were captured during the assault in Arauca near the border with Venezuela, said the defence minister.

Rodrigo Rivera said there were unconfirmed reports the Farc leader in the area was one of those killed.

Mines, 300 mortars and more than a tonne of explos.....read more

Eritrea

Cycling Team Scores Encouraging Result in Gabon Tour

26 january 2011
source : all africa.com

The Eritrean national cycling team that is participating in the Gabon Tour scored encouraging results in the 105 Km.-long first stage race that took place yesterday.

Cyclist Daniel Teklehaimanot who is African Champion for his impressive victory in the Rwanda Tour participated in the race wearing "special championship shirt," while various international media outlets are expressing deep admiration to the cyclist who is highly expecte.....read more

Ethiopia

Report: Ethiopian Government Uses Aid as Political Tool

19 oct 2010
source : voice of america

An international watchdog published a report Tuesday that says the Ethiopian government is using development aid to suppress political dissent.

The report published by Human Rights Watch says villagers in Ethiopia often are refused loans, seeds, fertilizers, food aid and housing if they are a member of an opposition party. Human Rights Watch researcher Ben Rawlence said, “Government officials were saying to these farmers and vil.....read more

India

More Than 90 Deaths Reported as Hospital in India Burns

9 december 2011
source : new york times

NEW DELHI — A smoldering blaze ripped through an upscale private hospital in Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, smothering to death scores of patients on Friday morning and injuring dozens more. At least 94 people died, according to government officials. The fire broke out in the early morning in the basement of the hospital, the Advanced Medical Research Institute, a 180-bed private hospital that opened in 1996.

Witnesses and patient.....read more

Indonesia

Southeast Asian leaders fail to resolve Thailand, Cambodia border dispute

8 may 2011
source : washington post

Southeast Asian leaders made little headway Sunday in helping Thailand and Cambodia end a deadly border dispute that could undermine peace and stability in the region as it pushes for economic integration.

The prime ministers of the two feuding nations held talks Sunday — mediated by Indonesia’s president — as part of efforts to hammer out a lasting cease-fire.

But neither seemed in any mood to back down.

�.....read more

Iraq

Police: Gunmen storm home of Shiite family living in Sunni area in Baghdad, kill 4

17 april 2011
source : washington post

Iraqi officials say gunmen stormed the home of a Shiite family of four living in a mostly Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad and killed them all in a nighttime raid.

Two policemen said a 16-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl were shot to death with their parents in the invasion at around 11 p.m. on Saturday.

The deaths were confirmed by a Baghdad morgue official. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were n.....read more

Mexico

Mass grave in southern Mexico yields 167 bodies

10 march 2011
source : reuters

Authorities are investigating a mass grave in southern Mexico containing 167 bodies that may have been dumped there at least 50 years ago, a Mexican official said on Saturday.

The remains, found in a cave near the Guatemalan border, "disintegrated at the touch," said the official at the Chiapas state prosecutor's office.

Investigators are trying to determine the age and gender of the victims and the cause of death, the offi.....read more

Myanmar

Myanmar to chair ASEAN chair despite rights record

7 may 2011
source : sign on san diego

Myanmar will likely take over the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2014 despite the military-dominated country's record on human rights.

The regional grouping is supposed to rotate the post every year between its 10 member countries.

Myanmar was forced to skip its turn in 2005 after coming under heavy pressure from the international community over slow progress on national reconciliation and.....read more

Nigeria

UN-Backed Border Commission Presses for Swift Resolution

25 july 2011
source : all africa.com

The United Nations-backed commission set up to help Cameroon and Nigeria resolve their border dispute has called for swift agreement to resolve the remaining border areas that have not yet been fully demarcated.

At a two-day meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, that wrapped up yesterday, the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission instructed its sub-commission on demarcation to find "effective and practical solutions? on the remaining 350-kilometre .....read more

Peru

Shining Path rebels ‘kill two soldiers’ in Peru jungle

20 july 2011
source : bbc.co.uk

Shining Path rebels have killed two soldiers in a jungle region of Ayacucho province, Peru's military says.

Three other soldiers were injured in what was the second such attack in the area in recent weeks.

The Shining Path guerrilla group's power and impact have declined in the years since the arrest of its leader, Abimael Guzman, in 1992.

A military statement said the army would intensify the search for guerrillas.....read more

Philippines

Aquino to China: Filipinos will defend territory

25 july 2011
source : az central.com

President Benigno Aquino III warned China in a major national speech Monday that the Philippines was ready to defend its Spratly Islands claims by acquiring more weapons and would elevate the territorial feuds to a U.N. tribunal.

In his State of the Nation Address to Congress, Aquino also announced a new chief anti-graft prosecutor and said his year-old government plans to file its first major corruption case this year against corrup.....read more

Russian Federation

Vladimir Putin pledges to spend £32bn on increasing Russian life expectancy

21 april 2011
source : guardian.co.uk

Prime minister appears to make a play for return to presidency as he also promises to boost flagging birthrate by 30%

Vladimir Putin has promised to spend £32.5bn on increasing life expectancy and boosting Russia's flagging birthrate by up to 30% in the next four years.

The prime minister made the pledge in a bold address to parliament on Wednesday in which he appeared to make a play for his return to the presidency.

Thailand

Thai PM to talk to "yellow-shirts" on border issue with Cambodia

30 january 2011
source : people’s daily online

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday offered to talk to the nationalistic "yellow- shirts" to clear any misunderstanding on the Thai-Cambodian border disputes.

Abhisit said he is ready to send his aides to meet leaders of the "yellow-shirts", also known as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), to clear any doubts they have on the ways the government is solving the disputes.

"My government is open-minded. I would lik.....read more

Kurdistan

Iraqi Kurds push for recognition of oil deals

28 december 2010
source : abq journal news

Iraq's Kurds said Tuesday they won't resume oil exports from their self-ruled territory unless the central government recognizes the contracts they have already signed on their own with international energy companies.

The Kurds' condition could foil ambitious Iraqi plans to raise daily oil exports to 2.25 million barrels in 2011 from the current 1.9 million. Oil revenues account for nearly 95 percent of Iraq's budget as the energy-rich.....read more

Western Sahara

UN envoy seeks headway on Western Sahara issue

22 oct 2010
source : people’s daily online

The UN chief’s personal envoy to Western Sahara said on Thursday that he hopes his current visit to North Africa will lead to a “just and lasting solution” to the problem besetting Western Sahara.

Christopher Ross made the remarks while touring Tindouf in western Algeria. He is on his fourth visit to North Africa.

Ross arrived at the Western Sahara refugee camp in Tindouf Wednesday and talked with leaders of the.....read more