Month: February 2011

Govt to unveil budget ahead of state elections

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New Delhi, February 28: The embattled government faces the daunting task of appeasing voters weary of high inflation while trying to tame its fiscal deficit when it presents its budget for the next fiscal year on Monday.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government is under pressure over high prices and its handling of a string of corruption scandals as his Congress party faces elections in five states this year, making it unlikely that it will unveil any sensitive reforms in the budget for the fiscal year starting in April.

Chile marks earthquake anniversary amid disputes

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Chile, February 28: Chileans have been marking the anniversary of last year’s earthquake, which killed more than 500 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

Commemorations were led by President Sebastian Pinera, who stressed the progress made in reconstruction.

But there were also protests by people who say the government has not done enough to help quake victims.

The earthquake on 27 February 2010 had a magnitude of 8.8 – one of the biggest ever recorded.

Tree-killing disease found in Florida

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Miami, February 28: The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has positively identified the presence of a destructive disease that affects avocado trees and other trees in the laurel family.

State and federal agriculture experts say laurel wilt disease has been detected on three swamp bay trees in Miami Dade County.

The fungal disease is spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle.

Dozens killed in Mexico’s drug violence

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Mexico, February 28: Dozens of people have been killed in separate attacks in Mexico, as the government of President Felipe Calderon struggles to stamp out drug-related violence.

Nine men were killed and eleven others injured in Coahuila state, across the border from Texas on Saturday after gunmen opened fire inside two bars in separate attacks, AFP quoted the state prosecutors as saying on Sunday.

Zimbabwe, Canada in a battle of spin

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Nagpur, February 28: Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura will be expecting a repeat performance from his disciplined spinners to boost their chances of posting a win in the World Cup against Canada on Monday.

Zimbabwe impressed with their spin bowling in their first game when defending champions Australia made 262-6, but were let down by their batsmen as they were dismissed for 171 to suffer a 91-run defeat in Ahmedabad.

Libyan opposition forms national council

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Moscow, February 28: The opposition, struggling to oust embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has announced it has formed a national council in an effort to free the country of the dictator’s rule.”The main aim of the national council is to have a political face … for the revolution,” Hafiz Ghoga, a spokesman for the Benghazi-based council, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

“We will help liberate other Libyan cities, in particular Tripoli through our national army, our armed forces, of which part have announced their support for the people,” he said.

Dhoni lashes out at UDRS use

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Bangalore, February 28: India were deprived of Ian Bell’s wicket because of the controversial Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), said skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after his side escaped with a dramatic tie in a group B World Cup encounter against England on Sunday.

“Adulteration of technology with human thinking is bad.

“That’s why we didn’t get that wicket. Hopefully, next time it will be either technology or human intention,” Dhoni said referring to Bell’s close shave.

Ukraine delegation visits Assalouyeh

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Ukraine, February 28: A delegation of Ukraine’s energy sector has visited South Pars gas field to examine the upstream and downstream investment opportunities of Iran’s oil and gas industry.

The group, consisting of 11 senior staffers of Ukrainian companies, toured the ongoing projects of Pars Special Energy Economic Zone in Assaluyeh in the southern province of Bushehr on Sunday, Iranian Oil Ministry’s official news network Shana reported.

They also held a meeting with the managers of Pars Special Energy Economic Zone and were briefed on the investment opportunities of the region.

‘The Cove’ DVD given to Japan dolphin-killing town

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Tokyo, February 28: Copies of the 2010 Oscar-winning documentary that depicts the slaughter of dolphins in the Japanese fishing village of Taiji have been delivered free to all its residents, compliments of the director.

“The Cove” director Louie Psihoyos says DVD copies of the film were mailed over the weekend with the help of a local activist group. Psihoyos said Monday that he was concerned many had yet to see the film, especially in Taiji.

Infant boy the first NZ quake victim laid to rest

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Christchurch, February 28: Parishioners came together Sunday in parks and on the lawns of churches broken in New Zealand’s earthquake to pray for the dead and missing. They sought togetherness and an answer to the question on everyone’s mind: Why?

“The randomness of the events throws up the ‘why’ question more starkly,” the Rev. Mark Chamberlain told about 100 people who came to hear his sermon outside St. Barnabas Anglican Church, where jagged cracks line the walls, stained glass windows are shattered and the tower is sinking.

Japan’s industrial production rises in January

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Tokyo, February 28: The Japanese government says the country’s industrial production expanded for the third straight month in January.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Monday that factory output rose 2.4 percent from December. Transport equipment, general machinery, plus iron and steel were the major contributors to the gains.

A survey of industrial production for the next two months showed that output is expected to inch up 0.1 percent this month, then rise 1.9 percent in March.

SKorea, US begin annual drills amid NKorea threat

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Seoul, February 28: South Korean and U.S. troops have kicked off their annual drills, while North Korea has vowed retaliation for what it says is a rehearsal for invasion.

The South Korean and U.S. militaries say the drills that began Monday are to practice responses to any potential emergency on the Korean peninsula.

U.S. military spokesman Kim Yong-kyu says they involve computer war games, live-firing exercises and other field training.

North Korea issued a statement Sunday calling the drills a “dangerous” plot aimed at toppling the North’s government.

Strong quake hits south of Concepcion, Chile

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Washington, February 28: A strong quake of 6.0 magnitude struck on Sunday about 23 miles south of Concepcion, Chile, at a depth of 10.4 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

There was no immediate report of damage or injuries.

One year ago today, Feb. 27, Chile was hit with a massive quake that killed more than 500 people and caused some $30 billion in damage.

——–Agencies

It was a great game of cricket: Strauss

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Bangalore, February 28: England skipper Andrew Strauss said his side’s thrilling World Cup encounter against India here on Sunday, which ended in a tie, was a great advertisement for one-day cricket.

Strauss, who struck a brilliant 158 to almost single-handedly guide England to a dramatic win, said it was a privilege to be a part of such a close game.

Israeli panel faults army in 2002 civilian deaths

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Jerusalem, February 28: An Israeli inquiry has found that the armed forces acted on flawed intelligence to kill a “disproportionate” number of Palestinian civilians during an air strike nine years ago which targeted a Hamas militant in Gaza.

But a summary published on Sunday of the classified report concluded that there was no criminal wrongdoing, effectively ruling out further action against troops over the dropping of a one-tonne bomb in July 2002 that killed bomb-maker Salah Shehadeh and 13 civilians, among them women and children.

UK freezes Gaddafi assets, lifts immunity

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London, February 28: Britain said on Sunday it had frozen Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s assets and lifted his diplomatic immunity, putting pressure on him to step down after his government’s bloody crackdown on a revolt against his rule.

London moved quickly to implement United Nations’ sanctions freezing the assets of Gaddafi, his daughter and four sons.

The Gaddafi family is reported to have billions of dollars of investments in London, while Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, owns a 10 million pound ($16 million) home there.

Gaddafi unflinching: rebel city fears counter-attack

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Tripoli, February 28: Rebels awaited counter-attack by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces on Monday, after the Libyan leader defied calls for him to quit in the hardest-fought of the Arab world’s wave of uprisings so far.

Rebels holding Zawiyah, only 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli, said about 2,000 troops loyal to Gaddafi had surrounded the city.

“We will do our best to fight them off. They will attack soon,” said a former police major who switched sides and joined the rebellion. “If we are fighting for freedom, we are ready to die for it.”

West Indies nominate Bishoo as Bravo’s replacement

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New Delhi, February 28: Legspinner Devendra Bishoo has been nominated as a replacement for injured allrounder Dwayne Bravo in the West Indies’ World Cup squad.

Bravo injured his left knee in the West Indies’ seven-wicket loss to South Africa last week and has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup, which is being staged in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The West Indies Cricket Board announced Bishoo’s selection in a statement from Antigua last Sunday, on the eve of the West Indies’ Group B match against Netherlands.

Two dead in shooting at Puerto Rico concert

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San Juan, February 28: Two people were killed and five were wounded in a shooting at a music concert in Puerto Rico, police said.Investigators were trying to determine what set off the shooting during Sunday’s concert by singer Elvis Crespo in Bayamon city near San Juan, police said.

One of the victims died on the spot and the other died at a hospital in Rio Piedras, they said.

On weekends, an average of 12 murders are registered in Puerto Rico, with most of the killings linked to drug trafficking.

–IANS–

Hindu rights group rallies in Malaysia, 100 arrested

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Kuala Lumpur, February 28: Malaysian police on Sunday arrested 109 members of a group linked to a banned Hindu rights outfit of ethnic Indians for participating in a rally here to protest the introduction of a controversial book in the country’s school curriculum.

Margareta Pagano: Cameron shoots himself in the UK-armed foot

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Cairo, February 28: What a surreal week it has been. It began with those pictures of David Cameron striding through Cairo’s Tahrir Square flanked by businessmen from his 36-strong caravan with whom he toured the Gulf to promote British trade.

With him were at least eight defence contractors from UK firms such as BAE and Thales who were on their way to the giant arms bazaar, Idex, being held in Abu Dhabi.

——–Agencies

World can weather oil spike : Obama

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Washington, February 28: The world could weather a spike in oil prices, US President Barack Obama said, as Saudi Arabia offered some respite to fears over Middle East oil supplies by indicating it could cover export cuts resulting from Libya’s civil war.

After a surge in Brent oil prices to two-and-a-half year highs near $120 (R850.30) a barrel, South Korea – the world’s fifth-biggest crude importer – warned that its inflation situation was getting tougher.

Discovery docks at space station on final voyage

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Florida, February 28: Space shuttle Discovery arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday, making its final visit before being parked at a museum.

“What took you guys so long?” asked Scott Kelly, the space station’s commander.

Discovery should have come and gone last November, but it was grounded by fuel tank cracks. It blasted off on Thursday with just two seconds to spare after being held up by a balky ground computer.

“Yeah, I don’t know, we kind of waited until like the last two seconds,” said shuttle commander Steven Lindsey.

Telangana groups plan Hyderabad siege on March 10

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Hyderabad, February 28: The Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) are planning to lay siege to Hyderabad on March 10 which, they say, will be the final and decisive push for Telangana state.

The ‘Chalo Hyderabad’ march will begin on March 9 with people moving from all parts of Telangana to Hyderabad, and on March 10 they will besiege the city.

Floods and landslides hit Bolivia

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Bolivia, February 28: A landslide caused by intense rains has destroyed more than 300 homes in the Bolivian city of La Paz.

The authorities managed to evacuate the poor Kupini II area before it was smashed by a collapsing hillside.

Elsewhere in La Paz, at least five people drowned when a minibus was swept away by a swollen river.

Across Bolivia, weeks of heavy rain have killed at least 40 others and left more than 10,000 homeless.

Officials evacuated the Kupini II area on Saturday night after cracks began appearing in roads and bridges.