EU envoys endorse sanctions against Iran

BRUSSELS — The European Union reached agreement Thursday on a package of sanctions against Iran which targets Tehran's energy sector over its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear work, an EU diplomat said.


A general view shows the Bushehr nuclear power plant

Ambassadors from the 27 EU member states met in Brussels to endorse the sanctions, which include measures against the oil and gas industry and must be approved at a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday to come into force.

Protests as Australian PM delays climate action

Sky News shows Australian premier Julia Gillard (centre) was heckled by protesters over her plans on global warming


Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was heckled by protesters on Friday


SYDNEY — Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Friday announced a new "citizens assembly" to guide action on global warming, in a major pre-election speech which was hit by protests and condemned by critics.

Security staff leapt on one demonstrator who invaded the auditorium and led him away in handcuffs, while chanting could be heard through much of Gillard's address at a Brisbane university campus.

I will be next PM: Abbott

Tony Abbott

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has ramped up his campaign rhetoric today, confidently declaring that the Coalition will win the next election.

Speaking in Perth at the opening of the electorate office for Ken Wyatt, the Liberal candidate for the marginal seat of Hasluck, Mr Abbott said he believes he will defeat Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Prince Charles keeps smiling as it rains on his parade

A bigger splash: The Prince of Wales,(front row centre) is caught in a sudden torrential downpour as he poses for a regimental photo with 3 Regiment Army Air Corps in the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Their sleeves neatly rolled up and their matching berets in perfect position, they sat prepared for a formal photograph with the Prince of Wales.

And then the heavens opened.

Prince Charles could be forgiven for grimacing as he was caught in a downpour while posing for a formal photograph with helicopter pilots and ground crew yesterday.

TV presenter has severe asthma attack live on air after swallowing a mosquito

On-air emergency: The mosquito can be seen flying into Huang Ching's mouth as she's live on air

A Taiwanese TV presenter had a severe asthma attack live on air after a mosquito flew into her mouth and bit her.

Huang Ching had to be hospitalised after she swallowed the insect, which then got stuck in her windpipe while she was reading the news.

U.S. 'witch hunt' as Senate summons Straw over Lockerbie bomber... will Blair be next?

Summoned: Jack Straw, left, has been 'invited' to testify at the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the release of the Lockerbie bomber. Last night former PM Tony Blair was forced to deny that he had also been requested to appear

A diplomatic row was brewing between the UK and the U.S. this morning after Tony Blair was forced to deny he had been summoned by the Senate to explain his role in the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

Key Ships Leave Oil Spill Site Ahead of Storm-Oil Spill News Investigation and Schwarzenegger on Mel Gibson: He's like the oil leak-DAY 94 Not Seen On TV BP Oil Disaster Government Investigatio

Clinton Denounces North Korean Belligerence, Myanmar Oppression

"A key element of our strategy is to strengthen regional and global institutions," Hillary Clinton said

July 23 (Bloomberg) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced North Korean aggression and urged Myanmar to make its first elections in two decades more democratic.

Saudi man chains his son in the basement for six years because he is 'possessed by an evil female genie'

A Saudi man has been chained in a basement apartment for more than six years because his father believes he is possessed by an evil female genie.

'When he has fits he has convulsions and his entire body twists and his eyes become completely white,' said the father of the 29-year-old man who has been identified only as Turki.

'Then the voice of a woman can be heard coming from him.'

Youngest man to die of breast cancer: 28-year-old fought disease for four years

After a four-year battle against the disease Nicky Avery, pictured here with wife Cheryl, succumbed to breast cancer on Monday

The youngest man in Britain to be diagnosed with breast cancer has died aged 28.

Nicky Avery passed away in hospital on Monday after battling the disease over the past four years.

Before his diagnosis Mr Avery had no idea men could contract breast cancer, but he went on to campaign to raise awareness of the disease.

Tropical storm Bonnie forces BP to suspend relief well drilling

BP's efforts to finish relief oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico have been set back.

The approaching tropical storm Bonnie has forced BP to temporarily suspend drilling on its relief well in the Gulf of Mexico. Work to permanently plug the oil giant's leaking Macondo oil well, that has spewed more than 4m barrels of oil into the gulf, could be held up for up two weeks.

Clinton Announces New Sanctions Against NKorea-US-South Korean war games a threat to peace, says North

US to hit NKorea with more sanctions in August

From left, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan, participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial, on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 in Seoul, South Korea. Secretary Gates and Secretary Clinton are participating in talks with their Korean counter parts and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak.

WASHINGTON — Tightening the screws on North Korea, the Obama administration said Wednesday it would expand and strengthen sanctions against the isolated regime and its nuclear weapons program, a tactic which in the past has been undercut by North Korea's knack for finding loopholes and escape hatches.

China activates disaster response to Typhoon Chanthu-Worst floods in a decade leave 701 dead in China

Submerged streets are seen at Qu County in Dazhou City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 18, 2010. A torrential flood swept the county on Sunday. The flood peak level was 4.66 meters higher than the safe line.


High billows strike the seashore in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, July 22, 2010. The Typhoon Chanthu landed onto coastal areas in Wuchuan City of Guangdong Thursday afternoon.
BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China Thursday launched an early-warning response to Typhoon Chanthu as it is believed the tropical cyclone could devastate parts of the nation's southern coastal areas.

The National Disaster Reduction Commission and the Ministry of Civil Affairs alerted civil affairs authorities in Guangdong, Hainan, Guizhou and Hunan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, about the risks posed by Chanthu.

Typhoon lashes south China with heavy rain, winds

BEIJING — Typhoon Chanthu sent debris flying through the air in southern China's Guangdong province on Thursday, bringing rain that could aggravate the country's worst floods in a decade.

No casualties have been reported so far from Chanthu, which was upgraded from a tropical storm one day earlier. Authorities urged residents to stay indoors as winds reached up to 70 miles per hour (115 kilometers per hour).

Parents' fury as teenage daughter dies just days after doctors sent her home and 'told her to take paracetamol'

Amy Carter, on the day she was released from Worcestershire Royal Hospital. She died three days later after suffering multiple organ failure and four heart attacks

A schoolgirl suffered multiple organ failure and four heart attacks just days after doctors sent her home with paracetamol and told her to take 'plenty of rest', an inquest heard.

Amy Carter, 15, begged doctors not to discharge her, telling them 'I'm dying' but medics assured her she would be fine.

She developed septicaemia after being released by doctors who had diagnosed her with glandular fever.

Two days later on Christmas Eve, Amy - who had not been able to eat for 19 days and weighed just six stone - was taken to hospital and died hours later.

How a brain scan could help you choose the perfect career

Brain scans showed a close correlation with traditional tests

Brain scans may be able to help people choose their careers, scientists claim.

Researchers used a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner to study the brains of 40 volunteers seeking career guidance.

French footballer Franck Ribery facing three years in jail for underage prostitute offence

Questioning: French football star Franck Ribery, right, arrives at a Paris police station for questioning today

To be Franck: Despite the scandal, Ribery was called up for the French national team for the World Cup

French midfielder Franck Ribery is facing up to three years in prison after being charged with soliciting an underage prostitute for sex.

Karim Benzema, a fellow French national team player, was waiting to hear if officers investigating the case would charge him as well.

The pair were earlier held for questioning by police as part of an investigation into an alleged prostitution ring.

BP Photoshops ANOTHER oil spill image: Picture of helicopter flying over sea is removed from website after landing tower is spotted in background... and a bottle of water on the roof

The evidence: Blogger John Arovosis indicates misaligned Photoshopping under his written explanation

Spare a thought for BP's PR department.

As if they weren't already tasked with steering the company and its bungling bosses through the worst oil spill in history, now their job is being sabotaged by trigger-happy picture editors.

For the second time this week, doctored images have appeared on BP's oil leak response website.

Following this latest gaffe, the oil giant has told its post-production crew to 'refrain from doing cutting-and-pasting (sic) in the future'.

US to resume ties to Indonesia's special forces

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The United States announced Thursday it will resume cooperation with Indonesia's special forces after ties were severed more than a decade ago over human rights abuses allegedly committed by the commando unit.

Vietnam abuzz over Chelsea Clinton's wedding

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton, left, and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem raise their glasses for a toast during a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of relations between Vietnam and the U.S. in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, July 22, 2010

Chelsea Clinton's big day may be half a world away but that hasn't tempered enthusiasm in Vietnam for her upcoming nuptials.

In Hanoi on Thursday for diplomatic meetings a little over a week before the July 31 wedding, mother-of-the-bride and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was given a wedding present — a white tablecloth — for her daughter by the Vietnamese government along with gemstone mosaic portrait of her and Chelsea during their 2000 visit to the country.

Facebook notches up 500million members... that's eight per cent of world's population

Popular: Facebook now has half a billion users, according to founder Mark Zuckerberg, which is eight per cent of the world's population

More than 500 million people have joined the social networking site Facebook, the company's founder has announced.

It means almost eight per cent of the world's population use the tool to connect with friends, family and colleagues.

US-South Korean war games a threat to peace, says North-Clinton Announces New Sanctions Against NKorea

NKorea warns US drill, sanctions endanger region

North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun, center, surrounded by Vietnamese security staff, gets in a limousine to leave the main venue of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam Thursday, July 22, 2010. The North Korea's top diplomat will be on a damage control mission this week at an Asian security meeting, pleading innocent to the sinking of a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors and has been widely blamed on Pyongyang, an analyst said Wednesday


U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, meets with Vietnamese officials at the Government Guest House in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday, July 22, 2010. Clinton is in the Vietnamese capital to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum on security

HANOI, Vietnam — North Korea on Thursday warned the United States that imposing fresh sanctions and holding military drills with South Korea this weekend will endanger the entire region and destroy hopes for a nuke-free Korean peninsula.

Nelson Mandela's daughter and grandchildren held up at gunpoint after former leader's 92nd birthday party

Victim: Nelson Mandela's daughter Zindzi Mandela (left) and her children were attacked just hours after this photo was taken at his 92nd birthday party

Nelson Mandela's daughter and grandchildren were held up by gunmen after returning from the former South African president’s 92nd birthday party, it emerged today.

Mr Mandela’s daughter, Zindzi Mandela, and her children were attacked by two men as they arrived by car in the driveway of their home in Johannesburg.

They were ordered to lie down, but then the men decided to leave.

Kabul conference to mark switch to Afghan leadership-India willing to help Afghanistan move forward: Krishna-French foreign minister talks to Al Jazeera-Conference on Kabul's future prompts lockdown

Kabul meeting to lay ground for 2014 deadline

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, right, speaks with the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the presidential palace in Kabul Afghanistan on Monday, July 19, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan, a day ahead of the International Conference on Afghanistan


Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quresh gestures during a press conference, one day ahead of the International Conference on Afghanistan, Monday, July 19, 2010, in Kabul, accompanied by Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq.

The strategy sits for now on a table in a locked-down Afghan capital: Hand over security in all 34 provinces to the government by the end of 2014 — more than three years after President Barack Obama's date for the start of an American troop drawdown.

Hllary Clinton in Kabul ahead of key conference

Clinton: US, world stand with Afghanistan-Clinton seeks more from Pakistan in terror fight

Clinton (L) confirmed that US planned to formally designate Pakistan's Haqqani network a foreign terrorist organisation

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday vowed the United States and its allies will stand by Afghanistan even as fears are growing about the course of the nearly 9-year-old war and the Obama administration plans to begin withdrawing American troops from the country next year.

Greek police suspect far-left in Greek journalist's killing

A police officer stands in front of the house of Greek journalist Socratis Guiolas in Athens

Assailants gunned down an investigative journalist on Monday in front of his Athens home in an attack Greek police blamed on a far-left extremist group.

The authorities said 37-year-old Socratis Guiolias was killed by at least three people firing a pair of nine-millimetre handguns which the Revolutionary Sect group had used to kill an anti-terrorist officer last year.

Nazis tried to turn sand into gold: Foolish SS chief Himmler set up secret alchemy unit in Dachau

Magic: Nazi Heinrich Himmler was convinced that Karl Malchus could turn dirt into gold

Scheme: Prisoners of Dachau concentration camp were used as labour

Nazi chiefs believed they could turn stones, sand and soil into gold, according to a new book.

Heinrich Himmler, head of Hitler's SS police force, was tricked into thinking that precious metals could be produced in this way - and then used to buy weapons to strengthen the Third Reich.

Now SYRIA bans the burka and niqab in universities as backlash against Muslim veil grows

Banned: The niqab, left, which covers the face and head but leaves the eyes exposed, and the burka, right, which covers even the eyes with a mesh mask, have both been banned in Syrian universities

Syria has banned face-covering Islamic veils from the country’s universities.

The surprise move comes as similar moves in Europe – including controversial calls in Britain for a ban on burkas – have sparked cries of discrimination against Muslims.

The crackdown was ordered by the secular government in Damascus amid fears of increasing Islamic extremism among young Muslim students.

Syria is not a Muslim country. An official at the ministry says the ban affects public and private universities and aims to protect the country's secular identity.

China rejects world's number one energy user title

China has surpassed the US to become the world's top energy consumer, new data says


A cyclist and his passenger ride past coal bricks on sale in Beijing

China on Tuesday rejected an assessment from the International Energy Agency that it had surpassed the United States to become the world's top energy consumer, calling the data "unreliable".

Predators circle BP, the stricken British giant-This great British company faces death by a thousand cuts

The political firestorm surrounding BP led to a roller-coaster ride for the company's shares on stock exchanges yesterday.

Rumours the firm could consider bankruptcy protection vied with speculation it had become a bid target.

On Wall Street last night BP's New York-listed shares staged a 9.5 per cent rebound on talk a rival could pounce. That followed a 16 per cent rout the evening before.

Nelson Mandela celebrates 92nd birthday-World pays tribute to Mandela at 92

Obama sends Mandela birthday greetings - 92 years old.

Her Royal Highness Zenani Dlamini (L) lights the candles on the cake to celebrate Mr Nelson Mandela's 92nd Birthday

US President Barack Obama on Sunday extended birthday wishes to Nelson Mandela, hailing the former South African leader's "extraordinary vision, leadership, and spirit."

"On behalf of the United States, I wish Nelson Mandela a very happy 92nd birthday. We are grateful to continue to be blessed with his extraordinary vision, leadership, and spirit," the US president said in a statement.

BP shares plunge after engineers detect seepage at capped Deepwater Horizon well

isatser: The explosion at Deepwater has forced BP into a major restructuring of their finances and the way they drill

Seepage: BP have been ordered to provide a plan for reopening its capped well in the Gulf of Mexico after engineers found seepage and possible methane gas near the leak site

The US government has ordered BP to provide a plan for reopening its capped well in the Gulf of Mexico after engineers found seepage and possible methane gas near the leak site.

The energy giant had wanted to test its cap until it could open relief wells to stop the flow of oil, but the discovery of seepage and possible methane gas near the site in the Gulf of Mexico means there could still be leaks.

Dozens Killed in India Train Collision-Train accident in West Bengal-63 deaths.

Blame-game over deadly India train crash

 
More than 160 people were injured and two of them died overnight, raising the overall death toll to 63

A probe into a rail crash in eastern India that claimed more than 60 lives focused Tuesday on why a packed express train hurtled at high speed into a station where it was scheduled to halt.

The express roared into Sainthia station in West Bengal state at 90 kilometers an hour (60 miles an hour) early Monday and slammed with enormous force into the rear of a stationary train waiting to leave the platform.

More than 160 people were injured and two of them died overnight, raising the overall death toll to 63.

Polanski enjoys Montreux jazz festival after escaping child-sex charges

Free to roam: A newly-released Roman Polanski arrives at the Montreux Jazz Festival tonight

Shamed film director Roman Polanski made his first public appearance tonight after escaping extradition to the U.S. to face child-sex charges

Free after nine months of house arrest, the director arrived at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Polanski, 76, pulled up at the festival in an SUV with tinted windows. He climbed out of the car running his fingers through his hair and was then was escorted into an elevator as security personnel surrounded him.

Dancing With The Stars' Erin Andrews sues 'several' hotels after being filmed nude in her room by peephole stalker

Lawsuit: Erin Andrews is suing a number of hotels and her former stalker

Sports reporter Erin Andrews has launched legal action against several hotels after she was secretly filmed nude in her rooms by a stalker who then posted videos of her online.

Glamorous Miss Andrews, 32, who works for sports broadcaster ESPN, is suing both Marriott International and Radisson Hotels International for negligence, emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

Rags to riches movie fame for homeless man who became 'China's sexiest tramp'

Looking sharp: Mr Cheng's bohemian style inspired fashion designers on the catwalk, right

The extraordinary life story of a Chinese homeless man who shot to fame after his photo was posted on the internet is to be made into a movie.

Cheng Guorong became an unlikely sex symbol after he was forced on to the streets when he was fired from his job and robbed of his savings.

Secrets of a royal tryst: British divorcee who boasted about kissing Prince Harry to tell all on U.S reality TV show

Secret of the royal tryst: 38 year old mother of two Catherine Davis spent an evening kissing Prince Harry four years ago

Catherine's brief royal encounter occurred when she bumped into Harry who at 21 was 13 years younger than her 'It was a long and lovely kiss' she says

Under strain: Harry and Chelsy, pictured in May, split up for six months last year after a series of rows about Harry's level of commitment and rumours of infidelities

A British divorcee who boasted about kissing Prince Harry is to be the latest star of a US TV reality show.

Blonde Catherine Davis is to appear in 'The Real Housewives of DC'.

And the 38 year old is expected to talk about her encounter with Prince Harry four years ago when he ended up kissing her following a night of partying.
Davis, a mother of two, was forced to deny rumours that their encounter went beyond a kiss and has always refused to say what Harry whispered to her as they parted.