Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Michelle Obama and her two daughters to meet with Nelson Mandela

The U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and her two daughters on Tuesday met with Nelson Mandela during a private visit in which the icon in the struggle against apartheid looked healthy. A photo released by the Nelson Mandela Foundation showed the former South African president, 92 years old and largely retired from public life, sitting on a couch next to Mrs. Obama in his house.

Arab League prepares legal file support to Palestine to join UN

The Arab League has prepared a legal case in the framework of a mobilization plan "to support Palestinian request a full member to the UN," an official source. The announcement was made by the secretary general of the pan-Arab organization, Ahmed bin Heli.

Russia: Putin wants to prevent UN resolution on Syria

Russia remains in dispute over a UN resolution against Syria's Assad: Prime Minister Putin wants to prevent international intervention in Libya. The members of the UN Security Council can not agree on a common stance on Syria. "The interference in the affairs of a sovereign state has no future," said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday after meeting with his French counterpart Francois Fillon in Paris.

Ban Ki-moon confirmed as leader of the UN

Ban Ki-moon has been confirmed today by the General Assembly of the UN to help the UN for the second consecutive term. The confirmation of the former South Korean foreign minister, 67, had already been suggested last Friday by the Security Council.

Afghanistan, U.S. near the turn "Retire 10,000 men this year"

The United States is prepared to significantly reduce the military engagement in Afghanistan: At least ten thousand men before the end of the year. The official announcement will come probably in the televised speech to the nation that President Barack Obama will tomorrow night in prime-time.

Obama warns against Netanyahu of "tactical disagreements" on the peace process

Although the links between the U.S. and its ally Israel to be "unbreakable," Obama warned that "tactical disagreements" could emerge in the coming months and that they threaten the American-Israeli relationship. Obama was speaking at an event organized by the "Democratic friends of Israel" to raise funds for the presidential campaign next year.

"The United States as Israel will have to look at this new landscape with new eyes," said the American president, referring to the change in the region gives diplomatic induced by the "Arab spring". "Keep doing the same things we do hope that this time it works, it will not be enough," he argued.

Police arrests Berlusconi confidant

The Italian police have arrested the Berlusconi confidant Dario Mora. He allegedly diverted eight million euros from the bankrupt his company.

Taliban kidnaps child to force her to commit attacks

The Pakistani police released an eight year old girl who was abducted by the Taliban to force her to commit an attack against security forces. In a press conference broadcast on Pakistani television, the National Police presented the girl, identified as Sohan Javaid, through a video in which she describes how she was abducted and forced to be a kamikaze.

Libya, Afghanistan: Royal Air Force considers itself "overheating"

The number two in the Royal Air Force (RAF) is sounding the alarm. Sir Simon Bryant just told British parliamentarians that if operation in Libya was to last beyond the month of September, the ability of the Air Force to meet, in the future, new emergencies will be compromised.

Arrested in Pakistan a girl with an explosive vest

Pakistani police arrested a small girl, eight years old, at a checkpoint in Balambat in Dir, a zone in the northwest border with Afghanistan. She wore a vest with explosives to carry out an attack.

Wednesdays Obama announce the details of the withdrawal from Afghanistan

The U.S. president, Barack Obama, will announce on Wednesday the details of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

At least 44 dead in plane crash in Russia

At least 44 people died, Monday, June 20 evening, the crash landing on a highway from a Russian aircraft near the airport in Petrozavodsk, Karelia, north-west Russia. "The latest information, 52 people were aboard the plane, 44 died and eight were injured," said a ministry official emergency situations.

The EU conditions to aid Greece

Greece is "determined" to carry out the reforms needed to clean up its debt and expects the European Union  that it shows solidarity, said, Monday, June 20, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou.

An earthquake measuring 6.3 strikes northern Chile

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale was felt on Monday in northern Chile, according to the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS). The Chilean authorities do not report any casualties or damage. The quake occurred at 12 h 35 local time. The epicenter was located at a depth of 111.3 kilometers, about 90 km northeast of Calama, a city of more than 100 000 inhabitants, situated in the heart of the Atacama Desert.

Former President Ben Ali and his wife sentenced to 35 years in prison

Former Tunisian President Ben Ali and his wife, Leila Trabelsi, were sentenced in absentia Monday, June 20, thirty-five years in prison each, in a trial where he was prosecuted for embezzlement of public funds. A verdict called "joke" by counsel for Mr. Ben Ali.