A NEW school is set to be built on a public sports ground in Caversham. Reading Borough Council has agreed to sell a section of Mapledurham playing fields, off Woodcote Road, as a permanent site for the Heights Free School.
Category: World News
Narendra Modi got kickbacks from Sahara and Birla, claims Rahul Gandhi
Mehsana : Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister had taken money from Sahara and Birla groups and demanded an independent inquiry into it, a charge BJP rejected as an attempt to divert attention from the AgustaWestland probe in which the names of Congress leaders and the “family” were coming up. Addressing a rally in Mehsana in the Prime Minister’s home state, he alleged that in the I-T records there are notings of Sahara officials’ claims that they had paid 9 times to Modi between October, 2013 and February, 2014.
CTD Holdings Files Clinical Trial Application with Italian Drug…
The study will be led by Dr. Bruno Bembi, of the Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital in Udine, Italy. Dr. Bembi has extensive experience in treating rare diseases.
Swindon author writes what he likes to read
Jim Ody, 40, is the author of two self-published thrillers, Lost Connections and The Place that Never Existed. He recently had a story printed in an anthology called Dark Minds, sold in aid of charities Hospice UK and Sophie’s Appeal, where it appears alongside works by other authors including Amazon best-seller Louise Jensen.
Winds may finally clear ‘scary’ pollution from China’s skies
Beijing and much of industrial northern China are in the midst of a “red alert,” the highest level in China’s… . A man wearing a mask for protection against air pollution pushes his luggage at the Beijing Capital International Airport as the capital of China is shrouded by heavy smog on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016.
Vandals put pig head, fake blood on Ukraine rabbi’s grave
Ukrainian prosecutors have opened a probe into an attack on an important Jewish pilgrimage site in a central Ukrainian town.
Global stocks steady as Dow tries again to breach 20,000
Major stock indexes are opening at record levels Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, as banks trade high… . Stock trader Mark Puetzer follows stock information on electronic screens at the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016, in New York.
Thousands of faithful celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem
Thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the world together with locals began Christmas Eve celebrations in Jesus’ traditional birthplace of Bethlehem on Saturday, raising spirits after a tense year that saw a spike in violence between Palestinians and Israelis. The faithful braved the chilly weather outside Manger Square as traditional Christmas songs like “Jingle Bells” played in Arabic over loudspeakers and scout groups paraded with bagpipes and sang carols.
The visa length has also been reduced to a maximum of ten days, non-extendable. Photo – supplied.
Muscat: Female nationals from some countries will not be allowed in Oman under tourism visa if they do not have a return flight ticket or have not booked at least a 4-star hotel, Royal Oman Police said. ROP has enforced more restrictions for some nationalities to grant tourist visa following arrests of Asian tourists for allegedly being involved in human trafficking, prostitution and drug abuse crimes.
Kuwait moves annual Washington party to Trump’s hotel
One of the Middle East’s richest nations said Tuesday it would host its annual Washington party at Donald Trump’s new hotel, underscoring the president-elect’s unusual status as the owner of a major venue for events in the U.S. capital. Salem Al Sabah, Kuwait’s ambassador to the U.S., said the party would take place Feb. 25, adding that he hopes guests like the “new hotel in town.”
Oman among top 10 countries to visit in 2017
Lonely Planet, a global travel guide, has listed Oman in 8th place in the top 10 countries to visit in 2017. – Photo by Soumya N Ghosh Lonely Planet, a global travel guide, has listed Oman in 8th place in the top 10 countries to visit in 2017.
BRIEF-Skanska sells office building in Budapest for 67 mln euro
SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16
VW agrees new U.S. settlement, Actelion still in focus. For more see…
SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16 * Said on Tuesday had acquired a commercial property portfolio, the transition of benefits and burdens is planned for the second quarter of 2017
Wednesday morning’s traffic and travel news
GOOD morning. We’re here with the latest traffic and travel news to help you reach your destination on time.
BRIEF-SocGen selling Splitska Banka to OTP Bank, deal to boost its capital ratios
Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: MUMBAI, Dec 21 Tata Sons’ ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry, in his first legal salvo against the conglomerate, has appealed to a quasi-judicial body to either replace the company’s current board of directors or appoint a retired Supreme Court judge as its non-executive chairman.
BRIEF-John Laing Infrastructure buys stake in Intercity Express Programme
Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: MUMBAI, Dec 21 Tata Sons’ ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry, in his first legal salvo against the conglomerate, has appealed to a quasi-judicial body to either replace the company’s current board of directors or appoint a retired Supreme Court judge as its non-executive chairman.
BRIEF-OTP signs deal to buy Societe Generale’s Croatian unit Splitska Banka
SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16
BRIEF-Telford Homes announces Redclyffe Road property sale
SEOUL, Dec 21 Daily net trading in shares on South Korea’s main stock exchange by three major categories of investors as of 0720 GMT, in billions of South Korean won : FOREIGNERS INSTITUTIONS RETAIL December 21 *78.1 -69.4 -7.7 ^December 20 60.6 -29.1 -33.5 December 19 5.0 -79.5 78.8 December 16
Israeli ambassador backs Trump pledge to move U.S. embassy to Jerusalem
By Matt Spetalnick Reuters WASHINGTON – Israel’s ambassador to the United States issued an impassioned endorsement on Tuesday of President-elect Donald Trump’s… By Matt Spetalnick Reuters WASHINGTON – Israel’s ambassador to the United States issued an impassioned endorsement on Tuesday of President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to relocate the … (more)
Germany frees suspect in market attack, says perpetrator maybe still at large
Muslims pray at a Christmas market on Tuesday to commemorate the 12 killed victims of a truck that plowed into a crowd at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin.
At least one China state lender provided liquidity to fund houses on Wed – sources
Dec 21 At least one Chinese state lender provided liquidity support worth over several billion yuan to fund management firms via bond repurchase agreements on Wednesday, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The move is an indication that it was getting easier for non-financial institutions to obtain liquidity in the market.
U.S. plays down absence from Moscow talks on Syria, says not a sidelineda
The New York Islanders ended a five-game losing streak, holding off a third-period Boston charge and defeating the Bruins 4-2 Tuesday night.
Malaysia’s 1MDB paid interest due in Q4 on IPIC-guaranteed bonds- minister
Men walk past a 1Malaysia Development Berhad billboard at the fund’s flagship Tun Razak Exchange development in Kuala Lumpur March 1, 2015. Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd has made interest payments on one of its bond issues this quarter, after failing to pay earlier this year because of a dispute with a guarantor, Malaysia’s second finance minister said on Wednesday.
Mexico fireworks explosion kills 29, dozens injured
An outdoor fireworks mart explosion in a suburb of Mexico City killed 29 people, AP reported. Earlier reports said 70 were injured.
American-Canadian Couple Appears in Taliban Hostage Video
A still image from a video posted by the Taliban on social media on Dec. 19, 2016, shows American Caitlan Coleman speaking next to her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle, and their two sons. The Canadian government is calling for the release of a couple who has been held in captivity in northern Afghanistan for four years, after captors released a video of the pair.
Arab, EU FMs Urge Intra-Syria Talks, Condemn Aleppo Attacks
Arab and European foreign ministers urged on Tuesday intra-Syria talks as basis for political settlement and strongly condemned Syrian regime’s recent attacks on Aleppo, the Arab League and the European Union stated following their fourth ministerial meeting in Cairo, China’s Xinhua news agency reported. “The ministers stressed that intra-Syria talks are the only way for a credible and genuine political transition based on power sharing as well as lasting peace,” the two bodies said in a declaration issued after the meeting held at the AL headquarters in the Egyptian capital city.
Powerful Quake Hits Off Eastern Indonesia, No Alert For Tsunami
An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted Maluku in eastern parts of Indonesia earlier Wednesday, but there were no tsunami alert issued and a report of casualty, China’s Xinhua news agency reported quoting officials. The quake rocked at 0017 GMT with epicenter at 184 km northeast Maluku Barat Daya and the depth at 173 km under sea bed, an official of meteorology and geophysics agency said.
KiwiRail switching to all-diesel trains on North Island main trunk line
KiwiRail KiwiRail will improve its reliability and efficiency for customers by employing an all-diesel fleet on the North Island Main Trunk line, KiwiRail Chief Executive Peter Reidy says. The small fleet of almost 30 year old electric trains that operate between Hamilton and Palmerston North will be phased out over the next two years and replaced with diesel locomotives.
Regular use of aspirin could cut pancreatic cancer risk in half
Regular use of aspirin by people living in Shanghai, China, was associated with decreased risk for developing pancreatic cancer, according to data published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Data from the new study and meta-analysis of data from 18 other studies suggest that over the past two decades, as the general population’s use of aspirin has increased, the effect of aspirin in decreasing pancreatic cancer risk has become more pronounced.
Man wanted by Bay of Plenty police in relation to drug charges
Police are looking for him in relation to supplying methamphetamine, conspiring to supply methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group.
Experts discuss Polanda s…
The 9th edition of the Warsaw Economic Hub annual meeting at Novotel Warszawa Centrum brought together about 300 experts, business leaders and other influential figures who discussed Poland’s status as the strongest EU economy in this part of Europe, which makes the country the natural interactive economic hub of the region. Poland draws investment and provides businesses with access to new markets, cutting-edge logistics and advanced business services.
Israeli envoy urges Trump to move US embassy to Jerusalem
The Israeli ambassador to the United States has urged the incoming Trump administration to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, telling guests at a Hanukkah reception at the Israeli embassy in Washington on Tuesday that the controversial move would be a “great step forward” for peace. Trump and his nominee for US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, have pledged to move the embassy.
German Chancellor Merkel visits Berlin attack site
Berlin, Dec 21 : German Chancellor Angela Merkel has visited the site of the terror attack that struck a Christmas market here, killing 12 persons. [NK World] The head of government, during her visit to the attack site on Tuesday, was accompanied by Interior Minister Thomas de Maizi and re, Foreign Minister Franz-Walter Steinmeier and the governing mayor Michael Muller, Efe news reported.
6.6 magnitude quake hits Indonesia
Jakarta, Dec 21 : An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia on Wednesday, officials said. No tsunami alert was, however, issued.
26 killed in Mexico fireworks market blast
Mexico City, Dec 21 : At least 26 people were killed in a fireworks market explosion near Mexico City, an official said. [NK World] Mexico State Prosecutor Alejandro Gomez raised the toll of the Tuesday’s blast from the previous nine deaths, Xinhua news agency reported citing a local television.
KiwiRail cans electric trains, goes with diesel
KiwiRail, the state-owned rail and freight operator, said a small fleet of electric trains on New Zealand’s North Island would be phased out over the next two years and replaced with diesel locomotives. The North Island Main Trunk, or NIMT, runs from Auckland to Wellington but is only electrified between Hamilton and Palmerston North with a fleet of 16 almost 30-year old electric trains, Wellington-based KiwiRail said in a statement.
Kiwi Company Targets US Renovations Market
An award winning New Zealand company has launched a major export push into the US, offering consumers sustainable home renovations. Wanaka based Dream Doors which last year turned over $18m throughout Australasia, says they expect to open 100 US franchises within the next five years, which will lift their annual revenue to over $150m.
Death toll climbs in massive fireworks market blast in Mexico
An explosion Tuesday ripped through Mexico’s best-known fireworks market on the northern outskirts of the capital. Drone footage shows plumes of smoke billowing into the sky above the open-air San Pablito Market in Tultepec.
Damodar campaign donates $66k to WOWS
Wows Kids Fiji executives Don Sansom receives the $66,000:00 donation from Chief Excutive Officer,Div Damodar of Damodar Group Fiji as Taholo Kami of WOWS captures the moment in Suva today. Picture: RAMA Update: 2:11PM THE Walk On Walk Strong Kids Fiji Foundation was presented with a cheque worth $66,000 from the WOWS Div Damodar campaign to raise funds for children with cancer.
New Fiji TV program to showcase Africa
South African charge d’affaires Velelo Gardener Kwepile and television presenter Ajay Bhai Amrit during the launch of South African episode at Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva torday. Picture: RAMA Update: 1:54PM BULA South Africa is the latest television series to be launched by Bula Bollywood creator and presenter Ajay Bhai Amrit at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel today.