Barack Obama greets people on Diwali
Washington: US President Barack Obama greeted Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists across the globe on the occasion of Diwali, saying the flame of the diya reminds that light will ultimately triumph over darkness. “The flame of the diya, or lamp, reminds us that light will ultimately triumph over darkness,” Obama said in his Diwali message on Friday. “Here in the US, Diwali also reminds us that our nation is home to many faiths and traditions, and that our diversity makes us stronger, which I why I’m proud that this year Democrats and Republicans in Congress joined together for the first-ever celebration of Diwali on Capitol Hill,” he said. Obama was referring to the first ever Diwali celebrations at the Capitol Hill early this week.
Malaysia calls US, Australia over spy row
Kuala lumpur: Malaysia summoned the heads of the US and Australian missions in protest at spying allegations, its foreign Minister said on Saturday, as a row over a vast US-led surveillance network deepened in Asia. China and Indonesia have already demanded explanations from Australia over reports that Canberra’s missions were being used to monitor phone calls and collect data as part of
American surveillance.
illegals rush to leave Saudi
Riyadh: Thousands of illegal foreigners, mostly unskilled workers from Asia, are rushing to leave Saudi Arabia before an amnesty expires on Sunday as they risk being fined or even jailed. Nearly a million Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Indians, Nepalis, Pakistanis and Yemenis, among others, have taken advantage of the three-month amnesty — announced on April 3 and then extended for four months — and left the country.
US, Germany to ink no-spy deal: report
Berlin: Germany and the US are to strike a two-way deal not to spy on each other in the wake of the diplomatic furore sparked by the Edward Snowden revelations, a German newspaper reported.
3 detained over flight bomb hoax threats in China
Beijing: Three suspects have been detained in China for fabricating terror information causing flight delays in the past week. The suspects surnamed Tan, Xie and Wang are allegedly responsible for three bomb hoax cases that occurred on October 27, 28 and 31, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on Saturday. The police did not say whether the suspects and the three cases were connected. The suspects confessed to the offences during interrogation and said they did it either because of life disputes or playing a practical joke, the statement said.
lanka’s Northern Province CM praises India
Colombo: Sri lanka’s Northern Province Chief Minister CV Vigneswaran has praised India for its efforts in securing the provincial council elections in his country. “After 30 years of war and four years of peace, we were able to gain an election for the north. India’s attention was important there,” newly elected Vigneswaran told reporters after meeting a European Union delegation on Friday. Seventy-three-year-old Vigneswaran, a former Supreme Court judge, became the Chief Minister following the landslide victory of the country’s main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance, at the elections held on September 21. He was explaining India’s assistance in conducting polls in his country.