Unasur suspends Paraguay; names Peru at the group’s pro-tempore presidency

Argentine Foreign minister read the Unasur declaration

Argentine Foreign minister Hector Timerman said the Unasur suspension will be in place until the country holds presidential elections slated for April next year.

Paraguay will be welcomed back into both groups once it holds clean and democratic elections, regardless of the result, Minister Timerman said at a press conference Friday following the meeting.

He added that Paraguay’s period at the pro-tempore Unasur presidency was over and will be replaced for

Devon hardware shop recognised for courtesy

Ilfracombe hardware store Chas N Pedlar & Son has taken part in a new initiative that aims to promote and recognise good manners in business.

Nicholas Pedlar, right, and Ivan Frances with the Courteous Business certificate

The North Devon town is the first in the UK to complete the programme run by the National Campaign for Courtesy. There were more than 100 local participants in the 15-week pilot, which acknowledged courteous businesses after validation by customer testimonials and unsolicited nominations from members of the public. A weekly theme focused on different aspects of good manners, and online materials supported businesses

Tribunal Acquits Karadzic Of One Genocide Charge

The Yugoslav war crimes tribunal acquitted former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic of one charge of genocide Thursday but upheld 10 other war crimes counts related to atrocities in Bosnia's bloody war.

While the decision was a setback for prosecutors and angered survivors in Bosnia, the 10 pending charges against Karadzic include another genocide count covering his alleged involvement in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of 8,000 Muslim men and boys.

The charge that was dismissed Thursday covered the mass killings, expulsions and persecution by Serb forces of Muslims and Croats from Bosnian towns early in the country's 1992-95 war, which left 100,000 dead. Presiding Judge Oh-Gon Kwon said prosecutors did not provide enough evidence to "be capable of supporting a conviction of genocide in the (Bosnian) municipalities."

At the halfway stage of Karazdic's long-running trial, judges said there was enough evidence to uphold charges including murder and persecution in the early stages of the war, but the killings did not rise to the level of genocide, which requires prosecutors to prove intent to wipe out a specific group

Anticlotting Compounds Shown to Protect Mice from Radiation Poisoning

Radiation exposure is relatively easy to detect, but few treatment options exist for people who have already been exposed to high doses. Image: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images

From Nature magazine

Two anti-clotting compounds already approved for use in humans may have a surprising role in treating radiation sickness. The findings, reported online today in Nature Medicine, also reveal another avenue for understanding and treating the effects of radiation exposure.

Last year's nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, renewed anxiety over the lack of treatments for radiation poisoning. It was long thought that the effects of exposure to high doses of radiation were instantaneous and irreversible, leading to destruction of the gut and loss of bone marrow cells, which damages blood-cell production and the immune system. As a precaution against mass radiation poisoning,

Obama Tells N.H. Voters GOP Philosophy Is Wrong

President Obama attacked Republican rival Mitt Romney's budget math during a campaign rally in New Hampshire Monday. The Granite State has just four electoral votes, but it's expected to be hotly contested in November. The two presidential candidates also tangled over immigration policy on the same day the Supreme Court struck down portions of Arizona's immigration law.

Source: NPR : National Public Radio

Regional fight against organised crime showing success

Since 2001, the fight against organised crime has strengthened co-operation among regional countries.

By Biljana Pekusic for Southeast European Times in Belgrade -- 25/06/12

Eight customs officers were recently arrested in Subotica, suspected of financial crimes. [Reuters]

Serbian police said they are making headway against organised crime over the past four years. Since 2001, they have broken up ten financial organised crime groups and 35 drug gangs.

The police also caught up with the mafia in the pharmaceutical industry, which for years had profited from illegal sales of cancer medications. Elsewhere, the criminal ring in the mining industry through the country's largest coal mine, Kolubara, damaged

Egypt To Announce Presidential Election Results

Egypt plans to announce who will be its first democratically elected president Sunday. Two men have been claiming victory since the polls closed a week or so ago. One was ousted leader Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister, the other a member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. Guest host David Greene speaks with NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson.

Source: NPR : National Public Radio

Syria Forms New Government But Keeps Key Posts

Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a decree forming a new government Saturday, but it will be headed by a key loyalist and the foreign, defense and interior ministers kept their jobs.

The move comes as fears mounted that the conflict was aggravating regional tensions. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Saturday his country would take "necessary" action against Syria after Syrian forces shot down a Turkish military plane.

Syria's new government is headed by Riad Farid Hijab, a former agriculture minister and a loyalist member of the ruling Baath Party.

A deadly uprising has convulsed Syria for more than a year, and Assad has promised to enact political reforms. He vowed after the May 7 parliamentary elections to make the government more inclusive to politicians from other

Candidates Pull Out Stops To Woo Latino Voters

Mitt Romney is working to cut into President Obama's lead with Latinos. Both addressed the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials this week. But will it help either candidate win over Latino voters? Host Michel Martin speaks with The Washington Post's Nia Malika Henderson and Lenny McAllister of politic365.com.

Source: NPR : National Public Radio

Gary Johnson Offers Third Choice In 2012 Elections

You might think the presidential race is settled with two candidates. But there's one candidate you might not have heard much about. Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is running for president on the Libertarian Party ticket. Johnson speaks with host Michel Martin about his policies and the challenges he has getting his message heard.

Source: NPR : National Public Radio

Minister calls for compulsory home insurance in Bulgaria

Though Bulgaria is situated in a seismically active region, less than 10% of homes in the country are insured against earthquakes.

By Svetla Dimitrova for Southeast European Times in Sofia -- 20/06/12

Neighbours Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania have all suffered catastrophic quakes. [Reuters]

The recurring debate about making home insurance mandatory flared again with the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the town of Pernik, about 30km southwest of Sofia, last month.

The May 22nd tremor, the strongest near the capital since 1858, damaged 56 municipal buildings in Pernik and neighbouring villages, along with scores of homes.

About ten days after the quake and its hundreds of aftershocks, Bulgarian Regional Development Minister Lilyana Pavlova called for legislative changes

Shoppers choose high-ticket value over discounted wares

A new survey conducted by Shoppercentric has revealed that 75% of all UK shoppers believe good value means paying more than the lowest possible price.

The survey showed people are cautious when it comes to discounts that look too good to be true

More than 1,074 adults took part in the survey, 28% of which perceived "good value" as "getting the most for the money I planned to spend." More than a fifth hoped to obtain the "right quality" of product without stretching their budget, while 25% argued the "low or lowest price" was constitutive of excellent value.

Four

Reds face City, United in first home games

Brendan Rodgers' reign at Liverpool starts with a trip to West Brom - although the Reds' first three home fixtures involve Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United.

The Northern Irishman, in his first stint with a club from the top half of the Premier League, will face a baptism of fire against the sides that ended last season in the top three. But Rodgers famously masterminded wins over Arsenal and Manchester City in the second half of the preceding campaign. 

After City were beaten at the Liberty Stadium in Janruary, they surrendered their lead, established way back in October of last year, to title rivals United. It took the Citizens seven more games before they could draw level and win the title on the final day on goal difference.

Swansea also had an impressive home record under Rodgers' tenure as the newly promoted side only lost four games

Cornet claims Gastein Ladies title

France's Alize Cornet won the Gastein Ladies event in Austria with a hard-fought victory over Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.

Cornet, the seventh seed, won 7-5 7-6 (7/1) to upset the second seed and take the title.

Cornet, who lost in the final in Strasbourg last month, took her second WTA career title to add to her victory in Budapest in 2008.

But she made hard work of closing out the match after leading the second set 5-3 before being pegged back, although she was a convincing winner of the tiebreak.

 

Source: Latest Sports News and Results

Bikeshare Riders Shun Helmets

More 60-Second Science Plant's Chemistry Gets Mice to Spit Seeds

Colombia passes law that could pave the way for peace talks with guerrillas

President Juan Manuel Santos sponsored the Legal Framework for Peace

Despite being at its weakest in decades, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has stepped up attacks in recent months, showing it can still rock the Andean country with high-profile assaults.

Rebel leaders have given mixed signs that they may be keen to engage in peace talks and end almost five decades of bomb attacks on politicians and infrastructure, kidnappings, drug trafficking and clashes with security forces.

Negotiations

Rio+20 summit takes off in Brazil with optimism and many challenges

President Rousseff at the opening of the summit that brings together 50.000 delegates and over 115 world leaders

Opening the so-called Rio+20 summit President Dilma Rousseff, called on “all countries of the world to commit” to reaching an accord that addresses serious environmental and social woes.

“We do not consider that respect for the environment only occurs in the expansion phase of the cycle. Rather, a pro-growth position, to preserve and maintain, is intrinsic to the design of development, particularly in the face of crisis,” said Rousseff.

The UN conference, which marks the 20th anniversary of the Earth Summit that declared the environment a priority, is the largest ever organized, with 50.000 delegates, the UN said.

Around 115 leaders are expected for the summit itself on June 20-22 but a

Midlands business bulldozes garden centre to save costs

The tough economic climate has forced a Wolverhampton business to demolish its garden centre and concentrate on its operation at its remaining site.

The company is now focusing on its landscape and building materials business

The Midlandscapes Garden Centre in Birches Barn Road was bulldozed this week, with the loss of two jobs. Two remaining staff have transferred to sister company, landscape and building materials supplier Codsall Stone & Paving at nearby Wergs Hall Road. Here, it trades from Wergs Garden Centre, with which it has a franchise agreement.

However, under the terms of the agreement it is not

In India, A Different Kind Of Austerity

Enlarge Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

Facing economic woes, India is looking to trim spending - but cutting government services is extremely unpopular. Instead, politicians are targeting foreign travel and meetings at lavish hotels like the Oberoi in Mumbai.

Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

Facing economic woes, India is looking to trim spending - but cutting government services is extremely unpopular. Instead, politicians are targeting foreign travel and meetings at lavish hotels like the Oberoi in Mumbai.

In Europe, the concept of austerity has meant deep, painful cuts to government spending. In India, however, austerity looks a little different.

India's government has started by reeling in departmental spending on things like hotel space and foreign travel. It may seem like window dressing, but it can be difficult to make deep spending cuts in that country. Many voters see government largesse as a right and usually applaud pork-barrel spending.

Mihir Sharma, a columnist at the Business Standard newspaper, says the government is trying to combat poverty, malnutrition and other critical needs.

"A snotty-nosed 27-year-old analyst on Wall Street might be concerned that the

Snow way! Blow your mind in Big White

The Snow Ghost Express chairlift. Picture: Big White Ski Resort, BC, Canada. Source: National Features

Skiers and snowboarders, Big White Ski Resort, Canada. Picture :Big White Ski Resort, BC, Canada Source: National Features

THERE'S a magic man living on the side of a mountain in Canada.

He isn't a shaman, a witch doctor or a wizard, but if you've been skiing in ill-fitting boots that crunch and cramp your feet, you will think Lindsay Bennett is a miracle worker when he takes all the pain out of sliding down a hill.

The expat Australian is an expert ski boot fitter, someone who knows how to make feet perfectly comfortable in the clunky footwear needed to attach skis to your legs, and he works with those looking to buy new boots or customise an existing pair to have them feel like the old slippers under the bed at home.

I've been skiing for 20 years, renting boots every time I ventured on to a hill, and there have only been a couple of times when I wasn't crippled by pain, with my feet cramping so badly I couldn't make it down a run without stopping to hop from one foot to the other in an attempt to reduce the agony.

That was until I visited Big White the vast alpine resort in British Columbia's peaceful Okanagan Valley above the lakeside town of Kelowna and was introduced to Lindsay and bought a pair of Atomic boots that he customised to my feet.

I spent several hours in his shop, Dizzy's two in the evening finding the best

They Rose In Protest, Now Kansas Arts Groups Cheer

Enlarge Stephen Koranda/Kansas Public Radio

Children rehearse for a production of The Wizard of Oz at the Lawrence Arts Center in Lawrence, Kan.

Stephen Koranda/Kansas Public Radio

Children rehearse for a production of The Wizard of Oz at the Lawrence Arts Center in Lawrence, Kan.

Last year, Kansas became the first state in the nation to completely eliminate arts funding. Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has always said he supports the arts, but when the state was facing a tight budget, he said Kansas needed to cut back.

"As we look to grow Kansas' economy and focus state government resources to ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars, we must do all we can to protect the core functions of state government," he said.

Eliminating state funding last year affected hundreds of arts organizations. Arts supporters did not take kindly to the proposal.

A rally opposing the cut drew hundreds to the Statehouse, and this year, Brownback's administration reversed course and restored some funding for the arts. It proposed a new group called the Creative Arts Industries Commission. The governor's office says the focus of the new organization will be economic growth through art.

Day-To-Day At The Arts Center

At the Lawrence Arts Center, dozens of children, mostly grade-school and middle-school age, flood in for summer programs. Just down the hall, about 50 children practice a song from The Wizard of Oz.

The arts center sustained a $24,000 cut and Margaret Morris says it had to cut a handful of jobs and find private funds to help cover the loss. She says it can be easier to find money to help sponsor high-profile programs and children's programs, but it's more difficult to pay day-to-day costs.

Enlarge John Hanna/AP

When Kansas faced a tight budget last year, Gov. Sam Brownback cut the state's arts funding.

John Hanna/AP

When Kansas faced a tight budget last year, Gov. Sam Brownback cut the state's arts funding.

"The hard place to find

Political standoff stymies Albania's presidential vote

Disagreement between the major parties in parliament has delayed the election of the next president.

By Erl Murati for Southeast European Times in Tirana -- 09/06/12

The main Albanian political players are still at an impasse on the election of a new president. [Reuters]

Three rounds of voting in parliament have failed to result in a new president in Albania, throwing the matter to a fourth vote on Monday (June 11th) and jeopardising the nation's status with the EU.

The EU has been pressing Albania politicians to unify the government before making it a candidate for membership. But

Demand Outweighs Supply Of Spainish Bonds

For most of this week, it looked like Spain was within hours of needing a bailout. But Madrid may be pulling back from the brink. There's been a successful bond auction and word that Spanish banks could get some backdoor help from Europe.

Source: NPR : National Public Radio

Next Gardenex 'Meet the Buyer' event to be bigger and better

British suppliers of garden, leisure and pet products attending the June 20 'Meet the Buyer' day by Gardenex and PetQuip are aiming to match the recent successes of firms who are now selling in Dubai following a similar event.

This event resulted in orders for at least five British attendees from one buyer alone, the Dubai Garden Centre. These companies included Hampshire-Gardencraft, Haws, James & Steel, Wildlife World and Wood Fired Ovens by Jamie Oliver. The items now being supplied by these companies to Dubai include ornamental garden stoneware, watering cans, vases, jugs, cat and dog accessories, wildlife nesters

France To Lower Retirement Age To 60 For Some

France's new Socialist government moved Wednesday to lower the retirement age from 62 to 60 years old for certain workers, bucking the trend in developed countries in a gesture to unions that critics say is a costly mistake.

Governments from North America to Europe have been pushing retirement ages higher and higher in recent decades, as people are living longer and spending more years on state-sponsored pension checks.

Raising France's general retirement age from 60 to 62 years old was a key reform of conservative former President Nicolas Sarkozy. The 2010 measure was aimed at reducing heavy government debts as Europe sunk into a continent-wide debt crisis

Artur Davis On Leaving His Job, Home, And Party

In 2008, Alabama Congressman Artur Davis spoke at the Democratic National Convention in support of then-Senator Barack Obama. Since then, he's left congress, Alabama, and the Democratic Party. Now, the newly-minted Republican and Virginia resident speaks with host Michel Martin, and says Democrats are governing too far from the left.

Source: NPR : National Public Radio

E3: SmartGlass to link Xbox 360 to Phones, Tablets

Xbox SmartGlass will allow users to link their Xbox 360 to their Windows phones and tablets.

Microsoft has announced a new streaming service for the Xbox 360, dubbed Xbox SmartGlass, which will allow users to stream content between their Xbox 360 and compatible Windows tablets and phones.

Unveiled at E3 2012, SmartGlass' lets users share movies on their tablets or phones to their Xbox console, letting them watch the show on a big TV while keeping other information on the tablet screen.

As well as working when watching videos, Microsoft says SmartGlass can

Redknapp hopeful over Vertonghen deal

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is hopeful a deal will be completed for Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen but says nothing has been finalised yet.

The 25-year-old defender showed his versatility - one of the attributes which has impressed Redknapp - with a solid display at left-back for Belgium in Saturday's 1-0 friendly defeat against England at Wembley.

Quoted in The Sun on Sunday, the Spurs boss said: "Jan is a terrific passer and versatile too. He can play at the heart of defence but also plays very comfortable at left-back.

"I hope a deal is done but I don't think it's

Bailout of Greek banks is good, but not enough

With an 18 billion-euro bailout, Greek banks are now staying afloat. But losses and political instability could easily sink the ship.

By Andy Dabilis for Southeast European Times in Athens -- 02/06/12

Greeks withdrew more than 5 billion euros last month. [Reuters]

Stung by big losses imposed by the government as part of a deal to write down the country's debt, and with depositors anxious over political uncertainty ahead of new elections, the country's four biggest banks have gotten an 18 billion-euro injection, but may need a lot more.

The monies were channelled from the European Financial Stability Facility rescue fund through the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund (HFSF) to boost the nearly depleted capital base of the National Bank (6.9 billion euros); Alpha Bank (1.9 billion euros); Eurobank (4.2 billion euros); and Piraeus Bank, (5 billion euros) -- allowing them to regain

Ireland Voters Approve EU Deficit-Fighting Treaty

Ireland's voters have agreed to ratify the European Union's deficit-fighting treaty with a resounding 60.3 percent "yes" vote, final referendum results Friday showed, but government leaders and pro-treaty campaigners alike expressed relief rather than joy because of the stark economic challenges ahead.

The treaty's approval, after weeks of nervousness in Dublin and Brussels, relieves some pressure on EU financial chiefs as they battle to contain the eurozone's debt crisis. But critics said the tougher deficit rules would do nothing to stimulate desperately needed growth in bailed-out Ireland, Portugal and Greece, nor stop Spain or Italy from requiring aid, too.

And a stern-faced Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny agreed, stressing in his victory speech that Ireland's decision would strengthen his hand as he seeks, with many other European nations, to shift Germany in its stubborn resistance to more aggressive measures to boost growth through government spending.

"I have consistently argued that budget rules alone will not be enough to overcome the economic crisis that faces Europe. They must go hand in hand with a real and concrete growth program for Europe," Kenny said in a nationally televised news conference on the steps of his central Dublin office.

Kenny said EU and European Central Bank chiefs must agree on a Europe-wide new system for managing the toxic banking debts that brought Ireland to the edge of bankruptcy in 2010 and now threaten to do the same to Spain. Ireland long has pressed EU partners, particularly Germany, in vain to permit partial writedowns of Irish banking debts that could ultimately cost Irish taxpayers an estimated 68 billion euro ($85 billion) and have