International

North Korea launches three missiles (16:05)
Seoul, May 18 (IANS) North Korea Saturday launched three short-range guided missiles into the Sea of Japan, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing South Korea's defence ministry.

Malayasian Chinese leader asked to apologise to Indians (15:48)
Singapore, May 18 (IANS) A Malaysian Indian politician of the Democratic Action party (DAP) has asked the party's Chinese-origin secretary-general to apologise to the Indian members of the party.

`Li's trip shows China keen to enhance ties with India' (14:24)
Beijing, May 18 (IANS) The choice of India as the first leg of Li Keqiang's maiden overseas trip as Chinese premier has sent out a clear signal that Beijing's new leadership prioritizes enhancing ties with New Delhi but that "the two nations cannot fully restore mutual trust without resolving the border dispute", Xinhua news agency said in a commentary on Saturday.

Criminal probe sought against Indo-Canadian politician (13:36)
Toronto, May 18 (IANS) A criminal investigation has been sought against an Indo-Canadian member of legislative assembly (MLA) of the ruling Progressive Conservatives party in the Canadian province of Alberta in a case of ethics violation.

Two sentenced for robbery bid on Indian-origin man's shop (12:56)
London, May 18 (IANS) A 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old accomplice who tried to rob a shop owned by an Indian-origin man in Britain last year have been sentenced by a court in Britain.

Man kidnapped 23 years ago finds kin thanks to Google Maps (12:54)
Beijing, May 18 (IANS/EFE) A 28-year-old Chinese man who was kidnapped 23 years ago and sold to a family 1,500 km from his home, has met up with his biological parents again thanks to Google Maps, Hunan TV said Friday.

US couple donates land to Argentine park (11:42)
Buenos Aires, May 18 (IANS/EFE) The Conservation Land Trust, a project of US philanthropists and environmental activists Douglas and Kris Tompkins, donated 15,000 hectares for the expansion of Perito Moreno National Park in southern Argentina.

Argentina's former dictator dies behind bars (10:58)
Buenos Aires, May 18 (IANS/EFE) Gen. Rafael Videla, the emblematic figure of the military junta that ruled Argentina from 1976-83, died Friday inside the jail where he was serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity, prison officials confirmed. He was 87.

Russia to test drones to track wildlife, poachers (09:52)
Moscow, May 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) In a bid to track its wildlife and hunt down poachers, Russia is all set to test unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at a nature reserve on the country's Pacific coast this summer.

Syrian refugees now exceed 1.5 million: UNHCR (09:36)
Geneva, May 18 (IANS) The number of Syrian refugees, who are either registered or awaiting registration, has surpassed 1.5 million, while the actual number is much higher, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

UAE, Egypt discuss cooperation in civil aviation (09:36)
Cairo, May 18 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirtaes (UAE) and Egypt have held talks over enhancing cooperation in the civil aviation sector.

60 hurt as US trains collide; New York-Boston corridor closed (Lead) (08:50)
New York, May 18 (IANS) Two passenger trains heading in opposite directions collided during rush hour in southwestern Connecticut, injuring 60 people, five of them critically, and closing the key corridor between New York and Boston.

UN chief regrets experts' inability to visit Syria (08:26)
Moscow, May 18 (IANS) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed regret over the inability of experts, investigating the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, to visit the country.

55 dead as hailstorms lash south China (07:54)
Beijing, May 18 (IANS) A total of 50 people have died while 14 reported missing due to latest rain and hailstorms that have hit south China, the government statistics said Friday.

60 injured as trains collide in US (07:48)
Washington, May 18 (IANS) At least 60 people were injured, five of them critically, in a head-on, rush-hour collision between two commuter trains Friday evening near New York City, officials said.

Russia counting on UN for post-ISAF Afghanistan plans (07:30)
Moscow, May 18 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Moscow is counting on the UN to develop proposals regarding the international presence in Afghanistan after 2014, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

73 killed, 148 injured in Iraq attacks (Lead) (04:04)
Baghdad, May 18 (IANS) A wave of bombing attacks struck war-torn Iraq Friday, leaving as many as 73 people dead and 148 injured, police and officials said.

43 killed, 70 injured in Iraq bombings (01:54)
Baghdad, May 18 (IANS) As many as 43 people were killed and 70 injured in bomb blasts that occurred in different parts of Iraq Friday.

Nine killed, 55 injured in Afghan attacks (01:04)
Kabul, May 18 (IANS) At least nine people were killed and over 55 injured Friday evening when two blasts rocked Afghanistan's Kandahar city, a government official said.

Twin blasts kill 15, injure 25 in Pakistan (Lead) (00:22)
Islamabad, May 18 (IANS) At least 15 people were killed and 25 injured when twin blasts hit two mosques in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province ahead of the Friday prayers, Geo News reported.

Dozens killed in Nigerian military strike against Boko Haram (22:46)
Kaduna (Nigeria), May 17 (IANS) Dozens of people have been killed in a military strike launched by Nigerian army since Thursday night in the northern part of the West African country, reported Xinhua citing security sources.

Chinese vice premier to attend AU special summit (22:04)
Beijing, May 17 (IANS) Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will pay an official visit to Zimbabwe and attend a special summit of the African Union in Ethiopia from May 21 to 25, reported Xinhua.

Indian American Vivek Ranadive buys US basketball team (Lead) (21:36)
Washington, May 17 (IANS) Indian American software magnate Vivek Ranadive, who has become the first person of Indian descent to become the owner of a major US basketball team, plans to build the Sacramento Kings into a global brand.

Hundreds protests in Tahrir against President Morsi (21:20)
Cairo, May 17 (IANS) Hundreds of protesters flocked Friday to central Tahrir Square here to join demonstrations condemning the rule of President Mohamed Morsi and ruling Muslim Brotherhood group, reported Xinhua.

Former Argentine military ruler Videla dies in prison (21:16)
Buenos Aires, May 17 (IANS) Former Argentine military ruler Jorge Rafael Videla died Friday while serving life sentences in prison for crimes against humanity, reported Xinhua citing a government spokesperson. He was 87.