RussiaToday : World Update

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World Update

Israel is 'doomed to go': Ahmadinejad: Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has told the UN Food Summit that Israel is 'doomed to go'. He added it was a 'fabricated regime' that would soon disappear.

Warships to tackle piracy in Somali: The United Nations has authorised foreign warships to enter Somalian waters to fight pirates. The resolution was passed after the Somali government asked for help.

Mum tries to sell baby on EBay: A 23-year old German mum tried to sell her “nearly new” baby on eBay. The start bid was 1 euro, reports the Die Welt daily.

Myanmar death toll rises: Following the powerful of cyclone two weeks ago, the official death toll in Myanmar has now reached almost 80,000, with another 60,000 people still missing.

Sarkozy’s first year in power disappoints France: Just one year into his term, polls in France suggest the popularity of Nicolas Sarkozy is the lowest ever for a French president.

China butts out smoking at Olympics: In the Olympic host city of Beijing, officials are gearing up to enforce a smoking ban ahead of the September games.

Nine die in Spanish bus crash: At least nine people, including a seven-year-old girl, have been killed in a bus crash near the Spanish city of Malaga.

Giraffes wed in Brazil: A couple of Giraffes have exchanged vows in Rio de Janeiro as part of the city zoo's breeding programme.

Victims of Virginia Tech massacre remembered: In the U.S.A. Virginia Tech University is holding a day of mourning a year after the worst school shooting in the country's history.

Reuters journalist killed in Gaza: Fighting in central Gaza has killed at least 17 people including one journalist. A cameraman from the Reuters News Agency was killed by an Israeli air strike targeting militants.

Bus crash kills 42 in India: At least 42 people, mostly schoolchildren, have been killed after a bus plunged into a canal near the western Indian city of Vadodara. Rescuers are still searching for the remaining passengers.

French law tackles fashion's weight problem: The French parliament has passed a bill making it illegal to promote extreme thinness. If approved by the Senate, those found to have incited anorexia could face up to three years in prison and fines of up to 45,000 euros.

Berlusconi promises reforms for Italy: Italy's newly elected Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, says he'll push through new economic reforms.

Plane crashes into market place in Congo: A plane has crashed into a market in Goma a city in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 21 people on the ground. The Congolese airline says that the 79 passengers onboard survived.

Bush stuck in Iraq quagmire: George Bush officially announced on Thursday that American troops will stay in Iraq beyond a date foreshadowed for a partial withdrawl. It follows a recommendation from top U.S. commander, General David Petraeus.

Clinton-Obama duo ‘beaten’ by McCain & Rice: Americans are more likely to vote for republican John McCain for President with Condolezza Rice as Vice President, than to tick a ballot that includes both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Olympic torch relay descends into farce: The troubled journey of the Olympic torch across the world turned into a game of hide and seek in the U.S. city of San Francisco on Wednesday.

Bush to back pause in Iraq withdrawal: U.S. President George Bush is expected to throw his support behind a proposal from a top General for a pause in withdrawing American troops from Iraq.

Kosovo's parliament approves constitution: Kosovo's parliament has approved a draft constitution of the newly self-proclaimed republic. The document was endorsed without a vote and is expected to come into effect by the middle of June.

U.S. General rules out Iraq withdrawal: The top US military leader in Iraq has urged Congress to suspend troop withdrawals until after July. General David Petreaeus says security in Iraq has improved, but the country remains in a fragile state and recent gains could be lost.

Golden Gate Bridge invaded by Pro-Tibetians: Three protesters have scaled San Francisco's famous Golden Gate Bridge, just as the Olympic torch is due to arrive in the city.

Flame goes out for China’s Olympics: French security officials have extinguished the Olympic flame in Paris after protesters disrupted a torch-carrying relay in the centre of the city.

Troops rescue Colombian engineer from FARC kidnappers: An engineer is celebrating with his family in Colombia after soldiers rescued him from kidnappers.

Hillary’s campaign falters as top aide quits: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's bid for the presidency has taken yet another hit. Her chief political strategist, Mark Penn, has resigned after he lobbied for a free trade agreement with Colombia, which Clinton opposes.

Rocket attacks kill U.S. troops in Baghdad: Shiite militants from the Mahdi Army are suspected of killing three U.S. soldiers in two separate rocket and mortar attacks in Baghdad on Sunday. More than 30 others were injured.

DIY aviators take a dip Down Under: Magnificent men in their flying machines weren't quite what spectators witnessed at Sydney Harbour on Sunday morning. Thousands of people watched as a variety of home-made flying machines were flip-flopping into the water.

Bear's kung-fu master class in Japanese zoo: An Asiatic black bear has been attracting a lot of attention in a Japanese zoo by performing an unusual trick. Claude, who lives in a zoo in Hiroshima, spends hours every day twisting and twirling a stick.

The King lives... and is busy ruling France: U.S. President George Bush has compared French President Nicolas Sarkozy with the king of rock 'n' roll Elvis Presley. Speaking at the NATO summit in Romania, Bush said Sarkozy was the latest incarnation of The King.

Woman bites dog to save pet: A woman in the United States has saved her pet dog from a pit-bull by biting back.

Cyprus reunification a step closer: Greek and Turkish Cypriots have reopened a major crossing for the first time in 44 years in the divided capital of Nicosia.

Youngest planet in the Universe discovered: Scientists claim to have found a planet which is less than 2,000 years old - the youngest ever discovered. The proto-planet is revolving around the star HL Tau in the Taurus constellation - around 520 light years away from Earth.

China spills Iran’s nuclear secrets: China has provided the UN’s nuclear agency IAEA with intelligence on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Taliban targets Dutch troops over anti-Islamic film: The Taliban has said two attacks on Dutch forces in Afghanistan were in retaliation for an anti-Islamic film made by a politician in the Netherlands.

Aussies bury CO2 to beat global warming: Australia has launched a plant that pumps carbon dioxide into underground chambers in a bid to combat climate change.

China’s Olympic village put under microscope: Members of the International Olympic Committee are in Beijing to inspect the plans and buildings at the Olympic village, ahead of the games in August.

Tibetan monks arrested in Nepal: More than 80 Tibetan exiles and monks have been arrested in Nepal. Police said they were trying to storm the Chinese Embassy in Katmandu.

Early cherry blossoms surprise Tokyo: As Japan's cherry blossom season hits its peak, thousands of people flock to the parks to enjoy the natural spectacle. Tokyo's cherry trees were the first in the nation to bloom this year, six days earlier than expected.

Two-headed ‘baby monster’ born in U.S.: A two-headed lizard has hatched from its egg at a breeding centre in the U.S. The owners of the business, in North Carolina, have decided not to sell their unusual bearded dragon.

Iraq chaos: 130 dead, 3 day curfew: Iraqi authorities have imposed a 3 day curfew in Baghdad as part of an operation to crackdown on Shia militants. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has pledged ‘no retreat’ in the fight.

S. Korea not spooked by North’s missiles: North Korea has tested several short-range missiles firing them into the sea off its western coast.