The World Health Organization declared the first flu pandemic of the 21st century on Thursday, urging countries to shore up defenses against the virus which is "not stoppable" but has proved mainly mild so far. The United Nations agency raised

Iran's raucous election campaign fell silent a day before the vote as rallies were barred Thursday to give the public time to reflect on whether they want to keep hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in power or replace him with a

Former President Jimmy Carter Thursday reiterated that there can be no peace between Israel and the Palestinians without involving Hamas. His comments came shortly before he met with the group's Syrian-based leader, Khaled Meshaal. Carter met with Meshaal twice under

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attempt to narrow a growing divide with the Obama administration when he delivers a major policy speech in the coming days, his aides say - even at the expense of alienating hawkish coalition partners

Media watchdogs have urged Iraq's government to end harassment and intimidation of journalists and push for the release of a freelance photographer working for Reuters, who is being held by the US military. In an open letter to Prime Minister

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has participated in the official oath ceremony of the newly elected Mayor of Yerevan Gagik Beglaryan. In his speech, the president congratulated Gagik Beglaryan and all the representatives of the Council of Elders of

ArmInfo. Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 370 drams for 1 dollar, 515 drams for 1 EUR and 11,8 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 371 drams for 1 dollar,

ArmInfo. "The US position on the solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict remains unchanged. The conflict must be solved peacefully on the basis of territorial integrity and self-determination principle", outgoing US ambassador Anne Derse told journalists, APA reports.Speaking about the US

ArmInfo. Estonia admits that Europe needs new resources but we are concerned about Nord Stream gas pipeline that will be constructed across the Baltic Sea, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said in Yerevan Thursday. He called the sea basin too

ArmInfo.Today, the parliament of Armenia passed the second and final reading of alterations and amendments to the Laws 'On VAT’ and 'Profit Tax’.As deputy Finance Minister of Armenia Suren Karayan said, the primary goal of introduced bill is stimulation of

The ongoing saga on the battle on the government requiring pre-installed software for filtering new computers in China (the software dubbed the Green Dam) by July 1, and the netizens and companies that oppose the infringement, has gone to court.

ChinaSMACK has captured a netizen's response to vigilante justice against the abuse of "urban management" officials (chengguan ) in Lanzhou, a Hui Muslim dominated area:This weekend, due to the recent need to repair our house, along with my wife we

From the New York Times:Strong buying by China has helped lift commodity prices around the world this spring, but growing evidence suggests that a sizable portion of this buying has been to build stockpiles in China, and may not be

In the run-up to last's week's 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre, the following essay quietly circulated in the Chinese blogosphere, written by an anonymous author calling himself Deserter. Via bullogger.com, translated by CDT's Paulina Hartono:It was in June of

From Reuters via the Malaysia Star:The expected election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to head of the island's ruling Nationalist Party (KMT) could pave the way for him to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao, a state newspaper said on Thursday.The

The following is an extract of a talk by Mirinalini Mata, direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, (Self Realisation Fellowship 1978, Cassette No 2402):"...There is one quality you will always find in the true guru and that is humility - that

It was said that I have taken up this Form in answer to the prayers of sadhus (noble souls) and others... I have come, because [...]

ponder a moment on this Sathya Sai Manifestation; in this age of rampant materialism, aggressive disbelief and irreverence, what is it that brings [...]

Swami made it clear that He has no enemies. Every one loves Him. Many people may have some misunderstandings about Me but it is only their IMAGINATION.. I have no enemies.. I love all. I am always smiling. Many people

US stance on NKR conflict settlement remains unchanged. The conflict should be settled through peaceful methods, based on principles of territorial integrity and self-determination, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan ...