Nepal rebels attack town, no word on casualties

Monday, April 24, 2006, 7:32 [IST]

KATHMANDU, Apr 24 (Reuters) Hundreds of Maoist rebels stormed a town in eastern Nepal and fought a six-hour gun battle with security forces, a senior government official today said.

He said communication links had been cut with the town of Chautara, about 100 km east of the capital Kathmandu, and there was no word yet on casualties.

The attack comes as the country's main political parties continue major street protests against King Gyanendra, who sacked the government and took full powers in February 2005. The parties have entered a loose alliance with the Maoists against the king.

''It appears to be a pretty big attack. But we have no details,'' said the official, who declined to be named.

Reuters OM DB0704

Other articles published on April 24, 2006

Raise ODA for developing countries: India

Monday, April 24, 2006,8:32 [IST]

Washington, Apr 24: India made out a strong case for raising the level of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to help developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).India's economic secretary A K Jha, who made this plea at the annual spring meeting of the IMF-World Bank here yesterday, said ''the annual increases ODA will have to accelerate from an average of just under six per cent during 2001-04 to nearly 11 per cent over the next two years and seven.....

High oil, weak dollar push gold up

Monday, April 24, 2006,9:33 [IST]

SYDNEY, Apr 24 (Reuters) Investors lapped up more gold on Monday, boosting bullion prices by more than $1 as oil prices held firm and the U.S. dollar slipped, keeping inflation concerns alive. ''We're seeing a bit more interest in gold compared with Friday,'' a gold dealer in Sydney said. Investors increasingly see gold as a hedge against the depreciation of the dollar, particularly as rising oil prices spell higher inflation. Spot gold cost $633.50/$634.30 a.....

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Brain drain deprives Africa of vital talent

Monday, April 24, 2006,9:33 [IST]

NAIROBI, Apr 24: Hundreds of young Africans crammed into rickety fishing boats, destitute and half-dead from hunger and illness, wash up onto European shores. Many others are found dead on the beaches. These images of desperate Africans trying to reach a ''promised land'' in the rich West make headlines. But thousands of others are quietly being welcomed through the front door. It is estimated that some 20,000 skilled professionals are leaving the continent every year, depriving Africa of.....

'United Nations an infidel body'

Monday, April 24, 2006,9:37 [IST]

Dubai, Apr 24: Osama bin Laden called the United Nations an ''infidel'' body used to implement ''crusader-Zionist'' schemes against Muslims, according to new sections of an audiotape aired today.''It is an infidel body and whoever accepts its resolutions becomes an infidel. It is a tool to implement crusader-Zionist resolutions, among which are the resolutions of war against us (Muslims) and those to divide and occupy our land,'' bin Laden said in the tape aired on Al Jazeera television.Bin.....

Kurdistan buzzes as other parts of Iraq burn

Monday, April 24, 2006,10:03 [IST]

SULAIMANIYA, Iraq, Apr 24 (Reuters) It's midnight and the restaurant on the top floor of the Sulaimaniya Palace hotel, with its panoramic views, is buzzing. Seven storeys below, the streets of the Kurdish city are still busy and couples walk in the light of the full moon. This is Iraq. But it's a world away from the claustrophobic concrete blast walls and bloodshed of Baghdad far to the south. Kurds boast that rents in Sulaimaniya now outstrip.....