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A thick stench fills the air, there is no proper sewage system in the South African township of Themba Khoza - heavy floods have destroyed all the make-shift drains and bacteria infected water is flowing through the tiny pathways between the shacks. Eight of the country's nine provinces have been declared disaster areas after floods killed more than 120 people. Residents of the informal settlement north of Johannesburg are bracing themselves for more floods. The settlement is home to more than 2,000 people - many of the houses here are built near a river, the Kaalfontein. The river burst its banks last week, flooding many shacks in the process. Tharafosa Molapo, 92, is hard at work, trying to build a sand barrier around his home. The old man is frail but he says he needs to do this to prevent further damage to the home he shares with his wife. "We cannot sleep when it is rains, because we need to remove the water from our houses," he says. "I have been up f...

Most of its residents left, the school closed, the city government was disbanded and starting this week nearly every commercial building in Picher, Oklahoma, will be demolished. But the owner of the last-remaining open business in Picher, which has been vacated over the years because of lead contamination, is not ready to go. "It's not time for me to leave yet," said Gary Linderman, owner of Old Miner's Pharmacy in what is left of central Picher, located in the northeast corner of the state. "I have an obligation to people. We are all creatures of habit and closing might throw them off." In addition to providing prescriptions, the pharmacy is the only place left in town to buy snack food, beverages, over-the-counter medicine and other necessities. Linderman declined a buyout from the federal government, which declared Picher a hazardous waste site in 1981 and has bought out about 900 homeowners and businesses. Crews demolished a funeral home, restaurant...

Egypt riot hits the world's political and social thinking specially. Whether the controlled democracy will continue in the Middle East and Africa in the future. The riot began on January 25, 2011 which is the massive blow against the regime of President Hosni Mubarak in his 30 years of ruling of the country Egypt.

Egypt President Hosni Mubarak addressed for the nation on Friday night (January 28, 2011) to calm down the volatility continues in the coumtry demanding his resignation. The massive protest programme against Mubarak began on January 25, 2011 demanding resignation of Egypt President Mubarak and change in the political system of the country.

Video of Protest against misrule of Egyptian Leader Hosni Mubarak:   Hosni Mubarak faces the toughest time in 30 years of leading the Egypt. Overall situation is giving a message that a change is coming forward in the ruling system of total Africa continent. We assume the change will effort positively to the development of the continent in education, good governance and democracy finally.

Egypt President Hosni Mubarak   dismissed his government on Friday and said a new cabinet would be announced on Saturday. Mr. Mubarak also defended the role of Egypt's security forces in suppressing anti-government protests which have rocked the country. It was his first statement since the protests - in which at least 26 have died with hundreds injured - began. Tens of thousands took part in protests in Cairo, Suez, Alexandria and other cities. Protesters set fire to the headquarters of the governing NDP party and besieged state TV and the foreign ministry . At least 13 people were killed in Suez on Friday, while in Cairo, five people died, according to medical sources. That brings the death toll to at least 26 since the protests began on Tuesday. "I have asked the government to present its resignation today (Friday)," Mr Mubarak said, adding that he would appoint a new government on Saturday. He also said he understood the protesters' grievances but that...

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Tuesday pledged support for a new southern state in his first public address since the south of the country voted overwhelmingly to split from the north. Early results from this month's referendum indicate almost 99 percent of southerners voted to secede after decades of civil war which claimed 2 million lives and destabilized much of east Africa. Bashir had campaigned for unity and many feared the north would not let the oil-producing south go without a fight. "Secession has become a reality -- 99 percent of southerners chose separation but we will not be sad ... we will go to the south and celebrate with them," Bashir told supporters during a visit to the northern River Nile state. "We will support the new southern state and will hold onto its stability because we are neighbors and will remain friends," he added. While oil was a factor behind the north-south war which ended with a wealth and power-sharing agr...

The US is hoping that the "example" of the Tunisian uprising will bring reform to other parts of the region, Jeffrey Feltman, the country's top-ranking envoy for the Middle East, has said on a visit to the capital Tunis. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Tunisian president, whom Washington considered one of its staunch allies, fled the country amid violent protests on 14 January 2011, after 23 years in power. "I certainly expect that we'll be using the Tunisian example" in talks with other Arab governments, Feltman told journalists in the Tunisian capital. "The challenges being faced in many parts of the world, particularly in the Arab world, are the same and we hope people will be addressing legitimate political, social, economic grievances," he said. Feltman said he would travel to France on Wednesday for talks on the situation in Tunisia and Lebanon following the visit to Tunis. Hundreds of people rallied for the first time in support of Tunisi...

1999 May: Ehud Barak of the Labour Party is elected prime minister under the One Israel banner. 2000 July: The Camp David summit between Barak, and Yasser Arafat, the president of the Palestinian Authority, aimed at reaching a "final status" agreement, fails after Arafat refuses to accept a proposal drafted by the US and Israeli negotiators. September: Second initifada begins after Ariel Sharon, the Israeli opposition leader, visits the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. 2001 February 6: Sharon is elected the leader of the Likud party and refuses to continue negotiations with Arafat. June 1: A Hamas suicide bomber attacks a nightclub, killing 21 Israelis, mainly teenagers, and injuring more than 100. December: Sharon sends troops into Ramallah, shelling and surrounding the Palestinian Authority's West Bank headquarters; Arafat is unable to leave. 2002 March: Israeli army launches Operation Defensive Shield, the country's biggest military operation in the West Bank sinc...

Britain's economy shrank by 0.5 per cent in the last quarter of 2010, figures reveal, raising fears of a double-dip recession. The Office for National Statistics said December's severe winter weather was largely to blame for the surprising figures, which show the first contraction of growth since the third quarter of 2009. "The disruption caused by the bad weather in December is likely to have contributed to most of the 0.5 per cent decline, that is, if there had been no disruption, GDP would be showing a flattish picture rather than declining," it said in a statement. Analysts had previously been expecting modest growth of 0.4 per cent for that quarter. The figure is likely to spark concerns over the strength of the British economy as the coalition government brings in a raft of austerity measures aimed at curbing the country's national deficit. The measures include dramatic cuts to public services including hundreds of thousands of public sector job losses...

Najib Mikati has won as Prime Minister of Lebanon in an election held today (January 25, 2011). Lawmakers in Beirut voted on Tuesday to back Najib Mikati, the candidate Hezbollah had proposed, as a prime minister. He gained 68 votes to Hariri's 60, putting the Hezbollah-led opposition in a position to form a government.  The nomination of Najib Mikati is seen as a victory for Hezbollah, which is trying to fend off a U.N.-backed tribunal set up in 2005 to try the killers of statesman Rafik al-Hariri and which is expected to accuse members of the Shi'ite group. Sunni Muslims loyal to outgoing premier Saad al-Hariri, Rafik's son who has Western and Saudi backing, staged a "day of rage" to protest the appointment of Sunni billionaire Mikati, a centrist lawmaker with ties to both Saudi Arabia and Syria. Demonstrations were called across the country, with thousands gathering in the northern city of Tripoli, and on the highway linking Beirut with the southern port ci...

Crude futures fell more than $1 on Tuesday after an overnight rate increase in India and a surprise contraction in the UK economy fanned concerns about the pace of the global recovery, and ahead of an expected build-up in U.S. inventories due later. By 1257 GMT, U.S. crude benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was down $1.23 at $86.64 a barrel. Brent future prices were down $1.19 to $95.42 a barrel. India's overnight interest rate increase was accompanied by a central bank warning that stronger inflation risks remained, renewing concerns that oil-hungry emerging economies could temper their demand growth. "Everything is down today, not just crude," Commerzbank's Carsten Fritsch said, as copper fell more than two percent and gold fell to its lowest in ten weeks. "We saw a similar price move already last week when there was concern about further tightening in China, but it proved to be short-lived." A surprise contraction in fourth-quarter UK GDP also ...

Gold fell to a near three-month low on Tuesday, putting the metal on course for its worst monthly performance in 13 months as safe-haven demand evaporated and investors booked further profits on the 2010 rally. Spot gold fell as low as $1,322.70 an ounce and was bid at $1.327.70 an ounce at 1409 GMT, against $1,334.25 late in New York on Monday. U.S. gold futures for February delivery fell $16.80 to $1,327.70. Spot prices are on course for a 6.4 percent decline in January, which would be the biggest monthly fall since a 7-percent drop in December 2009. Selling is largely a consequence of a current run of positive economic data. "(We forecast gold) to have a bad first quarter," said Mitsubishi analyst Matthew Turner. "Economic data ended the year quite strongly and I thought if it carried on strongly, interest rate expectations would start to rise. "But maybe the economic outlook isn't as rosy as people think, and maybe we will see a recovery (in gold prices...

Intel Corp (INTC.O) raised its dividend by 15 percent and authorized another $10 billion in its share buyback program after posting solid results earlier this month. The chipmaker declared a quarterly dividend of 18.12 cents per share on Monday. Intel's board also increased its share buyback program by an additional $10 billion, increasing the overall outstanding buyback to $14.2 billion. "Today's announcement signals confidence in our fundamental business strategies both today and looking forward," Paul Otellini, Intel president and chief executive, said in a statement. On January 13 Intel posted better-than expected revenue and margins for the fourth quarter, defying worries about the chipmaker's minor role in the booming smartphone and tablet computer market. Shares of Intel were up 1.4 percent at $21.12 in early trade.

Moscow International Airport blast kills at least 35 people, 100 wounded

Domodedovo airport explosion kills dozens

A bomb attack on Moscow’s Domodedovo airport has killed dozens and injured many more. Although the precise details may not be known for some time, the attack represents a nasty development because it underscores an unpleasant truth. Security threats in Russia have become an international problem. The choice of target, Russia’s busiest international airport, seems calculated to cause maximum economic disruption and create high-stress political fall-out at home and abroad. News of the bombing immediately knocked 2 percent off Russia’s MICEX stock exchange and 4 percent off the share price of national airline Aeroflot. The experience of previous bomb attacks suggests that the impact on financial markets will be temporary. Such incidents are, sadly, not new in Russia. It is less than a year since 40 people were killed in twin bombings on the Moscow metro, and previous years have seen many such attacks on civilians in Moscow and other Russian regions. As with these other atrocities, s...

A suicide bomber killed at least 35 people and injured about 130 at Moscow's Domodedovo airport, Russia's biggest, today January 24, 2011. See on Bomb Attack at Russian Airport 

The voting to the  242   Municipalities held on four separate dates starting on January 12, 2011 and ending on January 18, 2011 in Bangladesh under seven divisions, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong respectively. Results of election to the 236 municipalities have been published till now while 6 remains suspended. Main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) bagged the highest number of municipalities 97 nos. Mayors Posts achieving support from 18,51,337 voters  (41.00% voter)  while ruling Awami League bagged 93 nos. of Mayors Posts getting support from 17,80,575 (39.00%  voters ).  Results: Out of 72 Municipalities of Rajshahi and Rangpur Division, BNP got 33, BNP rebel 3 while Awami League 18, Awami League rebel 6, Jamaat 5, Jatiya Party 1 and others 6. As per Media report the election was held very peacefully marking record in the electoral history of Bangladesh in the two D...

The voting to the 242   Municipalities held on four separate dates starting on January 12, 2011 and ending on January 18, 2011 in Bangladesh under seven divisions, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong respectively.  Polling Date: January 12, 2011: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the main opposition party of Bangladesh has won the maximum number of Mayor Posts though their candidates could not stand in front of hoodlums of ruling Awami League in maximum areas of Barisal Division and in Feni, Laxmipur and Noakhali Districts under Chittagong Division. However, BNP did unimaginable result in the election in Rajshahi and Rangpur Division in the election held on January 12, 2011.  Polling  Date: January 13, 2011: Then the election to the Municipalities of Barisal and Khulna Division were held on January  13, 2011 where massive clash, capturing polling centers, expelling polling agents of opposition part...

No more BDR! Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has officially been named after Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) today, January 23, 2011.  The renaming, though came into effect after the president signed the bill passed through parliament over a month ago, came on Sunday after prime minister Sheikh Hasina hoisted the BGB flag at its Peelkhana headquarters.  The flag has also been changed a little bit.  Bangladesh's 'first line of defence' went through a few changes, including its name and uniform, with a new law stipulating death for mutiny, apparently to absolve it of the bloody mutiny of Feb 25-26, 2009.   Parliament passed the bill, which was subsequently endorsed by the president on Dec 20 last year , bringing the changes in BDR to rid it of the stigma that would invariably be attached to its name.  But Maj Gen Mohammad Rafiqul Islam at a function on Jan 1 used his old designation as head of BDR since, according to him, 'formalities' to call him the BGB direct...

Mohasthangarh: A Historical Site at Bogra in Bangladesh

A total of Tk 85,000 crore have been channeled out through the Bangladesh Share Market within the last 30 working days, sources said. The General Index was 8918 points on December 5, 2010 and it labelled down at 6312 point on January 20, 2011.  The amount siphoned off during the last six month specially was very preplanned sources added. Total market capital was Tk 3,68,000 Crore (Tk 3680 Billion) on December 5, 2010 which now collapsed to Tk 2,83,000 Crore (Tk 2830 Billion) on January 20, 2011. Total Capital reduces of Tk 85,000 Crore (850 Billion), which amount is channeled out by the Market Makers in the last one month, sources said. 

The capital market regulator has failed to play its due role in protecting interests of the retail investors and handle the stock market, says a former Bangladesh Bank governor. "It is the failure of the regulatory body [Securities and Exchange Commission] as it did not exercise its independent authority," former central bank governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed told a discussion in the city on Sunday. Economic Reporters' Forum (ERF) organised the discussion on monetary policy management and Bangladesh Bank. "I do not understand why the finance minister keeps on saying that he made some mistakes. It is the duty of the regulator to maintain stability in the market. The SEC's approach is reactive rather than being proactive, and that is its main problem," he said. He also commented: "Before taking any decision, it should have analysed the whole situation and its impact, but it has changed its policy as a short-term remedy. A policy may favour one and hurt ano...