Updated: 08.02.2010 17:51:39
MEANWHILE, Ukrainian Viktor Yanukovich's lead in Sunday's presidential election remainED precarious as it narrowed on Monday morning to little more than 2 percentage points over his rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, according to Ukraine's Central Election Commission. Four Bolivian provinces declared a state of emergency after 12 people were killed and more than 100,000 displaced by raging flood waters. Northern Japan was hit by record snowfall, blizzards and snow avalanches. As Haitan parents of children who were given to American missionaries come forward, a medic said that the jailed Americans were suffering from minor ailments and the country's quake-shattered justice system was challenged to hold the high-profile trial. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as Moscow seeks to play A mediating role in new Middle East peace efforts. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Abbas met with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama as the two leaders discussed issues on the Middle East Peace Process. The commander of British forces in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province said more civilians might flee central Helmand towns which will be targeted during a major assault in the upcoming days. Turkey's top official for European Union membership talks has pledged that his country would make more reforms in 2010 as well as opening new channels of communication with the EU countries. Thailand's government sought court permission this week to restart construction at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate, 274 kilometers east of Bangkok, after work was suspended last year due to health and environmental concerns . Ukraine opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich is claiming a slender victory in a presidential election that could tilt the former Soviet republic back toward Moscow but his rival Yulia Tymoshenko refused to concede.


TURKEY

» Ships collide over anti-whaling

A Sea Shepherd Conservation Society stated that An anti-whaling protest ship- Bob Barker, collided with a Japanese whaling ship- Yushin Maru 3, in the Southern Ocean .

POLITICS

» Tymoshenko vs. Yanukovich

Ukrainians are voting for a new president in a run-off between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovich which could bring a new bout of instability to the country.

MONEY

» Credit markets under pressure

European stocks extended the previous session's sharp losses today, tracking a global selloff amid concerns that debt levels in peripheral euro-zone counties may escalate and spread.

WORLD

 Protests draw attention homeless

Several hundred protestors marched in Vancouver on Sunday in the "Poverty Olympics" to call attention to the plight of the homeless in Vancouver amid the billions of dollars that have been spent for Olympic infrastructure.

SPORTS

» NFL cheerleaders perform in China

Football, America's favourite past-time, travelled with its cheerleaders to Beijing just in time for the 44th annual Super Bowl.

LIFE

» Australian swallows 18 swords

Australian street artist Chayne Hultgren set a new Guinness World Record in Sydney by swallowing 18 swords simultaneously.

TECH

 Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off

The space shuttle Endeavour bolted off its seaside launch pad on a voyage to install the last two main pieces of the International Space Station.

ARTS & CULTURE

 Iran pays homage to Khomeini

Bells have chimed across Iran to mark the anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's return from the airport, 31 years ago.

HEALTH

 New study showing misdiagnosis

In a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, four of 23 patients diagnosed as being in a vegetative state showed signs of consciousness on brain-imaging tests.

MAGAZINE

» Carnival, Chinese New Year mixed

Hundreds of Brazilians and Chinese immigrants gathered in a plaza in Sao Paulo on Saturday to celebrate the lunar New Year with Samba and dragons.

EDUCATION

» New scheme helps dropouts

School dropouts and poor students have benefited from Indian government's scheme in northeastern Tripura state.

TRAVEL

» Rival Koreas to talk on tourism

South Korea's Unification Ministry said that North Korea has agreed to a meeting to discuss resuming tours for South Koreans to a resort and an ancient city, which could provide it with much needed cash.

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