Taiwan kicks off eco-friendly World Games

Skydiving and parachuting, canoe polo, rhythmic gymnastics, orienteering, dragon boat races and korfball are among the air, land and water sports to kick off the first day of The World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Friday. Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou will mark the start of the 11-day event Thursday night during the opening ceremony at the new Main Stadium in front of a capacity crowd of 40,000.

Share

United accept record $130M offer for Ronaldo

Manchester United have accepted a world-record $130 million offer for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. The English champions have given the big-spending Spanish giants permission to talk to the World Player of the Year, according to the United Web site. United said on Thursday that the Portugal winger had again expressed his desire to leave Old Trafford, and the club now expect the deal to be concluded by June 30.

Share

Center-right make gains amid EU vote apathy

Voters endorsed parties of the center-right in elections for the 736 seats of the European Parliament in the midst of a record low turnout, officials figures showed on Monday. Only 43 percent of the 375 million people eligible to vote in 27 countries visited the polls, according to European Parliament figures, continuing a fall in interest since elections for MEPs were first held 30 years ago

Share

Plunge in Global Trade Is a Boon for Singapore Ship Suppliers

As the sun rises over the Singapore Strait another long day for Arnold Lee begins. On a launch chugging out of Singapore harbor, the shipping agent’s job that morning is to smooth the immigration process for three anxious-looking seamen, from Greece, Ukraine and Romania, who are joining the crew of a 200-m-long bulk carrier anchored an hour southeast of Singapore.

Share

Google Street View blacked out in Greece

Internet giant Google has been stopped from gathering images in Greek cities for its Street View service until it provides further guarantees about privacy. Launched in the U.S. two years ago, Street View provides users with access to 3-D “pedestrian’s-eye” views of urban areas by zooming into the lowest level on its Google Maps and Google Earth applications

Share

Lawyer in 2007 TB scare sues CDC

An Atlanta, Georgia, lawyer, whose well-publicized bout with tuberculosis caused an international health scare, is suing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for invasion of privacy. In the suit filed this week, Andrew Speaker alleges that the CDC released his name and sensitive medical information to the media in 2007, an act that harmed his reputation, his occupation and led to the ruin of his marriage

Share

G-20 police: We won’t tolerate violent protests

London police said Thursday they are planning one of the largest and most complex operations in their history as the city gears up to host the G-20 summit next week. London’s three police forces are being brought under a single umbrella for the G-20 security plan, dubbed Operation Glencoe, said Cmdr. Simon O’Brien of London’s Metropolitan Police.

Share

Candidates make their pitch for dream job in paradise

The long list for the job that has been described as "the best in the world" has been announced. A chef, a dance instructor and a scientist are among the final 50 applicants for the six-month post of “caretaker” on Hamilton Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef off Australia The successful candidate will enjoy a salary of $100,000, free home and generous perks on the island.

Share

Police fear ‘summer of rage’ over recession

British police warned on Monday that officers were preparing for a "summer of rage" as protests mount across Europe against the economic crisis. David Hartshorn, who heads the Metropolitan Police’s public order branch, said growing unemployment, failing companies and the recession could spark a “mass protest.” Until now, Superintendent Hartshorn said, there were insufficient numbers of activists to carry out large-scale demonstrations, but he told the Guardian: “Obviously the downturn in the economy, unemployment, repossessions, changes that. Suddenly there is the opportunity for people to mass protest.” Hartshorn said April’s G-20 economic summit could lead to unrest as leaders of the world’s richest nations head to London

Share