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SHARM EL-SHEIKH: The 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit opened here Wednesday to seek more solidarity among developing countries to tackle major international and regional issues including the ongoing world financial crisis. Cuban President Raul Castro, who was chairperson of the 14th NAM summit, declared the opening of the 15th summit, held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for two days. During his speech, Castro said NAM has the conviction that all countries in the world should search for effective and justified measures to tackle the current financial crisis. "The current crisis originated from rich countries due to their unbalanced and partial international economic system. We call for the renewal of the international financial system, based on the real participation of developing nations," he said. After the speech, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was elected by acclamation as chairperson of the 15th NAM Summit. Mubarak appealed for the construction...

Wednesday, July 15, 2009, WELLINGTON: The U.S. Geological Survey has issued a tsunami warning after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off New Zealand's western coast. The USGS says the quake's epicenter was 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Invercargill, off the west coast of New Zealand's southern island, at a depth of 20.5 kilometers (33 kilometers). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii sent an e-mail alert warning of a possible tsunami in New Zealand. "An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines in the region near the epicenter within minutes to hours," it says.

Iranian state media say a passenger plane has crashed in northwestern Iran, killing all 168 people on board. State television said Wednesday the Iranian airliner was heading to the Armenian capital of Yerevan when it went down near the northern Iranian city of Qazvin. The plane crashed 16 minutes after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport. Reports quote some witnesses as saying the plane was on fire in mid-air. State television quotes an unidentified witness as saying the plane suddenly fell from the sky and exploded on impact, causing a huge crater. However, the managing director of Iran's airport authority said there were no indications of problems in conversations between the pilot and ground controllers before the crash. Video footage showed a field littered with small pieces of smoking wreckage from the Caspian Airlines plane. Investigators are searching for the plane's black box (instrument recording device). Officials said the aircraft was ca...

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 Mumbai: Heavy rains continued to lash the Mumbai for the third day on Wednesday. However, there was no water logging and road and rail traffic was not disrupted. Flights were delayed by a few minutes due to poor visibility at the airport. Rainfall recorded in the last 22 hours since 8.30 am yesterday was 240.1 mm, according to the weather office here. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea for the next 24 hours as the sea is rough to very rough with southwesterly to westerly waves, the Met office said. The weather office has forecasted frequent spells of rain or thundershowers with heavy to very heavy rain in parts of the city and suburbs. Strong gusty winds are also likely.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 : ST. LOUIS: US President Barack Obama threw the ceremonial opening pitch at the 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the left-hander successfully hurling the ball to home plate. Obama wore a black jacket bearing the logo of his favorite team, the Chicago White Sox, as he took the ball from retired St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial and jogged to the pitcher's mound as the Busch Stadium crowd cheered. Continuing a presidential tradition linked to the American pastime that dates back nearly a century, Obama tossed the ball 60.5 feet into the glove of Cardinals star Albert Pujols, who leaned forward slightly to make the grab. The moment brought a quick presidential fist pump in celebration.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 : JOHANNESBURG: Former South African president Nelson Mandela on Tuesday urged the world to observe his birthday this week by doing volunteer work to improve the lives of others. "It is our hope that people will dedicate their time and effort to improve the conditions within their own communities," said Mandela in a videotaped message prepared ahead of his 91st birthday on Saturday. His charitable Nelson Mandela Foundation is encouraging an annual observance of his birthday on July 18 as a Mandela Day devoted to public service. "We are humbled by the call for an annual Mandela Day in our honour. Our struggle for freedom and justice was a collective effort. Mandela Day is no different," Mandela said. The first Mandela Day will be observed this year in honour of the South African icon, who became the country's first black president in 1994. People around the world are being urged to dedicate 67 minutes of their day to volunteer their time...

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 SYDNEY: The Netherlands leads the women's field hockey Champions Trophy after beating Germany 1-0. Australia drew 2-2 with China and now must win its two remaining games against England and Olympic and World Cup gold medallists the Netherlands to have any chance of being in the final on Sunday. The Netherlands captain Janneke Schopman scored the only goal of the match, deflecting in Maatje Paumen's fourth penalty corner chance at the left post to beat Yvonne Franks in Germany's goal. The Netherlands always looked in control, dominating possession with 11 shots on goal to Germany's one, and six penalty corners to Germany's nil. The Dutch captain Janneke Schopman liked the Netherlands level of control but not the lack of goals. "We have not made the most of the opportunities we have had to score," Schopman said. Maatje Paumen continued her poor form, converting only one of six penalty corner chances for the Netherlands, giving her a ...