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Journalism of Courage
Iran unveils advanced centrifuge machines
TEHRAN: Iran unveiled a third generation of domestically built centrifuges on Friday as the Islamic Republic accelerates a uranium enrichment programme that has alarmed world powers fearful of the nuclear programmes aims. During a ceremony marking Irans National Day of Nuclear Technology,President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pulled back a white curtain to reveal one of the tall,cylindrical machines to a crowd of assembled dignitaries. The display capped months of announcements about the development of the new machines.
Kyrgyz victims mourned,fate of US base on hold
Bishkek: Thousands of angry mourners flooded the capitals sprawling Ala-Too Square on Friday to honour victims of Kyrgyzstans revolt with many blaming President Kurmanbek Bakiyev for ordering security forces to fire on protesters. Flights,meanwhile,resumed at the US Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan after being halted on Wednesday. Roza Otunbayeva,the head of the interim government,said the base agreement will be continued at least for the near future.
Vatican to post guide for abuse norms
VATICAN CITY: The Vatican has launched a new transparency strategy to deal with the sex abuse crisis,planning to post a guide for lay people on the web to explain how it deals with abuse accusations against priests. It also announced that Pope Benedict XVI is willing to meet with more abuse victims as part of efforts to take part in the healing process. The lay guide,obtained on Friday by Associated Press,outlines the canonical procedures that bishops follow when they receive accusations of abuse. Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi,said on Vatican Radio that transparency is an urgent requirement of the Church.
Woman suicide bomber kills policeman in Russia
EKAZHEVO: A woman suicide bomber killed herself after shooting dead a policeman on Friday in Russia North Caucasus region,police said. Police said that the woman,wearing a suicide belt,opened fire at them,wounding one policeman who later died. When police returned fire she blew herself up with the explosive device strapped to her body,officers at the scene said. Dressed in a long jeans skirt and black top,her body later lay badly mutilated in a pool of blood. The shoot-out took place in the village of Ekazhevo in Ingushetia.
Rajapaksas party wins parliamentary polls
COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksas ruling coalition on Friday secured a parliamentary majority,election results showed,in his third big win since declaring victory over the LTTE last year. The United Peoples Freedom Alliance has won 117 seats out of 180 so far decided for the 225-member Parliament,official election data showed. It takes 113 seats to have a majority and form the government. Cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya on Friday made his debut as a lawmaker after a romping victory from Matara district in the south. Jayasuriya was declared winner in absentia,garnering 74,352 votes on the ticket of the ruling alliance.
