Protesting fishermen who had shut down traffic in several large ports on France’s northern coast ended their two-day blockade Thursday — but promised to be back if their grievances weren’t addressed.
Why the French Love to Strike
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Hiddink: Win or lose I’ll leave Chelsea
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink insists he will leave the London club at the end of the season — but says winning the Champions League would be the perfect ending to his short spell at Stamford Bridge.
U.S. calls for cease-fire in Sri Lanka
The State Department Thursday called for a cease-fire between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tigers to allow civilians to escape the fighting, after a two day humanitarian pause ended with renewed violence. “We call upon the government and military of Sri Lanka, and the Tamil Tigers to immediately stop hostilities until the more than 140,000 civilians in the conflict area are safely out,” Acting Spokesman Robert Wood said in a statement. “Both sides must immediately return to a humanitarian pause and both must respect the right of free movement of those civilian men, women and children trapped by the fighting.” Wood urged the government to halt shelling of the safe zone and allow international monitors into ensure the safe exit of the civilians
U.N. official: Sri Lanka ceasefire ‘inadequate’
The United Nations humanitarian chief Wednesday criticized a two-day pause in the fighting between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels as "inadequate." John Holmes, the under secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, told reporters that the 48-hour break in hostilities was not sufficient, even as fighting resumed in the northeast of the country. The brief cessation of hostilities was announced by the Sri Lankan government on April 12 and allowed the U.N.
Pirates seize Greek ship
Pirates hijacked a 35,000-ton Greek-owned bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday, the European Union’s Maritime Security Center said. The crew was thought to be unhurt and ships have been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attack, the security center said
What the World Will Look Like by 2050
A Brief History of the Future: A Brave and Controversial Look at the Twenty-First Century By Jacques Attali Arcade Publishing; 312 pages The Gist: Imagine a world where pirates run amok, blowing themselves up in European city centers; where wars are ignited over lack of drinking water; where a global face-off between Islam and Christianity makes World War II look like a water-balloon fight. According to economist and political scientist Jacques Attali, that is what the future has in store for us by 2025. In the belief that past experiences are indicative future events, Attali combs through the history of human kind, all the way back to Homo Habilis, separating the past into nine distinct periods to isolate “what is possible, what changes and what is unvarying” and applies those trends to the coming century
Fighting Piracy: Coordinated Action Still Missing
If Europe occasionally winces at accusations that it is not pulling its weight in the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan against the Taliban, it has been prouder of its take-charge role in combating Somalia’s relentless pirates. However, much like the Afghan war, that effort appears to be floundering in the face of a relentless, quickly adapting and resurgent enemy — despite successes like Sunday’s dramatic rescue of Richard Phillips, the American ship captain held hostage since Wednesday by defiant Somali pirates
Michael Phelps’ mom: My son has great values
Debbie Phelps, the mother of swimming star Michael Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals in Beijing, is the author of a new memoir, "A Mother For All Seasons." Ferguson, who has won the Champions League twice with Manchester United, also revealed how he craves more European success and feels that United have not won all that they could have during his more than two-decade reign at Old Trafford. Asked who he thought would be his successor at United, Ferguson said: “I don’t know what the club thinks about who the next manager is going to be but hopefully it’s not for another two or three years because I intend to stay on as long as I can.” Ferguson, who is 67, also said he wanted to win “a couple more European trophies” before he quits. What do you think about Alex Ferguson’s comments Have your say
Legend Palmer gets 73rd Masters under way
American legend Arnold Palmer got the 73rd Masters tournament at Augusta under way on Thursday by hitting a ceremonial drive up the fairway on the par-four opening hole. Palmer, who will be 80 this year, then retired to watch the action, with 1991 champion Ian Woosnam and American pair Chez Reavie and Briny Baird the first grouping off the tee. Former Masters winners Sandy Lyle, Craig Stadler, Ray Floyd, Gary Player and Woosnam were all among the early starters and all dropped shots over the early few holes.
Pirates seize British cargo ship in Gulf of Aden
A British-owned cargo ship on Monday became the latest vessel to be seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The 32,000-tonne Malaspina Castle was taken early on Monday and was believed to be heading towards Somalia’s pirate-infested coast, the European Union’s Horn of Africa maritime security center said. “Few details are known at this stage, but the mixed-nationality crew is believed to be safe,” a statement on the London-based organization’s Web site said