Despite seemingly encouraging words about freedom of speech from Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, Russian opposition activists were again beaten and detained when they tried to hold peaceful protests across the country yesterday.

Kevin Neish, 53, a veteran activist and retired engineer, was believed to be on board the Challenger II, one of six ships in the flotilla assaulted by Israeli commandos.

Hawai'i Pacific trails Valdosta State (Ga.), 2-0, in today's NCAA Division II softball championship game in St. Joseph, Mo.

A Canadian man who had been trained as a “human shield” to block the path of Israeli soldiers is still missing after a raid of an aid convoy that Canadian diplomats asked him never to depart on, friends from Victoria say. Kevin Neish, 53, a veteran activist and retired mechanics instructor, was on his second trip to Gaza, friends said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned the raid of the "Free Gaza" flotilla. "I am shocked by reports of killing of people in boats carrying supply to Gaza. I heard the ships were in international water. That is very bad." Ban called for a "thorough investigation" of Monday's events.

The former Deputy Prime Minister had previously said he would never accept a seat in the House of Lords and has been a vocal critic of 'flunkery and titles'.

At least nine activists were killed in a skirmish after Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla of aid bound for the Gaza Strip, in violence that risks inflaming tensions across the Middle East.

WASHINGTON: The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, would not cut short an official trip to Canada and Washington and return home in the wake of the deadly and controversial raid on a Palestinian flotilla, a senior official travelling with him said.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is a rare condition which is not at all well known, although in the UK there are over a quarter of a million sufferers. GERALD FENECH spoke to Nicola Reiss, who lives in Malta and who was diagnosed with the condition some years ago ME is definitely a harrowing condition to have to live with.

Dance music summit in Ibiza hears how DJs such as David Guetta are breaking the mould of US pop, collaborating with the likes of Will.i.am, Kelly Rowland and Britney Spears At the legendary Pacha nightclub in Ibiza, a group of four girls stalk past security wearing hot pants, vertiginous heels and....

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned on Monday the raid of the "Free Gaza" flotilla. "I am shocked by reports of killing of people in boats carrying supply to Gaza. I heard the ships were in international water. That is very bad." Ban called for a "thorough investigation" of Monday's events.

Stephen Booth, from Stoke-on-Trent, has a perfect attendance spanning 12 years - battling through coughs and colds just so he doesn't miss his favourite subjects.

Well, that's what happened yesterday as three Isle teams — the University of Hawai'i baseball and softball teams and the Hawai'i Pacific University softball team — scored epic victories.

The Israel Defense Forces said its troops were to forced to react after they came under fire from the activists while intercepting the convoy. Unofficial reports put the death toll at between 14 and 20. "Our initial findings show that at least 10 convoy participants were killed," an army spokesman said.

H arvey Written by Mary Chase Directed by Joseph Ziegler Starring Peter Krantz At the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake Harvey, Elwood P. Dowd's giant rabbit friend, really needs no introduction. He's up there with Peter Rabbit as one of the most loveable leporids in literature.

Some parish priests struggling to keep up with graveyard maintenance say they are facing increasing hostility.

WINDHOEK – After battling a kidney ailment since last November with hospitalisations in between, Nam...

A FINISHING school for future opera stars set up by a world-famous Welsh tenor will be forced to close after its funding was suddenly withdrawn.

Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt has summoned the Israeli ambassador to explain reports that Israeli armed forces have boarded the "Ship to Gaza" humanitarian convoy, killing at least ten people.

ONE OF THIS ISLAND'S leading international entertainers, Rupert Rupee Clarke, plans to set up a foundation to help in the fight against stigma and discrimination of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Barbados. Speaking on Saturday night during an awards ceremony hosted by the AIDS Foundation of Barbados Inc.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli commandos intercepted Gaza-bound aid ships Monday and at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists on board were killed in bloodshed that plunged Israel into a diplomatic crisis.

Two Australians onboard aid boats headed for Gaza have not been heard from since 10 people were killed during a clash with Israeli commandos.

AN Australian journalist and photographer on board aid boats headed for the Gaza Strip have not been heard from since 10 people were reportedly killed during a clash with Israeli commandos.

In an exclusive interview with The New Vision, Musa Bungudu, the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Uganda country co-ordinator, talks to Frederick Womakuyu on Uganda's new HIV infections despite the campaigns to reduce or eradicate the epidemic.

Alemayehu G. Mariam Note: Over the past week, I have received numerous requests from those who read my last commentary “Ethiopia at the Crossroads of History[1], to share my views on the on the question, “Where do we go from here?” in the aftermath of the so-called May 2010 elections. I am pleased to oblige in [.