BAGHDAD: Around 162,000 people, almost 80 per cent of them civilians, were killed in Iraq from the start of the 2003 US-led invasion up to last year's withdrawal of American forces, a British NGO said today. Iraq Body Count (IBC) warned that, contrary to apparent trends in figures released by the Iraqi government, the level of violence has changed little from mid-2009, though attacks are markedly down from when the country was in the throes of sectarian war in 2006 and 2007. In all, the non-governmental organisation said an estimated 162,000 people were killed in Iraq in the nearly nine years of conflict. It said around 79 per cent of the fatalities were civilians, while the remainder included US soldiers, Iraqi security forces, and insurgents. "The violence peaked in late 2006 but was sustained at high levels until the second half of 2008 -- nearly 90 per cent of the deaths occurred by 2009," IBC said in a statement. But it warned that "there has now been no noticeable downward trend (in civilian deaths) since mid-2009." "Recent trends indicate a persistent low-level conflict in Iraq that will continue to kill civilians at a similar rate for years to come. ...
Read Full Story

London, The China Daily European Weekly, Europe's first English-language Chinese newspaper, has won an award from a British group for its "clear communication of business news to a global audience". The Plain English Campaign -- an independent, self-funding group based in New Mills, High Peak, 24 km from Manchester -- Friday presented the International Media Award to the Chinese newspaper. This was the first time a Chinese media group has won the award, Xinhua reported. "The language of commerce can be very complicated, especially for new business people," said Chrissie Maher, founder of Plain English Campaign. "We do need clear and accurate information, and this is what we find in China Daily. A newspaper that brings business into our daily lives in a way that is easy to read and understand for a wide and varied audience," Maher said. China Daily European Weekly was launched in Britain and Europe in December 2010. It now covers 38 countries in Europe. ...
Read Full Story

Tehran, Iran's foreign ministry Tuesday expressed regret over the protests by angry Iranian students outside the British embassy in Tehran. In a statement issued on its website Tuesday, the foreign ministry expressed regret over what it called "unacceptable" behaviour by the protesters, said Xinhua. The statement said the ministry respects international regulations concerning the security of diplomatic centres and emphasises its obligations to ensure the security of diplomats and diplomatic places in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It said the ministry will handle the case through legal channels. Thousands of Iranians staged protests outside the British embassy in central Tehran and the British Council in Qolhak area of northern Tehran Tuesday. Chanting anti-Britain slogans, the protesters, most of them students from Tehran universities, urged the Iranian government to expel the British ambassador. Some of them broke into the compounds and pulled down the British flags and instead hoisted the Iranian flag. The protests came a day after Iran's highest legislative body, the Guardian Council of the Constitution, approved reducing diplomatic ties with Britain in ...
Read Full Story

KABUL : A British soldier was killed on Sunday when a roadside bomb exploded near his foot patrol in southern Afghanistan, the British Ministry of Defense confirmed. It takes the number of British troops killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 390. The attack happened in the Babaji area of the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near a British patrol, killing one soldier. The Ministry did not say whether other soldiers were injured in the blast. "I have the sad duty to inform you that a soldier from the 5th Battalion The Rifles was killed earlier today after an explosion while on a foot patrol to disrupt insurgent activity in the Babaji area of Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand Province," said Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Mackenzie, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand. Mackenzie said the soldier's family have been informed and have asked for a customary period of grace before more details are released to the media. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very difficult time," he added. Coalition casualties in Afghanistan have been rising sharply in recent years with a total coalition death toll ...
Read Full Story

Kathmandu, A British woman has set a new record for completing a 320-kilometer trail run from the Mount Everest base camp to Kathmandu. Elizabeth Hawker, who is also known as Lizzy, completed the journey in two days, 23 hours and 25 minutes, Xinhua reports. Lizzy said she was happy to set the record, but added that she had not aimed for it when she arrived in Kathmandu. She said she planned to run the Himalayan trail. However, she had to return to Kathmandu after facing difficulties in the Himalayan trail. "I lost my permits in some remote areas between Mt. Kanchhenjunga and Mt. Makalu. After coming to Kathmandu, I decided to take the Everest Base camp-Ktm run where I was invited.It was more like an opportunity since I had no plan of setting the record," Lizzy said. She said the inclement weather forced her to halt her journey by eight hours. She aims to make people realize the significance of environment and the responsibility to protect it. "I dream to encourage people to realize the inspiration of nature, the mountains, of our world, and to realize the richness of our environment and our responsibility to protect it," Lizzy further ...
Read Full Story