Racial remark

WASHINGTON: The Republican Party chairman says Sen Harry Reid should step down as the Senate Democratic leader over racial remarks Reid made about Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign. Party Chairman Michael Steele says if a Republican had made such remarks, Democrats would be calling for that Republican’s head. In a private conversation reported in a new book, Reid described Obama as a “light-skinned” African-American “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” Reid has apologised to Obama, and the president said he considers the episode closed. Democratic Party chairman Tim Kaine says the remarks should not affect Reid’s leadership position.

Egyptian discovery

CAIRO: Egyptian archaeologists discovered a new set of tombs belonging to the workers who built the great pyramids, shedding light on how the labourers lived and ate more than 4,000 years ago, the antiquities department said on Sunday. The thousands of men who built the last remaining wonder of the ancient world ate meat regularly, worked in three months shifts and were given the honour being buried in mud brick tombs within the shadow of the sacred pyramids they worked on. The newly discovered tombs date to Egypt’s 4th Dynasty (2575 BC to 2467 BC) when the great pyramids were built, according to the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass.

California quake

FRESNO: A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California on Saturday afternoon, shaking buildings south of the Oregon border and knocking out power in several coastal communities. The quake hit at about 4:27 p.m. PST (0027 GMT Sunday) about 35 km from Ferndale, the US Geological Survey said. No injuries have been reported. Pacific Gas & Electric Co spokesman JD Guidi said power outages were widespread across most of Humboldt County, affecting about 25,000 customers. Several traffic lights had fallen and numerous residents reported water, gas and sewer leaks, Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services spokeswoman Jo Wattle said.