Today International News

International
Pak govt pressured to craft coherent anti-terror policy
Ap, Islamabad
Pakistani newspapers urged the fledgling civilian government and the military yesterday to craft a coherent policy against terrorism after a massive truck bomb killed 53 people at a luxury hotel in the capital.


IAEA urges Iran to come clean on nuke studies
Afp, Vienna
The UN atomic watchdog called on Iran yesterday to clear up allegations that it had been involved in nuclear warhead studies, while Tehran protested it has not seen any evidence backing up the charges.


Kabul, Islamabad agree to fight terror together
6 civilians killed in Afghan blast
Afp, Ap, Kabul
Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to "honest cooperation" against terrorism after a massive suicide attack in Islamabad killed at least 60 people, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's office said yesterday.


UN chief urges rich countries to double aid to Africa
Afp, United Nations
UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged rich countries here yesterday to honor their 2005 pledge to double their annual aid to Africa, which is lagging behind the rest of the world in meeting poverty reduction goals by 2015.


Nuke coop tops agenda of Manmohan's visit to US, France
Pti, New Delhi
The crucial civil nuclear cooperation will be high on the agenda of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his 10-day visit to the US and France beginning Monday.


N Korea removes IAEA seal from nuclear facilities
Afp, Seoul
North Korea has removed seals placed by the UN atomic watchdog on its nuclear facilities, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported yesterday.


Nearly 53,000 Chinese children sick from milk
Ap, Beijing
The number of children in China sickened by dairy products tainted with the banned industrial chemical melamine has jumped to nearly 53,000, the government said Sunday as it vowed to crack down on those responsible for one of China's worst food safety scandals in years.


56 killed in 2 China mining accidents
The China Daily/ Ann, Beijing
Two mine accidents in central and northeastern China killed at least 56 people and left another 12 missing over the weekend.


Livni starts move to form new Israeli coalition
Ap, Jerusalem
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni wasted no time Sunday working to put together a new government, meeting with potential coalition partners even as outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert formally resigned. Her ability to move fast in her first task could have far-reaching effects on Middle East peace talks.


Mbeki resigns after power struggle
Ap, Cape Town
South African President Thabo Mbeki told the nation Sunday that he had resigned, having lost a power struggle to a rival tainted by allegations of corruption but poised now to lead the country.


Czech envoy died helping hotel bomb victims
Afp, Prague
The Czech ambassador to Pakistan died while trying to help wounded victims of the suicide attack at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad escape the inferno, a Czech newspaper reported Monday.


Aso chosen as next Japan PM
Afp, Tokyo
Japan's ruling party Monday chose conservative Taro Aso to be the country's next prime minister, tasking him with steering Asia's largest economy away from recession and running in high-risk elections.


29 civilians killed in Mogadishu
Afp, Mogadishu
At least 29 civilians were killed and more than 60 wounded in a fresh round of mortar exchanges in central Mogadishu, one of the deadliest series of incidents in months, residents told AFP Monday.