Rizwan Akhtar is Pak’s ISI chief
Islamabad: lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, a close confidant of Pakistan’s Army Chief, on Friday took over as the new head of the powerful spy agency ISI. Akhtar assumed charge of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) after the retirement of his predecessor lieutenant General Zaheerul Islam.
Bulgaria’s Parliament approves new Govt
Sofia (Bulgaria): Bulgaria’s Parliament has formally approved the country’s new Centre-Right Government. lawmakers on Friday voted 149-85 to elect 55-year-old Boyko Borisov as the new Prime Minister.
rigging: Imran proposes retired judge’s name
Islamabad: Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has proposed the name of a retired judge to lead a probe into the alleged rigging of last year’s elections and said he would call off nearly three-month-long anti-Government protests if the allegations proved wrong.
More people missing from ex-lTTE base
Colombo: A Sri lankan Government panel probing thousands of cases of missing people during the nearly three- decade-long war with the lTTE has recorded more complaints of disappearances in a former Tamil Tiger stronghold.
Aus’ spy agency warns of G20 cyber attacks
Sydney: An Australian intelligence agency is warning that cyber-criminals will target the upcoming G20 summit in Brisbane, saying they could include state-sanctioned hackers, trade spies or activists.
‘Ebola aid needs to go beyond medical care’
Accra: West Africa’s regional bloc on Friday called for international help to go beyond immediate medical care for Ebola-hit nations, warning that lives had been blighted by the epidemic.
air quality could put plants, people at risk
london: Future ozone levels could be high enough to cause serious damage to plants and crops, even if emissions of greenhouse gases are reduced, a new study has warned. Without sufficient reductions in emissions, ozone levels could also pose a risk to human health, researchers said.
HK protesters formal meet with Beijing
Hong Kong: Hong Kong protest leaders made a formal request on Friday to speak with China over political reform, calling on a pro-Beijing politician to act as their mediator. Protest numbers have dwindled since mass rallies mobilised tens of thousands demanding fully free elections for the city’s next leader.
Obama to raise human rights issue in china
Washington: Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to China, the White House has expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of human rights defenders in the communist nation and the situation in Tibet and Hong Kong. National Security Advisor Susan Rice met with American and Chinese human rights advocates to discuss China ahead of Obama’s November 10-12 visit to Beijing, the White House said.