US allows Venezuela to enter airspace
Washington: The United States said on Friday it has granted access to its airspace so Venezuela’s President can make a weekend trip to China, countering assertions from Caracas that permission was denied.
Gurkha veterans to go on hunger strike in UK
london: UK-based Gurkha war veterans are planning hunger strikes “unto death” in their fight for equal pensions. It dates back to when Gurkha pensions were increased in 2007.
18 Afghan policemen killed in ambush
Kunduz (Afghanistan): Militants in northeast Afghanistan killed 18 policemen in an ambush, the Interior Ministry said on Friday, as the nation’s security forces struggle to thwart the Taliban with decreasing assistance from international troops.
Iraq Sunni mosque blasts claim 18 lives
Samarra (Iraq): Two bombs tore through worshippers gathering for prayers at a Sunni mosque in Iraq on Friday, killing 18 people, while three died in other attacks, officials said.
Mugabe official probes $6 mln diamond bribe
Harare: Zimbabwean police announced a probe on Friday into a top member of President Robert Mugabe’s party on suspicion of soliciting a $ 6-mln bribe from a Ghanaian investor in a diamond-mining deal.
3 dead in karachi Shia mosque bombing
Karachi: At least three people were killed and about 16 others injured on Friday when unidentified assailants threw a hand grenade inside a Shia mosque in Karachi.
Cambodia prince on fasting over polls
Phnom Penh: A Cambodian prince — the cousin of King Norodom Sihamoni — went on hunger strike on Friday in protest at Prime Minister Hun Sen’s disputed election victory, demanding “justice for voters”.
Nepal govt asks OPP parties to join polls
Kathmandu: Nepal’s Interim Government on Friday appealed to hardliner CPN-Maoist-led opposition to participate in the Constituent Assembly polls in November, saying it is essential to end the country’s protracted political turmoil.
4 sisters kill self in Pak over dowries
lahore: Four sisters committed suicide in Pakistan’s Punjab province as their father was unable to arrange dowries for them to get married, police said on Friday. After an argument with their father Bashir Ahmed Rajput, the women ended their lives by jumping into a canal.
UK to ban Smoking inside prisons
london: Smoking is set to be banned in UK’s prisons amid fears of potential legal action by non-smoking staff and inmates over its harmful health effects.