Maldives Prez steps down ahead of poll
Male: In the face of mounting international pressure, Mohamed Waheed has stepped down as President of the Maldives on the eve of the second round of the controversy-ridden presidential polls and left the country. Waheed, who took office when the first democratically elected President Mohamed Nasheed resigned under duress in February 2012, had been under pressure from India and western powers to step down after his tenure ended on November 10.
Al Qaeda threat has become hydra-headed: US
Washington: The threat posed by Al Qaeda has now become “hydra-headed”, as its affiliates have become stronger in North Africa and the Middle East, while its leaders in the Af-Pak region continue to drive it spiritually, top US officials said on Friday.
Gambia cuts diplomatic ties, Taiwan ‘shocked'
Taipei: Taiwan on Friday expressed shock and regret over Gambia's surprise announcement that it had broken off ties with the island after 18 years in its “strategic national interest”. “Our Government express shock and regret that Gambian President Yahya Jammeh sent a letter to our Embassy in Gambia on November 14 to inform us the immediate termination of ties," Vice Foreign Minister Simon Ko said in Taipei.
‘India's regional parties may be overstated’
Washington: Although regional parties have fundamentally transformed India's electoral politics, but they may not be the juggernauts they are made out to be, an eminent American think tank has said. “The emergence of regional parties as major centres of power in India's politics, economics, and society is one of the most important developments in the country's post-independence history,” Milan Vaishnav from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said in an article.
US disputes Amnesty report on drones
Washington: The US has disputed a recent report by a prominent human rights group that by using drones it has acted contrary to international law. The United States "takes extraordinary care" to make sure that its counter terrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable domestic and international law, and that they are consistent with US values and policy, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters.
Myanmar pardons 69 political prisoners
Yangon: Myanmar's president pardoned 69 more political prisoners today, part of a promise to free all who remain behind bars by the end of the year. Most were members of ethnic minorities, said Ye Aung, who sits on the government's political prisoner scrutiny committee, but the list also included two grandchildren of former dictator Gen. Ne Win.
Philippines typhoon death toll raises to 3,621
Manila: The death toll from a super typhoon that tore through the Philippines has been raised to 3,621, the Government's disaster agency said on Friday. The agency also listed the number of missing at 1,140.