Six US soldiers killed in Afghan copter crash
Kabul: Six US soldiers from the NATO mission fighting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan were killed in a helicopter crash with officials saying it was not a suspected militant strike. However, the Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the deaths, using their main Twitter account to report that they had shot down the US helicopter.
Singapore riot: 7 Indians free, 2 arraigned
Singapore: Seven out of the 33 Indians charged with the alleged rioting in Singapore’s worst outbreak of violence in over 40 years were acquitted on Tuesday, even as two more of their compatriots were arraigned in the incident.
Special court for Musharraf’s trial challenged
Islamabad: A lawyer on Tuesday challenged the creation of a special court to try former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for high treason in the Islamabad High Court. The intra-court appeal was filed by Riaz Hanif Rahi, a member of the Punjab Bar Council.
Kim hears loyalty vows at anniversary meet
Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on Tuesday presided over a mass gathering of military and party officials that was broadcast live on state television at a time of growing concern over the stability of his hardline regime. Meanwhile, the second death anniversary of leader Kim Jong-il was marked, days after the purge of a top-level official.
US blacklists Myanmar firms for trade with Korea
Washington: The US Treasury leveled sanctions on Tuesday against a Myanmar military official and three Myanmar businesses for trading arms with North Korea. The Treasury said the sanctions, which forbid any US person or entity from doing business with those blacklisted, “does not generally target” the Government of Myanmar.
Syria peace talks in Montreux on Jan 22
Geneva: The United Nations says the opening of a Syria peace conference planned for next month has been moved from Geneva to the
Swiss city of Montreux. Meanwhile in Syria, the world’s chemical watchdog, was meeting on Tuesday to agree exactly how Syria’s arsenal will be destroyed outside the country, with the plan facing potential delays.
Russian missile deployment raises alarm
Moscow: Washington has joined Russia’s neighbours in voicing alarm after Moscow revealed it had moved nuclear-capable Iskander missiles closer to EU borders in response to the US-led deployment of a disputed air defence shield.
Ukraine leader visits Putin amid pro-EU rallies
Kiev: Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych will leave behind huge anti-government rallies on Tuesday to hold a meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin that protesters fear will lead to a pro-Moscow deal ruining their EU integration dreams.
Conspiracy charge out in UK soldier’s murder
london: The two men on trial for the murder of a British soldier on a london street no longer face a charge of conspiracy to murder a police officer. Michael Adebolajo, 29, and Michael Adebowale, 22, still face charges of murder and attempted murder of a police officer.
Jordan refugee camp fire kills three Syrians
Jordan: Jordanian officials say a fire at a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan has killed a Syrian man and two of his sons. A third son was in critical condition at an Amman hospital.
Shanghai zookeeper mauled to death by tiger
Beijing: A keeper at Shanghai’s zoo was mauled to death by a rare South China tiger Tuesday after entering its enclosure to clean it, officials and colleagues said.
Four people die due to cold weather in Nepal
Kathmandu: At least four persons have died due to cold weather in Mugu, one of the most remote districts of Nepal, authorities said on Tuesday. According to the District Health Office, four persons died due to cold-related ailments.
Failed stars near Sun could harbour hidden planet
Washington: Astronomers, who took precise measurements of the closest pair of failed stars to the Sun, have found that the system harbours a third, planetary-mass object.
Iran official says final n-deal is possible
Tehran: A top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader on Tuesday said that Tehran is ready for a final nuclear deal with world powers over its disputed atomic programme, a strong signal of interest after it pulled out of expert-level talks to protest the US targeting of companies it says evaded current sanctions.
Explosion hits near Hezbollah base
Baalbek (lebanon): A car bomb packed with explosives detonated near a Hezbollah base in eastern lebanon on Tuesday causing several casualties, officials said, the latest in a wave of deadly attacks that have targeted the Shiite militant group’s interests in lebanon.
Turkey: No war weapons sent to Syria
Istanbul: Turkeys Defence Minister on Tuesday denied reports that his country was delivering weapons of war to Syrian rebels, but acknowledged that “hunting rifles” had been exported to Syria.