Succession, health doubts loom over new Mugabe term in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe: When Zimbabwe's veteran president Robert Mugabe suavely hosted journalists at State House on the eve of last month's election, there was only one question that caught him off guard.

Asked if the presence of Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa by his side meant that he was his chosen successor, Mugabe paused awkwardly amid laughter and then delivered an unconvincing reply that Mnangagwa just dropped by to see him.

Children among 650 dead in Damascus chemical weapon attack

Damascus: More than 650 people were killed in fierce Syrian army bombardment with chemical weapons of Damascus suburbs on Wednesday, the opposition said, branding it a "massacre" and calling for international intervention.

Britain, meanwhile, said it would refer the alleged chemical weapons attack, which could not immediately be verified and has been vehemently denied by the Damascus regime, to the United Nations.

Pak National Assembly is full of criminals, says Imran Khan

Rawalpindi:  Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday said the National Assembly was full of criminals. 

Speaking at a byelection rally here in favour of PTI candidate Gul Bacha, Imran Khan said, people should find out the sources of income of candidates before electing their representatives. This seat was vacated by Imran Khan, after he won three seats in the parliamentary elections.

Over 100 tonnes of explosives seized in Quetta

Islamabad: Pakistan's security forces claimed to have foiled a major terror bid Tuesday night by seizing over 100 tonnes of explosives from Quetta, capital of Balochistan province.

 The explosive material was seized during a raid at a warehouse in the city's New Addah area. "Forces recovered 104,480 kg of explosive materials from the godown," said Colonel Maqbool Shah, Commandant Frontier Corps.

Over 100 tonnes of explosives seized in Quetta

Islamabad: Pakistan's security forces claimed to have foiled a major terror bid Tuesday night by seizing over 100 tonnes of explosives from Quetta, capital of Balochistan province.

 The explosive material was seized during a raid at a warehouse in the city's New Addah area. "Forces recovered 104,480 kg of explosive materials from the godown," said Colonel Maqbool Shah, Commandant Frontier Corps.

'Taliban call centre' busted in Pakistan, 5 held

Lahore: Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies have busted an illegal telephone gateway exchange in Lahore allegedly being operated by the Taliban to make ransom calls to families of persons kidnapped by the militant group.

Though Lahore police chief Rai Tahir did not confirm how many arrests were made during Tuesday’s raid, police sources said at least five suspects, including women, were taken into custody.

Did not seek US help in tackling Chinese incursions: Menon

Washington: India has denied seeking any assistance from the US on the Chinese border incursions in Ladakh, asserting that New Delhi is capable enough to take care of its own territorial integrity.

Did not seek US help in tackling Chinese incursions: Menon

Washington: India has denied seeking any assistance from the US on the Chinese border incursions in Ladakh, asserting that New Delhi is capable enough to take care of its own territorial integrity.

India's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant a threat: Chinese media report

Beijing: Describing the launch of India's aircraft carrier and Japan's biggest warship since World War II as a threat to China, a report in the state-run media today alleged some countries are backing New Delhi to balance Beijing's power.

The launch of India's INS Vikrant and Japan's helicopter carrier serve as a warning for China, said an article on the state-run Global Times' website.

Egypt questions Brotherhood's top leader in prison

Cairo: Egypt’s military-backed authorities arrested the Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme leader on Tuesday, dealing a serious blow to the embattled movement at a time when it is struggling to keep up street protests against the ouster of President Mohamed Morsy in the face of a harsh government crackdown.

The Brotherhood’s spiritual guide, Mohammed Badie, was arrested in an apartment in the Cairo district of Nasr City, close to the site of a sit-in encampment that was forcibly cleared by security forces last week, triggering violence that killed hundreds of people.

18 killed in Indonesia church bus crash

Jakarta: The bus, carrying about 60 people from a church in northern Jakarta, was returning from a trip to the hilly resort town of Puncak.

A car and a packed church bus returning from an outing collided and plunged into a river in Indonesia’s West Java province, killing at least 18 people and injuring more than a dozen others, police said on Wednesday.

Journalist slain in Guatemala

Guatemala City: Broadcast journalist Carlos Alberto Orellana Chavez was shot dead Monday in the southern province of Suchitepequez, Guatemalan police said.

The body was discovered in the municipality of San Bernardino a few hours after the journalist was reported missing, police spokesman Pablo Castillo told EFE.

Philippines ship collision toll rises to 71

Manila: The toll in the collision of two ships in the Philippines rose to 71 Wednesday, with at least 49 people still missing, the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) said.

Six bodies were recovered by divers Wednesday morning, including two children, reported Xinhua citing a statement.

21 killed in northwest China flash flood

Beijing: A flash flood swept through a construction site in the north-western Chinese province of Qinghai, killing at least 21 workers, State media reported on Wednesday. Three workers are still missing.

Rescuers are still searching for those unaccounted for in Tuesday’s disaster in Wulan county, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Seven injured people were sent to hospitals, it said.

Obama to meet Manmohan Singh on September 27

Washington: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet US President Barack Obama at the White House on September 27, during which they will chart a course to enhance bilateral ties and defence cooperation.  

The announcement came after National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon met his US counterpart Susan Rice and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel yesterday to prepare for the “working visit” of Singh.

Syrian opposition claims 'poisonous gas' attack

Beirut: Syrian regime forces fired intense artillery and rocket barrages Wednesday on the eastern suburbs of the capital Damascus, in what two pro-opposition groups claimed was a “poisonous gas” attack that killed dozens of people.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the shelling was intense and hit the capital’s eastern suburbs of Zamalka, Arbeen and Ein Tarma.

US sanctions Pakistani madrassa for aiding LeT

Washington: The US has sanctioned a top Al Qaeda official and a madrassa in Peshawar, serving as a terrorist training centre supporting Lashkar-e-Taeba, the Pakistan based terrorist group behind the Mumbai attack, and the Taliban.

Targetting Jamia Taleem-Ul-Quran-Wal-Hadith Madrassa, also known as the Ganj Madrassa, the Treasury department Tuesday said the Peshawar based religious school "serves as a training centre and facilitates funding for Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taeba, and the Taliban."

Pakistan Army says, Captain killed in Indian firing on LoC

Islamabad: The Pakistan Army today claimed “unprovoked” Indian firing across the Line of Control in Kashmir had killed one of its officers and injured a soldier.  

A senior military official said the incident took place in Shakma sector near Skardu on the LoC. 

Pakistan Army says, Captain killed in Indian firing on LoC

Islamabad: The Pakistan Army today claimed “unprovoked” Indian firing across the Line of Control in Kashmir had killed one of its officers and injured a soldier.  

A senior military official said the incident took place in Shakma sector near Skardu on the LoC. 

Homesick British put colonial stamp on India's gardens

New Delhi: India's monument to love, the Taj Mahal, was once even more romantic, cloaked behind towering foliage and only shyly revealing its contours as the visitor approached - until a British viceroy removed the mystery.

Lord Curzon, an enthusiastic gardener and Britain's viceroy to India from 1899 to 1905, "imposed an imperial stamp" on what has become the nation's most famous monument, says US historian Eugenia Herbert.

Homesick British put colonial stamp on India's gardens

New Delhi: India's monument to love, the Taj Mahal, was once even more romantic, cloaked behind towering foliage and only shyly revealing its contours as the visitor approached - until a British viceroy removed the mystery.

Lord Curzon, an enthusiastic gardener and Britain's viceroy to India from 1899 to 1905, "imposed an imperial stamp" on what has become the nation's most famous monument, says US historian Eugenia Herbert.

No pet hates as dog donates blood to save cat

Wellington: Traditional animal rivalries were set aside in New Zealand when a dog's blood was used to save the life of a poisoned cat in a rare inter-species transfusion, reports said on Wednesday.

Cat owner Kim Edwards was frantic last Friday when her ginger tom Rory went limp after eating rat poison, rushing to her local veterinary clinic at Tauranga in the North Island for help.

US leaks journalist's partner sues over UK detention

London: The partner of the US journalist behind the Edward Snowden leaks launched legal action against Britain on Tuesday for holding him under anti-terror laws as the government admitted it was kept informed about his detention.

David Miranda, a Brazilian national who has been working with his boyfriend Glenn Greenwald on the US intelligence leaks, was held and questioned for almost nine hours at London Heathrow Airport.

India's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant a threat: Chinese media report

Beijing: Describing the launch of India's aircraft carrier and Japan's biggest warship since World War II as a threat to China, a report in the state-run media today alleged some countries are backing New Delhi to balance Beijing's power.

The launch of India's INS Vikrant and Japan's helicopter carrier serve as a warning for China, said an article on the state-run Global Times' website.

South Korea's Asiana Airlines to cancel Fukushima flights

Seoul: South Korea's second-largest carrier Asiana Airlines said Wednesday it was cancelling charter flights to Fukushima in Japan from October due to radiation fears from the crippled nuclear plant there.

Asiana currently operates two return flights a month to Fukushima under a lease deal that expires at the end of September.