IMF chief charged with sex assault granted bail

NEW YORK: Dominique Strauss-Kahn was granted bail by a New York judge on Thursday, and the former IMF chief has vowed to fight charges that he tried to rape a hotel maid in Manhattan.

New York State Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus said that Strauss-Kahn, 62, can be released on $1 million cash bail, and placed under 24-hour home detention with electronic monitoring — conditions that had been proposed by his lawyers.

The judge also said Strauss-Kahn must have one armed guard at all times at his own expense and have a $5 million insurance bond.

His wife, French television journalist Anne Sinclair, and his daughter Camille Strauss-Kahn had arrived at the court arm in arm. Strauss-Kahn arrived in court looking tired and was wearing a blue shirt, no tie, and a grey jacket.

Strauss-Kahn, a man accustomed to luxury hotel suites and first-class plane travel, had been denied bail in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday and has spent the past three nights in New York City’s notorious Rikers Island jail.

He strongly denied charges of a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching, in a letter released on

Sri Lankan selection committee Resigned

Sri Lankan selection committee has resigned and they handed over the resignations to the sports minister. The Sri Lankan selection committee headed by Arvinda de Silva has put their resignation to sports minister. The action was done after Sangakkara steps down from captaincy and Mahela Jayewardene also resigned from vice captaincy.

Syrian government resigns: state television

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accepted the resignation of the government on Tuesday, Syrian state television said.

“President Assad accepts the government’s resignation,” an announcement on state television said.

Assad was expected to address the nation later on Tuesday or Wednesday in a speech which may include a decision to abolish emergency laws, after two weeks of democracy protests gripped the country. AGENCIES

11 members of Unification Bloc quit standing committees

ISLAMABAD: Eleven members of PML-Q’s Unification Bloc announced their decision to step down as heads of provincial standing committees.

They submitted their resignations to Law Minister Rana Sanaullah instead of Punjab Assembly’s Speaker as per rules.

The Unification Bloc, in a meeting last week, had decided not to accept ministries and give up chairmanship of standing committees.

They, therefore, tendered their resignations to Law Minister Rana Sanaullah today.

The government is trying to persuade them to continue holding these offices. No decision has been made yet to accept their resignations.

Unification Bloc’s Sheikh Alauddin, who is head of Ashiana Housing Scheme, is yet to tender his resignation. TrendPK

No let-up in Tunisia protests

Breaking News

Tunisian riot police stormed a protest camp to disperse demonstrators who have held a round-the-clock sit-in for five days demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi on Friday.

Protesters threw stones at police, who then fired tear gas to disperse the crowds, but security forces chased after the mostly rural and young protesters through narrow alleyways in central Tunis’ Casbah district before destroying their campsite and possessions.Police fired tear gas at demonstrators on a day many had hoped would see a return of calm to the country following Thursday’s (January 27) cabinet re-shuffle that saw many of the former faces in dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali’s regime leave, but some felt Ghannouchi should have gone too.President of the Tunisian Union for the Defense of Human Rights, Mukhtar Al-Tariki, explained that the Prime Minister had promised concessions.I told the prime minister to immediately stop the tear gas and stop using force, so that the people can decide what to do. He told me it had already been done. Now I arrive and I see that the tear gas had stopped, at least here. I asked the prime minister to release those arrested, he told me he was going to do it right away, and I asked for the army to retreat and stop clearing up the square, he promised me that he would do that too, said Mukhtar Al-Tariki.We tried to say to the authorities that what’s happening here is unacceptable, I told the Prime Minister in the morning not to do anything and to let the situation calm down naturally and we can find a negotiable solution, he added.Protesters who had camped outside the prime minister’s office for several days began negotiations with representatives of the interim government in the morning in a bid to end the stand-off but shortly before sunset, stone throwing youths were chased out of the area by riot police and soldiers.The force used by police will likely ring alarm bells for some Tunisians who fear old security practices will need substantial reform to protect human rights.Police tore down tents and kicked around their belongings before displaying weapons found in the abandoned possessions such as an axe, machete, and several knives.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announces dissolution of government

Breaking News

President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak made first speech since Egypt erupted in violent protests aimed at deposing him and orders his cabinet to separate.

As Egypt looked set to tear itself apart with seemingly unstoppable rioting, its embattled President Hosni Mubarak appeared on national TV to make his first statement since the protests began. Demonstrators have been calling for him to go but his speech was set to leave them disappointed and instead he called for the cabinet to step down and for a new government to be formed. I have asked the government to turn in their resignation today and I will appoint a government tomorrow with clear and precise instructions to deal strictly with the priority that is the current stage. I tell you again that I will not go easy in taking any decisions and will preserves for all Egyptians their security and aspirations and I will defend the security of Egypt and the aspirations of its people for this is the responsibility and the oath which I had sworn before God and the nation, the Egyptian President said. He also said that Egypt needed dialogue not violence to end the country’s problems and defended the role of Egypt’s security forced in suppressing anti government protest across the country.

As night fell in Egypt it was clear few were complying with a curfew ordered by him earlier in the day. Thousands of protesters were out on the streets on the fourth day of protests in the country. Some managed to set fire to the headquarters of the ruling party as well as other buildings and vehicles. Key buildings including the foreign ministry and the state broadcaster were also besieged. It remains to be seen how the new government will react to a show of strength that the threat of a curfew and military intervention has failed to quell.

Lebanon government falls

Breaking News
The Lebanese government has collapsed after minister Adnan Sayyed Hussein resigned.
The resignation brings the total number or ministers to leave Lebanon’s coalition government to 11. Hussein’s departure follows the resignation of 10 ministers from the coutnry’s Hizbollah movement and its political allies, a move which has effectively ended the governemnt’s power-sharing agreement.
The collapse of the government marks the failure of the coalition to resolve a dispute over a UN tribunal into the death of former Prime Minister Rafik al Hariri.

Story contribute by Latest Breaking News, Trends And Updates – TrendPK.com

Hajj corruption: Swati submits evidence against Kazmi in SC

Federal Minister for Science & Technology Azam Khan Swati has submitted his written reply and the evidence vis-a-vis the Hajj corruption scandal in the apex court, trendpk.Com reported on Monday.

A 7-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry began hearing of a suo moto notice of alleged corruption in the Hajj arrangements by the religious ministry.

Senator Latif Khosa, the counsel of Hamid Saeed Kazmi, objected over Azam Swati saying as a cabinet minister he is a party in the corruption and demanded his resignation. Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry wondered that the accused (Hamid Kazmi) is not offering his resignation while the one who is assisting the court is being asked to tender resignation. Justice Javed Iqbal maintained that no minister can commit such a huge corruption sans any back. Justice Ramday said that the ministry should have returned 1,000 Riyals besides other compensations. He said that the accused would be penalized.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister Azam Swati while talking to mediapersons, said that the accused would be penalized by the court.

God willing they would get befitting penalty; Allahs ire would befall these people (accused), the minister maintained. He said that he abide by the court orders and submitted his comprehensive reply in the court in black and white.

Justice (R) Qazlabash refuses to be member of judicial commission

Newly appointed member of the judicial commission Justice (R) Ali Hussain Qazlabash has refused to work as the member, Dunya News reported on Tuesday.
It has been learnt that Justice (R) Qazlabash has refused to work as the member of the commission due to his bad health. Justice (R) Qazlabash has said that he is a heart patient and needs rest therefore he would not be able to continue with the new appointment whereas on the other hand the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has accepted the resignation of Justice (R) Qazlabash.

Adarsh Scam: Ashok Chavan Meets Sonia, offers to Resign

New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today offered to resign from the post after a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, becoming the first political casualty to the embarrassing housing scam in Mumbai.

“I offer my resignation to you. I leave it to you take a final view on this,” he told reporters about what he told Gandhi after more than an hour-long meeting with her at her 10, Janpath residence here.

51-year-old Chavan, son of late Union Home Minister and former Chief Minister S B Chavan, became chief minister on December 8, 2008 after Vilasrao Deshmukh made his way out in the wake of 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.(PTI)

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