’600 killed in South Sudan’

The violence erupted Thursday in Jonglei state and the UN mission to South Sudan reported the death toll, said UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

South Sudan became independent from Sudan on July 5 to much international fanfare, but diplomats have expressed mounting concerns about stability in the country and tensions with the Khartoum government.

A UN team has been sent to Jonglei state and the head of the UN mission to South Sudan, Hilde Johnson, has appealed for restraint.

Swiss freeze over $200M in bribe money: report

The money was reportedly intended to be given in suspected bribes intended for foreign officials since 2008.

The paper cites the federal prosecutors office as saying the funds were deposited in Swiss accounts by multinational companies for the purpose of bribing officials around the world to secure contracts. The report didn t name any individual companies.

An email to the prosecutors office Sunday was not immediately answered.

In the past, Switzerland was a popular place for multinational companies to “park” bribes due to its lax anti-corruption laws.

Since 2000, the country has tightened its legislation to conform with the requirements of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

US scientists express concern over Pak nuclear assets

According to the Federation of American Scientists report, Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are at greater risk due to the emergence of powerful militant groups with links to the country’s security services.

The report said that many western quarters firmly believe that militants are capable to reach Pakistan nuclear assets.

The report was supposed to be brought out at the end of the year but it was released earlier in the wake of Osama Bin Laden’s killing and the ongoing concerns about Pakistan’s alleged links with terrorist organisations targeting the US interests.

We must not beg, says Nawaz Sharif

GUJRAT: Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Chief Nawaz Sharif Friday advised the government against being beggars.

Addressing party’s workers convention here, the PML-N chief said the biggest problem of the country today is power load shedding and unemployment; he vowed to end these problems when his party comes into power.

The PML-N chief said, “We should not beg for money from any country; instead, we should work hard for the development of our country.”

Sharif lamented on the overall situation of the country, saying people now need change as they are unhappy with the current government. TrendPK

Protesting pensioners march on Greek parliament

They were briefly blocked by riot police vans and security officers close to the prime minister s office, but the vans then parted and let them continue their protest. At one stage an elderly protester fainted, collapsing on the ground and having to be helped by fellow protesters. “Disgrace” and “Shame to those who govern us” shouted the several hundred senior citizens, many saying they were living off pensions as low as 400 euros, making living conditions difficult. They were also protesting planned cost cuts to the country s health care system, to be initiated following the passing of a health care reform bill on Wednesday. As part of economic reforms that were introduced in March, the government has slashed pension supplements and frozen pension rises in order to cut state costs. It has also merged several social security programs together into just a few.

Quake-dreaded people rush out into streets

KARACHI: Various people voiced their feelings related with quake-unleashed panic in different ways after 7.4 magnitude tremor hit Pakistan.

Massive quake rocked the country across its frontiers reaching Indian capital New Delhi on side and Dubai on the other in the wee hours of Wednesday, forcing the people in cities including Karachi, Lahore and Hyderabad to come out of their houses, reciting verses from the Holy Quran.

An awe-stricken man said he was awake at this point at 1.30, when his bed shook and the windows rattled and then he woke my family.

Many residents in the country’s largest city, Karachi, ran out into the streets once the quake started, said the reports.

Philippines floods toll rises to 51; fishermen missing

MANILA: The death toll from more than two weeks of heavy rains in the central and southern Philippines has risen to 51, disaster officials said on Sunday, as authorities stepped up their search for another 16 people missing at sea.

Agriculture and infrastructure damage now exceeds 1.6 billion pesos ($36 million) after floodwaters inundated rural communities in about a third of the country’s 80 provinces, said Benito Ramos, head of the government’s disaster agency.

Major rice and corn production areas in the north and western parts of the country have been spared from the damaging impact of the persistent rains that began in late December.

Most of the dead either drowned or were buried by mudslides, Ramos said. Nearly 20 people are still missing.

“We’re expecting the number of casualties to increase because more people have gone missing,”

Dry, cold weather forecasted in country

ISLAMABAD: Cold and dry spell of weather will prevail across the country during the next 24 hours, predicted the Met Office here on Monday.

According to Met Department, the snap cold could lose its intensity in most areas of the country in next some days. Fog was also likely to prevail over plains of Punjab; however, after two days, it will start to wear off.

The night time temperature will rise by 3 to 5 degree centigrade in most areas.

Moreover, light rain at isolated places was expected in coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan on Tuesday. Some areas in Upper Punjab and Kashmir may receive light rains on Wednesday and Thursday.

Met Department also forecasted the first snowfall of this winter in Kashmir and Northern Areas on Thursday and Friday.

Minimum temperature today in Skardu was recorded at -10 degree

MQM not to support RGST: Altaf Hussain

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain during a telephonic address at Bhit Shah on Saturday said that his party has become a party of all the segments of the country and its roots were very strong in the country and they want that MQM should play their role to resolve their issues.

He stressed upon the government to end feudal system in the country which has destroyed the agriculture sector, especially farmers adding that special tax should be imposed on feudal lords. He said if the government failed to resolve the issues of deprived people, a revolution like that of France could not be stopped. He also asked party workers to guide the party leadership in deciding whether it should quit government coalition or not. While rejecting the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST), MQM chief said that his party works for the poor and how he can support it.

MQM calls Rabta Committee meeting to discuss political situation

MQM has called an emergency meeting of its Rabta Committee in London and Karachi to discuss the current political situation erupted in the country after the ouster of JUI from the coalition.

According to MQM sources, the changing political situation will come under discussion in the meeting. MQM will chalk out its future strategy. According to the sources, different issues including JUI ouster and situation after Zulfikar Mirzas statement against MQM will be discussed in the meeting.

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