Obama forges new Pakistan, Afghanistan anti-terror front

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has won a promise from Pakistan and Afghanistan to forge a new front in the fight against extremists, saying the security of both countries and the US is linked.

New Philippine military chief confident of beating communist insurgents by next year

MANILA, Philippines — The new Philippine military chief said Friday he is confident the country will crush a 40-year-old communist insurgency next year — a deadline set by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Britain, France discuss Sri Lanka war, protest in Colombo

COLOMBO - Britain and France Wednesday expressed ‘deep concern’ over the plight of civilians caught in Sri Lanka’s war, sparking noisy protests outside the British high commission here by Buddhist monks who asked foreign governments to lay off.

British, French foreign ministers meet Sri Lankan leader

COLOMBO - The foreign ministers of Britain and France met with their Sri Lankan counterpart Wednesday amid protests from Buddhist monks calling for an end to foreign interference in Colombo’s war against Tamil separatist rebels in the north-east of the country.

Sri Lanka Navy kills 25 Tamil Tigers

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka Navy Wednesday said they had killed at least 25 Tamil Tigers and destroyed six of their boats in a pre-dawn attack.

Karunanidhi ends fast as Sri Lanka ends ‘combat operations’

CHENNAI/COLOMBO - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi ended Monday a hunger strike in support of a ceasefire in Sri Lanka after Colombo said it was ending ‘combat operations’ against the Tamil Tigers.

Karunanidhi on fast over Sri Lankan Tamils, PM concerned

CHENNAI/NEW DELHI - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi began an indefinite hunger strike in Chennai Monday to protest ‘cruel acts’ against Tamils in Sri Lanka, prompting a concerned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to phone him to say India was trying to influence Colombo to end its hostilities.

Lightning sends Peeping Tom neighbour to the slammer!

NEW DELHI - A Chinese man was taken into custody after his female neighbour caught him spying, thanks to lightning.

Sri Lankan civilians flee rebel-held areas for second day

COLOMBO - Civilians fled Tamil rebel-held areas in north-eastern Sri Lanka for a second consecutive day Tuesday, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

Over 13,000 civilians flee LTTE-held areas, 17 die in blast

COLOMBO - Over 13,000 civilians Monday fled Sri Lanka’s northern war-zone while 17 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack by the Tamil Tigers, authorities said.

Pakistan on verge of falling into hands of Taliban as insurgents arrive on Islamabad’s doorstep

ISLAMABAD - With the Taliban establishing total control over the Swat Valley following inking a deal with the government to implement Islamic law in the whole region, fears have heightened that Islamabad could be the next target of the insurgents.

Thai “yellow-shirt” leader’s life out of danger following assasination attempt

BANGKOK - Thailand’s media mogul and founder of the People’s Alliance for Democracy Sondhi Limthongkul has been declared safe after doctors successfully removed bullet shrapnel from his head.

Thousands remember Hillsborough tragedy

LONDON - Over 20,000 people gathered at Anfield Wednesday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

Jennifer Love Hewitt, beau share mutual love for Keith Urban

WASHINGTON - Jennifer Love Hewitt and her boyfriend Jamie Kennedy are compatible - because of their mutual love for Nicole Kidman’s rocker husband Keith Urban.

BJP seeks action against Lalu for Varun tirade

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday demanded the removal of Railways Minister Lalu Prasad for his alleged threatening remarks against the party’s jailed leader Varun Gandhi.

No law permits to use derogatory remarks against anyone, says Nitish Kumar

PATNA - Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that no law permits Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to make derogatory remarks against any one.

Cheryl Cole named 2009’s Best Dressed Woman, Style Icon of the Decade

WASHINGTON - Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole has beaten supermodel Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham to be voted as the best-dressed woman of the year and style icon of the decade.

Hugh Jackman’s wife preferred him to Mick Jagger

MELBOURNE - Aussie actor Hugh Jackman has revealed that his wife Deborra-Lee Furness turned down the chance to party with Brit singer Mick Jagger, and chose to be with him instead, during their courting days.

Stampede before pope’s speech in Angola, two killed

LUANDA - At least two people were killed and eight injured in a stampede Saturday at a stadium in Angolan capital Luanda before Pope Benedict XVI addressed thousands of youth.

Jennifer Aniston’s dog dislikes her boyfriend John

NEW YORK - Jennifer Aniston’s dog Norman doesn’t seem to be too fond of her boyfriend John Mayer and has to be kept away whenever he visits her.

Maoists’ peace offer a ‘gimmick’, time to finish them: security expert

RAIPUR - The peace talk offer by the Maoists to the Chhattisgarh government is a ‘well thought out ploy of the guerrillas to buy time to regroup’, a counter terrorism expert said, adding that the security forces should utilise the opportunity to finally crush the rebels.