December 31 News international

Saturday 31 December, 2011.

TOP STORY Pak SC orders time-bound probe into memo scandal In a major set back to the embattled Pakistan’s civilian leadership, the country’s supreme court has ordered a time bound investigation into a memo seeking the US help to prevent a military coup after the killing of Osama Bin Laden. HEADLINES 4 killed in Nigeria attack  A blast followed by a shootout near a mosque claimed four lives as suspected militants of a radical group launched an attack in the troubled northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri. Emboldened by monitors, Syrians hold huge protests  In the largest protests Syria has seen in months, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in a display of defiance to show an Arab League observer mission the strength of the opposition movement. Iran test fires long range missiles in key oil waterway  Iran which has been carrying out war games in the Strait of Hormuz over the past week, test fired shorter-and-longer range missiles in the key oil waterway on Saturday. North Korea names Kim Jong Un its supreme military commander North Korea on Saturday said Kim Jong-Un, the son of late leader Kim Jong-Il, had assumed the "supreme commandership" of the reclusive nation's million-strong military, state media reported. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES Russian nuclear submarine fire contained, no radiation threat

December 30 News international

Friday 30 December, 2011.

TOP STORY Russian nuclear submarine fire contained, no radiation threat Russian authorities today brought under control a huge fire on a nuclear submarine and ruled out radiation threats but said some crew members were still aboard. HEADLINES MSF confirms killing of two foreign employees in Somalia  Medical aid agency Doctors Without Borders confirmed on Friday that two staff members, a Belgian and an Indonesian, were killed by a gunman in the war-torn Somali capital Mogadishu. US aircraft carrier 'spotted' in Iran wargames zone  A US aircraft carrier entered a zone near the Strait of Hormuz being used by the Iranian navy for wargames, an Iranian official said today amid rising tensions over the key oil-transit channel. US downsizing top-heavy ranks in military For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the US has started culling generals and admirals from its top-heavy ranks to save money and make the military more nimble. Taliban attack kills 10 Afghan police  A Taliban bomb attackon Thursday killed 10 Afghan police returning from a recruitment centre in southern Afghanistan's restive Helmand province, the local government said. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES Bomb kills three NATO troops in Afghanistan  90,000 displaced in Nigerian city hard hit by violence US military briefs Kayani on NATO air strike probe report

December 29 News international

Thursday 29 December, 2011.

TOP STORY Myanmar warehouse blast kills 17 A large pre-dawn explosion at a warehouse in Myanmar's biggest city Yangon on Thursday killed at least 17 people and injured dozens but was not caused by a bomb, an official said. HEADLINES US downsizing top-heavy ranks in military For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the US has started culling generals and admirals from its top-heavy ranks to save money and make the military more nimble. Taliban attack kills 10 Afghan police  A Taliban bomb attackon Thursday killed 10 Afghan police returning from a recruitment centre in southern Afghanistan's restive Helmand province, the local government said. NKorea calls Kim Jong Un 'supreme leader'  Kim Jong Il's son and successor was on Thursday declared "supreme leader" ofNorth Korea's ruling party, military and the people during a memorial for his father in the first public endorsement of his leadership by the government. Death toll rises to 18 in Colombiapipeline blast The death toll from a huge pipeline explosion in westernColombia last week has risen to 18, officials said after five people hurt in the blast succumbed to their injuries. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES Bomb kills three NATO troops in Afghanistan  90,000 displaced in Nigerian city hard hit by violence US military briefs Kayani on NATO air strike probe report