January 19 News international

Thursday 19 January, 2012.

TOP STORY SC adjourns contempt hearing till 1st Feb; Gilani gets breather Appearing before the Supreme Court, Pakistan's embattled PM Yousuf Raza Gilani has said he has complete respect for judiciary and cannot think of committing any contempt but stood his ground that his govt could not reopen graft cases against Prez Asif Ali Zardari as he enjoyed complete immunity. HEADLINES Pak did not received visa application from Ijaz: Basit  Pakistan has not received a visa application from controversial businessman Mansoor Ijaz, the main accuser in the memo scandal, in Switzerland or any other country, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said today. Protests grip Maldives amid standoff with judges Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets in the Maldivian capital Male amid a standoff between President Mohamed Nasheed and the judiciary, officials and residents said today. 6.1-magnitude quake strikes off New Zealand A strong 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of New Zealand's South Island on Thursday, geologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued. US fully prepared for any confrontation with Iran: Panetta The US military is "fully prepared" for any confrontation with Iran over moves to close the strategic Gulf of Hormuz, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said as White House indicated that option of diplomatic negotiations was still open for Tehran. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES US rejects Cuba prisoner swap  Israel decision on Iran attack 'far away': Barak  Zardari enjoys full immunity from prosecution:lawyer  Aung San Suu Kyi launches bid for parliament  Italy captain denies abandoning ship as toll rises to 11