February 17 News International

Friday 17 February, 2012.

TOP STORY UN assembly adopts Arab-backed resolution on Syria India was among 137 members of the UN General Assembly that voted to approve a resolution, which "strongly" condemns all violence and human rights violations in Syria and supports Arab League efforts to resolve the nearly year long crisis in the country. HEADLINES Zardari, Ahmadinejad discuss gas project amid US pressure  Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday discussed ways to deepen ties and a bilateral gas pipeline project that has come under a cloud following sanctions imposed on Tehran by Western powers. Maldives crisis: Nasheed party gets 4-day deadline to join govt Making it clear that the elections would be held as per schedule in 2013, Maldives' new President Mohammed Waheed Hassan has asked ousted leader Mohammad Nasheed's MDP to join the national unity government, an offer which was turned down by the party demanding snap polls. Syria crackdown intensifies ahead of UN vote, 41 killed  At least 41 people died as Syrian armour moved on protest hubs, while prominent blogger Razan Ghazzawi and other top activists were arrested, monitors said ahead of a UN vote on the crisis. 8 suspected militants killed in US drone attacks in Pak  The US on Thursday stepped up its campaign targeting al Qaeda and Taliban militants in Pakistan's restive northwestern tribal region as missiles from CIA-operated drones killed eight suspected insurgents. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES Iranian nuclear announcement unimpressive: US  US raises human rights issues with Chinese Vice President  Hundreds killed in fire at prison in Honduras  Iran has new centrifuges, nuclear fuel plates