February 18 News International

Saturday 18 February, 2012.

TOP STORY Iran, Pak, Afghan seek non-interference in their affairs Against the backdrop of Western sanctions imposed on Tehran for its nuclear programme and Kabul's concerns about US efforts to engage the Afghan Taliban, the Presidents of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan called for "non-interference and non-intervention" in their internal affairs. HEADLINES Maldives: Nasheed asks govt to fulfil early poll date promise Maldives' ousted President Mohammed Naseed on Saturday asked the new regime to fulfil its promise to fix an early date for polls under an India-brokered deal, a day after a Commonwealth ministerial team arrived in Male to probe the circumstances of his resignation. Death toll rises in Pak suicide bombing  The death toll in a devastating suicide bombing outside a Shia mosque in Kurram tribal region of northwest Pakistan today rose to 36, as shops and markets in the region remained closed as a protest against the attack for which the local Taliban claimed responsibility. Cargo ship sinks off China coast; eight killed  A cargo ship sank off China's southeastern coast on Saturday, drowning eight crew members and leaving the other two missing. Iranian exiles move to new Iraq camp  Several hundred Iranian exiles arrived at a UN-approved site near Baghdad on Saturday, a first step in a process that aims to see them resettled outside Iraq, where they have been based for decades. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES US, Europe cautious on Iran offer for nuke talks  Clinton welcomes 'overwhelming' consensus on Syria  India, US working together on Maldives: Nuland  Death toll rises to 36 in Pak suicide bombing Thousands of Syrians rally for Assad to 'get out'  Flights disrupted at Frankfurt for second day  US NSA visits Israel  Japan's emperor undergoes heart surgery  Italian oil tanker brought to Kochi, crew questioned US launches new coalition to fight climate change