Indian investigators will be able to question a Chicago man who pleaded guilty to scouting targets for the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, a senior US official said yesterday.
US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said investigators probing the Mumbai terror attack would gain access to David Coleman Headley to learn more about his involvement, although he would not be extradited to India.
Iraq challenger ahead
A secular challenger to Iraq's prime minister has again edged ahead in parliamentary elections now that the vote count is nearly complete.
Partial results released yesterday show former prime minister Ayad Allawi leading by 7,970 votes, based on a tally of 93 per cent of ballots.
But incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition is still winning in seven of Iraq's 18 provinces, compared with five for Allawi's Iraqiya alliance, which is significant because seats in the 325-member parliament are allotted by province.
Queensland awaits cyclone
The premier of Australia's Queensland state yesterday declared parts of its coast a disaster zone as a tropical cyclone approaches.
Premier Anna Bligh said the declaration gives the state the power to order mandatory evacuations if required.
Tropical Cyclone Ului is forecast to cross the north-eastern Australian coast early today, with winds of up to 105 m/ph.
Russia economy protest rallies
Thousands of protesters held rallies in several cities across Russia to protest against the government's economic policy and demand more political freedoms.
Many participants in the rallies, dubbed the Day of Wrath by the opposition, are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
About 1,000 people rallied in St Petersburg holding placards 'Putin's team must resign!' Police did not intervene. An opposition rally in the far eastern port of Vladivostok drew about 1,500 people, and similar protests were also planned in dozens of other cities throughout Russia.
Anti-Israel protest
Thousands of Indonesians rallied in the capital of the world's most populous Muslim nation yesterday to protest against Israel's plan to expand settlements in disputed east Jerusalem.
Demonstrators organised by an Islamic political party waved Indonesian and Palestinian flags and carried banners that read 'Save our Palestine' and 'Israel is the real terrorist' on their march through downtown Jakarta.
The crowd swelled to an estimated 5,000 people during the three-hour protest, which was mostly peaceful, said police officer Riza Rusmawan.
Taliban militants held by police
Police arrested three Taliban militants yesterday and seized a bomb-making factory in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi, a counter-terrorism official said.
Police raided a house in the city's industrial area and forced the militants to surrender after a gunbattle, said Raja Omar Khatab. No one was injured.
After their arrest, the suspects led police elsewhere to the bomb factory, and a large number of explosives, detonators and other bomb-making material was seized, he said.
Togo election demo
Thousands of opposition demonstrators have taken to the streets in the West African nation of Togo to protest against presidential election results.
Togo's constitutional court has declared victory for the son of the country's former dictator and dismissed fraud complaints in the disputed election held earlier this month.
Today, more than 7,000 protesters made their way through Togo's capital. Opposition candidate Jean-Pierre Fabre says the protesters are determined to continue their fight.
Tokyo subway attack marked
Tokyo subway workers observed a moment of silence yesterday to mark the 15th anniversary of a nerve gas attack by a religious cult, Japan's deadliest act of domestic terrorism.
About 20 employees at Kasumigaseki station in Tokyo's government district bowed their heads in silent prayer at 8 a.m. to mark the time when members of the cult released sarin nerve gas in rush-hour trains on March 20, 1995. The five co-ordinated attacks killed 13 people and left 6,300 others feeling unwell.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama joined victims and families in paying his respects, bowing deeply in front of a flower-laden altar.
Lady Gaga hits back at music producer
Lady Gaga is firing back at a music producer who claims he launched her career and is suing her for £20.3 million.
Her lawyer said in court papers made public that the agreement at the heart of the suit was "unlawful".
Song writer and music producer Rob Fusari filed the lawsuit last Wednesday in Manhattan against the Grammy Award-winning performer. He said his protégée and former girlfriend, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, ditched him as her career soared.