10 August 2004 Tuesday 23 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 Euro corps takes charge of ISAF KABUL, Aug 9: Euro corps on Monday assumed command of 7,000 NATO-led international peacekeepers in Afghanistan in a heavily guarded ceremony in Kabul marking the 12-year-old force's first deployment outside Europe. ... Poland hands over Iraq zone to US WARSAW, Aug 9: Polish troops in Iraq have handed over part of the zone they administer to US forces, including the province of Najaf. ... Pakistan's role in 'war on terror' hailed NEW YORK, Aug 9: Blowing hot and cold, the US media these days is awash in superlatives for Pakistan's help in tracking down Al-Qaeda operatives who allegedly were seeking to disrupt US elections. ... War on poverty needed While the world focuses on the war against terror, the war against poverty slides on to the backburner. Since the bombing of the World Trade Centre in 2001, three developments have become decisive on a global scale. ... Prisoner abuse scandal jolts legal, medical worlds WASHINGTON: The scandal surrounding the torture and abuse by US soldiers of detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and in other theatres of the Bush administration's "war against terrorism" is producing unexpected aftershocks ... Sharon shelves plans for 1,300 homes JERUSALEM, Aug 9: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, under US pressure to cool down his government's settlement drive, has shelved plans to build more than 1,000 new homes in the West Bank, settler sources and reports said on Monday. ... Riyadh frames rules for municipal polls RIYADH, Aug 9: Saudi Arabia announced on Monday regulations for its first municipal elections later this year, but did not make clear whether women would be allowed to vote. ... BD's ethnic minorities seek end to 'repression' DHAKA, Aug 9: Several hundred men and women of different ethnic minority communities staged demonstrations in the Dhaka city on Monday to protest against "discrimination and oppression on them". ... EU sees no evidence of genocide in Darfur BRUSSELS, Aug 9: The European Union on Monday said it had found no evidence of genocide in the Sudanese region of Darfur, although killing was widespread, with little evidence of government efforts to protect civilians. ... 3 Saudis on trial for advocating change RIYADH, Aug 9: Three Saudi reformists were formally accused by a court here on Monday of calling for the country to become a constitutional monarchy and questioning the independence of its judicial system. ... Nepal asked to probe Dawood's activities NEW DELHI, Aug 9: India has urged Nepal to investigate possible links between a Nepalese media group and New Delhi's most-wanted fugitive, who also appears on a US list of terrorists, and freeze the firm's assets under a U.N. mandate. ... Why shouldn't aliens look like humans? Would extra terrestrials look like us? Why not? In sci-fi movies, aliens are often basically humanoid in size and shape, like the Klingons in Star Trek, or various characters in the Star Wars films. ...

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