02 December 2004 Thursday 19 Shawwal 1425 Iraq's two top Kurdish parties form alliance SALAHEDDIN, Dec 1: Iraq's two rival Kurdish factions kept their differences behind them and announced on Wednesday a joint ticket for the January elections, aiming to gain maximum parliamentary weight to enshrine their autonomy ... Sharon sacks partner after defeat in budget vote JERUSALEM, Dec 1: The Israeli government was plunged into turmoil On Wednesday as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon reacted to a crushing defeat of his budget in parliament by sacking the junior partner of his ruling coalition. ... Barghouthi to contest election RAMALLAH, Dec 1: The wife of jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi said on Wednesday she had registered him to run for president to succeed Yasser Arafat. ... Palestinians ready for final negotiations: Abbas on peace deal with Isreal CAIRO, Dec 1: PLO chief Mahmud Abbas, the frontrunner in the Palestinian leadership vote, said in remarks published on Wednesday he was ready to negotiate a final settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ... New Delhi spending billions on arms from US, Russia, Israel WASHINGTON, Dec 1: India has launched a major campaign to buy sophisticated weapons from three major sources: the United States, Russia and Israel, diplomatic sources in Washington told Dawn. ... Iran freeze 'not the final step', says Bush OTTAWA, Dec 1: US President George Bush said on Tuesday that Iran's agreement to freeze all uranium enrichment activities was "certainly not the final step" in easing US fears that Tehran seeks a nuclear weapon. ... Canada hedges on US missile defence plea HALIFAX, Dec 1: Canada on Wednesday dodged questions about joining the US anti-missile shield program, after President George Bush upped pressure on an issue that has boxed its government into a political corner. ... Princess, US marine divorce RIYADH, Dec 1: The romance between a young Bahraini royal, Meriam Al Khalifa, and a former US marine, which culminated in marriage, has finally come to an end. The marriage lasted for five years. ... Gunbattle during Powell's Haiti visit WASHINGTON, Dec 1: US Secretary of State Colin Powell and his delegation were unhurt in an intense gunfight that erupted outside Haiti's presidential palace on Wednesday ... 600 feared dead in Philippines floods: Typhoon expected to hit tomorrow REAL, Dec 1: Terrified survivors were on Wednesday fleeing the northeastern Philippines as a new storm bore down on the area where floods and landslides have killed more than 400 people and left nearly 200 missing. ... Japan offensive for UNSC membership UNITED NATIONS, Dec 1: Japan is expected to launch a major diplomatic offensive in conjunction with Germany, India and Brazil to become permanent members of the UN Security Council ... China, India pledge to eradicate ignorance about AIDS BEIJING, Dec 1: China and India, the world's two most populous nations, promised on Wednesday to eradicate ignorance about AIDS, a disease that was at first dismissed by many as a Western evil confined to drug users ... Capsule camera to scan body TOKYO, Dec 1: The world's top endoscope maker Olympus has joined the race to develop a capsule camera, a disposable device the size of a fingertip that can be easily swallowed to scan the body from the inside. ... Moscow to enhance border control MOSCOW, Dec 1: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced the creation of more than 70 new border posts in its southern Caucasus region, as part of an overhaul of security in the region. ... BD fatwa over women's swimming DHAKA, Dec 1: Women's rights organizations of Bangladesh on Wednesday condemned the fatwa of a religious group on women's swimming which led to the cancellation of a competition scheduled to be held in the district of Chandpur on Tuesday. ... India yet to implement '74 treaty with BD DHAKA, Dec 1: The Indo-Bangladesh land boundary agreement of 1974, widely known as the Mujib-Indira treaty, could not be implemented as the Indian parliament did not ratify it, Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan told Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday. ... Colombo spurns LTTE's talks offer COLOMBO, Dec 1: Sri Lanka on Wednesday rejected rebel demands for an unconditional resumption of talks and accused Tiger guerrillas of undermining the Norwegian-backed peace process by using "threatening language." ... South Asia stares at looming water crisis NEW DELHI: It's been 10 years since farmer Bhairu Singh saw water in the well on his rocky patch of land in western India. Experts say things aren't going to get any better for Singh and millions of farmers in South Asia ... Repeal of India's anti-terror law is a cosmetic change India's domestic media, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Western human rights organizations have all lauded the United Progressive Alliance government's repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) ... Nepal makes fresh appeal to Maoists for talks KATHMANDU: Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba issued a fresh appeal on Wednesday to Maoist rebels to start talks with the government to try to end a bloody revolt that has killed more than 10,000 people in the last eight years. ...

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