Briefly World

The mastermind of a failed al-Qaeda inspired terror plot to cripple Canada by setting off truck bombs in front of the...

Mastermind of terror plot jailed for life in Canada

Toronto: The mastermind of a failed al-Qaeda inspired terror plot to cripple Canada by setting off truck bombs in front of the countrys main stock exchange,a military base and even Parliament House has been sentenced to life. Zakaria Amara,bowed his head as Justice Bruce Durno issued the verdict on Monday on what he called an exceptional case. The 24-year-old Jordanian-born Canadian citizen Amara had pleaded guilty in October to co-leading a militant group Toronto 18,consisting of 18 Muslims,mostly of Pakistani origin.

Yemen Shia rebel leader wounded

SANA: The leader of Yemeni Shia rebels,Abdul-Malik al-Houthi,is seriously wounded and has entrusted a relative with leading the northern rebellion in his stead,a Yemeni official said on Tuesday. There was no immediate confirmation from the rebels. Houthi sustained wounds to his leg and hand,and his leg was amputated after that, a local government official from Saada,the rebel stronghold,said. Shia rebels from the Zaidi sect have been fighting government troops in mountainous north Yemen since 2004,complaining of marginalisation.

Ban on A Q Khans movement sought

LAHORE: The Pakistan government on Tuesday asked a court to bar disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan from moving around freely in the interest of national security. Lawyer Ahmer Bilal Soofi filed a petition on the governments behalf in the Lahore High Court. Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry issued a notice seeking Khans response at the next hearing scheduled for January 25.

China to lift ban on Internet in Xinjiang

BEIJING: China will lift communication restrictions in its north-west Xinjiang region and restore internet,international calls and mobile services,six months after communal clashes broke out in the region,Xinhua news agency quoted a spokesperson for the regional government as saying. Although the exact date for resumption of international calls was not given,but on Sunday SMS service was resumed.

Curfew in Nigerian city after clashes

JOS: Nearly 150 Nigerians have been killed in three days of clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs in the city of Jos,where police imposed a 24-hour curfew. The governor of the state on Tuesday sent extra security forces to the state capital to prevent a repetition of clashes in November 2008,in which hundreds of were killed.

Lanka minister bets on Rajapaksa win

COLOMBO: Betting on the candidature of President Mahinda Rajapaksa,a Sri Lankan minister has offered Rs 16 million INR to anyone who defeats the incumbent in the forthcoming polls. At a meeting here on Monday,Labour Minister Mervyn Silva dared anyone to defeat Rajapaksa and offered the bet.