Briefly World

Nepals Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict soon on notorious criminal Charles Sobhraj in connection with the 1975 murder of an American Connie Jo Bronzich....

Final verdict on Sobhraj soon

KATHMANDU: Nepals Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict soon on notorious criminal Charles Sobhraj in connection with the 1975 murder of an American Connie Jo Bronzich. A division Bench of Justices Ram Kumar Prasad Shah and Gauri Dhakal is likely to give their verdict on Sobhrajs appeal against the Kathmandu District Courts decision awarding him life in 2004. We expect the verdict in two-three weeks, a legal expert said.

Fatwa: Muslims on Facebook are sinners

CAIRO: Terming the use of networking sites such as Facebook as anti-Islamic,a Egyptian cleric has issued a fatwa against it saying Muslims using such platforms must be seen as sinners. Noted Sunni scholar Sheikh Abdel Hamid al-Atras went to the extent of blaming such sites for growing incidents of marital discords in the country.

Russia to give 300 m arms loan to Lanka

Moscow: Russia will give Sri Lanka a US 300-million loan to buy arms and dual use equipment from it,an agreement regarding which will be inked during the upcoming visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa,a top official said Friday. Such an agreement is being prepared for signing, Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin said.

North Korea to free US activist

SEOUL: North Korea on Friday said it was releasing a US activist Robert Park held since December,the official Korean Central News Agency reported. Park slipped into the North with letters asking it to close its brutal prison camps.

Deal unveiled to save N Ireland govt

Hillsborough: The Prime Ministers of Britain and Ireland unveiled an agreement on Friday that saves Northern Irelands Catholic-Protestant unity government. Negotiators gathered at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast to meet Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen,who have been trying to prevent the collapse of power-sharing the core achievement of Northern Irelands 1998 peace accord.

Murphy died from pneumonia,drugs

LONDON: Actress Brittany Murphy died from pneumonia,aided by anaemia and drug intoxication,said a Los Angeles County Coroners Office report. The Clueless star died on December 20,2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Hollywood Hills home. She was 32. Her death was ruled accidental,Contactmusic reported.

MJ docs surrender cancelled: Report

LOS ANGELES: Celebrity website TMZ.com reported that

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Dr Conrad Murrays arraignment in the death of pop icon Michael Jackson will not take place because of the feud between the Los Angeles County District Attorney and the Police over the surrender. Murray,was expected to turn himself to the police on Friday.

Pentagon to stock morning-after pills

Washington: The Pentagon will make available the morning-after pill at all American military hospitals,The Washington Post quoted Pentagon officials saying. The move is the latest step of the Obama administration to reverse politically sensitive policies that were implemented during the George W Bush era.