Briefly World

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has virtually turned down Pakistans offer to train the Afghan National Army, promising to keep Islamabad in the loop about his governments plans to engage the Taliban as part of reconciliation and reintegration efforts....

Karzai turns down Pak offer to train Afghan Army

Islamabad: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has virtually turned down Pakistans offer to train the Afghan National Army, promising to keep Islamabad in the loop about his governments plans to engage the Taliban as part of reconciliation and reintegration efforts. As far as the training of Afghan soldiers and officers is concerned,my Defence Minister will study and we will come back on this, Karzai said during an interaction with journalists. The News daily reported that Karzais comments amounted to not less than a polite no.

Reopen graft cases against Zardari: Supreme Court

Islamabad: Pakistans Supreme Court on Friday directed the countrys anti-corruption watchddog to reopen graft cases against Asif Ali Zardari and 8,000 others that were quashed under the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance,a move likely to further weaken his hold on the presidency. The bench also directed the bureau to protect all records related to NRO cases.

Thai protesters start bid to topple govt

BANGKOK: Anti-government protesters began gathering in Bangkok on Friday for what they promise will be a million-man march in coming days to paralyse Thailands capital and force the government to call elections. About 40,000 soldiers and police fanned out across the city as several thousand red-shirted supporters of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra began gathering in one of the biggest challenges yet to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

German Church sorry,vows action on abuse

VATICAN CITY: The head of Germanys Catholic Church apologised to victims of child abuse by priests on Friday and met Pope Benedict XVI who encouraged him to press ahead with tough new measures. Archbishop Robert Zollitsch,head of the German Bishops Conference,said his church would investigate numerous allegations of abuse in Catholic institutions,as well as counselling victims and taking measures to prevent abuse in the future.

Anti-abortion activist charged with threatening Elton John

Los Angeles: An anti-abortion activist has been arrested for allegedly making threats against Elton John who said that Jesus was gay in an interview. Neal Horsley is being held in the Fulton County jail in Atlanta,following his arrest on Wednesday. He was taken into custody by the police and members of the US Marshals office and charged with making terrorist threats,criminal defamation and using the Internet to disseminate threats,according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution newspaper.

Nurses union: Care does not include sexual services

AMSTERDAM: A union representing Dutch nurses has launched a campaign I Draw The Line Here on Friday against demands for sexual services by patients who claim it should be part of their standard care. The union said on Thursday that the campaign follows a complaint it received last week from a 24-year-old woman who said a 42-year-old disabled man asked her to provide sexual services as part of his care. When she refused,he tried to dismiss her on the grounds that she was unfit to provide care.