Briefly World

North Korea would remain off the US list of terrorist states,President Barack Obama has certified....

Obama keeps North Korea off terror list

Washington: North Korea would remain off the US list of terrorist states,President Barack Obama has certified,despite demands by several American lawmakers for the Stalinist state to be put back on for its provocative actions. In a memorandum to the Congress,Obama concluded that North Korea does not meet the statutory criteria to again be designated as a State sponsor of terrorism. The previous Bush administration had removed Pyongyang from such a list in return for progress on declaring the extent of its nuclear activities in 2008.

Ukraine PM threatens another Orange revolt

KIEV: Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko vowed on Thursday to send her followers to the streets if her opponent steals this weekends presidential vote in Ukraine,raising the threat of indefinite political turbulence in this former Soviet nation. We will rally the people a grim Tymoshenko told reporters,pledging to use all means to ensure a fair election,including mass protests.

New phase of Maoists protests from Feb 13

Kathmandu: Nepals Maoists have announced another phase of protests from February 13 to April 4 as part of their anti-government campaign. They said that this time they would reach out to people to ensure peace and completion of the Constitution-drafting process. The course of action proposed by Maoist Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai,who favours a soft view point,has been endorsed by the party. Bhattarai is of the view that the party should focus

on institutionalising democracy by completing the Constitution-drafting process and the ongoing peace process.

Obama to meet Dalai Lama,says White House

Washington: US President Barack Obama would be meeting the Tibetan spiritual leader,the Dalai Lama,later this month,the White House said on Thursday,rejecting strong Chinese objections on the issue. The White House Press Secretary,Robert Gibbs,said the Dalai Lama would be at the White House later this month. Obamas decision to meet the Dalai Lama comes in the wake of the Chinese warning that the US President meeting the Dalai Lama would greatly harm the relationship between the two countries.

Woman seeks Jessica Alba makeover to win back lover

SHANGHAI: A Chinese woman is seeking extensive plastic surgery to look like US actress Jessica Alba,mainly because she hopes to win back her boyfriend,who she said always wished she looked more like the Hollywood star. The 21-year-old,who gave her name as Xiaoqing,said she was devastated after she broke up with her lover,an ardent fan of Alba. Xiaoqing,who works at an Internet firm in Shanghai,said that during their 18-month-long relationship,her 28-year-old boyfriend had been obsessed with Alba,adorning their apartment with her photographs and talking about her constantly. When I broke up with my boyfriend,I was very sad, she told Reuters at the Shanghai Time Plastic Surgery Hospital,which has agreed to help her fulfill her wish. The hospital also agreed to do it for free to showcase their surgery skills. Hospital director Jiang Shan said he had personally spoken to Xiaoqing and advised her to think seriously about the procedure. If she wants to look much better than she does now,for example if she wants her skin to look smoother and her overall facial facade to look more beautiful,I think we are able to help her fulfil her wishes,Jiang said.