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Irans hardline President on Wednesday ridiculed US President Barack Obamas new nuclear strategy,which turns the US focus away from the Cold War...

Iran ridicules Obamas cowboy n-strategy

TEHRAN: Irans hardline President on Wednesday ridiculed US President Barack Obamas new nuclear strategy,which turns the US focus away from the Cold War threats and instead aims to stop the spread of atomic weapons to rogue states or terrorists. Obama on Tuesday announced the new strategy,including a vow not to use nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them. American materialist politicians,whenever they are beaten by logic,immediately resort to their weapons like cowboys, Ahmadinejad said in a speech before a crowd of several thousand in northwestern Iran. Mr Obama,you are a newcomer. Wait until your sweat dries and get some experience. Be careful not to read just any paper put in front of you or repeat any statement recommended, Ahmadinejad said.

North Korea sentences American to hard labour

SEOUL: An American man who was arrested in North Korea for illegal entry was sentenced to eight years of hard labour,the Norths state-run news agency reported on Wednesday. Aijalon Mahli Gomes,a 30-year-old from Boston,was also fined amp;700,000 on Tuesday,said the Korean Central News Agency. The accused admitted all the facts which had been put under accusation, the agency said. The presence of representatives of the Swedish embassy here to witness the trial was allowed as an exception at the request of the Swedish side protecting the US interests.

Indian-American techie faces trial for aiding China

WASHINGTON: India-born Noshir Gowadia,a former engineer of B-2 stealth bomber accused of selling sensitive American defence technology to China for its cruise missiles for 110,000,will face trial in a US court this week for spying and money-laundering. Gowadia,66 has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts,including conspiracy,violating the arms export control act and money laundering.The indictment accuses Gowadia of helping China design a cruise missile with stealth capabilities. Gowadia is facing charges that he sold classified B-2 bomber technology to China,tried to sell the technology to Switzerland,Israel and Germany,money laundering and filing false tax returns.

Sri Lanka set for parliamentary polls

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka goes to polls on Thursday to elect a new Parliament with President Mahinda Rajapaksa ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance set to sweep the hustings. Rajapaksas party which is involved in a three-cornered contest with the main opposition UNF alliance and the JVP and ex-Army chief Sarath Fonsekas DNA is favoured in opinion polls to wrest the opponents. It remains to be seen whether Fonseka can attract voters as during the polls when he was the common opposition candidate.