Briefly World

The death toll crossed the 1000-mark in Chinas quake-hit Qinghai province,where rescuers raced against time to save hundreds of people buried under the rubble....

China quake toll surges past 1000

Beijing: The death toll crossed the 1000-mark in Chinas quake-hit Qinghai province,where rescuers raced against time to save hundreds of people buried under the rubble,three days after the 7.1 magnitude temblor flattened the remote northwestern region. The death toll had climbed to 1,144 and another 417 remained missing on Friday evening,state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Lanka govt may convict Fonseka to deny seat

Colombo: Detained former Sri Lankan Army Chief Sarath Fonseka may be convicted by early next week to prevent him from taking oath as a lawmaker,his party alleged on Friday. We strongly suspect a court martial convened on Monday would convict him by Thursday to prevent his entry into Parliament to take oath, Anura Kumara Dissanayake,a senior leader of the Marxist JVP,said here.

Ousted Kyrgyz leaders kin hand over weapons

TEYIT: Relatives of Kyrgyzstans ousted President were submitting weapons to officials on Friday in their home village,a day after the President fled the country. While the move appeared to reduce the likelihood of resistance by Kurmanbek Bakiyev backers,Kyrgyzstans interim authorities were still searching for one of his brothers after issuing a warrant for his arrest,and it was unclear if Zhanybek Bakiyev would submit peacefully.

Obama orders hospitals to allow gays visitation

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama directed all hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid to allow visitation rights for gay,lesbian and transgender couples. There are few moments in our lives that call for greater compassion and companionship than when a loved one is admitted to the hospital. In these hours of need and moments of pain and anxiety,all of us would hope to have a hand to hold,a shoulder on which to lean a loved one to be there for us,as we would be there for them, Obama said in his memorandum

Olmert faces corruption charges in property deal

Jerusalem: Close on the heels of three suspected cases of graft,which cost him the premiership,former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is now allegedly involved in what is being dubbed as the biggest corruption scandal in the history of Israel. The Rishon Letzion Magistrates Court has lifted its gag order on the identity of the senior official suspected of taking bribes being described as the Holyland affair after the name of the highrise buildings,revealing the suspect to be Olmert,who served as mayor of Jerusalem from 1993-2003,Haaretz reported on Friday.

Nepal to accept 3,000 Maoist combatants

Kathmandu: The Nepal government on Friday said that it will accept only 3,000 of the 19,000-strong Maoist combatants in various security agencies. All major political parties other than the Unified CPN-Maoist have agreed in principle on the integration of the former rebels at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. Prachanda,who abstained from the meeting,rejected the offer saying all 19,000 Maoist combatants should get the chance to be integrated into the Army.