Briefly World: Britain silent on Ecuador’s proposal over Assange

Hundreds of Indians held in Kuwait

Dubai: Hundreds of Indians are among more than 2,100 people apprehended in Kuwait during raids on visa violators

and those involved in crimes like theft,an official at the

Indian embassy in Kuwait said.

Anti-China protests in Japan over islets

TOKYO: Hundreds of Japanese marched through downtown Tokyo on Saturday in a loud but tightly controlled protest against China’s claim to disputed islets in East China Sea.

Iraq to replace anthem,flag

Baghdad: Iraq seeks to replace its national anthem and flag in a move aimed at providing unifying national symbols and putting decades of conflict and hardship behind it. “We are determined to finish the new flag and anthem this year,” MP Ali Shlah said.

Senate defeats bill to place conditions on Pakistan aid

The US Senate on Saturday overwhelmingly defeated a bill that would have denied American aid to Pakistan till the release of jailed Pakistani doctor,Shakil Afridi,who helped CIA trace Osama bin Laden. The bill (S 3576) was defeated by 81 to 10 votes.

Introduced by Senator Rand Paul,the bill also called for cutting all US aid to Libya and Egypt,till those who were responsible for attacks on American missions in these two countries,were arrested and handed over to the United States.