Lastnight World

Eighteen people including six Shiite worshippers were killed in a spate of attacks across Iraq Saturday,despite ramped up security for Christmas Day and Shiite Ashura rituals....

18 killed in violence across Iraq

BAGHDAD: Eighteen people including six Shiite worshippers were killed in a spate of attacks across Iraq Saturday,despite ramped up security for Christmas Day and Shiite Ashura rituals. A roadside bomb struck a truck a procession marking Ashura commemorations in Sadr City,killing six people and wounding 26. Four people were killed and five wounded by mortars in Obaidi in eastern Baghdad and three teachers were found shot dead in Mosul,police said.

Will return home at right time: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf,who has been living abroad since April apparently due to a slew of cases filed against him in Pakistani courts,has said he will 8220;surely8221; return home but the timing would depend upon the 8220;domestic environment8221;. 8220;One thing is for sure that I will return to Pakistan. The timing,however,is of the essence. It is mainly dependent on the domestic environment. I have to see whether people want me to return, he said.

China opens world8217;s fastest train link

BEIJING: China Saturday started operation on the world8217;s fastest rail link connecting Guangzhou and Wuhan. Trains on the line will run at an average speed of 350 km an hour and reduce the 1,069 km journey between Guangzhou,a business hub in southern China,with capital Beijing by more than seven-and-a-half hours,Xinhua news agency reported.

Four Taliban militants killed in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: A fierce clash between Pakistani security forces and militants in the restive Mohmand tribal region Saturday left at least four Taliban militants dead and seven wounded,officials said. The clash occurred overnight in Chamarkand area of Mohmand Agency,one of seven semi-autonomous tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

Fire in Greek ship,nine sailors killed

CARACAS: Nine sailors died and five were injured in a Christmas Day ship fire off a Venezuelan Caribbean island,the official Venezuelan news agency ABN reported Friday. The nine dead were found on Greek freighter Aegean Sea,which caught fire broke near the Venezuelan island of La Blanquilla. The nine dead sailors had been reported as missing earlier in the day.

India trip changed Lindsay Lohan

NEW YORK: Lindsay Lohan has returned from her humanitarian trip to India 8220;a changed woman8221;,her mother Dina Lohan said. The Mean Girls8217; star8217;s mother said Lindsay was 8220;humbled and moved8221; by the plight of the children she saw while filming a BBC documentary about human trafficking in India,New York Post reported.

Pattinson tops kiss poll

Story continues below this ad

LONDON: Twilight star Robert Pattinson has topped a new poll,becoming the most wanted celebrity that women would like to kiss under the mistletoe. The survey named the actor as 20098217;s top Christmas crush,with 54 per cent of girls wanting to smooch the star over the holidays,Contactmusic reported. Pattinson edged past Johnny Depp who scored 17 per cent of the votes. Brad Pitt came third with 10 per cent of the votes.

Charlie Sheen arrested

COLORADO: Charlie Sheen spent the better part of Christmas Day in a Colorado jail cell after being arrested on domestic violence allegations. The 44-year-old star of CBS8217; Two and a Half Men,was taken to the Pitkin County jail and booked for investigation of second-degree assault and menacing,both felonies,along with criminal mischief,a misdemeanor,Aspen police said.