Lastnight World: 844 evacuated after land sinks in southern China

More than 800 villagers were evacuated after land sank in southern Chinas Guangxi province,known for its karst topography

844 evacuated after land sinks in southern China

BEIJING: More than 800 villagers were evacuated after land sank in southern Chinas Guangxi province,known for its karst topography.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday that the sink hole caused one building to collapse,six to tilt and another to crack. There were no reports of any casualties.

UN official says no to Syria amnesty

BRUSSELS: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Saturday said there should be no amnesty for serious crimes committed in Syria,even if the threat of prosecution might motivate members of the regime to cling to power at all costs.

Arabs urge UN action amid fears of civil war

Damascus: Arab leaders called for UN action on Saturday as at least 27 people were killed in Syria amid growing concern that Kofi Annan’s peace plan was failing and the country was descending into an all-out civil war.

US will shift majority of warships to Asia by 2020

SINGAPORE: The United States will shift a majority of its warships to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020,Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Saturday. He said 60 percent of US battleships would be assigned there,while maintaining six aircraft carriers in the region. He also sought to dispel the notion that the shift was designed to contain Chinas emergence as a global power.