News In Brief

Lalu Prasad granted bail in India
Tnn, New Delhi

The Indian Supreme Court yesterday granted bail to RJD chief Lalu Prasad in a fodder scam case, in a relief to the politician who is behind bars for the last two months after being awarded a five-year jail term.
Lalu Prasad, who lost his membership of Parliament after being convicted in the case, was convicted by a special CBI court in the fodder scam case involving fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa Treasury during the Prasad-led RJD regime.

Ukraine opposition rejects talks offer
Afp, Kiev

Ukraine's opposition yesterday rejected an offer from president Viktor Yanukovych to sit down for talks as thousands of protesters reinforced their positions in Kiev.
The talks snub came as demonstrators prepared for another mass rally tomorrow to pressure the president to turn away from historical master Moscow toward the EU.

Drone hits Yemen wedding; 17 killed
Afp, Sanaa

A drone strike on a wedding convoy in Yemen killed 17 people, mostly civilians, medical and security sources said yesterday, adding grist to mounting criticism of the US drone war.
The US military operates all unmanned aircraft flying over Yemen in support of Sanaa's campaign against al-Qaeda and has killed dozens of militants in attacks this year.

Prince Harry reaches South Pole
Afp, London

Prince Harry on Friday became the first member of Britain's royal family to reach the South Pole after a three-week charity trek with injured military veterans from Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Harry and the 12 servicemen and women reached the globe's most southerly point at 1200 GMT following a 320-kilometre journey across the frozen wastes of Antarctica, organisers said.

Philippines typhoon death toll tops 6,000
Afp, Manila

The number of people dead after one of the world's strongest typhoons struck the Philippines has risen above 6,000, the government said yesterday, with nearly 2,000 others still missing.
Five weeks after Super Typhoon Haiyan destroyed entire towns across the nation's central islands, the government put the official death toll at 6,009.

Indian PM accepts Pak visit invitation
Dawn Online

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday got a formal invite from his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif for visiting that country, which was accepted, The Economic Times said.