The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	US starts troop pullout from Kabul Uses Pakistani land routes to withdraw its military hardware from Afghanistan Islamabad, February 11 Kicking off the first phase of the American pull out from Afghanistan, the US has started using Pakistani land routes to withdraw its military hardware, with 50 shipping containers moved over the weekend. The first convoy of containers with military gear crossed the Torkham border check post in north-west Pakistan. The containers will be transported to the port city of Karachi to be shipped back to the US. Fawad Khan, an official of the shipping company Bilal Associates, told reporters that his firm had received clearance to move the US equipment across the border on Friday. He said the first convoy of 25 containers cleared by Pakistani customs was on its way to Karachi. In Afghanistan, Marcus Spade, a spokesman for the US forces, said 50 shipping containers had been moved into Pakistan over the weekend. Another Pakistani official said another convoy of containers was expected this week. "It is a huge operation...many more containers will follow," he said. Pakistan will be a key route for the US to withdraw equipment from landlocked Afghanistan as it pulls out most of its troops by the end of 2014. Pakistan closed the route for nearly seven months after a cross-border NATO air strike killed 24 of its soldiers in November 2011. The route was reopened after the US apologised for the deaths. Islamabad has linked the transit of US military cargo with certification that Washington will not transport any hazardous waste or radioactive material. The US is also engaged in talks with Kabul for a security pact that will allow the presence of some troops in Afghanistan after the NATO withdrawal. The US currently has over 60,000 troops in the nearly 1,50,000-strong International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. NATO will use Pakistani routes up to the end of 2015, a year beyond the deadline for withdrawing combat forces from Afghanistan. The US favours the use of the Pakistani route as it is cheaper and shorter than other routes through Central Asian states. Sources said Peter Lavoy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, had discussed the withdrawal of US military equipment during a recent visit to Pakistan.— PTI Pullout The first US convoy of containers with military gear crossed the Torkham border check post in north-west Pakistan over the weekend The containers will be transported to the port city of Karachi to be shipped back to the US Pakistan will be a key route for the US to withdraw equipment from landlocked Afghanistan as it pulls out most of its troops by the end of 2014
	Scotland may have to reapply for UN, EU: Britain London, February 11 Scotland may have to reapply for membership of international organisations like the UN and European Union if it secedes from the UK after a 2014 referendum, the British government said in legal advice published here today. "If Scotland became independent, only the 'remainder of the UK' would automatically continue to exercise the same rights, obligations and powers under international law as the UK currently does, and would not have to renegotiate existing treaties or reapply for membership of international organisations," the Downing Street said in a statement accompanying the legal opinion. The status of Scotland, if it secedes from the United Kingdom, has been a subject of debate since Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond,and British Prime Minister David Cameron signed a deal on the issue in October .— PTI
	Pak test fires N-capable 60-km range Hatf missile Islamabad, February 11 Pakistan today successfully tested the nuclear-capable Hatf-IX tactical missile with a range of 60 km, designed to defeat all known anti-tactical missile defence systems. The test consisted of "successive launches of two missiles from a state-of-the-art multi-tube launcher", the military said in a statement describing the test of the short range surface-to-surface missile as successful. The Hatf-IX or Nasr, which has "in-flight manoeuvre capability", can carry "nuclear warheads of appropriate yield with high accuracy". "This quick response system, which can fire a four-missile salvo, ensures deterrence against threats in view of evolving scenarios. Additionally, Nasr has been specially designed to defeat all known anti-tactical missile defence systems," the statement said. The test was witnessed by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Khalid Shameem Wynne, Strategic Plans Division chief Lt Gen (retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Army Strategic Forces Command chief Lt Gen Triq Nadeem Gilani, senior officers from the armed forces and scientists and engineers of strategic organisations. The statement did not say where the test was conducted. Addressing scientists and military officers of strategic organisations, Wynne congratulated them for a high standard of proficiency in operating the Nasr weapon system. — PTI
	French, Malian troops regain control of Gao Gao (Mali), February 11 French and Malian government forces have regained control of this strategic northern city, after Islamic fighters invaded and fought a prolonged battle. Hundreds of Gao residents gathered around the heavily damaged police headquarters building in the centre of the city early on Monday where body parts lay strewn about a day after Al-Qaida-linked militants launched a surprise attack on the city. "Yesterday, we heard the gunfire and hid in our homes all evening," said Soumayla Maiga as he stood with his friends near the rubble of the police offices. "We were stunned when we came out and saw what happened." The radical Islamic fighters, who had ruled Gao for nearly 10 months before they were ousted at the end of January, returned to the city by crossing the Niger River in wooden boats to launch their assault yesterday. The black robed jihadis, armed with AK-47 automatic rifles, attacked Malian troops and the fighting lasted more than five hours. By nightfall, French military helicopters flew overhead to patrol the city. Two explosions rang out overnight but by early Monday the only sounds in the city were the morning call to prayer and barking dogs. The walls and ceiling inside the police building were heavily stained with blood and the damage was consistent with an explosion, suggesting a suicide bomber blew himself up in the police offices. Residents who had cowered in their homes during the heavy gunfire cautiously ventured out onto the streets where groups in circles looked at the human remains. — AP
	Nurse’s death: Prankster RJ back on air in Australia Melbourne, February 11 One of the two Australian radio presenters whose royal prank call to a British hospital treating Kate Middleton went awry and created a furore when an Indian-origin nurse committed suicide, returned on air today. Radio host Michael Christian, one of the two Southern Cross Austereo presenters at the centre of the disastrous royal prank, has resumed work. It all started with what was supposed to be a prank call to London's King Edward VII Hospital that was treating a pregnant Kate Middleton for acute morning sickness. Jacintha Saldanha (46) was the duty nurse when RJs Mel Grieg and Christian called the hospital pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles, asking about the Duchess's condition. She forwarded the call to another nurse, who divulged confidential medical information about Kate. The prank was broadcast by 2Day FM within hours, and made headlines around the world. Saldanha was found dead on December 7 in the nurses' quarters three days later, having hanged herself with a scarf. One of three suicide notes left behind by Saldanha reportedly blamed the RJs' prank for her death. Christian went on air today as a presenter of Melbourne's morning slot on the Austereo station Fox FM. A spokesperson for Southern Cross Austereo confirmed Christian was back at work and that, when she felt able, Grieg would also be welcomed back to work. "We are happy to have Christian back on air," Southern Cross Austereo CEO Rhys Holleran was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying. — PTI
	After blizzard, tornadoes rip through US; 60 hurt Miami, February 11 Several powerful tornadoes ripped through the southern US states of Mississippi and Alabama injuring at least 60 persons and destroying hundreds of homes at the weekend, emergency officials said today. The city of Hattiesburg in Mississippi's Forrest County bore the brunt of the storms, with heavy rain continuing to lash the region and create a risk of flooding. "Two persons were critically hurt in Lemar County right next to Hattiesburg, but no deaths have been reported at this stage," said Greg Flynn, a spokesman for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). "Around 60 persons are reported injured, but fortunately most injuries are minor," he said. The bad weather, however, destroyed hundreds of homes and caused damage to the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, the authorities said. A spokeswoman for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency said while the area was hit by bad weather yesterday, it had so far received no reports of injuries. The National Weather Service said flooding and flash flooding will become a concern if rainfall continues to add up across the lower Mississippi valley. — AFP

Three shot dead in US courthouse

Philadelphia, February 11
A shooting erupted at a courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware today, leaving three persons dead, including a gunman, the police said.

"I can confirm a shooting at 8 am. Two women were killed and two capital officers were shot. The gunman is dead inside the lobby," a police spokesman said at a news conference.

The incident took place in the New Castle county court building, which was evacuated.

The police spokesman said multiple shots were fired and that the police was searching the building floor by floor.

"The scene is still very dynamic inside," he said.

The area around the courthouse was surrounded by the police, ambulances and fire trucks, televised images of the scene showed.

The Wilmington police was not able to confirm the number of victims. —AFP

BRIEFLY

Israel green lights 90 West Bank settler homes
Jerusalem: Israel has given final approval for 90 new homes in Beit El settlement near Ramallah in a move likely to spark tension ahead of a top-level visit by US President Barack Obama, officials and an NGO said on Monday. Hagit Ofran of the Peace Now settlement watchdog said the plans had been published for validation in an Israeli newspaper in what was the "final stage of approval", meaning construction of the new homes could begin "within a few days". — AFP

Revellers at the traditional Rose Monday carnival parade in the western German city of Duesseldorf. — Reuters

Cops escorting Nepal PM hurt in mishap
Kathmandu: At least 15 security personnel were injured, three of them critically, when a police van escorting Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai met with an accident in southern Nepal on Monday. The vehicle was escorting Bhattarai to the Bharatpur Airport for his return to the capital after attending a programme at Narayanghat in Chitawan district. — PTI

Rebels seize Syria's largest dam
Beirut: Rebels on Monday seized control of the largest dam in Syria, a vital barrier along the Euphrates River in the northern province of Raqa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "The rebels took control of the dam, which is still in operation. They are guarding both entrances but have forbidden the fighters from staying inside for fear the regime will bomb it," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. — AFP

12-yr-old held for plot to kill classmates
Los Angeles: 12-year-old middle school student in California has been detained for plotting to shoot 23 classmates and a teacher as officials seized a cache of rifles and handguns from his home. The student in Poway, California, sent a threatening email over the weekend to a Twin Peaks Middle School administrator stating he planned to shoot a teacher and 23 fellow students at the school on Monday morning. — PTI

10 killed in car blast near Turkey-Syria border
Reyhanli (Turkey): At least 10 persons were killed and many others wounded when a car exploded on Monday near the border between Turkey and Syria, officials said, although the cause was not immediately clear. A Syrian-registered car is believed to have been at the centre of the blast in a buffer zone at the frontier, a foreign ministry official said. The official said the dead included four Turks and six Syrians. — AFP

Horsemeat scam: France begins probe
Paris: French anti-fraud agents on Monday searched two firms at the centre of a scam over horsemeat disguised as beef in ready-to-eat frozen meals sold in supermarkets across Europe. The inspections came as French ministers prepared to hold a crisis meeting with key players in the meat industry, as the scam that erupted in Britain continued to spread across the continent. — AFP

Scotland needs to ‘reapply’ for UN, EU
London: Scotland may have to reapply for membership of international organisations like the UN and European Union if it secedes from the UK after a 2014 referendum, the British government said in a legal advice published here on Monday. "If Scotland became independent, only the 'remainder of the UK' would automatically continue to exercise the same rights, obligations and powers under international law as the UK currently does," the Downing Street said in a statement. — AFP