W O R L D

Death toll in Philippine typhoon crosses 280
New Bataan (Philippines), December 5 
Stunned parents searching for missing children examined a row of mud-stained bodies covered with banana leaves while survivors dried their soaked belongings on roadsides today, a day after a powerful typhoon killed more than 280 persons in the southern Philippines.

A woman inspects her damaged house in Andap village, Compostela Valley province, on Wednesday. — AFP

US Senate passes $631-bn defence bill
Washington, December 5 
The US Senate has unanimously passed a sweeping $631 billion defence bill, which issues new sanctions against Iran, changes the detention policy of American citizens and seeks quick action for withdrawal of this country's combat troops from Afghanistan.

Pak minister to celebrate birthday at Taj Mahal
The Indian Government has agreed to a personal request from Interior Minister Rehman Malik to celebrate his birthday at the Taj Mahal on December 12.

Clashes erupt between Mursi supporters, opponents  
Cairo, December 5
Clashes broke out tonight between Muslim Brotherhood members and opposition supporters in front of the high-security Egyptian presidential palace here where the two groups assembled for rival demonstrations after Islamist President Mohamed Mursi returned to the complex.

Scientists discover world's oldest known dinosaur
London, December 5
Scientists studying a set of fossilised bones stored in the Natural History Museum here believe they may have found the first dinosaur that roamed the Earth — and it was similar in size to a Labrador with a tail five feet long. Nyasasaurus parringtoni would have been alive 10 to 15 million years before any previously known dinosaurs. — PTI

Death toll in Philippine typhoon crosses 280

New Bataan (Philippines), December 5
Stunned parents searching for missing children examined a row of mud-stained bodies covered with banana leaves while survivors dried their soaked belongings on roadsides today, a day after a powerful typhoon killed more than 280 persons in the southern Philippines.

Officials fear more bodies may be found as rescuers reach hard-hit areas that were isolated by landslides, floods and downed communications.

At least 151 people died in the worst-hit province of Compostela Valley when Typhoon Bopha lashed the region yesterday, including 78 villagers and soldiers who perished in a flash flood that swamped two emergency shelters and a military camp, provincial spokeswoman Fe Maestre said.

About 80 people survived the deluge in New Bataan town with injuries, but between 50 and 319 others remain missing, according to varying estimates by government officials and the army.

The farming town of 45,000 people was a muddy wasteland of collapsed houses and coconut and banana trees felled by Bopha's ferocious winds.

On a roadside, dozens of mud-stained bodies were laid side-by-side, covered by cloth and banana leaves and surrounded by villagers. A man sprayed insecticide on the remains to keep away swarms of flies.

A father wept when he lifted a plastic cover and found the body of his child. A mother, meanwhile, went away in tears, unable to find her missing children. "I have three children," she said repeatedly, flashing three fingers before a TV cameraman.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who visited the devastated town, said a day of searching by soldiers and volunteers did not turn up any of the 319 people reported missing in New Bataan. — AP

US Senate passes $631-bn defence bill

Washington, December 5
The US Senate has unanimously passed a sweeping $631 billion defence bill, which issues new sanctions against Iran, changes the detention policy of American citizens and seeks quick action for withdrawal of this country's combat troops from Afghanistan.

The Defence Authorisation Bill -- passed by 98-0 votes by the Senate yesterday -- would require the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit to Congress an assessment of the risk to the US mission and security interests associated with a reduction of American forces in Afghanistan.

"It is only the second time in 50 years there has been a unanimous vote on a defence authorisation bill," Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said.

"This bill will enable our Armed Forces to continue to take the battle to Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. Just as importantly, it keeps Democrats' promises by supporting President Barack Obama's plan to bring our troops home from Afghanistan," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said after the passage of the bill.

In view of the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, the defence spending bill also authorises an increase of up to 1,000 additional Marine Corps personnel assigned to the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group.

"It also provides the resources, training, equipment and authorities necessary for our military to succeed in Afghanistan and provides continued support to the Afghanistan National Security Forces as they assume increased responsibility throughout Afghanistan," Senator John McCain said.

The House of Representatives has already passed the Defence Authorisation Bill.

Since there are differences on the two versions of the bill, it now goes to the House-Senate conference committee, which needs to sort out the differences.

The bill would provide $526 billion for the base defence budget, $17 billion for defence programmes in the Energy Department and $88 billion for the war in Afghanistan. — PTI 

US agrees to fulfil Pak’s urgent defence needs
Afzal Khan from Islamabad

Resuming the strategic bilateral defence dialogue with Pakistan after a 18-month break, the United States has agreed to fulfil Pakistan’s urgent defence needs in the fight against terror.

“Recognising the enduring security requirements on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the two delegations agreed to cooperate on a prioritised set of Pakistan’s defence requirements,” a statement issued at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Pakistan-US Defence Consultative Group on Tuesday said.

Defence Secretary Lt Gen Asif Yasin Malik (retd) and the US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy, Dr James Miller, led their sides at the talks held in Rawalpindi.

Officials from both countries identified areas of future defence cooperation for achieving shared objectives and committed to a ‘strong defence relationship’.

It was not clear what military hardware would be provided to Pakistan to meet urgent requirements in the fight against militants in tribal areas. Pakistan’s intended shopping list has always been a very long one, but there are some critical needs like spares for maintenance of its helicopter fleet.

Pak minister to celebrate birthday at Taj Mahal
Afzal Khan from Islamabad

The Indian Government has agreed to a personal request from Interior Minister Rehman Malik to celebrate his birthday at the Taj Mahal on December 12.

Malik will visit India from December 11 to 13 to work out plans with his India counterpart to operationalise the landmark visa accord agreed by him and former India Foreign Minister SM Krishna.

He had earlier been advised by the hosts to defer his visit scheduled for November 22 because of impending execution of Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor of Mumbai attacks, that took place on November 24.

Malik’s fresh dates coincide with his 61st birth anniversary. He requested the Indian Government to let him spend the day at the Taj Mahal with his wife. The Indian government has reportedly conceded to the request. 

 Clashes erupt between Mursi supporters, opponents 

Cairo, December 5
Clashes broke out tonight between Muslim Brotherhood members and opposition supporters in front of the high-security Egyptian presidential palace here where the two groups assembled for rival demonstrations after Islamist President Mohamed Mursi returned to the complex.

Brotherhood members, who earlier in the day gave a call for a huge rally near the presidential palace in support of President Mursi, boxed opposition protesters in from two sides, leading to scuffles, Al-Nahar TV channel reported.

The anti-Mursi protesters were staging a sit-in outside the palace when they were attacked.

Former presidential candidate Amr Moussa, who is also chairman of the Egyptian National Congress, warned that the clashes will further heat up the situation.

The Constitution Party also warned of “dire consequences” for what it described assaults on peaceful protesters in Tahrir Square and outside the palace. — PTI

BRIEFLY

ElBaradei, other Oppn leaders to be probed for ‘espionage’
Cairo: In a crackdown on Opposition leaders, Egyptian Prosecutor General has ordered a probe against three former presidential candidates, including ex-IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, accusing them of espionage and conspiring a “Zionist plot” against the Islamist government. Prosecutor General Talaat Ibrahim Abdallah referred to the State Security Prosecution a complaint accusing ElBaradei, Hamdein Sabahy and Amr Moussa of spying and inciting the overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi. — PTI

N Korea completes installing rocket
Seoul: North Korea has completed installing a long-range rocket on its launch pad, ahead of its planned launch this month in defiance of widespread international condemnation. All three stages of the Unha-3 rocket have been placed on the pad at the North’s Sohae satellite launch station, a South Korean government source told Yonhap news agency. — AFP

World's oldest person dies at 116
Monroe (US): The woman, who was listed as the world’s oldest person, died in a Georgia nursing home at age 116. Besse Cooper died peacefully on Tuesday in Monroe, according to her son Sidney Cooper. Cooper said his mother had been ill recently with a stomach virus, then felt better on Monday. On Tuesday, she had trouble breathing. She was put on oxygen in her room and died there about 2 pm, Cooper said. — AP

World’s tallest woman dies in China
Beijing: The world's tallest woman has died at the age of 40 in her village in China, after losing battle with tumour that caused her to grow to 7 feet 8 inches. Yao Defen, who was listed as the world's tallest woman by Guinness World Records in 2010, passed away on the morning of November 13 in the house she shared with her mother in Shitang village in eastern China. — PTI

China's Yao Defen thanks the hospital staff in the Chinese city of Guangzhou where she had been undergoing treatment to halt her growth. — AFP file photo