W O R L D

Syrian regime ready for talks with rebels: Muallem
Moscow, February 25
The Syrian regime is ready to talk with all parties, including armed rebels, who want dialogue to end the conflict, Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said today during talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem in Moscow on Monday. — Reuters

Israel, US successfully test anti-missile system
Jerusalem, February 25
With Iran in mind, close allies Israel and the US today successfully tested the Arrow anti-missile system for the first time, giving the Jewish state defence against "threats in the regional arena".

Super-humans like X-Men will exist in 30 years
London, February 25
The iconic X-Men superheroes may soon spring out of comic books and become a reality! Genetic experiments will create a superior race within 30 years, giving rise to super-humans like the X-Men by 2045, UK scientists claim.

Centre-left party favoured as Italy holds election
Rome, February 25
Italy today holds a second day of voting in a critical election for the future of the eurozone in which the centre-left Democratic Party is expected to win but fall short of a governing majority.

Australia’s iron ore centre braces for cyclone
Sydney, February 25
Australia's three largest iron ore ports were shut down today ahead of tropical Cyclone Rusty which is whipping up rough seas along the resource-rich west coast.

UK’s top cardinal quits, won’t take part in Pope’s election
London, February 25
Britain's senior-most Roman Catholic cleric resigned today after being accused of "inappropriate acts" towards fellow priests and said he would not take part in the election of the next Pope this week.

Syrian regime ready for talks with rebels: Muallem

Moscow, February 25
The Syrian regime is ready to talk with all parties, including armed rebels, who want dialogue to end the conflict, Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said today during talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

"We are ready for dialogue with all who want dialogue, including those who are carrying arms," Muallem said at the Moscow talks with Lavrov, in an apparent reference to the rebels battling the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

"We still believe in a peaceful solution to the Syrian problem," said Muallem, pointing to the creation of a government coalition that would negotiate with both the "external and internal opposition". Lavrov said alongside Muallem that there was no alternative to a political solution to the two-year conflict agreed through talks.

"There is no acceptable alternative to a political solution achieved through agreeing positions of the government and the opposition," said Lavrov.

"We are for Syria to be independent, united, and for all Syrian citizens, regardless of their religion, to live freely in peace and democracy. The Syrian people should decide their fate without external intervention," said Lavrov.

Lavrov added that the situation in Syria was "at the crossroads" but expressed optimism that a negotiated solution could be found.

"There are those who have embarked on a course of further bloodshed that risks the collapse of the state and society," Lavrov said.

"But there are also sensible forces who are increasingly aware of the necessity to begin the talks as soon as possible to reach a political settlement. The number of supporters of such a realistic line is growing," said Lavrov.

Lavrov had said last week there were positive signs from both sides of a new willingness to talk but called on the regime of Assad to turn oft-stated words about its readiness for dialogue into deeds.

The fighting, which according to the United Nations has claimed 70,000 lives since the conflict began in March 2011, has further intensified in the last days as both sides press for the military advantage.

Russia has also been working on agreeing a trip to Moscow, possibly in early March, by the head of the Syrian opposition National Coalition Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib. — AFP

Israel, US successfully test anti-missile system

Jerusalem, February 25
With Iran in mind, close allies Israel and the US today successfully tested the Arrow anti-missile system for the first time, giving the Jewish state defence against "threats in the regional arena". "This is the first flight test of the Arrow 3 interceptor and was conducted at an Israeli test range over the Mediterranean Sea," the Israeli Defence Ministry said in a statement.

"This was the first test of a system that has been in development for years. The system still has to undergo further tests before it becomes fully operational," it added.

Today's test did not involve an interception of any target, but was designed to try out the flight of the missile, the statement said.

Arrow 3's interceptors are designed to be launched into space, where their warheads detach, turning into "kamikaze" satellites that seek out and slam into target missiles. The Pentagon and the US firm Boeing are partners with Israel in the development of the interceptor missile system.

The US has described its support for Israeli missile interceptors as a means of reassuring its close ally that it has a more passive means of defending itself.

The new surface-to-air missile defence system will enable Israel to better counter future threats, the Defence Ministry said.

Arrow 3 joins Israel's multi-layered aerial defences, alongside the Arrow 2, Iron Dome and David's sling, better known as "Magic Wand", defence systems. — PTI

Counter defence

• "This is the first flight test of the Arrow 3 interceptor and was conducted at an Israeli test range over the Mediterranean Sea," the Israeli Defence Ministry said
• The Arrow is a jointly produced, cutting-edge system designed to counter long-range missile attacks
• "Israel's Missile Defence Organisation and US Missile Defence Agency officials conducted the flight test," the statement said
• "This successful test is a milestone in Israel's operational and defensive capabilities vis-a-vis threats in the regional arena," it stated

Super-humans like X-Men will exist in 30 years

Genetic experiments will create a superior race like the X-Men

London, February 25
The iconic X-Men superheroes may soon spring out of comic books and become a reality! Genetic experiments will create a superior race within 30 years, giving rise to super-humans like the X-Men by 2045, UK scientists claim.

Mutant humans like Wolverine, Storm and Rogue from the X-Men movies are possible, scientists told a Ministry of Defence (MoD) think-tank in UK.

"Advancements in gene technology could lead to a class of genetically superior humans by 2045," a two-day summit to predict the future reported.

"Human augmentation is likely to increase over the next 30 years. Discussions highlighted that it is possible that advances in biology, unequally shared across society, could generate genetic inequality," it said.

The MoD's obscure Development Concepts and Doctrine Centre met last summer, with experts from universities, industry and government and details from the meeting are awaited, 'The Sun' reported.

The X-Men first appeared in Marvel comics in the 1960s, fighting evil mutants. It led to the hit films, with Hugh Jackman (44) playing Wolverine. — PTI

Centre-left party favoured as Italy holds election

Rome, February 25
Italy today holds a second day of voting in a critical election for the future of the eurozone in which the centre-left Democratic Party is expected to win but fall short of a governing majority. A new protest party led by former comedian Beppe Grillo, who is calling for a referendum on the euro, is also set to make major gains as Italians endure their longest recession in two decades and the heavy burden of austerity cuts.

Polling stations open at 0600 GMT and close at 1400 GMT, after which exit polls and early official results are expected later today and into tomorrow.

Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani has said he is the best man to help promote a growth agenda for Europe and "turn the page" after years of Silvio Berlusconi, who polls indicate could come second in the vote. — AFP

Australia’s iron ore centre braces for cyclone

Sydney, February 25
Australia's three largest iron ore ports were shut down today ahead of tropical Cyclone Rusty which is whipping up rough seas along the resource-rich west coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that the storm system was likely to intensify as the cyclone slowly approaches land. "There is a high risk that Rusty will cross the coast as a severe tropical cyclone," it said in a statement.

"However, the slow motion of the cyclone means that the crossing time and location is uncertain." Rusty was about 305 km north of Port Hedland and 1,300 km north of Perth, today. — AFP

UK’s top cardinal quits, won’t take part in Pope’s election

London, February 25
Britain's senior-most Roman Catholic cleric resigned today after being accused of "inappropriate acts" towards fellow priests and said he would not take part in the election of the next Pope this week.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien said he had announced in November that he was planning to resign in March in view of his "indifferent health". "The Holy Father has now decided that my resignation will take effect today," the 74-year-old cardinal said and informed that he will not attend the papal conclave in Rome this week to elect Pope Benedict's replacement, leaving Britain unrepresented in the election. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Castro re-elected Cuban Prez
Havana: Raul Castro has been re-elected as Cuba's President, officially to his last five-year term, with a new regime number two -- Council of State Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, official media said. "The National Assembly of People's Power on Sunday) approved, in this capital, Army General Raul Castro Ruz as President of the Council of State, and elected Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, as its first Vice-President," according to the AIN news agency report. — AFP

Pak Taliban calls Malik a comedian
Islamabad: The Pakistani Taliban have mocked Interior Minister Rehman Malik by describing him as a "comedian", with a militant spokesman saying a "serious person" should replace him for any dialogue between the two sides. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan compared Malik to Pashto comedian Ismail Shahid and said the group did not take the minister’s statements seriously. — PTI

Cambodian nuns pray during the Meak Bochea Buddhist celebration in Kandal province on Monday. — AFP

Buddhist monks pray at a temple in Pathum Thani province, near Bangkok, on Makha Bucha Day, which honours Buddha and his teachings, on Monday. — Reuters

Militants gun down six in Pakistan
Islamabad: Six labourers were gunned down by terrorists in the restive Balochistan province of south-west Pakistan, according to media reports on Monday. The men were shot dead in Shadi Kaur area of Gwadar district on Sunday. — PTI

4 killed, 12 hurt in Pakistan blast
Islamabad: A bomb blast ripped through a gathering at a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's southern Sindh province on Monday, killing four persons and injuring 12 others, the police said. The explosion occurred at the Hajan Shah Mauri Dargah near Shikarpur when a large number of people were visiting the shrine. The blast came just five days after an Islamic scholar was targeted in a bomb attack at Jacobabad in Sindh. — PTI

Nepal’s CJ ready to head election govt
Kathmandu: Nepal's Supreme Court Chief Justice (CJ) Khilaraj Regmi on Monday said he is ready to head the election government to end the lingering political crisis plaguing the country. “The CJ is positive regarding the proposal to head the government with a view to ending the ongoing political and constitutional deadlock but not for personal ambition,” said Hemanta Rawal, assistant spokesperson of the apex court. — PTI