Thai PM seeks military help to end political deadlock
Bangkok, January 6
Thailand's beleaguered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asked the powerful military to act as a mediator in pushing for a new dialogue with the anti-government protest movement which has vowed to "shut down" Bangkok from January 13.

14 killed in stampede at China mosque
BEIJING, January 6
At least 14 people, including six children, were trampled to death and 10 others injured in a stampede during a gathering at a mosque in northwest China, state media reported today.

Rescuers try to extinguish a fire as thick plumes of smoke rise over a raft restaurant caught fire in Belgrade, Serbia, on Monday. AP

Musharraf’s treason trial resumes
Islamabad, January 6
A war of words ensued today between Pakistan former president General Pervez Musharraf's lawyers and the prosecution at the special court conducting his treason trial after the prosecutor called the former Pakistani dictator a "fugitive hiding" in a military hospital.

Resolve India-Pak through dialogue: Shahbaz Sharif 
Lahore, January 6
All contentious issues between India and Pakistan should be resolved through dialogue as the two countries had achieved nothing except wars in the last 65 years, Pakistani Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said today.

Will resolve issues with India through talks, says Hasina 
Dhaka, January 6
Fresh from victory in the controversial general elections, Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina today said she was confident of resolving all pending issues with India, including the Land Boundary Agreement, through talks.

12 die in blasts in NW Pak
peshawar, January 6
Twelve persons, including three children and a 14-year-old student, were killed and a dozen others injured in blasts and a suicide attack in northwest Pakistan today.

Dhaka, January 6
Bangladeshi premier Sheikh Hasina today asserted that her re-election in the much-disputed polls was legitimate and appealed to her arch-rival, BNP chief Khaleda Zia, to shun "terrorism" and sever ties with the fundamentalist Jamaat to strike a deal on the next elections.

"I call upon all again, including the honourable leader of the opposition (Zia), for peaceful talks discarding the path of terrorism and violence and severing ties with war criminals and the militant Jamaat," a beaming Hasina said, offering an olive branch to the opposition leader.

"A solution can be reached on the next elections only through talks. For that everyone will have to have restraints, tolerance and stop political violence of all sorts," the 66-year-old told reporters at Ganabhaban, her official residence here.

The boycott of yesterday's polls by the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) should "not mean there will be a question of legitimacy", said Hasina. "People participated in the poll and other parties participated."

Hasina's Awami League won 104 of the 147 seats for which polling was held yesterday. Having won 127 seats uncontested, the party now has 231 seats, which gives it a clear three-fourth majority in the 10th Parliament. She said fresh elections might be arranged if the Awami League and BNP, led by former Prime Minister Zia, were able to reach a consensus.

The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance boycotted the polls that were marred by violence which claimed nearly 30 lives since Saturday. Opposition cadres set over 200 polling stations on fire yesterday.

The opposition kept away from the polls after Hasina spurned their demands to step down and make space for a neutral caretaker government for overseeing the elections.

"Look, I tried my best, I told you, I offered ministries, I offered to share power with our opposition. I have done as much as I can do but they didn't respond," she said.

Chicago, January 6
A "polar vortex" dropped over a huge section of the United States today, sending temperatures plunging across the Midwest as the East Coast braced for the bitter Arctic blast.

Meteorologists predicted the lowest temperatures in two decades in some areas of the country, with the mercury at -37°C in Milwaukee. Icy roads and snow storms created travel chaos, with thousands of flights canceled or delayed.

The northeastern United States has endured heavy snow and deadly freezing conditions since the start of the year, and the extreme cold has claimed about a dozen lives nationwide.

"The coldest weather in years will be making its presence known from the Upper Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic region for the beginning of the work week," the National Weather Service said. Wind chill warnings were in effect from Montana as far south as Tennessee and Alabama, with temperatures feeling as cold as -50°F it said, describing the conditions as "life-threatening." On the East Coast, a brief lull in the deep freeze greeted commuters today, but temperatures were expected to drop overnight.

In Milwaukee, on the shores of Lake Michigan, officials warned residents to stay indoors and urged schools to shut down. All schools were closed in Minnesota. In Cook County in Illinois, which includes Chicago, warming centres were opened for anyone suffering, including those whose home heating did not work. "This winter storm will be one for the record books, and we want to make sure everyone stays safe and warm until it passes," Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said.

Exposed skin could suffer frostbite in as little as five minutes in such conditions, experts warn. — AFP

London: Britain is bracing itself for more flooding as a winter storm named Hercules made its way from the US to the country’s coastline. Huge waves are battering the southern coast of the UK with waves of up to 27 feet recorded off Land’s End in Cornwall. Travel by road and rail is being hit, causing disruption for many returning to work here after the long Christmas holiday period. Western and southern areas are bearing the brunt of the latest severe weather, and forecasters are warning that flooding could be worse than that seen in recent days. —PTI

Bangkok, January 6
Thailand's beleaguered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has asked the powerful military to act as a mediator in pushing for a new dialogue with the anti-government protest movement which has vowed to "shut down" Bangkok from January 13.

Yingluck has asked the military to step in and end the deadlock between the regime and the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) ahead of the shutdown plan next Monday, the Bangkok Post said quoting unnamed sources.

PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, a former MP of opposition Democrat Party, met several top military figures on Saturday to discuss ways to end the crisis, the Post said. However, there has been no change in Suthep's stance and he has reiterated his demands for an interim government to push for national reforms.

Yingluck has urged the public to vote and said calling off the February 2 polls would bring the country to a dead end. The premier's remarks came a day after Suthep threatened to take "unprecedented" action to pressure her caretaker government to quit.

The Post reported Suthep has warned that Yingluck could be forced to leave the country and her assets would be seized if the protesters prevail.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri today warned Thais against joining the Bangkok shutdown protest saying it was illegal and dangerous. He said Suthep faced a sedition charge, which carries the maximum penalty of death. He said if people sided with Suthep by joining the planned protest they would also be regarded as wrongdoers.

The transport ministry has said at least 1 million commuters may be affected by the shutdown. Park and ride stops will be put up to accommodate commuters from the North and South of Bangkok, the ministry said. — PTI

Islamabad, January 6
A war of words ensued today between Pakistan former president General Pervez Musharraf's lawyers and the prosecution at the special court conducting his treason trial after the prosecutor called the former Pakistani dictator a "fugitive hiding" in a military hospital.

The bench was informed that the former president would not be able to attend the hearing due to his ailment. The court exempted him from a personal appearance today, but told authorities to submit his medical records by 11.30 am tomorrow.

A three-member bench led by Justice Faisal Arab resumed the hearing of the high treason case against Musharraf, charged by the government with declaring Emergency and overthrowing the superior judiciary in November 2007.

Prosecutor Akram Sheikh accused Musharraf of intentionally avoiding court hearings and called on the three-judge bench to issue an arrest warrant for him. The court rejected his demand.

Lahore, January 6
All contentious issues between India and Pakistan should be resolved through dialogue as the two countries had achieved nothing except wars in the last 65 years, Pakistani Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said today.

Sharif, the younger brother of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, made the remarks during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan, who called on him here.

Pakistan wants better relations with India and the two countries “haven’t achieved anything except wars”, he said. He further said war is no solution to any issue. Sharif stressed the resolution of all contentious issues through dialogue as this was the desire of the people of both countries.

The Chief Minister, who recently visited India, said the people of the two sides want to live peacefully like friends. Lasting regional peace would assure progress and prosperity, he said. — PTI

Dhaka, January 6
Fresh from victory in the controversial general elections, Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina today said she was confident of resolving all pending issues with India, including the Land Boundary Agreement, through talks.

Replying to a question about her government’s ties with India in the past five years, Hasina said she wants good relations with all regional countries with the common interest of fighting poverty and deriving mutual benefits.

“We may have some problems on some bilateral issues like the pending Ganges Water treaty, water sharing in 53 other common rivers and the Land Boundary Agreement, but I believe we can settle them through talks,” she said to the media after the victory. — PTI