W O R L D

Ex-Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, The Bulldozer, dead
Jerusalem, January 11
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a hardliner revered by his countrymen as “Mr Security” and reviled across the Arab world as the "butcher of Sabra and Shatila", died today at the age of 85 after being comatose for eight years.

Coup fear mounts as fresh violence grips Thailand
Bangkok, January 11
Seven people were wounded, one seriously, after gunmen opened fire on anti-government protesters in Bangkok early on Saturday, heightening fears of more violence when protesters try to "shutdown" the capital next week in their long-running bid to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Major fire in China’s ancient Tibetan town
Beijing, January 11
An ancient Tibetan town in Shangri-la, a resort county in China's Yunnan Province, today suffered heavy damage after fire destroyed over 100 wooden houses.

A firefighter tries to douse the fire that engulfed Dukezong town in China on Saturday. AP/PTI

Former Ukrainian interior minister and opposition leader Yuriy Lutsenko being taken to hospital in Kiev. Reuters

No concessions on Jerusalem: Palestinian Prez
West Bank, January 11
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a defiant message to Israel's leadership and US mediators today, telling cheering supporters that the Palestinians "won't kneel" and won't drop demands for a capital in east Jerusalem.

Prevent attacks on Hindus: B’desh EC
Dhaka, January 11
Bangladesh's Election Commission today directed law enforcement agencies to tighten security across the country to prevent attacks on minorities, specially Hindus.

Karachi suicide bomber was ‘imam’s son’
Karachi, January 11
A suicide bomber who killed Chaudhry Aslam, one of Pakistan's most daring counter-terror officials, has been identified as the son of an imam, a media report said today.

Indian shot dead in Philippines
Manila, January 11
An Indian businessman was shot dead and another wounded in the Philippines by unidentified gunmen as they were collecting payments from clients, a media report said today.

Ex-Israeli PM Ariel Sharon, The Bulldozer, dead

Jerusalem, January 11
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a hardliner revered by his countrymen as “Mr Security” and reviled across the Arab world as the "butcher of Sabra and Shatila", died today at the age of 85 after being comatose for eight years. "The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer announces with sorrow the death of Mr Ariel Sharon who passed about an hour ago," hospital spokesman Shlomo Noy said.

Sharon's vital organs failed, including his kidneys and his lungs. His blood pressure and heartbeat, which returned to normal on Monday, deteriorated on Thursday, authorities said.

Sharon was elected Prime Minister in 2001 and served until he suffered a massive stroke that left him comatose on January 4, 2006. A controversial military leader, Sharon had a long and tumultuous political career and his ruthless methods earned him the moniker "The Bulldozer".

He was revered by many in his country as "Mr Security" for his contributions in all the major wars since Israel's independence. Sharon was reviled in equal measure in the Arab world as the "butcher of Sabra and Shatila".

As defence minister in 1982, he masterminded Israel's invasion of Lebanon. During the invasion, Lebanese Christian militiamen allied to Israel massacred hundreds of Palestinians in two Beirut refugee camps - Sabra and Shatila - under Israeli control. — PTI

A valorous soldier and bold statesman

• Sharon came to be known as “the Bulldozer” for his headlong pursuit of hardline policies that included settlement expansion in territory Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
• While serving as defence minister in 1982, he masterminded Israel's invasion of Lebanon. During the invasion, Lebanese Christian militiamen allied to Israel massacred hundreds of Palestinians in Beirut refugee camps 

Coup fear mounts as fresh violence grips Thailand

Bangkok, January 11
Seven people were wounded, one seriously, after gunmen opened fire on anti-government protesters in Bangkok early on Saturday, heightening fears of more violence when protesters try to "shutdown" the capital next week in their long-running bid to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Many Thais believe the military will soon step in to break the political deadlock, especially if the protests turn violent, and rumours of an impending coup have intensified.

"Two shootouts occurred in the early hours of this morning at an intersection near the Khao San Road tourist area.

Seven anti-government protesters were injured. We are investigating who the gunmen were," said police chief Adul Saengsingkaew.

One of the injured protesters remains in a critical condition, according to the Erawan Medical Center which monitors Bangkok hospitals. The incident follows clashes between government supporters and protesters on Friday outside Bangkok that left at least six people injured.

At a celebration to mark national Children's Day on Saturday, Thailand's army chief, Prayuth Chan-ocha, said he feared an escalation in violence next week. "I am concerned about security because there will be many people. The violence is increasing...," said Prayuth.

Thailand is in the grip of a political crisis with opposition Democrat Party backed protesters demanding Prime Minister Yingluck to step down. The opposition Democrat Party has been campaigning to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra since last November and want to block February 2 snap election. The Indian Embassy in Bangkok has advised all Indian nationals residing here and tourists to stay away from protest areas. Protesters have called for a total shutdown on January 13 to pressurise Yingluck to step down. — Agencies

Indian Embassy issues advisory

• The Indian Embassy has advised all Indians residing in the country and tourists to avoid protest areas
• Authorities say they will deploy more than 14,000 troops and police on Monday to maintain order in the streets

Major fire in China’s ancient Tibetan town

Beijing, January 11
An ancient Tibetan town in Shangri-la, a resort county in China's Yunnan Province, today suffered heavy damage after fire destroyed over 100 wooden houses. The houses were burned down when fire broke out in the early hours at Dukezong, meaning "the town of moon" in Tibetan and built 1,300 years ago on the South Silk Road.

The fire lasted over 10 hours. Over 1,000 people were mobilised to put off the fire but their task became more difficult due to wooden houses, state- run Xinhua quoted local government spokesman as saying.

No casualties were reported and the cause of the fire is being investigated, the report said. Dukezong is now one of the most renowned resorts in Shangri-la, known for its well-preserved ancient Tibetan dwellings. — PTI

No concessions on Jerusalem: Palestinian Prez

West Bank, January 11
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a defiant message to Israel's leadership and US mediators today, telling cheering supporters that the Palestinians "won't kneel" and won't drop demands for a capital in east Jerusalem.

Abbas' speech highlighted the wide gaps between him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the outlines of a peace deal. It also raised new doubts about the chances of US Secretary of State John Kerry to bridge those gaps in coming weeks and come up with a framework for an agreement. Abbas adopted tough positions in the wide-ranging speech, saying that "there will be no peace" without a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem and that he would not recognise Israel as a Jewish state.

He also suggested he would not continue negotiations beyond a US-set target date of the end of April, and instead will resume his quest for broader international recognition of a state of Palestine by the UN and its various agencies. — AP

Prevent attacks on Hindus: B’desh EC

Dhaka, January 11
Bangladesh's Election Commission today directed law enforcement agencies to tighten security across the country to prevent attacks on minorities, specially Hindus.

"We have asked the law enforcement agencies to specially resist attacks on minority communities in different parts of the country in the wake of the January 5 parliamentary election," said Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad.

Ahmad issued the order during a meeting with security agencies on maintaining law and order during re-polling in eight constituencies on January 16. The law enforcers were well prepared to prevent such attacks, he was quoted as saying by The Daily Star newspaper.

Members of the minority community were attacked by workers of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its right-wing ally Jamaat-e-Islami in Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Jessore districts both before and after the polls. Reports said Hindus were targeted by opposition activists for backing the Awami League which swept the polls following a boycott by the BNP-led opposition alliance. — PTI

Ex-military ruler takes oath as lawmaker

Dhaka: Former Bangladeshi military ruler HM Ershad on Saturday took oath as a parliamentarian, ending speculation that he might not serve as a lawmaker despite winning a seat in the January 5 general election. Ershad, who heads the Jatiya Party, earlier had said he would boycott the polls and even asked the Election Commission to withdraw his nomination papers

Karachi suicide bomber was ‘imam’s son’

Karachi, January 11
A suicide bomber who killed Chaudhry Aslam, one of Pakistan's most daring counter-terror officials, has been identified as the son of an imam, a media report said today.

According to initial investigations and evidence, police in Karachi believe that young Naeemullah, who was identified through fingerprints, carried out the deadly attack on Thursday, SP Niaz Khosa said.

Naeemullah was a seminary student and son of Rafiullah, the imam of Masjid Jamia Sidiqia and administrator of a madrassa in Karachi's restive Orangi Town, The Express Tribune reported. — PTI

Taliban chief booked

• Police on Saturday named Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah and spokesman Shahidullah Shahid in an FIR in the killing of Aslam

Indian shot dead in Philippines

Manila, January 11
An Indian businessman was shot dead and another wounded in the Philippines by unidentified gunmen as they were collecting payments from clients, a media report said today.

Navjot Singh, 26, was shot twice in the chest and declared dead on arrival at a local hospital. His associate Lakhwinder Singh, 33, was shot in his arm, Vox Bikol newspaper reported.

Both Indian nationals are residents of Naga City. The shooting occurred on January 6, when they had gone to a rural area of Calabanga town to collect loan payments from clients. — PTI