International news digest for the week

Saturday

Bali (Indonesia): Citing global economic downturn to push for greater India-Asean cooperation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today pitched for conclusion of a "commercially- meaningful" Services and Investment pact by March 2012 to create a positive atmosphere for implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.

United Nations: The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning an alleged plot, blamed by the US on elements in Iranian establishment, to assassinate Saudi envoy to Washington and asked Tehran to cooperate in the probe, a voting from which India abstained.

Sunday

London: Recent changes to the student visa regime and the forthcoming closure of the post-study work visa from April 2012 has reportedly led to drop in number of Indians applying to study at British universities in the next academic year.

Dhaka: Bangladesh begins the controversial war crimes trial with a top Islamist party leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi being the first suspect to go on trial for allegations of genocide, rape, murder and arson committed during the country's 1971 Liberation war.

Monday

Geneva: India, which has one of the highest Populations of HIV-infected people in Asia, has witnessed a decline in new infections by a significant 56 per cent from the epidemic's peak in 1996, with other Asian countries also showing a plunge.

London: Sikh athletes and spectators will be able to wear 'kirpans' to the London 2012 Olympic sites but with some conditions.

Tuesday

Washington: The 26/11 Mumbai attacks could have been averted if the then Bush Administration had taken seriously the warning and threat perception of Lashkar-e- Taiba's global operations by a renowned French judge, a media report has claimed.

Dubai: Cementing their ties, India and UAE will sign two major agreements including one that will pave the way for Indian prisoners in Emirati jails to serve the rest of their terms back home.

Wednesday

United Nations: In a significant victory, India has been elected to the United Nations' Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), defeating China in a direct fight for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific region and returning to this powerful external oversight body after a gap of 35 years.

London: In a surprise move that comes in the midst of an inquiry into the phone hacking scandal, James Murdoch, the son of media baron Rupert Murdoch, resigns as director of the UK-based companies that run prestigious titles like The Sunday Times, The Sun and The Times.

Thursday

Islamabad: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani says there was no threat to his government due to the "Memogate" scandal even as he pledged that the matter would be investigated as a top priority to uncover the truth behind the secret memo sent to the US administration.

Dhaka: Bangladesh will send a high level delegation to India to discuss the Tipaimukh dam issue, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told the country's parliament as the opposition stepped up attack on her government over its perceived failure in protecting its interests.

Friday

Islamabad: Pakistan has asked India to provide "credible evidence" against those accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks so that they cannot secure their release from courts, Interior Minister Rehman Malik says.

Sanaa: Fierce clashes break out between rival security forces in the Yemeni capital, two days after President Ali Abdullah Saleh inked a power transfer deal which sponsors had hoped would end the violence.