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LONDON: A large fire in London's historic legal centre sent flames soaring above the skyline of the capital today.London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the fifth floor and roof of Breams Buildings were alight but everyone had been safely evacuated without injury. The office block, off Chancery Lane, houses a number of barristers' chambers as well as the asylum and immigration tribunal.Twelve fire engines and 60 firefighters attended the blaze after LFB received a call at about 3.30pm. City of London police cordoned off Chancery Lane at the junction with Fleet Street, and stopped traffic from entering. An LFB spokesman said there were reports of cylinders involved in the fire, and the roof area of the building had been under refurbishment.Breams Buildings was opened by the Prince of Wales in 1885 and was the home of Birkbeck College for a 65-year period that included the second world

JERUSALEM: Ballistic missiles could be Israel's weapon of choice against Iranian nuclear facilities if it decides on a pre-emptive attack and deems air strikes too risky, according to a report by a Washington think-tank.Israel is widely assumed to have Jericho missiles capable of hitting Iran with an accuracy of a few dozen metres (yards) from target. Such a capability would be free of warplanes' main drawbacks -- limits on fuel and ordnance, and perils to pilots.Extrapolating from analyst assessments that the most advanced Jerichos carry 750 kg (1,650 lb) conventional warheads, Abdullah Toukan of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said 42 missiles would be enough to "severely damage or demolish" Iran's core nuclear sites at Natanz, Esfahan and Arak."If the Jericho III is fully developed and its accuracy is quite high then this scenario could look much more feasible than using combat aircraft," he said in the March 14 report, titled "

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration, in a sign of thawing ties with Iran, is likely soon to relax restrictions on contacts between U.S. diplomats and Iranian officials, said a source close to the matter.But the source, who asked not to be named because a review of U.S. policy on Iran is not complete, said the Bush administration's idea to open a low-level diplomatic outpost in Tehran was for now "off the table."The plan is to make small but significant gestures to Tehran, including an invitation to a conference on Afghanistan this month, and to allow U.S. diplomats to see Iranian officials without first seeking approval, as has been the case for nearly 30 years."These contacts could be across the board," said the source, adding that the review was not final and that President Barack Obama still had to sign off on it.Diplomatic sources and analysts said the idea of low to mid-level contacts without first being authorized had been discussed for a while and that t

KUWAIT CITY: The emir of the Gulf state of Kuwait dissolved parliament on Wednesday for the second time in a year after a new row between MPs and the cabinet, which is dominated by members of his Sabah family. Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah called a snap election within the next two months, the official KUNA news agency said, the second poll in the Western-backed oil producer since May last year and the third since June 2006. The emir, whose country is the main rear base for US-led operations in neighbouring Iraq, said he took the decision to "safeguard the security of the nation and its stability."He strongly criticised what he called "regrettable practices by MPs that have distorted the image of Kuwaiti freedom and democracy." The emir expressed particular anger at repeated demands by some MPs to summon before parliament his nephew, outgoing Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmed al-Sabah.The demands had prompted the cabinet to tender its resignation

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Wednesday he would decide "soon" whether to run for re-election in August, based on his concern for stability in his fragile nation.Karzai, Afghanistan's first democratically elected president, has seen his approval ratings slide over mounting deadly violence from a Taliban-led insurgency and government corruption.Asked at a news conference if he would stand in the August 20 election, Karzai said, "I'll make the right decision very, very soon, indeed.""It's a decision that I'll make in the light of the country's stability and the legitimacy of the electoral process, and future prosperity and peace and stability of Afghanistan," he said.Karzai noted achievements in recent years but said there was still much to be done, perhaps a hint that he wanted more time in the top job."There is a lot that we have in our mind for the future of Afghanistan, to take this country to where we desire to be --

WASHINGTON: The United States is conducting a comprehensive strategic review of the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to information available with the Centre.Sources said the US was carrying out the review from the military and political points of view which is likely to be unveiled at the NATO conference in April. Besides, the US State department is conducting a separate review. “All this will give fresh input to the American policy direction on Pakistan,” said sources. President Asif Ali Zardari blinking first and reinstating the Supreme Court chief justice was one such direction, they said adding, “What they (US) did in Pakistan speaks for itself ”.

WASHINGTON: President Obama and his advisers have decided to significantly expand Afghanistan’s security forces in the hope that a much larger professional army and national police force could fill a void left by the central government and do more to promote stability in the country, according to senior administration and Pentagon officials. The Afghan Army and other security forces would be greatly expanded under a plan developed by President Obama and his advisers in the hope of stabilizing the nation. A plan awaiting final approval by the president would set a goal of about 400,000 troops and national police officers, more than twice the forces’ current size, and more than three times the size that American officials believed would be adequate for Afghanistan in 2002, when the Taliban and Al Qaeda appeared to have been routed.At present, the army fields more than 90,000 troops, and the Afghan National Police numbers about 80,000 officers.

NEW DELHI: United States' Central Intelligence Agency chief Leon Panetta today met Indian home minister P Chidambaram and discussed various issues including terrorism.During the meeting, the two sides expressed satisfaction on close cooperation between India and the US during the Mumbai terror strikes on November 26 last year, official sources said. The two sides also looked for new ways of forging closer alliance between the two countries in their fight against terrorism, they said. Panetta, who arrived here late last night, will be holding discussions with Intelligence Bureau Chief Rajiv Mathur. Panetta, who is scheduled to go to Pakistan from India, will also meet National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and RAW Chief K C Verma to discuss the security situation.

NEW YORK: British actress Natasha Richardson has died from head injuries sustained in a skiing accident in Canada. Richardson, 45, the daughter of actress Vanessa Redgrave, fell on a beginners' slope at the Mont Tremblant resort in Quebec on Monday. The family were devastated by the death of their "beloved Natasha", her husband Liam Neeson's publicist said. Richardson died in a New York hospital, close to the home she shared with Irish actor Neeson and their two sons. The accident happened while the actress was taking a supervised skiing lesson at the Quebec resort. She was one of the few modern actresses who was as smart as she was pretty Richardson initially showed no sign of injury but about an hour later she was taken to a nearby hospital after feeling unwell. It was later confirmed her injuries were critical.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves have recorded an increase of 108.5 million dollars and stood at 10.11 billion dollars on the week ended March 14.According to State Bank of Pakistan, of the totals reserves SBP holds 6.68 billion dollars while 3.47 billion dollars are with commercial banks.The experts attribute improvement in the country’s foreign exchange reserves to the reduction in exports and rise in foreign remittances.

NEW YORK: Oil prices jumped above 50 dollars Thursday after the Federal Reserve moved to inject another trillion dollars into the US financial system to boost the world's biggest economy. New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, ended 3.47 dollars higher from Wednesday's close to 51.61 dollars per barrel, topping 50 dollars for the first time in four months. In early trading Thursday, the contract surged to 52.25 dollars -- the highest level since November 28, 2008. Brent North Sea crude for May delivery rose 3.01 dollars to 50.67 in London after breaching 51 dollars. Analysts attributed the price jump to Wednesday's announcement by the US Federal Reserve that it would pump 1.15 trillion dollars into the financial system. The move also has pulled down the US dollar against key currencies. "You need to put this action in the context of what has happened in the last few weeks in the market. There has been a shift in market sentiment,

NYALA: Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir stressed on Wednesday his full commitment to realizing security, stability and development in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. He made the remarks when addressing a rally of local residents at the Sabdo area in South Darfur State during his second visit to the restive region since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him on March 4. The president reiterated his total rejection of the allegations of the ICC against him, terming the ICC move as "a plot against the unity of Sudan." "We respond to (General Prosecutor of the ICC Luis Moreno) Ocampo and his assistants in the Sabdo area today with more projects of development, reconstruction and expansion in building infrastructure and providing basic services including education, health and respectable livelihood to the Sudanese people in general and Darfur in particular," he announced. Bashir said that the allegations of the ICC was a consp

BAGHDAD: Six years after the United States invaded Iraq, Americans and Iraqis for the first time have starkly different views about the country's future. Americans are ready to close the book on the war, but for Iraqis, the story is far from over.As the war enters its seventh year this week, Americans are winding down their military presence. Violence, while not over, it is at its lowest since the war began, and Iraqi forces, U.S. officials said, are better able than ever to secure their nation. The United States and Iraq have agreed that most U.S. troops must withdraw by the end of 2011.Iraqis, however, worry their war may be just beginning. January's provincial elections stoked tensions between Sunni Muslim Arabs and Kurds in northern Iraq that could spill into central Iraq. It's not clear how Iraqi forces will conduct themselves once their U.S. counterparts have left the battlefield.Which version of the story prevails in the next year will determine the pace of the U.S.

PARIS: French workers staged a second nationwide strike in as many months Thursday in a show of force against President Nicolas Sarkozy's economic policies. Thursday's day of protest, disrupting air and rail transport, comes against a backdrop of mounting anger over job losses and factory closures, as France and its European neighbours feel the bite of a recession that appears set to last well into 2010. Unions and left-wing parties hope to draw more than a million people into the streets to demand a boost to wages and greater protection from the crisis, with some 200 rallies planned across France. Strike action caused the cancellation of one in three flights out of Paris' second airport of Orly, though 90 percent of flights were running out of Paris main Charles-de-Gaulle airport, civil aviation officials said. Nationwide, the state rail operator SNCF cancelled 40 percent of high-speed intercity TGV services and half of other regional trains. Commuters heading into Paris w

CAIRO: Osama bin Laden is urging militants in Somalia to continue to make war against the African nation’s new, moderate president.Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed was elected president of Somalia as part of a peace push in the lawless country.The Al-Qaida chief urged Somali militants to topple him in a new audio recording posted on the Internet today.The 11-and-a half-minute recording was released by al-Qaida’s media arm and posted on web sites known as clearinghouses for Islamic messaging.Somalia, a nation of about 8 million people, has not had a functioning government since warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991 and then turned on each other.According to law enforcement and U.S. intelligence officials, as many as 20 young Somali men have traveled from the U.S. to Somalia, causing concern both among security officials and members of Somali communities.

TEHRAN: A top advisor to hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday welcomed US President Barack Obama's message but urged him to back it with concrete action to repair past American mistakes.

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama issued an unprecedented videotaped appeal to Iran on Friday offering a "new beginning" of diplomatic engagement to turn the page on decades of U.S. policy toward America's longtime foe. "My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us, and to pursuing constructive ties," Obama said in a message released to select Middle East broadcast outlets timed for an Iranian holiday celebration. Reaching out directly to Iranian leaders and their people, Obama said: "This process will not be advanced by threats. We seek instead engagement that is honest and grounded in mutual respect." He said the United States wanted Iran to take its "rightful place in the community of nations," but also insisted that Tehran do its part to achieve reconciliation. "You have that right but it comes with real responsibilities, and that place cannot be reached through terror or arms, bu

MANAMA: A US Navy submarine and a US amphibious vessel collided in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday leaving 15 sailors slightly injured, the US Navy Fifth Fleet said. "The collision between USS Hartford (SSN 768) and USS New Orleans (LPD 18) occurred at approximately 1:00 am local time (2030 GMT on Thursday)," the Bahrain-based navy command said. "Fifteen sailors aboard the Hartford were slightly injured and returned to duty. No personnel aboard New Orleans were injured," it added.

MANAMA: A US Navy submarine and a US amphibious vessel collided in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday slightly injuring 15 sailors and creating a fuel spill of around 25,000 gallons, the US Navy said."The collision between USS Hartford (SSN 768) and USS New Orleans (LPD 18) occurred at approximately 1:00 am local time (2030 GMT on Thursday)," the Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet said."Fifteen sailors aboard the Hartford were slightly injured and returned to duty. No personnel aboard New Orleans were injured," it added.The New Orleans' fuel tank ruptured, causing the spill of diesel fuel.Both ships are operating under their own power, and the overall damage to both vessels is being evaluated, the statement added.The Strait of Hormuz, less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) at its widest point, separates Oman from Iran and is the gateway into the oil-rich Gulf.An estimated 40 percent of the world's crude oil passes through the strait on the way to market.Both the submarine a

MUMBAI: Katrina Kaif is planning to open a chic restaurant in Mumbai and for this she she is looking for a business partner to team up with.The health conscious actress is ready to foray into a new business. She is set to invest in an up-class, high-end coffee house-cum-bar-cum-lounge-cum-restaurant where people can have not just international cuisines, but also socialize and relax.“I want the restaurant to be styled and designed something along the lines of a London or New York high-end coffee shop, somewhere classy and cool,” Katrina is quoted by a Mumbai tabloid.

SWAT: A 3.6 magnitude earthquake shook district Swat on Friday created panic among the residents, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The epicenter of the quake, which struck at around 9:35 am was in Mingora, meteorological agency said.

KARACHI: Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sherry Rehman said on Friday that interference of some ministers in the affairs of her ministry made her call it a day.Talking to journalists at Karachi airport, Sherry said she believes in politics of principles and tendered resignation on the basis of principles.The PPP leader said she does not want to weaken the government in any way as country’s security and stability lies in politics of reconciliation and moderation. “PPP is determined to take on challenges and reconciliation is the need of hour”, she said. “Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had decided not to curb media and I have fulfilled my responsibility in this connection,” she added.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that the long march began in current month and the mission to get rid of outdated system will be accomplished by March next year.Addressing PML-N workers here on Friday, Nawaz said March 16 will be remembered as a revolutionary day in the history of Pakistan when the nation got united for the supremacy of justice. He said a revolution is needed to change the outdated system. He congratulated the nation on the reinstatement of deposed judges.Nawaz said the restoration of judiciary will be celebrated in PML-N General Council meeting on March 23.