Mumbai holds vigils on eve of attacks anniversary

MUMBAI, India — On the eve of the first anniversary of the deadly terror attacks that paralyzed Mumbai for 60 terrifying hours, groups around the city held vigils, calling for police reform and painting murals to remember the 166 killed.

On Nov. 26, ten Pakistan-based gunmen fanned out across the Indian financial capital, shooting up luxury hotels, a major train station and other sites, as police and military struggled for nearly three days to regain control. Seven men were charged in Pakistan on Wednesday for their roles in the assault.

China committed on national defence policy: Hu

BEIJING: China urged more contact with the U.S. military on Friday while President Hu Jintao said his nation’s plans for space were peaceful, striking a conciliatory tone ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit.

Improving bilateral military ties would help the overall relationship between the two big powers, He Yafei, China’s vice foreign minister, told a news conference held in advance of Obama’s visit to China from November 15 to 18.

Obesity causes 100,000 U.S. cancer cases, group says

WASHINGTON: Obesity causes more than 100,000 cases of cancer in the United States each year — and the number will likely rise as Americans get fatter, researchers said on Thursday.

Having too much body fat causes nearly half the cases of endometrial cancer — a type of cancer of the uterus — and a third of esophageal cancer cases, the American Institute for Cancer Research said.

Karzai may lose West support, Brown warns

LONDON: The West could withdraw support for Afghan President Hamid Karzai if he fails to live up to its expectations during his second term, Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned on Friday.

While defending Britain’s Afghanistan mission against waning public support, Brown admitted Karzai’s government had become a “by-word for corruption” — and also pressed for more Afghan troops to bear the brunt of frontline action.

Earthquake injures 700 in southern Iran

TEHRAN: Iran’s state news agency says an earthquake has injured at least 700 people in the country’s south.

Local news agency reported Wednesday that 100 of the injured had been hospitalized while the rest were minor cases. The 4.9-magnitude quake struck the southern port city of Bandar Abbas at 2:56 a.m. local time, cutting power and telephone lines and sending residents streaming into the streets.

Israel releases 6 Palestinian MPs

GAZA: Israel has released six members of the Palestinian parliament affiliated to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) who were jailed after resistance fighters seized Gilad Shalit in a 2006 cross-border raid.

The freed lawmakers were identified as Ahmad Attoun and Wael Al-Husseini from Jerusalem Al-Quds, Khalil Ar-Rabai, Samir Al-Qadi, and Mahir Badr from Hebron (al-Khalil), and Mahmoud Al-Khatib from Bethlehem (Beit Lahm).

Yeddyurappa will stay, says Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI: A two-hour BJP central leadership meeting here on Monday tried to find a solution to the party’s problems in Karnataka without having to change the Chief Minister.

It was made clear by party functionaries that efforts were on to work out a “compromise formula” to meet some of the demands of the dissident group led by the Reddy brothers — Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy — from Bellary who have been asking for the replacement of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

Hopes fade in boat disaster search

There are grave concerns for 11 people who are still missing after their boat sank 350 nautical miles off the Cocos Islands in Australia’s search and rescue zone.

One aircraft has continued searching for survivors overnight and several more will be deployed this morning to join the search.

Arab League chief Mussa backs Abbas on Israel talks

CAIRO — Arab League chief Amr Mussa Monday accused Israel of sabotaging US efforts to restart Middle East peace talks and said he backed the Palestinians’ refusal to negotiate until Israel halted settlement activity.

Mussa told AFP he feared Washington’s diplomatic push had been brought back “to the starting point” due to Israel’s refusal to halt settlement building in the West Bank, a Palestinian precondition for the resumption of talks.

44th birthday of Bollywood’s Shahrukh Khan

MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan the superstar enters a make-or-break year on Monday — and 375 of his die-hard fans in Calcutta are seeking divine intervention to beat his 44th birthday blues.

“SRK has been facing some personal and professional problems recently, so we thought of beginning the day with puja and rituals for him.