International news of the week

Islamabad: India and Pakistan discuss a wide array of defence-related confidence building measures, including a proposed pact to prevent "situations at sea" and contacts between military training establishments, during talks between their Foreign Secretaries.

Islamabad: The trial of LeT's Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other Pakistanis charged with involvement in Mumbai attacks is adjourned for a fortnight as no new judge has been appointed for the anti-terrorism court hearing the case following the transfer of Justice Rana Nisar Ahmed.

Toronto: 'Dabangg' and 'My Name is Khan' wins top honours at the 12th IIFA awards with the Salman Khan starrer scooping up six trophies in the popular category, while the best actor and director awards went to Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar respectively.

New York: Indian Consul General in New York Prabhu Dayal, who is accused of treating a former domestic help as a slave and making sexual advances, says the Indian government will now have to decide how to proceed with the forced labour lawsuit filed against him by his former maid.

Abuja: At least 25 people died and more than 30 injured, as members of Islamic sect of Boko Haram throw bombs and fired shots into a beer garden in Nigeria's northern city of Maiduguri.

Islamabad: The dreaded Pakistani Taliban splits over the issue of suicide bombing and the first casualty seems to have been a senior terrorist commander, known for training and deploying over 1,000 suicide bombers, who was shot dead in the restive North Waziristan.

Washington: After a gap of six years, the United States takes India off the human trafficking 'Watch List' for making significant efforts in combating the menace.

Islamabad: Pakistan cannot afford to match the induction of modern weaponry by India, which possibly has a greater capacity to sustain a war, Pakistani Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar says.

Islamabad: A top Taliban commander threatens to carry out attacks on nine more key installations in Pakistan similar to the strike on Mehran Naval Base in Karachi to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden.

Colombo: Sri Lanka releases 23 Indian fishermen who were arrested last week for reportedly straying into country's water, after India took up the matter with authorities.

Washington: With the US set to begin drawdown of its troops from Afghanistan next month, India tells the Obama administration that it does not want to get involved in the security affairs of the war-torn country but would continue its developmental efforts there.

Moscow: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram meets Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov and discusses ways to strengthen Indo-Russian cooperation in hi-tech sector, besides sharing views on situation in Afghanistan.

Washington: The US is facing tough competition for "good jobs" from emerging economies like India and China, says President Barack Obama as he assures Americans that he will not mortgage their future by cutting down spendings on education and other social security.

Beijing: China turns red as the ruling Communist Party celebrates its 90th anniversary with President Hu Jintao promising political reforms but only under the "absolute control" of the CPC over military and government.