International news of the week

Saturday

Davos: India and the European Union (EU)say they are making steady progress towards concluding the ambitious bilateral trade opening pact on goods, services and investment.

Davos: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani says there was "no chance" of a military coup in Pakistan as the army desires democracy and stability in the country.

Sunday

Davos: The 5-day annual World Economic Forum meeting concludes here with global CEOs listing job creation, income inequality and high energy prices as the most pressing areas of concern in 2012 for the world economy, including emerging markets like India.

Damascus: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's opponents seek to ramp up pressure on the international community for UN action after the Arab League withdrew its observers and 16 soldiers died in attacks.

Monday

Islamabad: A travel ban imposed on Pakistan's ex-ambassador to US, Husain Haqqani is being lifted by the Supreme Court which also gives the judicial commission two more months to complete its probe in the memo scandal that rocked ties between the civilian government and the military.

New York: Asking Pakistani government to take on the military and intelligence services, Human Rights Watch blasts the ISI and calls for redoubling of efforts to identify the killers of investigative reporter Saleem Shahzad.

Tuesday

London: A Lithuanian national arrested in the UK for the twin murders of Indian-origin Avtar Singh Kolar and his British wife in Birmingham earlier this month, was found hanging in jail.

Chicago: US government has asked a court here to deny Pakistan-born Canadian Tahawwur Rana's plea for a new trial in cases related to the Mumbai and Denmark terror plots, arguing that the court was right in convicting him for aiding Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Wednesday

London: Four al-Qaeda inspired Britons, including a man of Indian origin, has pleaded guilty to plotting a Mumbai-style attack on the London Stock Exchange, the American embassy and other targets during the run up to Christmas in 2010.

London: A "disappointed" British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he would do "everything he can" to "encourage" India to reconsider its decision to acquire 126 French-made Rafale fighter jets instead of the UK-backed Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

Thursday

Cairo: Egypt's worst soccer violence claim at least 74 lives in the northern city of Port Said, plunging the nation into rage and prompting protests and clashes with police in the capital.

Islamabad: Apparently upset by his defiance of its order to reopen graft cases against the President, Pakistan Supreme Court today directed Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani to appear in person on February 13 when he will be charged with contempt, a move which may trigger a fresh political crisis.

London: In a move bound to create ripples, Britain announceS a shift of focus in its immigration policy which now seeks to welcome only those Indian and other non-EU immigrants "who add to the quality of life" barring others with a low income potential.

Friday

Kuala Lumpur: Indian Air Force Chief N A K Browne holds wide ranging talks with authorities here on bilateral defence cooperation in a bid to further bolster strong military ties with the key South-East Asian neighbour.

Islamabad: Pakistan, whose judicial panel failed to visit India as scheduled to record statements of key officials linked to the investigation of the Mumbai attacks, indicates that the commission could be sent to the neighbouring country before February 10.