News in Brief

Obama cuts funds for spy agencies
Afp, Washington

President Barack Obama's proposed budget unveiled Wednesday calls for cuts of at least $4.4 billion to America's intelligence agencies, in a sign of growing fiscal pressures.
Obama is requesting $48.2 billion for the CIA and other spy agencies starting October 1, down from a proposed $52.6 billion for fiscal year 2013, according to the national intelligence director's office.
Separately, the Pentagon said it had requested $14 billion for military intelligence programs, down from $21.5 billion spent in fiscal year 2012.
The figure reflected a trend in recent years, with the Pentagon -- which funds a number of spy services -- scaling back intelligence spending since 2010.

China bird flu death toll hits 10
Afp, Shanghai

The death toll from H7N9 bird flu in China reached 10 yesterday with another victim in Shanghai, as cities banned people from raising chickens at home to try to contain the outbreak.
China has confirmed 38 human cases of H7N9 avian influenza after announcing on March 31 that it had found the strain in people for the first time.
One person, a young boy in Shanghai, has been discharged from hospital after recovering but the city reported the death of a 74-year-old retired man on Thursday.
Chinese authorities say they do not know how the virus is spreading, but it is believed to be crossing to humans from birds.

US offers help to quake-hit Iran
Reuters, Washington

The White House, at odds with Iran over its nuclear program, offered on Wednesday to help Tehran grapple with a deadly earthquake in southern Iran.
The powerful 6.3 magnitude quake struck close to Iran's only nuclear power station on Tuesday, killing 37 people and injuring 850 as it destroyed homes and devastated two small villages, Iranian media reported.
Caitlin Hayden, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said in a statement the American people extended condolences to the people of Iran for the devastation that resulted from the quake.

Pak teacher gang-raped
Pti, Islamabad

A 26-year-old school teacher was kidnapped and gang raped while on her way to work in Pakistan's central Punjab province.
The woman was found lying in a field in Khanewal, near Multan city, yesterday.
She was taken to a hospital in Jhang and a medico-legal examination at a nearby rural health centre confirmed she had been raped.
Doctors at the centre said she might need surgery. Police registered a case against three suspects named by the woman's family, The Express Tribune reported.