News in Brief

Letta begins coalition talks in Italy
Afp, Rome

Italian moderate leftist Enrico Letta yesterday began complex talks on forming a new coalition government aimed at tackling what the prime minister-designate called a social "emergency".
The 46-year-old Letta -- who would be one of Europe's youngest leaders if he succeeds -- has said he wants a government that is more in tune with the needs of ordinary Italians and that can steer away from harsh austerity measures.
Silvio Berlusconi's rightist People of Freedom party and outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti's centrist coalition have all said they will support his government. But the talks will be no easy ride between bickering political forces.

Graft trial of Lieberman begins
Afp, Jerusalem

Israel's former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman was in court yesterday as his trial on charges of fraud and breach of trust got under way in Jerusalem.
At a first hearing on February 17, Lieberman pleaded not guilty in a trial which will decide the one-time nightclub bouncer's political future.
Lieberman is suspected of trying to secure an ambassadorial posting for Israeli diplomat Zeev Ben Aryeh who provided him with confidential information about a police investigation into his affairs. The incident allegedly took place in 2008 when Lieberman was serving only as an MP.

Hagel seals US arms deal with UAE
Afp, Abu Dhabi

US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel will meet United Arab Emirates leaders yesterday to wrap up a major arms deal that both nations see as a way to thwart Iran's military power.
Hagel arrived in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday on the last leg of a six-nation tour of the Middle East in which he has sought to renew ties with American allies who share Washington's concerns over Iran's nuclear project and Syria's civil war.
Before his departure, the Pentagon announced plans for an elaborate weapons sale to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, including more than two dozen F-16 fighter jets to the UAE at a value of nearly $5 billion.

Blast near Taj Mahal kills two
Afp, Agra

An explosion in a scrapyard near the world-famous Taj Mahal in the northern India city of Agra killed two men and injured a woman, police said yesterday.
The blast occurred four kilometres (two miles) from the white marble mausoleum, known as the "monument of love", as scrapyard workers attempted to separate explosives from metal scrap that had been bought from the army.
India's Supreme Court in 1996 declared a large protected zone around the Taj after industries were found to be contributing to a yellowing of the 360-year-old monument which attracts four million visitors a year.

Two Tibetans self-immolate in China
Afp, Beijing

Two Tibetan monks in southwestern China died after setting themselves on fire, a media outlet and a rights group said, the latest in a series of such protests against Beijing's rule.
Lobsang Dawa and Konchog Woeser set themselves ablaze on Wednesday in Sichuan province's Aba prefecture, where many such incidents have occurred, said US-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Britain-based rights group Free Tibet.
RFA said monks held prayers for the deceased, aged 20 and 23, and the bodies were due to be cremated later.
More than 110 Tibetans have set themselves alight since 2009, with most dying of their injuries, in demonstrations against what they view as Chinese oppression.

Afghan quake, floods kill 38
Afp, Kabul

A powerful earthquake and flash floods which struck Afghanistan this week killed at least 38 people and damaged hundreds of homes, the presidential palace said yesterday, offering aid to victims.
Wednesday's quake killed 17 and injured 126 in the eastern province of Nangarhar while 300 homes were damaged, a statement said. In neighbouring Kunar province, one person was killed, four injured and 45 homes damaged.
The continuing flash floods in the northern province of Balkh have killed 20 and damaged 1,900 houses, it said.
Floods had also cost lives and damaged property in Ghor and Baghlan provinces, the statement said without giving any figures. President Hamid Karzai had ordered emergency help for victims, it added.