News in Brief

India, Nepal agree to share intel
Pti, Kathmandu

India and Nepal have agreed to exchange information to combat terrorism and curb criminal activities like human and drug trafficking and smuggling of Indian counterfeit currency across their open border.
During the annual Home Secretary-level talks between Home Secretary R K Singh and Nepalese counterpart Navin Kumar Ghimire that concluded here on Saturday, both sides agreed to increase vigilance and cooperation in border areas.
The day-long meeting mainly focused on border management, security and problems facing the people residing on both sides of the border, according to a press release issued by the Home Ministry of Nepal on Saturday.
The two side agreed to tackle criminal activities such as human and drug trafficking, smuggling of Indian counterfeit currency and trade in illegal substances at the meeting.

Zardari won't contest again
Pti, Islamabad

President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday said he will not contest the next presidential polls later this year as his Pakistan Peoples Party no longer has a majority in the national and provincial assemblies after it was routed in the historic May 11 general elections.
PPP no longer has the numbers to ensure the re-election of Zardari, who became chief of the PPP after his wife was assassinated in December 2007.

Us tornado toll hits 14
Afp, Chicago

Tornadoes and floods in the United States killed at least 14 people, including two children, officials said Saturday, with most of the fatalities in Oklahoma where a monster twister struck last month.
Friday night's storms battered areas in and around Oklahoma City with high winds, heavy rain and hail, much of it near where 24 people were killed in the May 20 tornado.

Japan to give $1b for Sahel region
Afp, Yokohama

Japan said yesterday it would give $1 billion in aid to help stabilise the Islamist-infested Sahel region of Africa, five months after the death of 10 Japanese in a hostage crisis.
The money is part of a $14 billion aid package to be given to Africa over five years, which Abe announced Saturday.
It comes in addition to a $120 million aid pledge Tokyo announced in January, days after Islamist gunmen overran a gas plant in the Algerian desert, killing dozens of foreigners.

57 militants killed in Afghanistan
Ians, Kabul

57 militants have been killed in a series of military operations in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, the Interior Ministry said yesterday.
The Afghan National Police supported by the army and the Nato-led coalition forces carried out several joint operations in Kandahar, Ghazni, Helmand, Kapisa, Paktika and Paktiya provinces, Xinhua reported.
The operations killed 57 armed Taliban insurgents, wounded eight and also led to the arrest of 12 Taliban fighters.

Strong quake hits Taiwan
Afp, Taipei

A strong earthquake hit Taiwan yesterday, killing one person, injuring 21 others and violently shaking buildings in the capital Taipei, officials said.
The quake sent people running into the streets and was also felt in Hong Kong, more than 700 kilometres away.
Taiwan's Seismology Centre measured the quake's magnitude at 6.3, while the US Geological Survey put it at 6.2.

India, Nepal agree to share intel