At least 250 injured as Yemen police disperse protest

SANAA - YEMEN police fired tear gas and live bullets at protesters holding an anti-regime demonstration in the city of Taez on Sunday, injuring at least 250, witnesses said.

'Between 250 and 300 protesters were injured, some with live bullets, as police opened fire to disperse a protest heading to the governorate headquarters,' in the city that lies 200km south of the capital Sanaa, a witness said.

Police continued to fire as security forces pushed back demonstrators to a square where they have been holding a sit-in as part of nationwide protests demanding that President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down, witnesses said.

A member of parliament who did not want to be named charged that police were 'attempting to storm the sit-in square.' -- AFP

Japan, France call for G-20 nuclear regulators meeting

'We must fully understand what happened and what was experienced in Japan,' Mr Sarkozy told a joint press conference with Mr Kan. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO - JAPAN and France pledged on Thursday to push for improved international nuclear safety standards as Tokyo struggled to contain an atomic plant disaster caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the chairman of the Group of Eight and Group of 20, said the forums will take up the issue this year, as Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan shares Japan's experience with the rest of the world.

'We must fully understand what happened and what was experienced in Japan,' Mr Sarkozy told a joint press conference with Mr Kan.

'We have chosen to use nuclear power. That will not change,' he said, calling for strict international safety standards.

Mr Sarkozy also called for a meeting among nuclear safety agencies from G-20 member states.

'We call on the independent authorities of G-20 members to meet, if possible in Paris, to define an international nuclear safety standard' for power plants, he said in a speech earlier in the day at the French Embassy in Tokyo. 'It is absolutely abnormal that these international safety standards do not exist,' he said, suggesting the Paris meeting could take place as early as May. -- AFP

Dutch woman, 63, gives birth: New country record

THE HAGUE - A 63-YEAR-OLD Dutch woman gave birth to a daughter on Monday, becoming the oldest-ever new mother in the Netherlands, the hospital and news reports said.

'Baby Meagan was born at the Medical Centre Leeuwarden at 9.48am (0848 GMT, 4.48pm Singapore time) on March 21,' said a statement on the website of the hospital in the northern Dutch province of Friesland.

'Meagan is the daughter of Tineke Geessink, a 63-year-old woman from Harlingen.' The girl was born with the aid of Caesarian section, said the statement, adding: 'Both mother and daughter are fine'.

Dutch media reports said Ms Geessink was the oldest-ever Dutch woman to become a mother. 'It is a feeling that I have had for so long', to have a child, the woman told Dutch public radio, NOS.

'At some point there was something inside me saying: 'It is now or never', and I decided to try everything possible to see if it is still possible.' The NOS said the woman got pregnant through a foreign sperm donor as Dutch fertility doctors would not help her due to her age.

'There is no guarantee that if you have a child at a young age you will see your child grow up,' Ms Geessink, a single mother, told the radio. 'Of course, the risk with me is bigger. And whether the child will find it nice to have such an old mother ... I hope that she loves me so much that she will just be glad to have me.' -- AFP

Gaddafi compound strike hit control centre: Official

WASHINGTON - AN AIRSTRIKE against an administrative building in a compound including Muammar Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli destroyed the Libyan leader's 'command and control capability,' a coalition official told AFP on Sunday.

The official, who asked not to be identified, commented after a missile destroyed the building in the compound that includes Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli.

'The coalition is actively enforcing UNSCR (UN Security Council Resolution) 1973, and that in keeping with that mission, we continue to strike those targets which pose a direct threat to the Libyan people and to our ability to implement the no-fly zone,' the official said.

The building, which was about 50m from the tent where Gaddafi generally meets guests, was flattened.

Tripoli was rocked by powerful explosions late on Sunday, of which one was heard coming from the area around Gaddafi's residence.

An AFP journalist saw smoke billowing from the residence and barracks at Bab el-Aziziya in the south of the Libyan capital as anti aircraft guns fired shots. -- AFP

Yemen president sacks cabinet, crowds bury 'martyrs'

SANAA - EMBATTLED Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh sacked his government on Sunday as mourners massed in Sanaa to bury many of the 52 people gunned down by his loyalists, and more regime figures quit over the killings.

Tens of thousands of people turned out for the funerals in what witnesses said was the largest gathering of Mr Saleh's opponents since protests against his autocratic regime erupted in late January.

About 30 bodies were laid out in rows, and the square near Sanaa University overflowed with mourners who gathered under tight security and despite the state of emergency.

On Friday pro-Saleh snipers on rooftops raked demonstrators in the square with bullets in an attack which more than doubled the death toll from several weeks of unrest to around 80.

The violence drew condemnation from the United Nations, the European Union and the United States, which sees Mr Saleh as a key partner in battling Al-Qaeda in the region.

Mr Saleh suffered a further blow with the resignation on Sunday of Yemen's ambassador to the United Nations, Abdullah Alsaidi, and human rights minister Huda al-Baan in protest at the deadly attacks on demonstrators. 'Abdullah Alsaidi has submitted his resignation to protest at the use of violence against demonstrators,' a foreign ministry official said. -- AFP

India 'regrets' air strikes on Libya

NEW DELHI - INDIA expressed regret on Sunday over the multinational air strikes on Libya, appealing in a foreign ministry statement for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Forces led by France, Britain and US began bombarding Libya with missiles from air and sea on Saturday to enforce a United Nations-mandated no-fly zone and protection of rebels from Muammar Gaddafi's forces.

'India views with grave concern the continuing violence, strife and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Libya,' the statement said.

'It regrets the air strikes that are taking place. The measures adopted should mitigate and not exacerbate an already difficult situation for the people of Libya.' China and Russia have also issued similar statements.

The two nations were the most prominent voices in opposition to military action in Libya within the 15-member United Nations Security Council, of which India is also a member.

However Beijing, Moscow and New Delhi did not block the UN resolution authorising the operation, abstaining in the Security Council vote on the issue rather than using their veto power. -- AFP

Libya suspends help on illegal EU immigration

TRIPOLI - LIBYA has decided to suspend cooperation with Europe in the fight against illegal immigration, state television reported on Sunday, quoting a security official.

'Libya has decided not to be responsible over the illegal immigration to Europe,' the television cited the official as saying.

The decision follows air strikes and the unleashing of barrages of Tomahawk missiles at Libyan targets on Saturday by the United States, Britain and France after a UN Security Council resolution with Arab backing authorised military action to stop Muammar Gaddafi's forces attacking pro-democracy rebels.

The European Commission in October offered Libya up to 50 million euros (S$89.8 million) in aid to stop the flow of illegal migrants to Europe and protect refugees.

Libya alone has 2,000km of coastline and twice as much in borders with north African neighbours.

Boats carrying thousands of undocumented migrants, mainly Tunisians, have landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa in recent weeks putting a heavy strain on Italy's immigration infrastructure and leading to pleas for EU assistance. -- AFP

Qatar to take part in military action over Libya

CAIRO - QATAR will participate in military action over Libya with the aim of ending bloodshed there, Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani told Doha-based Al Jazeera television channel.

The Arab League had called for a no-fly zone over Libya a week before Western powers backed a UN Security Council resolution that authorised such a zone and 'all necessary means'- code for military action - to protect civilians.

'Qatar will participate in military action because we believe there must be Arab states undertaking this action, because the situation there is intolerable,' he told Al Jazeera television channel.

But the channels said he did not specify what Qatar's precise role would be.

When the resolution was passed, UN diplomats had said they understood the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan were among Arab League members prepared to take part in enforcing the no-fly zone.

'The cause of killing is not a protest ... it has become an open war involving mercenaries. I think that this is an issue that must stop very quickly,' the prime minister said. -- REUTERS

Hundreds shot in Bahrain as emergency declared

MANAMA - TWO people died and hundreds were wounded in clashes between anti-regime protesters and Bahrain's security forces on Tuesday, as the king imposed a state of emergency a day after calling in foreign troops.

Top Bahraini Shi'ite clerics sought Muslim and international help as they warned that anti-regime protesters would be targeted with a 'massacre'.

And as the violence escalated Iran, Bahrain's Shi'ite neighbour across the Gulf, protested the 'unacceptable' intervention of foreign troops there. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meanwhile, called on Bahrainis to resolve the crisis politically.

'More than 200 people we received today had been shot with buckshot,' a hospital medic in the village of Sitra, south of the capital, told AFP by telephone.

More than 200 others had been admitted to hospital suffering from tear gas inhalation, and the hospital itself was under siege by armed gangs and security forces, he added.

They were targeting Shi'ites - the backbone of anti-regime protests that have raged for a month, he said. The medic said people had 'confronted the gangs when they arrived in the village', only to discover that they were carrying guns. -- AFP

Australian firebrand Hanson attempts comeback

Pauline Hanson is making a political comeback, running for election in New South Wales later this month. -- ST FILE PHOTO

SYDNEY - AUSTRALIAN anti-immigration firebrand Pauline Hanson confirmed on Wednesday she is attempting a political comeback by standing in a state election this month.

In a surprise move, Mrs Hanson - who once famously warned that Australia was at risk of being 'swamped by Asians' - is running for an upper house seat with a group of independents in the New South Wales poll on March 26.

The former One Nation party chief told Fairfax Radio Network that it was 'in the people's interest of New South Wales to ensure that I am on the floor', though she conceded that it would be a 'battle' to get elected.

Mrs Hanson drew international condemnation but briefly won domestic support in the 1990s with her anti-immigration and trade protection policies, before losing her seat in 1998. She spent several weeks in jail in 2003 for fraudulently spending electoral funds before the judgment was overturned. She insisted on Wednesday that she was 'not racist'.

'No one can ever comment or make a comment on any racist statement I have ever said,' she told the radio show. 'I have... as an Australian... a right to question immigration and multiculturalism, which I don't believe is helping our country.'

Mrs Hanson said she believed in 'people coming here, assimilating, becoming Australians' and abiding by Australian laws. 'I don't think there's anything wrong with that,' she said. -- AFP

Rio Carnival to culminate with sumptuous parades

The monster of all the blocos, the Bloco Bola Preta, filled the centre of Rio with a motley crowd of up to two million people wearing all manner of garb - or in many cases, little at all. -- PHOTO: AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO - BRAZIL'S famous Carnival kicks into high gear on Sunday as the city prepares to hold sumptuous multimillion-dollar parades amid what is billed as the Greatest Party on Earth.

A light rain did nothing to dampen the festive spirit on Saturday, serving more as a refreshing cool-down for bodies worked into a sweat as they danced and gyrated at the numerous 'blocos,' or street parties.

The monster of all the blocos, the Bloco Bola Preta, filled the centre of Rio with a motley crowd of up to two million people wearing all manner of garb - or in many cases, little at all.

'Everybody is mixing here. There's no class differences. None. Everybody is here with the same plan, to have fun,' said one young woman sporting Elton John-style oversized yellow sunglasses and a bouffant Afro wig.

Throughout the city, nearly 800,000 tourists, Brazilian and foreign, were taking part in the extravaganza alongside most of Rio's population of six million, turning the place into a bohemian sprawl buoyed by high-decibel samba music.

Although the focus was on Rio, which holds key parades on Sunday and Monday, the whole nation was letting loose for Carnival. -- AFP

Police, pro-government activists block Algerian protest

Hundreds of demonstrators face police during a demonstration in Algiers. -- PHOTO: AFP

ALGIERS - ALGERIAN police and pro-government activists on Saturday foiled a sixth attempt by opposition protesters to march in the capital Algiers.

A faction of the National Coordination for Change and Democracy (CNCD) had called the protest in defiance of an official ban on demonstrating in Algiers.

But several dozen demonstrators found themselves quickly surrounded by police.

Counter-demonstrators carrying photos of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika chanted 'Bouteflika Is Not (Hosni) Mubarak' - the Egyptian president forced out by a popular uprising on February 18 - as they chased and roughed up the anti-government protestors.

The counter-demonstrators, mostly young people, then turned on Said Sadi, a member of the CNCD and the head of the small opposition Rally for Culture and Democracy, saying they would 'lynch' him, according to an eyewitness, adding that Sadi fled the scene after shouting: 'We will continue to march regardless of the steps the regime takes to prevent us.' Saturday's foiled protest was the sixth attempt since Jan 22.

It was planned to begin in three different locations to make it harder for police to shut it down. Previous bids at holding a substantial demonstration have also been foiled. -- AFP

Saudi Arabia bans all protest and marches

RIYADH - SAUDI Arabia has banned all protests and marches, state television on Saturday cited the Interior Ministry as saying after Saudi minority Shi'ites staged small protests in the oil-producing eastern province.

Security forces would use all measures to prevent any attempt to disrupt public order, state news channel al-Ekhbariya said in an alert without giving details. -- REUTERS

Jordan nixes constitutional monarchy calls

AMMAN - THOUSANDS of Jordanians demonstrated on Friday in Amman to demand 'regime reforms,' a day after Prime Minister Maaruf Bakhit rejected calls for a constitutional monarchy.

'The people want regime reform. Reform is a popular demand. We want a new electoral law,' the protesters, including Islamists, trade unionists and leftists, chanted in the city centre after midday prayers.

Holding national flags, the demonstrators, estimated by Islamist leaders at 10,000 and by police at 5,000, carried banners reading: 'We need bread and freedom,' "Down with the bullying policy' and 'Together let's dissolve parliament.'

'We stick to our demands to have a modern electoral law, early elections, a new method of forming governments as well as more efforts to fight corruption,' Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Jamil Abu Baker told the crowds.

'We reject all attempts to kill or abort real political reforms, which should be implemented in line with a clear timeframe.' The demonstration, which the Islamists expected to attract 20,000, came a day after Mr Bakhit won a close vote of confidence, telling MPs that a constitutional monarchy, which some groups have been demanding, would 'unbalance Jordan's political system.'

Nationalists and independent Islamists have formed a commission for what they call a 'Constitutional Monarchy Initiative,' saying 'the solution for Jordan is to move to a constitutional monarchy under which the king does not rule.' -- AFP

Yemen army shoots dead four protesters

SANAA - YEMENI troops killed four demonstrators and wounded seven others on Friday when they fired on an anti-regime rally in the north, officials and Shiite rebels said, as protests raged across the country.

The shooting, which came a day after the opposition and clerics offered embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh a smooth exit from power, took place in the village of Semla, 170km from the capital Sanaa.

'Two protesters were killed and nine others were wounded when soldiers opened fire from a military position on the demonstration calling for Mr Saleh's departure,' a leader of the Zaidi rebels said on condition of anonymity.

The death toll later rose to four when two protesters died of their wounds, according to a government official in the northern province of Amran, who declined to be named.

The shooting was also reported on the rebels' news website almenpar.net, which said the government troops 'killed and wounded dozens' when they shot at them from a military post.

Protesters had taken to the streets of the nearby town of Harf Sufyan to criticise corruption and call for a regime change after 30 years of rule by Mr Saleh, said the website. -- AFP

Prince Harry cancels sporting trip to Dubai

LONDON - BRITAIN'S Prince Harry has cancelled a visit to Dubai later this month for a charity polo match because he feels it would be 'insensitive' given the unrest in the region, his spokesman said on Friday.

The 26-year-old, the second son of heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his late wife, Diana, was due to play in the match on March 19 to raise money for his Sentebale charity, which helps vulnerable children in Lesotho.

'Prince Harry will no longer be making his planned visit to Dubai on 19th March. As a consequence, the Sentebale Polo Cup - scheduled to coincide with Prince Harry's visit - has been cancelled,' his spokesman said.

'Prince Harry was very much looking forward to the visit, but feels that it would be insensitive for him to participate in a sporting event at a time when there are matters of greater priority to focus on in the region.

'Prince Harry looks forward to other opportunities to visit Dubai in the future.' The Middle East and North Africa has been rocked by unrest since an uprising in Tunisia in January, notably in Libya where opponents of veteran leader Moamer Kadhafi have taken control of swathes of the east of the country. -- AFP

Hollywood actresses wear Taiwanese designer's jewellery to Oscars

Swank chose to accessorise her metallic and feathered Gucci gown with an Anna Hu 'Exotic Twin Orchid' hairpiece and Gardenia ring. -- PHOTO: AP

AT THE Oscars on Sunday, an event honouring the best movies which also serves as the most important celebrity fashion showcase of the year, famed American actresses Scarlett Johansson and Hilary Swank chose to wear the Haute Joaillerie from Taiwanese jewellery designer Anna Hu.

Ms Hu's precious pieces won the hearts of two-time Academy Award winning actress Swank and blonde bombshell Johansson.

Swank chose to accessorise her metallic and feathered Gucci gown with an Anna Hu 'Exotic Twin Orchid' hairpiece and Gardenia ring. The hairpiece, a one-of-kind creation, is a purple titanium metal construction studded with 200 briolette silver-gray and white diamonds. The 18k white-gold ring she wore was glittering with white diamonds.

The sexy Johansson, who wore a lacy, puce Dolce & Gabbana gown, completed her look with a pair of Anna Hu earrings and a ring decked in rubies, emeralds and diamonds that formed an Asian dragon-motif.

ABC news anchor Robin Roberts, who live broadcast the entire 2011 Academy Awards, was also a huge fan of Ms Hu's, flashing her haute baubles for the camera lens.

Notable celebrities who have worn Ms Hu's creations in the past are singer Madonna and actress Drew Barrymore. -- THE CHINA POST

Scientists warn of water woes

OTTAWA - DEMAND for water in agriculture and energy production could spike in the coming decades while catastrophic floods and droughts strike more often, a water conference in Canada is to hear this week.

'At unpredictable times, too much water will arrive in some places and too little in others,' said Zafar Adeel, chair of UN Water which coordinates water-related efforts of 28 United Nations organisations and agencies.

Within a generation, water demand in many countries is forecast to exceed supply by an estimated 40 per cent. In other parts of the world prone to flooding, catastrophic floods normally expected once a century could occur every 20 years instead.

Meanwhile, spending on technologies and services to discover, manage, filter, disinfect and desalinate water, improve infrastructure and distribution, mitigate flood damage and reduce water consumption by households, industry and agriculture is expected to rise to a trillion dollars annually by 2020.

Some 300 scientists, policy-makers and economists will release these and other research findings as well as proven new tools, ideas and best practices for optimising water management at a Canadian Water Network international conference in Ottawa.

The event kicks off on February 28 and runs through March 3. Conference speaker Hans Schreier of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver will present research buttressing the need for flood-prone areas to brace for more frequent disasters. -- AFP

Astronauts prepare for 1st of 2 spacewalks

CAPE CANAVERAL (Florida) - THE astronauts aboard the orbiting shuttle-station complex geared up on Sunday for the first spacewalk of their mission, amid some good news from Mission Control.

Flight controllers told Discovery's six astronauts that the shuttle made it through its final liftoff relatively unscathed, and that no further inspections would be needed before undocking next weekend.

Nasa officials had said they did not suspect any damage from a section of insulating foam that broke off the fuel tank and struck Discovery's belly. At least four pieces of debris came off the tank during Thursday's launch, though none posed a safety concern.

More than 300 digital photographs snapped from the International Space Station during Discovery's close approach on Saturday confirmed the shuttle's thermal armour is free of any deformities. The pictures still are being analysed, but nothing serious has popped up, said flight director David Korth.

Shuttle commander Steven Lindsey and his crew got to sleep in Sunday after staying up late the night before to install an equipment platform to the orbiting lab. Once up, the 12 orbiting astronauts hustled to haul fresh supplies from Discovery into the space station and get ready for Monday's spacewalk, the first of two planned for this week.

One of the two astronauts stepping out - Stephen Bowen - is a latecomer to the mission. He joined the crew last month, replacing lead spacewalker Timothy Kopra, who was hurt in a bicycle crash. -- AP

Gaddafi says Al-Qaeda behind insurrection

Speaking on state television, the embattled Gaddafi insisted the uprising against his 41-year rule was not a people's revolt but driven by 'trigger-happy' youths 'stoned with drugs' inspired by Osama bin Laden. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

BENGHAZI - MUAMMAR Gaddafi blamed Al-Qaeda on Thursday for an insurrection wracking Libya as he addressed his divided nation for the second time this week to galvanise support for his crumbling regime.

Speaking on state television, the embattled Gaddafi insisted the uprising against his 41-year rule was not a people's revolt but driven by 'trigger-happy' youths 'stoned with drugs' inspired by Osama bin Laden.

'These are the ones who are under Bin Laden's influence and authority, under the influence of drugs.'

US President Barack Obama and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy blamed Gaddafi for 'the continuing brutal and bloody repression' of his people, as they reiterated a demand 'for an immediate halt to the use of force against the civilian population.'

Hundreds of people have been killed amid a brutal crackdown by Gaddafi's forces since the uprising started in the eastern city of Benghazi on Feb 15, according to human rights groups, while some politicians say the toll could be as high as 1,000. -- AFP