President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, widely credited with bringing democracy to the Indian Ocean archipelago, resigned on Tuesday after weeks of opposition protests erupted into a police mutiny and what an aide said amounted to a coup.
Sahara Group has pulled out of its sponsorship deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pune franchise of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the diversified business conglomerate said on Saturday. Citing instances where it has been denied "natural justice" in IPL, Sahara said in a statement: "We really feel such one-sided emotional relationship cannot be dragged (out) any further.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday prepared to charge the prime minister with contempt of court for his failure to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, breaking an uneasy calm of political tension with the judiciary. "After the preliminary hearing, we are satisfied ... there is enough (of a) case" to proceed further, the seven-member bench ordered. "The case is adjourned until February 13 for the framing of charges.
U.S. forces will stop taking a lead role in combat operations in Afghanistan next year but continue to support Afghan combat missions under a plan announced by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that worried Afghans and surprised allies.
India and the United States have agreed to continue efforts to consolidate upon the "tremendous progress" made in strengthening their global strategic partnership and work towards implementing their civil nuclear deal.
Pakistan's premier on Wednesday appeared to back down from a confrontation with the military, moving away from remarks made this month that it had acted unconstitutionally in supporting a court investigation of a controversial memo. "I want to dispel the impression that the military leadership acted unconstitutionally or violated rules," said Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, according to state television.
They kill without warning, are comparatively cheap, risk no American lives, and produce triumphant headlines. Over the last three years, drone strikes have quietly become the Obama administration's weapon of choice against terrorists. Since taking office, President Barack Obama has unleashed five times as many drone strikes as George W. Bush authorized in his second term in the White House.
