Taslima Nasreen Attack

Gilad Shalit swap: Israel names Palestinian prisoners

Israel's President Shimon Peres has begun the process of pardoning them, his office said.

They are set to be freed on Tuesday in the first phase of the deal. A further 550 prisoners are to be released after Sgt Shalit returns home.

Sgt Shalit was seized by Palestinian militants in 2006, aged 19.

The deal to release him was announced last Tuesday, following years of on-off negotiations.

The list of 450 male and 27 women prisoners included in the first phase of deal was released publicly early on Sunday morning.

A number of pro-Hamas websites had earlier reported some names, but this is the first official list.

Israelis who object to the swap have 48 hours to appeal to Israel's highest court to intervene, before the prisoners are freed.

Correspondents say the court is unlikely to stop the deal, which has broad public support.

However, there are some Israeli groups that oppose the transfer.

One, the Almagor Terror Victims' Association, said the deal dishonoured victims of attacks and would lead to more kidnappings and violence.

It has filed a High Court petition saying the timetable does not allow the victims enough time to scrutinise the list.

Many of those to be freed are Palestinians who were jailed for plotting suicide bombings or shooting attacks.

BNP's Sylhet road march

Dhaka, Oct 11 –BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, accompanied by senior leaders and activists of the party, set out on road march to Sylhet from the party's Naya Paltan headquarters.

The sport utility vehicle (SUV) carrying her left for Sylhet around 10:50am on Monday, followed by a large convoy of vehicles carrying opposition activists.

The convoy consists of nearly 1,000 vehicles.

Party's vice chairperson Selima Rahman has joined Khaleda in her vehicle.

Around 10.15am, the opposition leader's convoy left for the Naya Paltan office from her Gulshan residence.

Acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, vice president and Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka and other standing committee members also form part of the convoy.

The opposition leader called for the road march at a Sep 27 rally demanding reinstatement of the caretaker government system and mid-term vote.

Following a Supreme Court order ordering the scrapping of the 13th constitutional amendment that introduced the caretaker government provision, the government repealed the system through the 15th amendment.

The opposition leader is set to address six rallies in the course of her 265-kilometre journey to Sylhet. The first rally will be held at Torab intersection in Narayanganj's Rupganj area. Then she will address rallies in Narshingdi's Itakhola, Brahmanbaria's Kottapara, Kishoreganj's Bhairab, Hobiganj's Shayestaganj and Moulavibazar's Sherpur.

The opposition chief would visit the shrine of saint Shahjalal after reaching Sylhet and stay overnight at Sylhet Circuit House. The Sylhet march would end with her address to a public meeting on Sylhet Alia Madrasa ground on Tuesday.

Egypt: Clashes in Cairo as Christian protest attacked

15 May 2011 - The demonstrators outside Egypt's state TV building were attacked overnight, with shots fired, petrol bombs thrown and cars set alight.

The Christians were protesting against attacks on two churches last weekend in which 12 people died.

There has been an increase in sectarian clashes since former President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in February.

The group of protesters was attacked after they reportedly prevented a man in a car from driving through the area.

A group of about 100 people charged the protesters, throwing stones and petrol bombs. Police said at least two of those attacked were wounded by gunshots.

The military intervened and order was restored after several hours of clashes.

"Cairo's security forces have managed to arrest one of the shooters and he is currently being questioned to know who his partners are and the motives behind such violent action," state news agency Mena said.

Coptic Christians make up about 10% of Egypt's 80 million population. They complain of discrimination at the hands of the Muslim majority.

New Zealand oil ship leak 'raises questions'

Oct 9 — Oil leaking from the Liberian-flagged Rena has created a 5km (3 mile) slick.

An all-out effort is under way to remove nearly 2,000 tonnes of oil from the vessel, which is stranded 12 nautical miles off the coast.

Heavy swells and gale-force winds are forecast for the area from Monday.

Officials says 20-30 tonnes of oil have already spilled into the Bay of Plenty, one of the country's top tourist destinations, since the MV Rena ran aground on Wednesday.

If the ship breaks up, it could release 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel into an area that is home to whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and a variety of other birds.



Bruce Anderson, Maritime New Zealand: "It has the potential to be a significant environmental impact"
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New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key says "serious questions" must be answered about why a container ship ran aground on a reef off one of the country's most spectacular coastlines.