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Syrian Cabinet ResignsSyrian cabinet resigns today amid ongoing protest against president Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian president has accepted the resignation of the cabinet. "President Assad accepts the government's resignation," an announcement on state television said on Tuesday. Assad has nominated Naji al-Otari, the resigning premier, as caretaker prime minister. The Syrian cabinet enjoys little power as the power is concentrated in the hand of Assad, his family and the security forces. Otari is the premier of the country since 2003. Street Protests in Pakistan Over Davis' ReleaseStreet protests continued across Pakistan today for a second day against the release of American Raymond Davis, who was detained for killing two Pakistani men in January. Lawyers and some political groups organized the protests expressing their displeasure over t the release of Davis, who has been described as a contractor for the American intelligence agency CIA. Reports said that small protests took place in Karachi and Lahore. Geo News reported that lawyers boycotted the district and high courts in Multan. Jamat-e-Islami activists also staged demonstrations. Protesters chanted slogans against Davis in Laki Marwat, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffarghar, Charsada and several towns in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Fine Gael, Labor Parties Agree To Form Coalition Government In IrelandThe leaders of Ireland's main opposition party Fine Gael and Labor parties yesterday agreed to form a coalition government. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, is set to become the new prime minister of the country when the Irish parliament meets Wednesday. Kenny and Labor leader Eamon Gilmore managed to reach agreement on outstanding contentious issues, including the decision to come up with a time-table to introduce more austerity budgets over the next four years. Indian Court Upholds Mumbai Terror Attack Accused Qasab’s Death PenaltyAn Indian Court today upheld the death penalty for Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman of the deadly assault on the Indian financial capital city of Mumbai. The judges rejected Qasab’s appeal saying he was guilty of waging war against India, multiple murder and conspiracy. A lower court has awarded the death sentence to Qasab in May last year. Qasab and nine others killed more than 170 people when they attacked Mumbai in 2008. Bahraini Forces Use Tear Gas, Bullets To Disperse ProtestersBahraini soldiers yesterday fired upon pro-democracy protesters near the Pearl roundabout in Manama, the Bahraini capital, and opposition political leaders have refused to hold a "national dialogue" with the royal family. Abdul Jalil Khalil Ibrahim, the head of the main opposition Wefaq bloc, demanded that the government must resign and the army must vacate the streets of Manama in order for any dialogue with the royal family. The group quit the Parliament on Thursday. 12 Dead In Vietnam Boat TragedyAt least twelve people died Thursday when their tour boat sank in Halong Bay, one of top tourist destinations in Vietnam, officials said. Most of the dead are foreigners. The boat sank when the tourists were sleeping. Talking to reporters, Vu Van Thin, a local government official in Quang Ninh province, said that the 12 dead included 10 foreigners and two Vietnamese. The local immigration police said that the foreign victims were believed to comprise two Americans, two Russians, two Swedes, and one each from Britain, Japan, France and Switzerland. Bahrain Protesters Congregate To Mark The Funeral Of The KilledPeople of Bahrain have been protesting against the government for the last three days now and security agents have already accounted for death of two. Today people congregated to mark the funeral of one of them as the interior minister can only apologize. Algeria To Stand Up And Rally In Protests Against Government On SaturdayAlgeria is in dire need of political reforms and the people of the country are going to make their government aware of that on Saturday when they rally the streets, make demonstrations and stage protests against the concerned authorities. China Urges For Restraint From Cambodia, ThailandChina today urged both Cambodia and Thailand to show calm and restrain in order to prevent an escalation of border tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. "Cambodia and Thailand are China's friendly neighbors. After clashes broke out, China has maintained close contact with the two sides and has persuaded them to resolve disputes through consultation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at a regular news briefing. Bilateral Resolution of Dispute Ahead Of Security Council Meeting for Cambodia and ThailandThe security council of the United Nations intends to organize a meet some time in the coming week where in they would discuss the issues concerning Cambodia and its neighbor, Thailand and their security issues. Two Koreas Hold Talks In Demilitarized ZoneIn a significant development, which could help in defusing the tension on the Korean peninsula, the military officers from North and South Korea today hold talks for the first time since the North launched a barrage of artilleries on a South Korean island in November. According to South Korean defense ministry, the talks were held in a building known as Peace House at Panmunjom, a village inside the Demilitarized Zone. Egypt Temporarily Suspends Gas Supply to Israel After Terminal BlastIt was the same that made the Egyptian authorities raise questions as they have done and owing to the same they have decided to temporarily suspend and cut out the supply of natural gas to the whole of Israel.
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