Heavy rains delay salvage of crashed Pakistan plane ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Heavy monsoon rains in Islamabad on Thursday hampered recovery efforts at the site of a Pakistani plane crash that killed all 152 people on board a day earlier, a senior police officer said.
Afghan president asks why allies won't act on Pakistan KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai questioned on Thursday the willingness of his Western allies to strike insurgent bases in Pakistan given the strong evidence of Islamabad's support for the Taliban.
Japan's Mitsui hires military expert for tanker checks TOKYO/FUJAIRAH (Reuters) - Japanese shipper Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd said on Thursday it had hired a specialist on military attacks to help investigate damage to a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz as a Gulf port official said the vessel had been involved in a collision.
North China gas well fire burning for nearly week: Xinhua BEIJING (Reuters) - A natural gas well operated by Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group has been burning for nearly a week since drilling in the well caused gas to leak out and explode, Xinhua reported on Thursday.
U.N.-backed Lebanon tribunal rejects Hezbollah outcry BEIRUT (Reuters) - A U.N.-backed tribunal set up to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of Lebanese statesman Rafik al-Hariri on Thursday rejected charges by Lebanon's Hezbollah armed group that its work is politically motivated.
Feeble, choked River Jordan struggles for salvation QASIR AL-YAHUD, West Bank (Reuters) - Christian pilgrims alarmed by claims that baptism in the River Jordan could make them sick are being urgently reassured by Israeli officials that the water poses no health risk.
Al Qaeda in Iraq claims TV office bombing DUBAI (Reuters) - The Iraqi arm of al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for a suicide attack this week on the Baghdad office of satellite television channel Al Arabiya, and warned of further strikes on media targets.
Palestinian women dig for new opportunities in Gaza DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) - A group of Palestinian women is breaking new ground in the Gaza Strip by working as ditch-diggers to support their families.
French mother suspected of killing eight babies LILLE, France (Reuters) - A 47-year-old woman was placed under official investigation for the suspected killing of eight new-born babies and concealing them in a village in northern France, a judicial source said on Thursday.