Al-Qaeda's chief vows to avenge bin Laden's death

Al-Qaeda's new chief Saif al-Adel has vowed to launch a devastating terror attack on London to avenge Osama Bin Laden's death, prompting authorities here to step up security at city's vital installations.

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Palestinians set on UN statehood bid in September

Palestinians will seek recognition as a UN member-state in September given the deadlock in US-brokered peacemaking with Israel, a senior Palestinian official said on Saturday.

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Singapore Cabinet to cut pay under reform pledge

Singapore’s new Cabinet was sworn into office at the weekend pledging to cut its million-dollar salaries as part of reforms triggered by opposition gains in a landmark election this month. High cabinet pay was among the issues which raised citizens’ ire ahead of the polls, along with the rising cost of public housing, health care and basic goods, and economic competition from more than a million foreigners.

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China to ease trade bans on Japan imports

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said yesterday Beijing would ease some bans imposed on Japanese food imports after the March 11 quake and tsunami, as a three-way summit with South Korea got under way. The meetings came as Japan battled problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which has leaked radiation after disaster struck the northeast coast, culminating in the world’s worst atomic crisis since Chernobyl 25 years ago. The visiting leaders, Chinese Premier Wen and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, reaffirmed their support for Japan’s efforts to recover from the triple catastrophe.

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