News in Brief

UK politician Tony Benn dies aged 88
Reuters, London

Veteran British Labour politician Tony Benn, who was born into the aristocracy but became a champion of the left, has died aged 88, his family said yesterday. The longest-serving Labour MP in British history (50 years), he was an anti-war campaigner who opposed the monarchy and often clashed with his own party leadership but in recent years topped several opinion polls as Britain's most popular politician. Benn died peacefully early yesterday at his home in west London surrounded by his family after being seriously ill, his family said in a statement.

Suicide blast kills 19 in Pakistan
Afp, Peshawar

Two suicide blasts in Pakistan killed 19 people and wounded 28 more yesterday in a suburb of Peshawar, officials said. The bomber, carrying14 kilograms of explosives, was targeting an armored personnel carrier, police said. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attacks.

3 convicted over India nun rape
Bbc Online

A court in India has found three people guilty in connection with the rape of a Catholic nun in Orissa state in 2008. The nun was raped by a Hindu mob in Kandhamal district, days after riots between Hindus and Christian there. Riots began after a Hindu religious leader was shot dead. Although Maoist rebels in the state claimed responsibility for the killing, hard-line Hindu groups blamed the Christian community for the death. More than 30 people were killed in the violence.

Building collapse kills 6  in Mumbai
Tnn, Mumbai

Six people were killed and many were injured when a 7-storey building collapsed in Santa Cruz in Mumbai's western suburbs yesterday morning.  The building was vacant but some people were living on the ground floor. India has a poor building safety record. In last few years, a number of buildings have  collapsed there which experts blame on lack of supervision.

Arrest warrant issued against Musharraf
Pti, Islamabad

A conditional non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against embattled former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf yesterday after he failed to turn up before the special court hearing the high treason case against him. The non-bailable arrest warrant will be implemented on March 31 in case he fails to appear before the court. The defence said they will challenge the order once they get a copy of it.