Fatwa against Rushdie may finally go
The Iranian government is set to formally and publicly withdraw its support for the fatwa passed against the author Salman Rushdie nine years ago. The late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had passed the fatwa condemning Rushdie to death for writing "against the Islam and the Prophet of the Koran'' in his book The Satanic Verses.

Saudi Arabia expels Afghan envoy
In a major jolt to the Taliban militia in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia has asked the Afghan charge d'affaires in Riyadh to leave the country and recalled its representative from Kabul. The decision has been taken in Saudi Arabia's "national interests''.

Anwar to face charges of sexual misconduct by weekend
Sacked Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will face a dozen sex-related charges in court by the weekend. Mahathir, who sacked Anwar as his deputy and finance minister on September 2, said the allegations were so vile he decided to question people himself.

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  World at a glance
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  World Briefing