Lastnight World: Former Israeli PM Shamir dies at 96

Ex-prime minister Yitzhak Shamir,a former soldier,spy and statesman,has died at the age of 96,Israeli officials announced

Former Israeli PM Shamir dies at 96

Jerusalem: Ex-prime minister Yitzhak Shamir,a former soldier,spy and statesman,has died at the age of 96,Israeli officials announced late on Saturday. Yitzhak Shamir has left us, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said in a statement. Netanyahu expresses his deep pain over the announcement of the departure of Shamir.

Quake hits Xinjiang in China,35 injured

BEIJING: A powerful 6.6 magnitude quake jolted northwest Chinas remote Xinjiang region on Saturday,causing widespread damage to residential buildings and leaving at least 35 people injured. Strong tremors were felt around 5.07 am local time in Urumqi,the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,leading to temporary power outages. The epicenter was found to be in a mountainous area along the border of Hejing and Xinyuan counties,according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.

22 yrs on,US confirms ambassador to Myanmar

Washington: Veteran diplomat Derek Mitchells appointment as Americas first Ambassador to Myanmar in 22 years has been confirmed by the Senate,the latest in a series of efforts by the US to bring the country out of isolation after five decades of military rule. Mitchell,47,who was till now the Special US Representative and Policy Coordinator for Myanmar,is expected to leave for that country soon.

Horologists to make a minute last 61 seconds

London: Time never stops for anybody. The old adage would be put to test on Saturday as Horologists around the world will hold back time with the last minute being of 61 seconds to compensate for Earths movements. Saturdays last minute is destined to be 61 seconds long,for timekeepers are to add a leap second to compensate for the wibbly-wobbly movements of our world. This will compensate for a creeping divergence from solar time,meaning the period required for Earth to complete a day,The Daily Telegraph reported.

Haley cleared of wrongdoing by panel

WASHINGTON: South Carolinas Indian-American Governor Nikki Haley has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an ethics committee which probed allegations that she lobbied on behalf of her employers when she was a legislator,a ruling that handed her a major political victory.