GENEVA, Sept. 08 (PTI):

UN chief Ban-Ki-moon has warned that the world body may terminate its political mission in Nepal unless parties ended their standoff, as his senior officials cautioned that prolonged political bickering and distrust could hit the constitutional process.

"I will propose alternative measures to the (Security) Council, including the possible termination of the United Nations mission in Nepal’s mandate," Ban said in a terse report to the Security Council.

Ban’s warning over the future of UNMIN came in his latest report to the UN Security Council, which is considering its extension beyond September 15.

Ban said the UN would consider withdrawal if Nepal did not quickly form a government and hold talks on the UN mission.

KABUL, Sept. 09 (AFP):

The Dove World Outreach Center, in Gainesville, Florida, plans to mark Saturday’s ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks by burning copies of Islam’s holy book, in what it says will be a warning to radical Muslims.

Dhaka, Sept. 08 (IANS):

Muhith said that amendments to the existing laws were imperative to let the global organisations know that Dhaka was right on track to prevent money laundering and terror financing.

Beijing, Sept. 07 (PTI):

Seeking to downplay the purported remarks of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Beijing "would like to have a foothold in South Asia," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Jiang Yu, said China is committed to safeguarding the peace and stability of Asia, including South Asia.

"I would like to say that China is one of the important members of Asia and we are committed to safeguarding the peace and stability of Asia, including South Asia, with other countries to seek common development and this is in the common interest of all of us," she told a media briefing here.

Melbourne, Sept. 07 (PTI):

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is set to head the country’s first minority government in nearly 70 years after two kingmaker independent MPs on Tuesday extended support to her Labor party, giving it a wafer-thin one-seat majority after the August 21 cliffhanger polls.

"Labor is prepared to govern," Gillard told reporters in Canberra after Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, the two rural independent lawmakers, said they would support her party, ending weeks of political instability following a hung parliament, the first since 1943.

"I believe the Australian people, given the closeness of this vote, want us to find more common ground in the national interest," 48-year-old Gillard said in her first remarks after snatching victory.