N. KOREA STAGES BIRTHDAY PARADE

SEOUL: North Korea’s military on Thursday staged parade to mark the birthday of late leader Kim Jong- Il, pledging to defend his son and successor Jong- Un with their lives and crush enemy forces if attacked.

THAI COURT OK’S ARREST OF 4 IRANIANS

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for four Iranians on various charges concerning Tuesday’s Bangkok bomb incidents that are believed to be targeting Israeli diplomats. ISLAMABAD: A feeble international response to Pakistan’s second major flooding crisis in two years has left millions of people at serious risk of malnutrition and disease, aid groups warned on Thursday. TEHRAN: In defiance of sanctions imposed by the West, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced several atomic “achievements,” namely fuel rods, new generation of centrifuges and a number of radioactive medicines, during a ceremony held at the Tehran Research Reactor on Wednesday. PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday announced during a television interview his long- expected bid to extend his 5- year- mandate, promising a stronger France and more reforms mainly aimed to boost employment. WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Barack Obama launched his latest cross- country trawl for campaign cash on Wednesday ( Thursday in Manila) at an auspicious moment— as his approval rating hit the crucial 50 percent barrier in two new polls.

PAKISTANI FLOOD VICTIMS STILL AT RISK

SARKOZY ANNOUNCES REELECTION BID

OBAMA GOES WEST AFTER POLL BOOST

IRAN UNVEILS NEW NUKE ‘ACHIEVEMENTS’