Digest of foreign news for the week Feb 19 - 25, 2011

SATURDAYUnited Nations: The US vetoes a UNSC resolution thatwould have condemned "illegal" Israeli settlements, despiteall other states in the 15-member body, including India,voting for it.

Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court conductingthe trial of suspects charged with involvement in formerpremier Benazir Bhutto''s assassination reissues an arrestwarrant for ex-President Pervez Musharraf to secure hispresence during the proceedings of the case.

SUNDAYIslamabad: Pakistan rejects National Security AdvisorShivshankar Menon''s concerns about the safety of its nuclearweapons and material, saying it had "impeccable" custodialcontrols for its strategic arsenal.

London: Indians may get upto 20,000 UK visas a yearunder a deal it is negotiating with the European Union and inreturn India has put forward an annual 4 billion pounds tradewith the EU, media reports.

MONDAYUnited Nations: Amid violent crackdowns on peacefulpro-democracy protesters in north Africa and Gulf, UN chiefBan Ki-moon asks the governments there to exercise restraintand respect basic freedoms.

Islamabad: Pakistan''s defence spending has exceededbudgetary limits for the first six months of current fiscal byabout Rs 60 billion due to the enhanced expenditure on the waron terror and the military''s prolonged engagements in thetribal belt, a media report says.

TUESDAYMelbourne: At least 65 people are killed as a 6.3-magnitude earthquake strikes New Zealand''s southern city ofChristchurch, crushing buildings and leaving hundreds ofpeople trapped and screaming for help.

Islamabad/Lahore: American official Raymond Davis,arrested for double murder, had "close links" with Taliban andwas "instrumental" in recruiting youths for it, the media hereclaims, close on the heels of reports in the US that he was aCIA agent tracking movements of terror groups like LeT. MOREPTI GTA