Joy of science US President Barack Obama shares a laugh with Jim Gates, University of Maryland professor, after presenting Gates with the National Medal of Science on Friday night. Photo by Fang Zhe / Xinhua

Mali

French president visits troops

France's President Francois Hollande arrived in Mali on Saturday on a one-day visit to support French troops fighting a campaign against rebels in the Sahel nation. The French leader was expected to outline the next phase of the mission for the 3,500-strong French force that, in a three-week intervention launched at Mali's request, has pushed the rebels into remote desert and mountainous areas.

Japan

Coast guard holds 13 Chinese fishermen

The Chinese consulate-general in Fukuoka confirmed the Japanese coast guard detained a Chinese fishing boat on Saturday for alleged unauthorized coral fishing in Japanese waters. The incident took place in waters 44 km northeast of Japan's Miyako Island in Okinawa prefecture, according to the consulate. Thirteen Chinese crew members were on board when the boat, which is registered in Hainan province, was detained, according to Japan's coast guard.

India

5 plead not guilty to Delhi gang rape

Five men pleaded not guilty on Saturday to charges they raped and murdered an Indian trainee physiotherapist, in a case that led to a shake-up of laws against sexual crimes. Under the new rules, due to be signed into law by the president in the coming days, gang rape that leads to death will be punishable by death while minimum penalties will be raised to 20 years for gang rape and rape of a minor.

Myanmar

VP calls for residency for foreigners

Myanmar Vice-President U Nyan Tun has called for granting permanent residence to foreigners who would like to help the country, official daily New Light of Myanmar reported on Saturday. Nyan Tun said on Friday that permanent residence is a prerequisite for attracting foreign investors.

Pakistan

23 die in latest insurgent attack

Militants attacked an army post in northwestern Pakistan with automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and suicide vests before dawn on Saturday, killing 23 people including 10 civilians, officials said. Twelve attackers were also reportedly killed in the assault. The raid followed a suicide bombing at a Shiite Muslim mosque elsewhere in the northwest on Friday that killed 24 people, police said. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for both attacks.

News Watch

New fighter jet showcased

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled on Saturday a new domestically manufactured combat jet, local media reported. The advanced jet, named Qaher-313 (Conqueror-313), can fly at low altitudes, according to defense officials.

Xinhua - Reuters - AP

(China Daily 02/03/2013 page2)