In Brief

* SOMALI CONFLICT – The international contact group on Somalia urged the United Nations Security Council to ease the arms embargo on the African country so it could develop its own security forces.

* CHINA STORM DEATHS – The death toll in China from Tropical Storm Bilis has risen to 198, official media said, as 140 people remained missing and heavy rain continued to pound the south of the country. * KOREA SANCTIONS – Japan said it would target North Korea’s financial assets in fresh sanctions against Pyongyang after a UN resolution demanded the suspension of its missile programme.* PASSPORT SEIZURE ILLEGAL – Zimbabwe’s high court declared “unlawful” the seizure of a former opposition mayor’s passport under new measures to punish critics of President Robert Mugabe’s government, a lawyer told reporters.* MUMBAI SILENCE – Indian President Abdul Kalam led a two-minute silence as bustling Mumbai came to a halt in tribute to the more than 180 people killed in last week’s train bombings.* LABOUR DEFICIT – Britain’s governing Labour Party recorded a deficit of 14,5 million pounds last year, audited accounts released yesterday showed.* AFGHAN UNREST – The Afghan government’s moves towards setting up a “vice and virtue” department similar to one that became notorious under the Taliban regime has raised alarm among rights groups and analysts.The creation of the Department for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice was approved by the cabinet last month and is pending approval by parliament when it reconvenes at the end of July.- Nampa-AFP-Reuters* KOREA SANCTIONS – Japan said it would target North Korea’s financial assets in fresh sanctions against Pyongyang after a UN resolution demanded the suspension of its missile programme. * PASSPORT SEIZURE ILLEGAL – Zimbabwe’s high court declared “unlawful” the seizure of a former opposition mayor’s passport under new measures to punish critics of President Robert Mugabe’s government, a lawyer told reporters.* MUMBAI SILENCE – Indian President Abdul Kalam led a two-minute silence as bustling Mumbai came to a halt in tribute to the more than 180 people killed in last week’s train bombings.* LABOUR DEFICIT – Britain’s governing Labour Party recorded a deficit of 14,5 million pounds last year, audited accounts released yesterday showed.* AFGHAN UNREST – The Afghan government’s moves towards setting up a “vice and virtue” department similar to one that became notorious under the Taliban regime has raised alarm among rights groups and analysts.The creation of the Department for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice was approved by the cabinet last month and is pending approval by parliament when it reconvenes at the end of July.- Nampa-AFP-Reuters