US favours opening Gaza’s border

JERUSALEM – The United States has told Israel it favours opening Gaza’s border crossings to commercial as well as humanitarian supplies in move that could ease a nine-month-old Israeli-led blockade of the Hamas-run territory Muslims call to condemn Israeli attacks * GENEVA – Muslim countries call for the UN’s top human rights body to condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza and accuse the Jewish state of committing war crimes through collective punishment of Palestinian civilians.

Birthday tragedy in Albania * TIRANA – A boat carrying 20 partygoers celebrating the birthday of 5-year-old twins sank in a lake near the capital, killing 16 people, including the two children. Gaza situation worst in 40 years * JERUSALEM – British humanitarian agencies said the situation in the Gaza Strip is the worst in 40 years, as they urged the European Union to hold talks with Hamas and called for an end of Israel’s punishing blockade.Sri Lanka’s HR record slammed * COLOMBO – Sri Lanka was hit by scathing criticism over its human rights record, with its government fingered over hundreds of “disappearances” and an influential panel storming off the island.Detained leader must be included * YANGON – UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Myanmar to try to press the ruling junta to include detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in its plans for a referendum and eventual elections.Nato bids to overcome Greek threat * BRUSSELS – Nato foreign ministers made a new bid to overcome a Greek threat to veto an invitation to Macedonia to join the transatlantic alliance as one of three new Balkan members.Sarkozy unfazed by low polls * PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy shrugged off his dismal opinion poll ratings and vowed in an interview to forge ahead with his programme to overhaul France’s economy.China praises Medvedev * BEIJING – China’s ambassador to Moscow has showered fulsome praise on newly elected Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, calling him a friend and highlighting energy-hungry China’s hopes for faster growth in economic ties.S Korea tough line on N Korea * SEOUL – South Korea’s new conservative government is already making good on its promise to take a tougher line on North Korea by calling on Pyongyang to improve its widely criticised human rights policies.Gaza situation worst in 40 years * JERUSALEM – British humanitarian agencies said the situation in the Gaza Strip is the worst in 40 years, as they urged the European Union to hold talks with Hamas and called for an end of Israel’s punishing blockade.Sri Lanka’s HR record slammed * COLOMBO – Sri Lanka was hit by scathing criticism over its human rights record, with its government fingered over hundreds of “disappearances” and an influential panel storming off the island.Detained leader must be included * YANGON – UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari arrived in Myanmar to try to press the ruling junta to include detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in its plans for a referendum and eventual elections.Nato bids to overcome Greek threat * BRUSSELS – Nato foreign ministers made a new bid to overcome a Greek threat to veto an invitation to Macedonia to join the transatlantic alliance as one of three new Balkan members.Sarkozy unfazed by low polls * PARIS: French President Nicolas Sarkozy shrugged off his dismal opinion poll ratings and vowed in an interview to forge ahead with his programme to overhaul France’s economy.China praises Medvedev * BEIJING – China’s ambassador to Moscow has showered fulsome praise on newly elected Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, calling him a friend and highlighting energy-hungry China’s hopes for faster growth in economic ties. S Korea tough line on N Korea * SEOUL – South Korea’s new conservative government is already making good on its promise to take a tougher line on North Korea by calling on Pyongyang to improve its widely criticised human rights policies.