World news: Driver killed in gun attack on Saudi consulate vehicle

Gunmen opened fire on a car belonging to the Saudi consulate in Pakistan's largest city today, killing the driver.

The victim was a Saudi national who was alone in the vehicle, police said.

The shooting in Karachi came just days after two hand grenades were thrown at the consulate building, exploding but not hurting anyone.

Police official Tariq Dhareji said today's shooting happened in the same wealthy neighbourhood as the consulate. It was not immediately clear if the murdered man was a diplomat at the consulate.

The driver "was perhaps going to the consulate from his residence when two gunmen riding on a motorcycle showered the car with bullets", police official Zameer Husain Abbasi said.

He said a 9mm pistol was used.

The motives for the two attacks were not immediately clear and there have been no claims of responsibility.

Karachi is a notoriously violent city of 18 million people - a cauldron of ethnic, sectarian and political tensions. The attackers could be motivated for a variety of reasons, including Shiite Muslim extremists taking shots at a deeply conservative and powerful Sunni Muslim state.

Finance chief denies sex charges

The New York court appearance for IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, accused of sexually assaulting a hotel maid, is due to take place today. Police said the maid picked Strauss-Kahn out of an identity parade. Lawyers said he would plead not guilty to the charges.

Sodomy trial to go ahead

A MALAYSIAN judge has ruled today that the trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on a charge of sodomy should go on, and that he had a case to answer, setting the stage for a lengthy trial that could boost Prime Minister Najib Razak's government ahead of a possible snap election this year.

Lost quake nine 'dead'

The last nine victims of New Zealand's devastating earthquake were declared dead today, although their remains have not been identified.

Even DNA testing proved unable to identify nine of the 181 victims killed in Christchurch in the February 22 earthquake.

Chief coroner Neil MacLean made his official finding of death for nine people whose mobile phones, bank accounts and passports have not been used and whose remains could not be located.

Plane forced to land after fire

A PLANE made an emergency landing after an engine caught fire, Singapore's international airport said today. No-one was injured. Changi Airport said flight CX715 took off heading to Jakarta, Indonesia, at 1.12am, but turned around after engine trouble and landed at 1.57am.

President in bid to appoint prime minister

Haiti: New president Michel Martelly wants business leader Daniel-Gerard Rouzier to serve as his prime minister, a government official said. Parliament must approve the appointment.

Papua New Guinea: A strong earthquake has struck off the coast, 76 miles west of Arawa, capital of Bougainville. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no threat of a widespread tsunami.