At least 82 people have been killed in Yemen after an air strike by a Saudi-led coalition targeted a funeral hall packed with mourners.

CLASHES in a north-western region of Pakistan covered by an increasingly fragile peace pact killed seven militants and one soldier yesterday, authorities said, adding to strains on an agreement seen in the West as a capitulation to extremists.

PAKISTANI airstrikes killed dozens of Taliban fighters in a fierce struggle to drive them from a district near the capital, while the militants took over police stations and kidnapped more than 50 security forces, the army said.

THE Irish presence is very strong in the US security field — as we are reminded by the recent story that US Central Command chief (covering the Middle East), Adm William J Fallon, is resigning and the acting chief will be Army Lt-Gen Martin Dempsey.