Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 13: About 250 Malay Indian and Malay Tamil families in the Kampung Pandan Indian settlement are worried that they would not be able to celebrate Pongal (Harvest Festival) tomorrow as they have received final notices from the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) to vacate their houses by today.

A Malaysia Nanban report said the families had been living there for the past 70 years. In earlier letters to the residents, DBKL requested the residents to move into rental houses built by the city council in Bukit Jalil, Puchong.

The residents, in their counter offer, asked for houses in the Sri Alam, Sungai Besi area. DBKL rejected the request.

Washington, Jan. 13: The US State Department has imposed fresh sanctions against disgraced Pakistani scientist A. Q. Khan.

The name of the Pakistani nuclear scientist, A. Q. Khan along with 12 other individuals appeared on an official notification asking the international community to "remain vigilant" to ensure that the network did not resume its activities.

New Delhi, Jan 13: Expressing concern over the Satyam Computer Services scandal, analysts have said that it has exposed serious shortfalls in corporate governance in India, and added that this must be addressed to ensure credibility in an increasingly globalised and competitive world.

Just three months ago, Satyam Computer Services received the Golden Peacock Award from a group of Indian directors for excellence in corporate governance.

Jerusalem, Jan. 13: Israeli troops have entered Gaza City after artillery, attack helicopters and navy gunboats, which had shelled the coast from the west, backed up the ground forces.

According to Sky News, Special Forces advanced into the southern neighbourhood of Tal al Hawa after midnight and were ambushed by Palestinian fighters.

Tanks then pushed into the district and opened fire, supported by aerial bombing.

The armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine al Qassam Brigades, said fighters had knocked out two Israeli tanks in the Zeitun area with rocket-propelled grenades. Israel denied the claim.

One Palestinian was killed by tank fire in Zeitun, medics said.

Beirut - UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon plans to visit Lebanon on Friday to discuss the current situation in Gaza and the Middle East region, Lebanese government sources said.

Manila - Somali pirates have released a Japanese-operated cargo ship with 21 Filipino crewmen aboard, a Philippine foreign official said Tuesday.