Valletta - A 60-year-old lawyer was voted in as Malta's next president Wednesday, amid rare consensus in the politically-divided island.

George Abela was unanimously voted in by parliament as Malta's eighth president, and the first ever from an opposition party.

A former deputy leader of the Labour Party, last year Abela contested the top post for a party trailing from three successive electoral defeats.

Geneva  - Israel's chief diplomat in Geneva said Wednesday he was awaiting instructions from his new government before making statements regarding a two-state solution to the Middle East peace process.

"This government is committed to all previous agreements that all previous governments were committed to," said Aharon Leshno-Yaar, specifically mentioning the "road map" of former US President George W Bush.

Washington, Apr. 1: While the Obama Administration is mulling plans to dispatch at least 1.5 billion dollars in aid to Pakistan, Democrat Senator Carl Levin has said that Pakistan must be made accountable for all the help it receives, and that it should prove its willingness to curb the increasing extremism inside its territory.

Talking to reporters here, Levin said stability could not be bought in the region unless Pakistan acts sincerely against terror camps based on its soil.

Srinagar, Apr 1: Separatists in Kashmir have offered to help rebuild and renovate temples damaged during the near two decades militancy.

Yasin Malik, chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Muhammad, said that a committee could be formed for the purpose, stressing that it should be "apolitical".

New Delhi, Apr 1: The new Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief, Mohan Bhagwat, has said there was no opposition to the group within the country.

Speaking here on Tuesday, Bhagwat said that nobody really opposed the RSS and if they did, it was just because of their own selfish motives.

Jerusalem  - By a