PARIS/NIAMEY - Terrorist organization Al Qaeda Thursday claimed a role in the kidnapping of two Frenchmen in Niger this weekend that led to the mens' death as French troops tried to free them.

MUMBAI - In a significant development, a special court here Thursday granted permission to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to re-investigate the Sep 8, 2006 Malegaon serial blasts.

LONDON - Many areas of central London had to be shut down Thursday after a man broke into a shop and threatened to blow himself up.

NEW DELHI - The government is pumping in Rs.580 crore (Rs 5.8 billion) under a special security scheme which would include strengthening road connectivity and recruiting 12,000 more special police officers (SPO) to boost its fighting power against Maoists in mineral-rich central and eastern India.

KOCHI - The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Thursday chargesheeted 30 activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in connection with the Wagamon camp of December 2007 in Kerala where participants were allegedly imparted weapons training.