MIRANSHAH: A roadside bomb martyred at least eight soldiers and wounded several others in North Waziristan on Thursday, the military said.

The bomb exploded as a military convoy passed in the village of Ghulamkhan in North Waziristan. "At least eight security forces personnel embraced martyrdom in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast which had been planted by terrorists on Miranshah-Ghulamkhan road," the military said in a statement.

"Several security forces personnel are critically injured."

Local military officials confirmed the incident and said troops called in air support and launched a search operation in the area after the attack.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the area is a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court resumed hearing of the high treason case against former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on Thursday and ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to provide the investigation report to former president by May 14, Geo News reported.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Faisal Arab and consisting of Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali Khan heard the case against the former dictator and accepted Musharraf’s counsel Barrister Farogh Naseem’s request for the provision of FIA’s inquiry report.

The Special Court had reserved its verdict over the Defence Counsel's demand on April 28.

During today’s proceedings, the court ordered the FIA to provide the relevant inquiry report to Musharraf and said that it is the legal responsibility of the prosecution to provide the investigation report and other relevant record to the defence lawyers.

The court will also hear the petitions related to hearing of the case on daily basis along with fixing the date to present witnesses in the court today.

During the last hearing, counsel for Pervez Musharraf, Barrister Farogh Nasim withdrew the two petitions relating to section 6-A of the Special Court Act-1976. He submitted that section 6-A of Special Court Act-1976 has expired and his petitions in this regard may kindly be returned and added he would be presenting his reservations verbally.

At his moment, prosecutor Akram Sheikh on objection said that the defence counsel on the one hand was taking back the petitions and on the other continuing his arguments.

Barrister Farogh Nasim prayed to the court not to further proceed in the case until the ruling on the handing over to him a copy of the FIA report announced. He said he would finalize his future strategy in the light of the court’s decision and hastily added that it should not be perceived that the trial proceeding being delayed because of him.

Later, the court approved the withdrawal of petitions that stated the law under which the accused indicted was superseded by 1981 Ordinance.

SINGAPORE: Oil prices were mixed in Asian trade Thursday as investors digested an unexpected drop in US crude stockpiles and fresh Chinese trade data, analysts said. The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate for June delivery, was up 10 cents to $100.87 in late-morning trade while Brent North Sea crude for June eased 11 cents to $108.02 per barrel.

Oil prices were well-supported in the market "due to an unexpected drop in US inventories," said Sanjeev Gupta, the head of the Asia-Pacific oil and gas practice at consultancy firm EY. The US Department of Energy on Wednesday said crude reserves sank by 1.8 million barrels in the week to May 2, confounding market expectations for a gain of 1.2 million barrels. The fall in US crude reserves indicates resurgent demand in the world´s top crude consumer ahead of the busy summer holiday driving season.

Investors meanwhile were also digesting Chinese official data released Thursday that showed the country´s exports and imports rose marginally in April, rebounding from sharp declines the month before. The figures showed an overall trade surplus of $18.45 billion, the second straight trade surplus amid complaints by analysts over the continued impact of fake reporting of exports seen in early 2013.

"China´s trade data show signs of recovery but continue to understate the true health of the export sector," said Julian Evans-Pritchard, China Economist for Capital Economics. Crude investors closely monitor economic data from China for an indication of demand in the world top crude consumer.

MADRID: Austrian qualifier Dominic Thiem scored the biggest victory of his young career on Tuesday when he rallied for a 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory over third-ranked Stanislas Wawrinka at the Madrid Open.

The 20-year-old Thiem showed composure beyond his years in knocking the Australian Open champion out of the clay court event to reach the third round.Thiem called on a thunderous array of baseline strokes and soft net touches to oust the third-seeded Wawrinka, who reached the final at Madrid´s Magic Box tennis center last year.

Thiem looked out of his depth as he struggled to find his rhythm early on Manolo Santana center court.

Wawrinka may have dropped his guard after the easy opening as Thiem pulled even after bombarding his opponent with powerful backhanders.Wawrinka, coming off a clay court win in Monte Carlo, gathered himself for the final set — with both players holding serve until the 10th game when Thiem slapped another strong backhand across Wawrinka and down the line for 30-15.

A gentle drop shot from Thiem following a long rally of groundstrokes set up match point on Wawrinka´s serve.

The top-ranked Spaniard opens on Wednesday against Juan Monaco of Argentina.The Spanish capital´s elevated altitude proved to be a problem for fifth-ranked David Ferrer, who needed almost three hours to dispatch Spanish countryman Albert Ramos 7-6 (6), 5-7, 6-3.

On the women´s side, Maria Sharapova avoided an early exit after rallying to beat 56th-ranked American Christina McHale 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 while Li Na continued her dominance of Zheng Jie with a 6-2, 6-3 win.

Second-ranked Li hasn´t lost to her Chinese countrywoman since 2006.Trailing 4-1 in the final set, Sharapova steadied her erratic service game and took command, eventually firing an ace down the middle to eliminate McHale for the second year running.

Sharapova goes on to play Samantha Stosur and No. 2 seed Li faces Sloane Stephens in the third round.

Former champion Petra Kvitova also advanced with a win on Tuesday.

Also, Fabio Fognini´s recent struggles on Spanish clay continued as the 13th-seeded Italian lost 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to Ukraine´s Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Fognini failed to get out of the second round at Barcelona last month.Nicolas Almagro won on his 11th match point play to set up a date Andy Murray, while seeded players Milos Raonic of Canada and Kei Nishikori of Japan also reached the third round.(AP)

NAIROBI: At least 63 people have died in Kenya this week and dozens more are sick after consuming toxic alcohol, police and hospitals said Wednesday.

"So far, we have 63 dead," police spokesman Masood Mwinyi told AFP. Hospital sources said dozens more were receiving treatment.

"What we are trying to establish is the origin of this brew. Investigations are under way and samples will be taken to ascertain where and how it was prepared," said police spokeswoman, Zipporah Mboroki.

The towns worst affected are close to the capital Nairobi and elsewhere in the centre and the east of the country. In some areas the alcohol was bought from licensed bars and in others it was sold on the street in the slums, officials said.

Deaths from toxic alcohol are relatively common in Kenya, with similar cases making the headlines every year. (AFP)

FAISALABAD: Additional District and Session Judge Faisalabad Manzar Ali Gul has rejected petition filed to lodge case against Geo News management and Amir Mir, Geo News reported.

A local lawyer of Faisalabad had submitted a plea in the court on April 29 for lodging case against Geo News management and journalist Amir Mir.

Judge Ali Gul issued written verdict and rejected the plea of the lawyer.

In the verdict, it said the matter was in judicial commission, therefore, the court could not hear the case.