Gaza: Israeli leaders decided to reject an immediate 48-hour pause in fighting and push ahead with the devastating air offensive against Hamas, sending jets and assault helicopters to pound targets in the Gaza Strip for a fifth day on Wednesday. Israel is facing growing international pressure to halt the assault and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed a cease-fire proposal, proposed by France, with his foreign and defence ministers overnight.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is under "tremendous pressure" from the US to extradite Lashkar-e-Taiba operations commander Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks, to India, a media report said on Wednesday. The Americans are believed to have given Pakistan a taped conversation Lakhvi allegedly had with gunmen involved in attacks on Mumbai on November 26. American audio experts had checked the tape and concluded it was genuine and that the speaker was Lakhvi, the Dawn newspaper quoted US and diplomatic sources as saying.

Thiruvananthapuram: The state cabinet meeting here on Wednesday has decided to form Debt Relief Commission for fishermen. Retired High Court Judge, justice Dinesan will be the chairman of the commission and Dr Purushan, Kuttayi Basheer, former MLA P Raju and K P Jayaseelan will be the members of the commission, said Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan while briefing cabinet decision. Cabinet has also decided to file a memorandum to the centre by pointing out the common needs of the state.