Obama not ruling out Libya arms

US President Barack Obama has said he does not rule out arming the rebels seeking to overthrow Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

He said in an interview that Col Gaddafi had been greatly weakened and would ultimately step down.

Pro-Gaddafi forces have driven the rebels back tens of kilometres over ground they took in recent days after coalition air strikes.

The rebels have now retreated eastwards past the town of Ras Lanuf.

News of the rebel withdrawal came as an international conference on Libya in London agreed to set up a contact group involving Arab governments to co-ordinate help for a post-Gaddafi Libya.

At least several thousand people have been killed and thousands wounded since the uprising against Col Gaddafi's rule began more than six weeks ago, with the rebels now controlling much of the east and pro-Gaddafi forces holding the capital Tripoli and other western cities.

Ivory Coast: Laurent Gbagbo calls for ceasefire

Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara have been making rapid advances

 

Ivorian incumbent Laurent Gbagbo has appealed for an immediate ceasefire after advances by forces loyal to President-elect Alassane Ouattara.

A spokesman for Mr Gbagbo said the army had adopted a strategy of tactical withdrawal but warned it could use its "legitimate right of defence".

In the town of Doekoue, up to 30,000 people took refuge in a church compound to escape the fighting.

Mr Gbagbo refuses to stand down despite the UN saying he lost November's poll.

Yemeni arms factory blast toll rises amid protests

The death toll from the blasts on Monday has almost doubled

 

The death toll from explosions at an ammunition plant in southern Yemen has risen to 150.

Initial reports said 78 had died, but more bodies have since been pulled out of the factory in the town of Jaar.

The explosion has caused great anger among locals, who accuse the authorities of planning it to try to win further support from the US.

Yemeni officials have blamed al-Qaeda for the blasts.

'Fake bomb' UPS flight from UK to Turkey investigated

Details of which UK airport the flight took off from have not been released at this stage.

 

An investigation has been launched into how a fake bomb was put on a cargo plane and flown from the UK to Turkey without being detected.

The UPS flight travelled to Istanbul with the package, reportedly containing a timer, wires and a detonator.

The UK Department for Transport said it was taking the matter "very seriously".

Qantas says natural disasters will dent profits

Reduced travel demand to Japan and New Zealand is forcing Qantas to suspend some flights.

 

Qantas Airways has warned that profits at the company will be hurt by the recent natural disasters in Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

The company has announced that it is suspending some flights and downsizing capacity on others from Australia to Japan and New Zealand.

Demand for travel to Japan has fallen following the earthquake on 11 March and the fear of radiation leaks.

George Clooney named as Berlusconi 'defence witness'

 

Hollywood star George Clooney is one of 78 witnesses named by Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi for his trial on charges of sex with an under-age prostitute.

George Clooney's girlfriend is believed to have denied attending the February 2010 party

 

Mr Clooney's girlfriend, Italian model and TV star Elisabetta Canalis, is also on the list as are MPs and ministers.

The couple were said to have been seen at one of Mr Berlusconi's parties by Karima el-Mahroug, the teenager whom he is alleged to have paid for sex.

Sleep patterns affect weight loss

Is shedding weight harder while stressed or missing sleep?

 

Managing sleep and stress levels can help in the battle against obesity, according to scientists in the US.

People getting too little or too much sleep were less likely to lose weight in a six month study of 472 obese people.

Their report in the International Journal of Obesity showed that lower stress levels also predicted greater weight loss.

A UK sleep expert said people need to "eat less, move more and sleep well".

Blood flow monitor 'could save NHS £400m a year'

The monitor was pioneered at University College Hospital, London.

 

The NHS could save £400m a year if a blood flow monitor was used more during surgery, the health watchdog says.

In its guidance for England, NICE says the device, which was developed in Britain and uses ultrasound, reduces complications and speeds up recovery.

It says the CardioQ-ODM cuts the length of time patients spend in hospital following major or high-risk surgery by an average of two days.

Use of the device saves £1,000 each time, the watchdog adds.

Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Livingston: insolvency hot spots

Three Scottish towns had insolvency rates twice that of the UK average

 

Three Scottish towns have recorded the highest concentration of people going broke in the UK in 2010, according to information company Experian.

It said that in Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy in Fife and Livingston, in West Lothian, more than 80 people in every 10,000 became insolvent.

That was about double the average rate of the UK as a whole.

In Kirkcaldy, the rate was up 12% on 2009. In Glenrothes it increased by 20% and in Livingston it was up by 32%.

Education in Wales warned of risk of 'downward spiral'

The report says some schools lack the capacity for improvement

 

The performance of the education system in Wales could enter a "downward spiral" without urgent action, according to a report.

Too many schools are "coasting", it says, and standards of literacy and numeracy are too low.

Education Minister Leighton Andrews said the study, from a group he commissioned, had some "hard messages".

It says that some local authorities "lack the capacity" to improve the performance of their schools.

Argentina gives Hugo Chavez press freedom award

Mr Chavez and Ms Fernandez are close political allies

 

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been given a press freedom award during a visit to Argentina.

The University of La Plata said it was honouring him for his efforts to break "media monopolies" in Latin America and support "popular communication".

The award has angered critics who accuse Mr Chavez of stifling opposition media in Venezuela.

Earlier Mr Chavez signed a series of commercial accords with his Argentine counterpart, Cristina Fernandez.

The university said it was giving Mr Chavez the Rodolfo Walsh award for "his commitment to defending the liberty of the people, consolidating Latin American unity, and defending human rights, truth and democratic values".

Libya: Rebels take Ras Lanuf, Brega , Uqayla, Bin Jawad

Libyan rebels have recaptured four more towns and are moving quickly towards Muammar Gaddafi's heartland of Sirte.

They seized the eastern coastal towns of Ras Lanuf, Brega, Uqayla and Bin Jawad after pro-Gaddafi forces - under pressure from allied air strikes - withdrew.
The rebels also re-captured the port of Ajdabiya on Saturday.
US, French, British and other allied aircraft started attacking Libyan government troops eight days ago.

Japan nuclear: Workers evacuated as radiation soars

 

Radioactivity in water at reactor 2 at the quake-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant has reached 10 million times the usual level, company officials say.

Workers trying to cool the reactor core to avoid a meltdown have been evacuated.

Earlier, Japan's nuclear agency said that levels of radioactive iodine in the sea near the plant had risen to 1,850 times the usual level.

The UN's nuclear agency has warned the crisis could go on for months.

It is believed the radiation at Fukushima is coming from one of the reactors, but a specific leak has not been identified.

Sebastian Vettel beats Lewis Hamilton in Australian GP

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel got his title defence off to a perfect start with a pole-to-flag victory in the Australian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton finished second to seal McLaren's turnaround in form but team-mate Jenson Button was sixth after being penalised for cutting a corner.

A brilliant start from Russian Vitaly Petrov propelled him to his first podium with third for Renault.

Scot Paul di Resta was 10th for Force India on his debut.

He finished 12th but the two Saubers were disqualified for a technical infringement.

Taliban kidnap dozens of Afghan policemen in Kunar

Taliban insurgents have abducted dozens of Afghan policemen in the north-east of the country, the militant group and local officials say.

The Taliban said in a statement that 50 police officers were ambushed in Chapa Dara, Kunar province, on Saturday.

Local Afghan officials said several dozen men were captured, without giving the exact number.

The policemen - who were travelling in a convoy - were reportedly off duty and unarmed when the militants struck.

State elections test Merkel's hold on power in Germany

Baden-Wuerttemberg has the lowest unemployment and fastest growth in Germany

 

Germans are voting in a state election in Baden-Wuerttemberg, which analysts say will test Chancellor Angela Merkel's hold on power.

Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats could be ousted in the state for the first time since 1953, opinion polls suggest.

They say that the Social Democrats and the Greens have enough support to form a governing coalition.

TUC condemns post-rally violence in central London

Signs of the protest are still evident in London

 

Violence which followed a day of anti-spending cuts protests in London has been condemned by union leaders.

Hours after a peaceful march to Hyde Park, there were clashes between police and protesters in Trafalgar Square.

The TUC said the activities of a few hundred people should not detract from the main message of the official protest, which it said was attended by "between 250,000 and 500,000 people".

Police said a total of 201 arrests had been made during the day.

Business Secretary Vince Cable has said the government will not change its economic strategy as a result of the protest.

He told the BBC's Politics Show: "Certainly we're listening. I talk regularly to the trade union movement, I think it's important we have a dialogue with them but we're not going to change the basic economic strategy.

Cricket World Cup: Pakistan PM accepts cricket invite

India defeated Australia to make their way into the semi-final

 

 

Pakistani PM Yousuf Raza Gilani has accepted an invitation from his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, to attend the Cricket World Cup semi-final between the countries on Wednesday.

The match, in the northern Indian city of Mohali, has created huge interest on both sides of the border.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been badly strained since the Mumbai attacks of 2008.

Then, more than 170 people were killed by Pakistan-based militants.

Canada to vote for new government on 2 May

Harper has led a minority government

 

Canada's federal election will be held on 2 May.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement in the capital, Ottawa, after asking Governor-General David Johnston, Queen Elizabeth's II representative in Canada, to dissolve parliament.

Mr Harper's minority Conservative government was toppled in a confidence vote on Friday.

But he warns voters against choosing a "reckless" coalition to replace it.

After the drama of the vote in the Canadian parliament, and a week of rancorous debate, it was time for the formality of launching an election campaign.

US Democrat Geraldine Ferraro dies, aged 75

Geraldine Ferraro was a low-profile figure until the presidential race

 

Groundbreaking US Democratic politician Geraldine Ferraro has died at the age of 75.

She had been been suffering from cancer for many years, and died in hospital in Massachusetts, a family friend said.

Ms Ferraro was the first female vice-presidential candidate to represent a major political party, when she became Walter Mondale's running mate in 1984.

Their presidential bid was heavily defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan and his running mate, George Bush snr.

Snakes on the plane: Jakarta police foil smuggling bid

Customs officers found the sedated pythons in the men's bags

 

Indonesian customs officials have arrested two men suspected of trying to take 40 snakes on to a flight to Dubai.

The two were about to enter the departure area at Jakarta airport when X-rays showed their bags were filled with sedated pythons, officials say.

The two suspects told investigators they planned to sell the animals to collectors in the United Arab Emirates, the AP news agency reports.

They face up to seven years in jail if found guilty of attempted smuggling.

"People often use the flights to Dubai to smuggle illegal animals," an official at Jakarta airport told AFP news agency.

"For the sake of flight safety and security, no animals are allowed to be brought on to aircraft without permission and special handling," the official, Salahudin Rafi, added.

Libyan foes stalemate in key town

Rebel fighters called off an assault on Ajdabiya

 

Libyan rebels have reached a standoff with pro-Gaddafi forces around the town of Ajdabiya, witnesses say.

French and British jets bombed targets near the eastern town overnight, including government forces' artillery.

Rebels had tried to attack pro-Gaddafi forces after the air strikes, but said they had to call off the assault.

The town has been besieged for days. Fleeing residents said the streets were deserted, and that government troops were opening fire at random.

Western forces began bombing targets last weekend in a bid to enforce a UN resolution that banned the Libyan military from launching air attacks on civilians.

Syria unrest: Protests in Deraa, Damascus and Hama

Clashes erupted in Damascus and other cities

 

Gunfire has been heard during a fresh protest march in the Syrian city of Deraa, reports say.

The marchers had attended funerals for some of the 25 protesters shot dead on Wednesday by security forces.

Demonstrations were also reported in the capital, Damascus, where there were some arrests, and in the towns of Hama and Tall.

Opposition activists had called for nationwide protests after Friday prayers, following a week of unrest.

The city of Deraa, south of Damascus, has become the centre of a serious challenge to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Some of the protesters started a fire under a bronze statue of his father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, witnesses reported.

More than 40 people are thought to have been killed in the town in a week of protests, although it has been hard to verify the accounts.

Unconfirmed reports on Friday said another group of protesters trying to reach Deraa were killed in a nearby village when security forces opened fire.

A human rights activist told AFP news agency the deaths occured in Salamen village. A witness told al-Jazeera

Libya: William Hague says Nato control days away

 

Nato will be able to take over command of the entire military operation in Libya within days, according to UK Foreign Secretary William Hague.

He says he has "every expectation" the alliance will assume full command, instead of enforcing only the no-fly zone and the arms embargo.

Coalition forces are into a seventh day of military action over Libya to enforce the UN resolution.

Mr Hague insisted there was no split in the international community.

"If the Gaddafi regime think the international will and unity on this is faltering in any way, they are in for quite a surprise," he said.

Zimbabwe MDC minister Theresa Makoni 'fears arrest'

Elton Mangoma's first arrest prompted the MDC to call for a "divorce" from the unity government

 

One of the ministers in charge of Zimbabwe's police has told the BBC she is in hiding for fear she would be arrested as part of a state plot.

Theresa Makone is from the MDC, which joined President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party in a unity government in 2009 after years in opposition.

She said that Zanu-PF wants to stop her and other MDC MPs voting in next week's election for a speaker of parliament.

Nato takes over Libya no-fly zone

Nato says it has agreed to take over responsibility from the US for enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya.

Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said talks would continue on giving Nato a "broader responsibility", with a decision possible in the coming days.

There have been differences of opinion about whether attacks on ground troops should form part of the action.

Japan investigation into nuclear plant radiation leak

The Japanese government says an investigation is under way to establish the source of the radiation leak at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant, which left two workers in hospital.

Two nuclear plant workers remain in hospital

The plant's operator says dangerously high radiation levels recorded in water at one reactor raise the possibility its core has been damaged.

Meanwhile, the official death toll from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami has passed 10,000, police say.

More than 17,440 people are missing.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been made homeless; an estimated 250,000 people are living in emergency shelters. Food, water and fuel are in short supply.

Yemen tense as thousands attend rival rallies in Sanaa

Anti-government protesters want President Saleh to step down immediately

 

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Yemen's capital Sanaa for rival mass rallies, a week after 50 people were shot dead at a protest.

Anti-government protesters predict their biggest rally yet to demand the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in power since 1978.

Addressing a rally of his supporters, he reportedly said he was ready to hand over power but only to "safe hands".

Burma earthquake: More than 60 killed

A rising toll and damage across both sides of the Burma Thailand border has followed the quake

 

More than 60 people have died in a magnitude-6.8 earthquake in Burma which struck near the Lao and Thai borders.

It happened at 1355 GMT on Thursday and was centred about 70 miles (110 km) from the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai, the US Geological Survey said.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor buried outside Los Angeles

Dame Elizabeth Taylor has been buried in a cemetery just outside Los Angeles, a day after her death.

Her private funeral was held at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.

Pop icon Michael Jackson, a friend of Taylor's, is one of a number of stars also buried at the cemetery.

Taylor, one of the 20th Century's biggest movie stars, died in Los Angeles on Wednesday of congestive heart failure. She was 79.

Her funeral service started 15 minutes late, at the star's request.

"Miss Taylor had left instructions that it was to begin at least 15 minutes later than publicly scheduled, with the announcement: 'She even wanted to be late for her own funeral'," said a statement from her publicist.

'Soaring angel'

The hour-long service included a recital of the Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem The Leaden Echo and the Golden Echo and a trumpet solo of Amazing Grace, performed by Taylor's grandson Rhys.

Syrian leaders have pledged to introduce reforms to meet the demands of protesters, after days of violence in the southern city of Deraa.

Officials promised to study the need for lifting the state of emergency, in place since 1963.

The government also said it would bring to trial those suspected of killing several protesters in Deraa.

President Bashar al-Assad later ordered the release of everyone arrested during the "recent events", state media said.

Brazil police filmed 'shooting boy' in Manaus

The footage was recorded by a private security camera

 

Five Brazilian police officers have been arrested after television stations broadcast a video in which some of them appear to shoot a 14-year-old-boy.

The footage - captured by a security camera in the city of Manaus - shows uniformed men pushing the teenager before shooting him in the chest.

The boy survived with several wounds and is now in a witness protection programme along with his family.

The incident happened in August but has only recently come to light.

The boy's family and the person in charge of the security camera, as well as the first reporter to see the footage, initially held the video back because they feared retaliation if it was made public, prosecutors said.

Eurozone sets bail-out terms as Portugal fears increase

Many analysts believe Portugal is in denial about its need for rescue aid.

 

European leaders have agreed a restructuring of a financial bail-out fund that they hope will resolve the bloc's debt crisis.

Eurozone ministers bowed to German demands to renegotiate the time-frame for contributions to the massive fund.

But the deal was overshadowed by concerns about Portugal and a growing row that the UK may be forced to contribute to a financial bail-out.

Portugal says it does not need aid, but many analysts say Lisbon is in denial.

Guatemala first lady Sandra Torres confirms divorc

Ms Torres wants to be Guatemala's first woman president

 

Guatemala's First Lady, Sandra Torres de Colom, has confirmed that she is divorcing president Alvaro Colom so she can stand for election to succeed him.

Ms Torres fought back tears as she told Guatemalans she was leaving a loving marriage for the sake of the nation.

"I am divorcing my husband but I am getting married to the people," she said at a news conference.

Guatemala's constitution bans close relatives of the president from standing to succeed him.

 

Martin McGuinness has given a "guarantee" that Altnagelvin's radiotherapy unit will be constructed

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has described the decision to postpone the construction of a radiotherapy unit in Londonderry as "sectarian".

He said he could "guarantee" to reverse the move after the elections in May.

The DUP's Jim Wells, who chairs the assembly's health committee, said his party would reverse the move if it took the health portfolio.

Mexico media agree drug war reporting guidelines

The initiative is the first of its kind in Mexico

 

Many of Mexico's leading news organisations have agreed common guidelines on how to cover drug-related violence.

Newspapers and broadcasters agreed not to glorify drug traffickers or publish cartel propaganda.

They also promised joint action to protect journalists, at least 20 of whom have been killed since 2006.

The accord defends the media's right to criticise Mexican government policy and actions in the drugs conflict.

More than 40 media groups, which between them own over 700 television networks, radio stations and newspapers, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Mexico City.

Nigeria election: Jonathan rivals pull out of TV debate

The three opposition candidates left an empty podium for President Jonathan at last week's debate

Nigeria's three main opposition candidates have pulled out of election debates with President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of "arrogance".

The three - Nuhu Ribadu, Muhammadu Buhari and Ibrahim Shekarau - are suspicious that he will take part only in a live TV debate largely organised by state-run media.

TNK-BP blocks BP Russian Arctic venture with Rosneft

Russia lays claim to potentially extensive oil deposits within the Arctic sea bed

 

Russian shareholders of TNK-BP have blocked BP's Arctic exploration deal with state-owned Rosneft.

"We won," said a spokesman for the oil joint venture's Russian shareholders.

A Swedish arbitration panel in London agreed that the Arctic deal violated a previous agreement between them and BP made when they set up TNK-BP.

Diamond ring worth 250,000 euros stolen in Paris

The stolen diamond was set in a platinum ring, a police official said

 

Three men posing as customers at a Paris store have stolen a diamond ring worth 250,000 euros (£217,000; $353,200), French police sources say.

While looking at rings at the Tiffany & Co counter of the Printemps department store, the men reportedly asked for a certificate of authenticity.

When the salesperson went off to make a photocopy, the men slipped away and escaped unchallenged by store guards.

Store managers were not immediately commenting on the theft for the media.

Egypt women protesters forced to take 'virginity tests'

Clashes broke out as the military tried to clear protesters from Tahrir Square on 9 March.

 

A leading rights group says the Egyptian army arrested, tortured and forced women to take "virginity tests" during protests earlier this month.

Amnesty International is calling on the authorities in Cairo to investigate.

It says at least 18 female protesters were arrested after army officers cleared Tahrir Square on 9 March.

It says they were then beaten, given electric shocks and strip searched.

The army denies the allegations.

India revokes licences of 14 'fake pilots'

India's air safety record is generally good despite the scandals

 

The licences of 14 pilots have been revoked by India's aviation authorities as they were allegedly proved to be flying with fake documents.

A police probe found a flying club had issued "fake records" of their training sessions, India's civil aviation chief, Bharat Bhushan.

Earlier this month the licences of seven pilots were cancelled because of fake certificates.

The licences of 4,000 pilots are being checked for irregularities.

China activist Liu Xianbin jailed for 10 years

Liu Xianbin was previously jailed for taking part in the nationwide protests of 1989

 

A Chinese democracy activist has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for inciting subversion of state power.

Liu Xianbin was charged after writing a series of articles calling for democratic reforms.

He was convicted after a trial lasting only a few hours; the third time he has been sent to jail for his activism.

South Korea sex scandal diplomats to be disciplined

South Korea is to discipline 10 current and former diplomats at its consulate in Shanghai, in connection with a sex scandal involving a Chinese woman.

The government investigation found that some staff had "inappropriate relationships" with her.

The staff had issued visas to some Chinese citizens without properly checking applications.

The series of affairs came to light after a tip-off from a South Korean businessman, married to the woman.

Media reports suggested that state secrets had been sold for sex with this woman, suspected of being a professional spy.

BHP Billiton to invest $9.5bn in Australian projects

BHP Billiton is trying to meet demand from fast-developing countries like India and China

 

BHP Billiton, the world's biggest miner, has said it will expand its Australian iron ore and coal mining projects, as it tries keep up with rising demand in Asia.

The company has approved $9.5bn (£5.9bn) in capital investments, it said in a statement.

US playwright Lanford Wilson dies aged 73

Wilson was a prominent member of the Off-Broadway theatre scene

 

Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, best known for such plays as Talley's Folly and Burn This, has died aged 73.

The writer passed away at a New Jersey hospital on Wednesday after a long illness, his agent said.

Wilson wrote 17 full-length plays and more than 30 one-acts.

He was awarded the Pulitzer in 1980 for Talley's Folly, part of a trilogy of plays about several generations of a Missouri family.

'Civilians spared' by Libya raids

Western aircraft have flown hundreds of sorties over Libya

 

The US chief of staff for the mission in Libya has insisted there have been no reports of civilian casualties caused by allied action.

Rear Admiral Gerard Hueber's comments come despite claims to the contrary by Muammar Gaddafi's government.

Earlier, British Air Vice Marshal Greg Bagwell said Col Gaddafi's air force "no longer exists as a fighting force".

This has been the fifth consecutive night of air strikes by the US-led international force over the country.

Work resumes at stricken Japan nuclear plant

All six reactors at Fukushima Daiichi had their external power supplies restored on Tuesday

 

Engineers have resumed work to restore the cooling system of reactor 3 at Japan's stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, reports say.

Work had been suspended after a plume of black smoke was seen coming from the overheating reactor on Wednesday.

Later on Thursday, two workers at reactor 3 were taken to hospital after being exposed to radiation.

The plant was badly damaged by the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami which struck north-eastern Japan on 11 March

Syria unrest: Troops 'kill 10 protesters in Deraa'

There were protests after the funerals of those killed in an overnight raid

 

At least 10 people have been killed and dozens wounded after Syrian police opened fire on people protesting against the deaths of anti-government demonstrators in Deraa, witnesses say.

Hundreds of youths from nearby villages were shot at when they tried to march into the centre of the southern city.

A Syrian human rights activist told the BBC that at least 37 had died.

Troops also reportedly shot at people attending the funerals of six people killed in a raid on a mosque overnight.

Before the violence on Wednesday afternoon, at least 12 people had been killed in clashes with the security forces in the southern city.

Pakistan suicide car bombing kills five near Hangu

A suicide car bomb near a police station in a restive province of north-west Pakistan has killed at least five people, police say.

Some 25 people, including a policeman and some pedestrians, were injured by the blast in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, reports said.
The car exploded in Doaba, a town about 30km (18 miles) from Hangu district, reports said.
It is the latest in a series of attacks near the Afghan border.
The bomber had failed to strike the police station because of the security barricades outside the building, police said.

Portugal PM Jose Socrates resigns after budget rejected

Prime Minister Socrates said the opposition had rejected the government's plans to avoid a bailout

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates has resigned after parliament rejected an austerity budget.

The defeat is likely to trigger a bailout similar to the rescue packages Greece and the Republic of Ireland had to accept last year.

All five opposition parties voted against the austerity measures, which included spending cuts and tax rises.

Mr Socrates had earlier said he would no longer be able to run the country if the budget was not adopted.

Elections are likely to take place in a few months' time.

Cuckoo in egg pattern 'arms race'

Imitation egg patterns allow cuckoo eggs to infiltrate unsuspecting nests.

Cuckoos' egg forgery skills are increasingly being put to the test, as host birds evolve better defences, say scientists.

These brood parasites, as they are called, are master deceivers - hiding their eggs in other species' nests.

To avoid detection, cuckoos have evolved to mimic colour and pattern of their favoured host birds' eggs.

But researchers have developed "birds eye view" models to find out how the hosts see the intruders' copycat eggs.

Newey turned down Ferrari last spring - and went on to win title with Red Bull

Red Bull design chief Adrian Newey turned down an attempt by Ferrari to persuade him to join the Italian team.

Ferrari approached the 52-year-old, regarded as the best design engineer in Formula 1, last year.

But they did not get as far as offering him a job because Newey made it clear he was not interested in leaving Red Bull to move to Italy.

Libya action: UK launches missiles from submarines

RAF jets have been patrolling the no-fly zone over Libya

 

UK forces have taken part in a fifth night of coalition action to enforce the UN resolution on Libya, launching guided Tomahawk land attack missiles.

The missiles were fired from a Trafalgar Class submarine and were aimed at Libyan air defence targets.

It comes after RAF commander of the air operations over Libya, Air Vice Marshal Greg Bagwell, said the Libyan air force was no longer a fighting force.

UK forces are part of a coalition enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya.

Jerusalem bus stop bomb victim was British

Medical officials said four of those injured were in a serious condition

 

A woman who was killed when a bomb exploded at a crowded bus stop in Jerusalem on Wednesday was British.

The British Embassy said the woman's family in the UK had been informed.

Thirty people were also injured by the bomb, which was left in a bag on a pavement near the central bus station.

Jerusalem suffered a spate of bus bombings by Palestinian militants between 2000 and 2004, but attacks had stopped in recent years. The Palestinian PM condemned the bombing.

Dog teams to join search for missing Sian O'Callaghan

Sian O'Callaghan's boyfriend Kevin Reape joined in the search for her on Tuesday

 

Specialist dog teams are being brought in to help search for a woman missing since she left a nightclub in Swindon at the weekend.

Police have said they are "very close" to identifying the whereabouts of Sian O'Callaghan, 22, who has not been seen since the early hours of Saturday.

Search experts have been examining "hotspots" in the 4,500-acre Savernake Forest, near Marlborough in Wiltshire.