A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
At least 18 die as tornado hits US states
KANSAS CITY - A powerful tornado tore through southern Indiana and parts of Kentucky early yesterday killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 100, many of whom were sleeping.
At least six people were confirmed dead in Warrick County and at least 12 were killed in Vanderburgh County, according to county officials. Hospitals reported taking in at least 160.
"We've had severe damage," the assistant fire chief for Newburgh said. "Homes were totally devastated. People are having to try to crawl out of their homes." - (Reuters)
German VAT rate set to increase
BERLIN - Germany's top parties appear to be nearing consensus on a controversial hike in value added tax ahead of a crucial final week of talks on forming a bipartisan "grand coalition" government.
Plans by Dr Angela Merkel to increase VAT to pay for a cut in social insurance charges were sharply criticised by the Social Democrats during the recent election campaign.
Franz Muentefering, SPD chairman and designated labour minister and vice- chancellor, has warned that a VAT increase could hurt German growth prospects. - (Reuters)
Somalian PM survives attack
MOGADISHU - An explosion tore through a convoy of cars carrying Somalia's prime minister Mohamed Ali Gedi in Mogadishu yesterday, killing six but leaving him unhurt.
The explosion, caused by a landmine, sharply raised tensions in a city largely controlled by Mr Gedi's political enemies. - (Reuters)
Socialists win most in Bulgaria
SOFIA - Bulgaria's ruling Socialist Party has won a majority of city elections over the past two weekends in its first voting test since coming to power in August, nearly final results yesterday showed. The Socialists took six of 11 ballots to replace mayors who won parliamen- tary seats in June national elections. - (Reuters)
'Safe' cigarette played down
LONDON - British American Tobacco have played down claims that it is due to launch a "safe" cigarette brand. The company said reports it was developing a new type of cigarette which reduced cancer risk by 90 per cent compared with normal cigarettes were "misleading".
Emily Brand of BAT said the company had a research programme to look for ways to cut down the harm caused by cigarettes and admitted that there had been trials of a cigarette which used new "trionic" filters to remove more of the thousands of harmful chemicals in smoke.
The trials, carried out in Indianapolis several years ago, were not conclusive. - (Guardian service)
Palestinian organs donated to Israelis
WEST BANK - A Palestinian couple whose son died after being shot by Israeli soldiers have donated his organs to three Israeli patients desperately waiting for transplants.
Ismail Khatib said his decision to donate his son Ahmed's organs was rooted in his memories of his own brother, who died at age 24 waiting for a liver transplant, and in his family's desire to help others, regardless of their nationality. - (AP)
Iran call to renew nuclear talks
TEHRAN - Iran's top nuclear negotiator has called for a renewal of nuclear negotiations with France, Britain and Germany, the state-run news agency has reported.
In letters to their foreign ministers, Ali Larijani asked for "constructive and logical negotiations in the framework of respective conventions and regulations of International Atomic Energy Agency." - (AP)