A round-up of today's other world news in brief ...
LONDON – Jade Goody is facing the biggest battle of her life after being told by doctors that her cancer has spread.
The former Big Brother star was given the news that tumours had now been found in her liver, bowel and groin.
Doctors said they were now treating her to prolong her life rather than cure the cancer.
Nato worried by decision to close US base
BRUSSELS – Nato said yesterday it would be a worry if Russia were found to have had a role in Kyrgyzstan's decision to close a US military air base which supplies US-led troops fighting in Afghanistan.
Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev said that the Manas base would be shut after he secured Russian aid at talks on Tuesday in Moscow, a traditional ally of the former Soviet state.
“If it were to be the case that a Kyrgyz decision to withdraw US access to Manas was as a result of Russian engagement, that would be of concern,” Nato spokesman James Appathurai told a news briefing.
Moscow has denied a connection between a $2 billion package to combat an economic crisis – the equivalent of about half of Kyrgyzstan’s gross domestic product – and Mr Bakiyev’s decision.
Mr Appathurai said any Russian interference would be out of line with Russia’s repeated statements that it supports the international effort in Afghanistan and its position as a UN Security Council member that approved the mandate. – (Reuters)
Sudan claims rebel town seized
KHARTOUM – Sudan’s army said yesterday it had captured a strategic Darfur town after three weeks of clashes with rebels that UN officials say have killed at least 30 people and have forced thousands of civilians to flee.
Fighting has escalated in the build-up to a decision by the International Criminal Court on whether to issue an arrest warrant against Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir on charges of masterminding war crimes in Darfur. – (Reuters)
Scottish parties agree budget
EDINBURGH – The Scottish government’s £33 billion budget was passed at the second time of asking in a vote at Holyrood yesterday.
Following agreement between the parties, MSPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the spending plan, exactly a week after it was rejected amid angry scenes. – (PA)
Organism find boosts Darwin
LONDON – Chemical traces left in 635 million-year-old rocks in Oman provide the earliest evidence so far of animal life, researchers said yesterday.
The findings, published about a week before the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, are also proof of the simple organisms the English naturalist said must have existed before evolving into more complex creatures, the researchers said. – (Reuters)
More awards for ‘Slumdog’
LONDON – Slumdog Millionaire continued its triumphant tour of awards ceremonies yesterday, picking up three prizes at the London Film Critics’ Circle Awards. Michael Fassbender was awarded British Actor of the Year for his portrayal of Bobby Sands in Hunger. Hunger also won the Breakthrough British Film-maker award for its director Steve McQueen. – (PA)