More world news in brief.
Billionaire teams up with Gorbachev
MOSCOW -A Russian tycoon said yesterday he and former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev will pair up to create a new political party.
Billionaire businessman Alexander Lebedev said they plan to join forces in what may be called the independent democratic party. Mr Gorbachev could not be reached for comment. - (PA)
Judge asked to halt Palin investigation
ANCHORAGE -A US judge is to hear arguments this week about whether he should halt the Alaska legislature's abuse-of-power investigation of governor Sarah Palin, the Republicans' vice-presidential candidate.
Anchorage Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski has scheduled a hearing for tomorrow in a lawsuit filed by five Republican politicians.
They say the investigation has been tainted by partisan politics since Ms Palin became Senator John McCain's running mate.
The Republicans want to block the state legislative council's investigation into whether Ms Palin acted improperly when she fired public safety commissioner Walt Monegan this summer.
Ms Palin denies that she pressured Mr Monegan to fire a state trooper who had gone through a bitter divorce with her sister. - (PA)
Lebanon death toll rises to seven
BEIRUT -Two men have died from their wounds in a bomb blast in north Lebanon, taking the death toll from the attack to seven, security sources said yesterday.
The bomb attack on Monday targeted a bus transporting troops in the northern city of Tripoli. Four of those killed were soldiers. The others were civilians.
There have been no claims of responsibility. - (Reuters)
Pakistani tribes kill militants
KHAR, Pakistan -Pakistani tribesmen backed by army helicopter gunships battled Islamist militants in the Bajaur region on the Afghan border yesterday, killing several of the militants, a tribal elder said.
Pakistani security forces launched an offensive in Bajaur, one of the main sanctuaries for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in Pakistan, in August. Up to 1,000 militants have been killed this month, the military said.
The latest clash broke out in Mulla Saib Dara village, 20km east of the region's main town of Khar, when a militia force of about 6,000 tribesmen tried to set ablaze militants' hideouts. - (Reuters)
Raids linked to jet fighter scandal
VIENNA -Austrian prosecutors have raided offices and homes of lobbyists in an investigation into allegations of bribery and money laundering linked to jet fighter purchases by Hungary.
Prosecutors are investigating allegations by British authorities against an Austrian lobbyist's role in Hungarys purchase of Gripen jet fighters, spokesman Gerhard Jarosch said.
The jets were delivered to Hungary earlier this year. - (Reuters)
Gurkhas win fight to retire in Britain
LONDON -Former Gurkha soldiers who fought alongside British troops won a long-running battle yesterday for the right to retire in Britain.
Members of the unit which has fought for Britain since 1815 welcomed the High Court decision to overturn a ruling that meant those who retired before 1997 had no automatic right to live in Britain. About 2,000 Gurkhas are affected by the current rules. - (Reuters)