Today's other world stories in brief
Mumbai gunman is Pakistani
NEW DELHI - India said yesterday it would keep all options open to dismantle "terror outfits" after the Mumbai attacks, while Pakistan finally confirmed the lone surviving gunman after the attacks is Pakistani.
Pakistan's prime minister dismissed his national security adviser shortly afterwards. India had been saying for weeks that Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, who was captured after the November attacks, is from Pakistan.
The prime minister's office said Mehmood Ali Durrani had been sacked "for his irresponsible behaviour for not taking the prime minister and other stakeholders into confidence, and a lack of coordination on matters of national security." - (Reuters)
Blood oxygen breakthrough
LONDON - A team of British doctors conducting experiments in the "Death Zone" of Mount Everest has recorded the lowest levels of blood oxygen in humans, far below those of critically ill patients.
The findings published yesterday could one day lead to better care for patients with heart and lung ailments in intensive care units, premature babies and others suffering from similar low-oxygen levels, known as hypoxia.
"We want to understand why humans respond differently to low oxygen levels," said Mike Grocott, a researcher at University College London. - (Reuters)
109 media workers killed
GENEVA - Iraq remained the deadliest country for media workers in 2008, followed by India and Mexico, although the number of deaths was down sharply from the previous year, a study showed.
A total of 109 journalists and support staff in 36 countries died while covering the news last year, most of them murdered because of their work, the International News Safety Institute (INSI) reported.
The figure was down from 172 deaths in 2007, largely due to a decline in the number of media workers killed in Iraq. The death toll there fell to 16 from 65, reflecting a drop in overall violence, the institute said. - (Reuters)
Greek PM sacks finance minister
ATHENS - Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sacked his finance minister yesterday in a cabinet reshuffle to try to shore up his government's popularity, hit by riots, scandals and economic woes.
Finance minister George Alogoskoufis (53) was replaced by one of his deputies, Yannis Papathanassiou (55). Foreign minister Dora Bakoyanni will stay, the government's spokesman said. The new minister faces the tough task of balancing budget needs with measures to help the poor as the global downturn hits Greece. - (Reuters)
Dati back at work after giving birth
PARIS - French justice minister Rachida Dati returned to work yesterday just five days after giving birth by Caesarean section, seemingly anxious not to be sidelined following a string of political setbacks.
French newspapers said Ms Dati felt forced to rush back ahead of an expected major judicial reform from President Sarkozy. - (Reuters)