Today's other world stories in brief
Ship rescues 162 migrants off Malta
VALLETTA - A Marshall Islands-registered tanker rescued 162 migrants in rough seas off Malta yesterday and will bring them to the Mediterranean island, the Maltese armed forces said.
The migrants were rescued 59 nautical miles off Malta, after using a satellite telephone to seek assistance from the Maltese rescue services when their 10-metre boat ran into trouble.
The group included 28 women and a child. - (Reuters)
Earthquake death toll rises
CINCHONA - As rescue workers yesterday combed through houses collapsed by last week's deadly earthquake, Costa Rican officials feared unstable ground and daily rains could cause mudslides.
Sniffer dogs stumbled through rubble around the village of Cinchona, where rescuers believe more victims may be found in a family restaurant crushed by a landslide after Thursday's 6.1-magnitude quake.
A Red Cross official put the death toll at 20. - (Reuters)
Alitalia to auction artworks
ROME - Italian airline Alitalia will auction 163 works of art, including some by prominent modern painters that were exhibited in its aircraft during its 1960s heyday, its bankruptcy administrator revealed yesterday. - (Reuters)
Burris to return to Washington
WASHINGTON - Roland Burris said yesterday he will return to Washington this week to pursue being sworn in to fill Barack Obama's senate seat before Mr Obama is inaugurated as president on January 20th. - (Reuters)