A round-up of today's other stories in brief
New Orleans mayor Nagin re-elected
NEW ORLEANS - Ray Nagin narrowly won a second term as mayor of New Orleans on Saturday, and immediately began mending fences with the federal and state governments to hasten the devastated city's recovery.
Mr Nagin became New Orleans's face to the world when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city last year. - (Reuters)
Less deference to US from Italy
ROME - Italy will in future show less deference to the United States, according to the new centre-left foreign minister. "We are friends of the United States, but less obsequious when it comes to choices we don't believe are just," Massimo D'Alema told reporters. "If the United States wants to have more sincere friends, it needs not to make certain errors." - (Reuters)
Palestine security foils attack attempt
JERUSALEM - Palestinian security has foiled an attempt to kill a top commander loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas with a roadside bomb, further raising tensions between Mr Abbas's Fatah movement and the Hamas- led government. - (AP)
Bird flu moves to Romanian capital
BUCHAREST - Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of avian flu in the Romanian capital for the first time since it was detected in poultry in the Danube delta last October. - (Reuters)
Seven killed in bus crash
MADRID - A bus veered off a highway outside Madrid yesterday, flipped over and hit a tree, killing at least seven people, Spanish National Radio said. - (AP)