A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Millions in Europe hit by power cut
BERLIN - A massive power cut temporarily plunged millions of homes across western Europe into darkness and initial findings suggested a routine safety operation in Germany may have been to blame, authorities said yesterday.
The impact of the power cuts at around 9.30pm on Saturday night was felt in heavily populated areas of Germany, France and Italy, as well as parts of Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Belgium and Austria, and even extended as far as Morocco. - (Reuters)
Turkey offers EU olive branch
ANKARA - Turkey yesterday offered to amend a law sharply criticised by the EU in an effort to avert a crisis in relations, but it signalled no change of tack over Cyprus, the biggest threat to its EU ambitions.
Turkih prime minister Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday he was ready to amend an article in the penal code used to prosecute intellectuals. - (Reuters)
Last-ditch talks begin in Lebanon
BEIRUT - Rival Lebanese leaders begin a week of talks today on Hizbullah demands for a national unity government, in a last-ditch effort to defuse a crisis threatening to spill into the streets.
Political sources said chances that the "national consultations" would result in a deal to form a new government were slim, but did not rule out a compromise to expand the current western-backed government of prime minister Fouad Siniora. - (Reuters)
Kabila leading in Congo election
KINSHASA - Congo's election commission yesterday began releasing partial results from last week's presidential run-off to try to stem the flow of rumours and unofficial results circulating.
Results from 12 of 169 constituencies published on the election commission's website, gave president Joseph Kabila 68.5 per cent of the vote in the race against Jean-Pierre Bemba, a former rebel who is a vice-president in the government. - (Reuters)