Lifetime achievement

Desk Report

The Old Placidians' Association (OPA) on Thursday honoured veteran teacher, Peter Shaha of St. Placid's High School, for "His Lifetime Achievement".

Reuters, Yalta, Ukraine- The world's economy is teetering between "the ice of recession and the fire of inflation", but may see some recovery by early next year, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Friday.

Reuters, Beijing- North Korea pledged on Saturday to complete steps to disable its nuclear facilities by the end of October, at six-country talks aimed at disarming the communist state in return for aid and better diplomatic relations.

Desk Report

Zimbabwe on Saturday welcomed the failure of a Western-backed UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions over its violent presidential elections, calling it a victory over racism and meddling in its affairs.

Reuters, Punto Fijo, Venezuela- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said they repaired ties at a summit on Friday that showcased their renewed personal cooperation after months of bickering.

Reuters, Beijing- China said on Saturday that sanctions against Zimbabwe's government would "complicate", rather than ease, conflict in the troubled African country, defending its decision to veto a proposed UN resolution.

Reuters, Srinagar- India imposed President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday after the state government fell over a controversial transfer of land to the Amarnath shrine trust that sparked days of rioting in the Muslim-dominated region.

Reuters, Mumbai- US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who voted in the Senate for a civilian nuclear trade deal between India and the United States, would not seek changes to it at this stage, an Indian news magazine quoted him as saying.

Reuters, New Delhi- Parliament will meet for a confidence vote in the government on July 21 and 22 after the government's leftist allies withdrew their support to protest against a US nuclear deal, a minister said on Friday.

It's been billed as the "Green Olympics", but do the showpiece venues that will host the Games' key events live up to the theme?, reports Reuters.

REUTERS, ROME- Russia's world and Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva set a world record of 5.03 metres at Rome's Golden Gala on Friday.

REUTERS, LISBON- Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has been named Portugal coach for the second time, the Football Federation (FPF) said on Friday.

REUTERS, LONDON- Portsmouth completed the signing of England striker Peter Crouch from Liverpool on Friday with the 27-year-old signing a four-year contract.

Attention to land, agriculture is the option

Emmanuel Adebayor's switch to AC Milan could be back on after Arsenal dropped their asking price, according to the agent working for the Italian side, reports BBC.

AFP, ROME - Seville's midfielder Christian Poulsen is expected to become Juventus' latest summer signing according to a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

AP, ENEW YORK -- Gold prices rose Friday, making their largest advance since first hitting $1,000 earlier this year, after another record crude rally and a tumbling stock market led jittery investors to the safety of hard assets.

REUTERS, WELLINGTON/NEW YORK- Apple Inc's new iPhone made its hotly awaited debut on Friday with buyers storming stores in Asia and queues forming in Europe, although network problems marred the launch in the United States.

Reuters, Mumbai- The ambitions of Mumbai's diamond traders are grand, even if their offices are not.

AP, WASHINGTON -- Wall Street and Washington wrestled Friday with how to shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two troubled pillars of the economy whose failure would deal a devastating blow to the already crippled housing market.