Stockholm- Italian author Roberto Saviano, who has been threatened for his writings on the mafia, has been invited to give a lecture at the Swedish Academy, a spokesman for the body that selects the Nobel literature prize said Friday.
The academy decided on the invitation at its weekly meeting on Thursday, Odd Zschiedrich, administrative coordinator at the academy, told Deutche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Berlin, Luxembourg - Germany said Friday it would oppose European Union plans for full-body scanners to be used in airports.
The devices are accused of carrying out virtual strip searches because they construct an image of each traveller's body without clothing.
"We do not want our federal policemen to be considered voyeurs," said German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble at a meeting in Luxembourg with his European Union colleagues.
Soelden, Austria - The international ski federation FIS has agreed to the hosting of a parallel slalom in Moscow on January 2 with prize money totally 160,000 euros on offer.
According to FIS race director Guenter Hujara, Austria's Hermann Maier, Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway and American Bode Miller have already agreed to take part in the race, which is expected to involve the top 10 slalom skiers.
The race was originally planned for November but had to be moved to January for logistical reasons. A 50-metre-high slope will be erected to host the race.
Taipei- Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday that he would meet with Chinese negotiator Chen Yunlin when Chen visits Taipei next month to sign four pacts on expanding exchanges.
Ma told the Central News Agency (CNA) that while Taiwan and China do not recognize each other now, they should not deny each other's existence.
Chen, China's top negotiator on Taiwan, is to hold talks with his Taiwan counterpart, Chiang Ping-kun, starting November 3 in Taipei to discuss expanding exchanges that began after Ma took office on May 20.
Amman - Arab stock markets tumbled this week as panicked investors dumped shares to avert worse repercussions of the global recession despite steps taken by financial authorities to replenish liquidity shortages, financial analysts said Friday.
"Investors in the region are still suffering from psychological pressures and indirect impact of the global financial turmoil," Nizar Taher, chief of brokerage at the Jordan Ahli Bank, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Stockholm- Italian author Roberto Saviano, who has been threatened for his writings on the mafia, has been invited to give a lecture at the Swedish Academy, a spokesman for the body that selects the Nobel literature prize said Friday.
Berlin, Luxembourg - Germany said Friday it would oppose European Union plans for full-body scanners to be used in airports.
Belgrade - The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), Patriarch Pavle, has resigned owing to poor health, the SPC said on its website Friday.
Soelden, Austria - The international ski federation FIS has agreed to the hosting of a parallel slalom in Moscow on January 2 with prize money totally 160,000 euros on offer.
Taipei- Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday that he would meet with Chinese negotiator Chen Yunlin when Chen visits Taipei next month to sign four pacts on expanding exchanges.
Amman - Arab stock markets tumbled this week as panicked investors dumped shares to avert worse repercussions of the global recession despite steps taken by financial authorities to replenish liquidity shortages, financial analysts said Friday.
