Hanoi - Hundreds of Catholics massed Friday in downtown Hanoi, singing and praying, after the government sent construction equipment to clear a disputed property next to the city's cathedral.

Priests said construction crews arrived at 4 am Friday to break down walls and clear structures on the site of Hanoi's former papal nunciature, next to St Joseph's Cathedral in central Hanoi.

Parishioners and priests staged a months-long vigil on the site last winter to demand the land be returned to the church.

Helsnki - Finnish voters remain opposed to a possible membership in NATO, according to a new survey published Thursday.

The poll - conducted after the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia - suggested 57 per cent of Finns opposed joining NATO, 23 per cent were in favour while the remaining 20 per cent were undecided.

A year ago, those undecided were on 16 per cent, the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper that commissioned the Gallup survey said. About 1,000 people were polled by telephone September 2-11.

Seoul - North Korea was scheduled to hold talks Friday with South Korea on outstanding oil shipments and economic aid promised to it for dismantling its nuclear programme.

The one-day meeting is to take place in Panmunjom, a village in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Thursday.

Berlin  - Germany congratulated Tzipi Livni on Thursday on being chosen to lead Israel's Kadima party.

Bangkok  - Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday officially endorsed the premiership of Somchai Wongsawat, the brother-in-law of coup-ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Thai parliament voted 298 to 163 in favour of Somchai's nomination as prime minister on Wednesday but under Thailand's constitutional monarchy the appointment is not official until it is approved by King Bhumibol, who is head of state.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob flew to Bhumibol's palace in Hua Hin, 150 kilometres south-west of Bangkok, Thursday afternoon to present Somchai's appointment to the king, who endorsed it.

New Delhi, Sept 18 : The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to review the Print Media policy by allowing publication of India editions of foreign magazines publishing news and comments on public news.

Publishers of such editions would continue to be eligible for attracting 26 per cent foreign investment. The broad parameters for granting such permission are as follows:

a) Permission to publish such editions would be granted only to those Indian companies which are registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956