Beijing - The European Union on Monday welcomed US President Barack Obama's invitation to a climate change forum for the world's major economies as well as his change in policy from his predecessor, who was criticized for obstructing anti-global-warming initiatives.

Washington, Mar. 30 : Many in the United States have started expressing concern over the growth of the Muslim population in the country, and the simultaneous influential outreach of Islamic law in the daily lives of Americans.

Many see Islamic law''s growing influence as a threat and critics of the Shariah point to cases such as the airport in Minneapolis, where some Shariah-adherent taxi drivers made headlines in 2006 for refusing to pick up passengers they suspected of carrying liquor.

Washington, March 30 : In a new study, dust trapped deep in Antarctic ice sheets is helping scientists unravel details of past climate change.

The study, carried out by the Universities of Edinburgh, Stirling and Lille, has found that the very coldest periods of the last ice age correspond with the dustiest periods in Antarctica's past, thus establishing a link between the two.

Washington, March 30 : A new research has indicated that micro-organisms occurring naturally in coastal mudflats have an essential role to play in cleaning up pollution by breaking down petrochemical residues.

The research, by Dr Efe Aganbi and colleagues from the University of Essex, reveals essential differences in the speed of degradation of the chemicals depending on whether or not oxygen is present.

Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Mar. 30 : At least 22 people were killed and 132 were injured when a wall came down on them before a football match between the Ivory Coast and Malawi in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

According to The Sun, many of the victims were trampled as they attempted to flee the crush which happened as fans tried to get into the stadium.

Ivory Coast Sports Minister Dagobert Banzio said fans tried to push in without tickets at the Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan.

Washington, Mar. 30 : The United States has no plans to militarily pre-empt the launching of a long-range missile by North Korea, but has added that it would act only if the missile or its parts appeared to be headed toward American territory.

US Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Sunday said that Washington could give a calibrated military response with cooperation from Japan and South Korea, but reminded one and all that diplomatic action would be pursued first.