The most senior US general in Iraq has said he has evidence that Iran was behind Sunday’s bombardment of Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone.

Gen David Petraeus told the BBC he thought Tehran had trained, equipped and funded insurgents who fired the barrage of mortars and rockets. (more…)

The Cypriot president and the Turkish Cypriot leader have agreed to resume talks on reunifying the island.

The deal was struck at a meeting between Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat in Nicosia - the first such high-profile talks since 2006. (more…)

At least four people have been killed and about 200 injured in a series of explosions at an arms depot near the Albanian capital, Tirana.

A spokeswoman for Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said it was feared the number of dead could rise. (more…)

Hillary Clinton has revived her campaign for the US presidency with projected primary election wins in three states.

US media say she has taken the Democratic primary polls in Democratic Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island. The results of caucus meetings in Texas are not yet known. (more…)

An Iranian court has ordered a man to give his wife the 124,000 roses that he promised in her dowry, after she filed a complaint to claim it, reports say.

The woman said she was claiming the dowry because her “very stingy husband” would not even pay for a cup of coffee, according to the E’temad newspaper. (more…)

By Martin Hickman,

House prices fell last month at their longest sustained rate since 2000, according to the Nationwide Building Society, which declared the decade-long boom in house prices was officially over. (more…)

 The leaders of the divided Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities have voiced optimism that they can make progress towards reunification of the island.

The Cyprus President-elect, Demetris Christofias, said he had asked the UN to arrange a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. (more…)

By Douglas Hamilton

     

PRISTINA, Serbia (Reuters) - Europe’s biggest states recognized the independence of Kosovo on Monday, ending hours of suspense after Prime Minister Hashim Thaci assured his new republic that Western recognition would come “any minute”… (more…)

Kosovo’s parliament has unanimously endorsed a declaration of independence from Serbia, in an historic session.

The declaration, read by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, said Kosovo would be a democratic country that respected the rights of all ethnic communities… (more…)

WHILE economic growth in OECD countries will slow in 2008…

(more…)

By Carolos Key…

Look the sweetest, smartest (etc etc…) and of course most pretty animal in the world…here we are….Xpigs forever….  (more…)

By Mert Ozkan and Umit Bektas

ISPARTA, Turkey (Reuters) - A Turkish domestic airliner crashed in the mountains in southwest Turkey on Friday, killing all 57 people on board, officials said. (more…)

A Faberge egg made for the Rothschild banking family has sold at auction for a world record £8.9m.

The Rothschild egg made in 1902 is just one of 12 in public hands known to have been produced to standards required by the Russian Imperial family… (more…)

A Taiwanese lingerie company encouraged all its female office staff to go to work in their undies for the day. (more…)