There is a strong chance Europe's comet lander will wake up from hibernation as it nears the sun, raising hopes for a second series of scientific measurements from the surface next year, scientists involved in the mission said today.
	The Philae lander, which became the first spacecraft to touch down on a comet Wednesday, has already sent reams of data back to Earth that scientists are eagerly examining. But there were fears its mission would be cut short because it came to rest in the shadow of a cliff.
	Shortly before its primary battery ran out, the European Space Agency decided to attempt to tilt the lander's biggest solar panel toward the sun -- a last-ditch maneuver that scientists believe may have paid off.
	"We are very confident at some stage it will wake up again and we can achieve contact," Stephan Ulamec, the lander manager, told The Associated Press.
	That should happen next spring, when Philae and the comet it is riding on -- called 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko -- get ...

Scientists 'confident' comet lander will wake up

PTI Automatic

Moscow will not allow the defeat of pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned, arguing that both sides need to make concessions for a floundering peace deal to succeed.
	Putin's statement in an interview with German ARD television came as European Union foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss a response to the continuing fighting in Ukraine and German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that the conflict was not just about Ukraine but about peace across Europe.
	In the interview broadcast late yesterday, Putin said he still believes in the success of peace efforts in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian rebels have been battling Kiev's troops in a conflict that has claimed more than 4,000 lives.
	The Russian leader blamed the fighting on the failure by both the rebels and Ukrainian troops to pull back from the front line - a key requirement under a September cease-fire.
	In the rebel-held stronghold of Donetsk, officials said today that one ...

Putin: Moscow won't let Ukraine rebels fail

A helicopter carrying a deputy regional army commander and eight other officers crashed in northern Thailand today, killing all those aboard, the army said.
	Spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree said the cause of the crash of the twin-engine Bell 212 helicopter was not immediately known.
	He said the aircraft crashed 10 minutes after taking off from an army camp in Phayao province, about 590 kilometers north of Bangkok.
	Those killed included Maj Gen Songphol Thongjeen, the newly promoted deputy commander of Thailand's northern army region.
	The officers on the helicopter had finished an inspection mission in Phayao and were returning to an army base in another province.

All 9 on Thai army helicopter killed in crash

Egyptian health officials say a woman who was diagnosed with bird flu has died, the second fatality from the H5N1 virus this year in the country.
	Egypt has reported seven bird flu cases so far in 2014. Most victims have been women and children who are traditionally tasked with caring for domestic poultry.
	Ahmed Abdel-Hamid in the southern city of Assiut says the woman was a 19-year-old who raised chicken at home. He says she was admitted to hospital on Nov 10 and died today.
	Health Ministry official Amr Kandil says the earlier fatality was in June. Since 2006, there have been 64 bird flu deaths in Egypt.
	The H5N1 virus is hard to catch but has remained a threat. Most cases have been linked to contact with poultry.

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu, second this year

A pair of car bombs targeted busy commercial areas in the Iraqi capital today, killing at least 14 people and wounding 31, officials said.
	In the first attack, a car detonated on a commercial street in the Meshtal neighbourhood in eastern Baghdad, killing at least eight people and wounding 15, police officials said.
	The second car bombing took place in Baghdad's western Amiriya district, also hitting a commercial street and killing at least six people and wounding 16 there.
	Hospital officials confirmed the casualties. All spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to media.
	The Iraqi capital is seeing near-daily attacks but nothing compared to the rampage in northern and western Iraq by the Islamic State group. Recent bombings have frequently targeted Shiite-majority areas in Baghdad, but the violence has been considerably subdued from the darkest days of sectarian bloodletting in 2006 and 2007.
	The Sunni militant group has claimed responsibility 

Car bombings in Baghdad kill 14 people

A young Frenchman is believed to be among the killers on an Islamic State propaganda video showing a beheaded American aid worker and the deaths of more than a dozen Syrian soldiers, France's top security official said today.
	Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said there is a "strong presumption" that Maxime Hauchard is among the group of Islamic extremist fighters in the video released over the weekend. He urged young people in France to "open your eyes to the terrible reality" of the militant group.
	Cazeneuve said authorities were analysing the video and have been investigating Hauchard, who is around 22 years old and from west of Paris. The convert to Islam gave an interview to France's BFM television in July, telling the network he had helped in the capture of Mosul, the Iraqi city whose fall eventually prompted the United States to resume military operations there.
	"I call solemnly and seriously on all our citizens, and notably our young people who are the primary target of ..

Frenchman thought among killers in IS beheadings

Thousands of Czechs gathered in central Prague today to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Velvet Revolution that toppled communism but festivities turned into an appeal for President Milos Zeman to resign.
	The center of the rally was a street in downtown Prague where police cracked down on a peaceful anti-communist student march that came a week after the collapse of the Berlin Wall on November 17, 1989.
	The demonstrations began with fiery speeches against the hard-line communist regime at a university campus, prompting thousands of students to march downtown. The police blocked the street from both sides, squeezing the protesters with armed vehicles before attacking them with truncheons; hundreds were injured. Undeterred, the students went on strike and crowds mushroomed in the days that followed.
	On December 29, 1989, dissident playwright Vaclav Havel became Czechoslovakia's first democratically elected president in a half-century.
	Under his leadership, the ...

Czechs mark Velvet Revolution's 25th anniversary

Zimbabwe's vice president says reports that she is planning to assassinate President Robert Mugabe are false and she is ready to defend herself in court if necessary.
	Vice President Joice Mujuru made the remarks in a statement yesterday following a report in The Sunday Mail, a state-run newspaper, that linked her to an alleged plot to kill the 90-year-old president.
	Political factions are manoeuvring for influence ahead of the annual ruling party congress next month. Mujuru has come under repeated verbal attacks from Mugabe's wife, Grace.

Zimbabwe VP denies plot to kill Mugabe

Russia's president said he believes peace in Ukraine is possible but that neither side is fully holding up a truce struck in September.
	In an interview with German television broadcast late yesterday, Putin said he was convinced that it was possible to end the deadlock in east Ukraine, where pro-Russian rebels have been battling Kiev's troops in a conflict that has claimed at least 4,000 lives since March.
	But the Russian leader also noted that neither the rebels nor Ukrainian troops have fully withdrawn from key locations in the region in order to create a buffer zone, a key part of a truce deal agreed to in September.
	"It is true that there are certain settlements that the armed rebel formations should abandon, and they are not being abandoned," he said. But he blamed the Ukrainians for not holding up their end of the agreement and setting a bad example for the rebels to follow.
	Since Ukraine's pro-Russian president was ousted from power last February, Moscow has often referred .

Putin says sides not abiding peace deal in Ukraine

A package delivery company in Bangkok put three packages bound for the United States through a routine X-ray and made a startling discovery, inside were a variety of preserved human parts, including an infant's head, a baby's foot and an adult heart.
	The company, DHL, alerted police who tracked down the sender, a 31-year-old American tourist who said he found the items at a Bangkok night market, police Col Chumpol Poompuang said.
	"He said he thought the body parts were bizarre and wanted to send them to his friends in the US," Chumpol said, adding that the man was questioned for several hours and released without charges.
	The three packages, which contained five body pieces, were labelled as toys, police said. They were being sent to Las Vegas, including one parcel that the man had addressed to himself.
	Chumpol had earlier said a baby's heart and intestines were among the body parts. But police at a news conference later in the day said the heart, which had been stabbed, was from .

American questioned for shipping human body parts

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has missed his own deadline for naming a Cabinet as he undertakes a major overhaul of his country's government, which officials and analysts say has long suffered from a focus on patronage rather than policy.
	The delay has raised concerns that Ghani and his former rival Abdullah Abdullah now in the prime minister-like post of chief executive cannot agree on who should take what Cabinet post. But diplomats and officials say the two leaders are restructuring the administration to focus on security, the economy and social policy ahead of a vital donor conference in December.
	"There is no deadlock or difference of opinion," said Mujib Rahman Rahimi, Abdullah's spokesman. It takes time "to consider how to fill these positions in order to have a functioning, professional Cabinet."
	Senior advisers are being appointed, regulatory authorities set up, ministers' duties defined, and some of the 24 ministries merged to possibly as few as 18, officials and analysts 

Long-troubled Afghan government undergoes overhaul

Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius, precipitation in centimeters and weather conditions as recorded for the previous day (Nov. 16 except Asia and Australia where data is for Nov. 17) and forecast for the current and following day in each city as of 0700 GMT: ;MIN;MAX;COND;PRECIP;MIN;MAX;COND;MIN;MAX;COND Amsterdam;6;10;rn;7.0;7;10;clr;4;9;pc
Athens;11;17;pc;0.0;9;19;cdy;12;20;cdy
Atlanta;3;10;rn;T;8;17;rn;-6;1;clr
Auckland;10;21;rn;0.0;14;17;rn;13;19;rn Basra;16;28;cdy;0.0;12;28;pc;14;26;rn
Bahrain;19;26;clr;0.0;22;27;clr;22;27;clr Bangkok;24;32;pc;0.0;22;32;pc;22;31;pc
Barbados;24;29;rn;4.0;24;30;rn;24;30;rn Barcelona;11;18;clr;0.0;11;18;pc;7;17;pc Beijing;-1;13;clr;0.0;-2;11;clr;0;12;pc Beirut;14;23;rn;4.0;17;21;pc;17;21;pc
Belgrade;8;11;rn;3.0;17;21;pc;17;21;pc
Berlin;7;10;rn;0.0;3;10;pc;6;8;rn
Bermuda;19;23;pc;0.0;3;10;pc;6;8;rn
Bogota;10;18;rn;0.8;8;18;rn;7;21;rn
Boston;-2;5;rn;T;2;14;rn;2;5;pc
Brasilia;19;29;rn;14.0;18;27;rn;17;26;pc ...

Global Weather-Asia-Celsius

Japan's economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter as housing and business investment declined following a tax hike, dragging the country into a recession and further clouding the outlook for the global economy.
	The world's third-largest economy contracted at a 1.6 per cent pace in the July-September quarter, the government said today, contrary to predictions it would grow after a big drop the previous quarter.
	The surprise deepens uncertainty when China's growth is slowing and the 18-country eurozone grew only 0.2 per cent in the same quarter.
	The gross domestic product figures showed across-the-board weakness in demand among consumers, manufacturers and builders. Many individuals and companies had spent money before the sales tax was hiked in April from five per cent to eight per cent, and spending has languished since then.
	"The impact of the sales tax was much more severe than expected," said Junko Nishioka, an economist at RBS Japan Securities.
	Housing investment ...

Japan slides into recession as tax hike takes toll

A special envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has left Pyongyang for Russia to discuss ways to improve trade and political ties.
	Choe Ryong Hae, a senior official in the ruling Workers' Party and one of Kim's close associates, left Pyongyang today.
	He is scheduled to stay in Russia until November 24.
	Russia's foreign ministry has said Moscow hopes to discuss trade and economic ties, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and other international issues. Choe will visit Moscow as well as Khabarovsk and Vladivostok in Russia's Far East.
	Choe visited Beijing last year as a special envoy and was a member of a high-profile North Korean delegation that visited South Korea in early October during the Asian Games.

Senior North Korean official leaves for Russia

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain today said they will reinstate their ambassadors to Qatar after withdrawing them in an unprecedented move eight months ago.
	The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which also includes Kuwait and Oman, had been rattled by the rift in relations that was widely seen as a result of Qatar's support for Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood throughout the region.
	The UAE and Saudi Arabia perceive the Brotherhood as a threat to their political systems. Both have branded the 86 year-old organisation as a "terrorist group".
	After several rounds of high-level talks and months of pressure, Qatar recently forced top Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood figures to leave and seek refuge elsewhere.
	Additionally, pro-Brotherhood cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi has not appeared on the pulpit in Qatar since ambassadors were withdrawn.
	State media and government-linked commentators across the Gulf had been calling for an end to the diplomatic spat in the .

Ambassadors of Gulf Arab states to return to Qatar

Pacemen Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc have been recalled to Australia's squad for the remaining three limited-overs internationals against South Africa, while selectors gave Mitch Johnson a rest and decided against drafting in a batsman to replace injured captain Michael Clarke.
     The 21-year-old Cummins returns to the national squad for the first time since June 2012, and Starc is on the comeback from a groin strain.
     Johnson, unveiled last week as the 2014 international cricketer of the year, played the first two ODIs in Perth but will take a break ahead of the test series against India starting December 4.
     Australia selector Rod Marsh said there was enough batting depth in the squad to cover for Clarke without calling in reinforcements. George Bailey is standing in as captain for Clarke, who re-injured his left hamstring while batting in the series-opening win and is now in doubt for the test series against India.
     South Africa won on Sunday to level the ODI ...

Cummins, Starc added to ODI squad; Johnson rested

Jesse Ryder has withdrawn from the New Zealand A tour to the United Arab Emirates later this month, likely ending his bid to play at next year's cricket World Cup.
     Ryder told New Zealand's selectors Monday he is unvailable for personal reasons for the A team's tour which involves two limited-overs matches against Ireland and others against the UAE and Afghanistan.
     New Zealand Cricket said in a statement it "respects Jesse's decision" to withdraw.
     The tour is part of the process which will lead to the Dec. 8 announcement of New Zealand's preliminary World Cup squad.
     Ryder yesterday failed to join his Otago provincial team on a flight to Christchurch for a domestic Twenty20 match, only advising team officials later of his unavailability.

Jesse Ryder to miss NZ A tour; World Cup hopes dim

Romania's prime minister has conceded defeat in an extremely close presidential runoff against an ethnic German Transylvanian mayor.
	Victor Ponta had been the favorite to win, but was narrowly edged out by Klaus Iohannis, the mayor of the city of Sibiu who promised a crackdown on corruption.
	Ponta yesterday said he had personally congratulated Iohannis. "We are a democratic country," Ponta said outside the headquarters of his Social Democratic Party two hours after polls closed. "The people are always right."
	Ponta called on some 15,000 protesters gathered outside his offices to listen to his message in an apparent attempt to defuse tensions difficulties encountered by expat Romanians voting abroad.
	Exit polls put the results at neck and neck. Official results are expected tomorrow.
	About 300,000 Romanians who live overseas voted yesterday, many against the government. There were protests that they had been unable to vote in the Nov 2 election that led to the runoff.
	"Romanians, 

Romania's prime minister concedes defeat in runoff

The White House says a review of a new Islamic State video confirms the death of US aid worker Peter Kassig.
	That announcement came today as President Barack Obama flew back to Washington from Hawaii after a trip last week to the Asia Pacific region.
	In the video released today, a militant claimed to have killed the 26-year-old Kassig.
	Kassig served in an Army special operations unit in Iraq and after he was medically discharged, he formed an aid organization in Turkey to help Syrian refugees.
	The Indianapolis man delivered food and medical supplies, and provided care to wounded Syrian civilians before he was seized in eastern Syria last year.

US review of IS video confirms American's death

Officials in Burkina Faso have signed a charter intended to guide the country toward elections as various factions submitted nominations for an interim head of state to replace longtime President Blaise Compaore, who abruptly stepped down last month.
	The signing ceremony took place today at the House of the People in the capital, Ouagadougou.
	Politicians as well as representatives of the army, civil society and religious and traditional leaders all participated.
	An interim president was expected to be named by Monday. Compaore, who served 27 years in office, resigned on October 31 amid mounting opposition to his bid to seek yet another term.
	After suspending the constitution, the military designated Lt Col Isaac Yacouba Zida as the transitional leader, though Zida faced intense pressure to restore civilian rule.

Burkina Faso political transition accord signed

It all started with a sick nurse, whose positive test for Ebola came only after her death. In a busy clinic that treats Mali's elite as well as wounded UN peacekeepers, who was the patient who had transmitted the virus?
	Soon hospital officials were taking a second look at the case of a 70-year-old man who had died after being brought to the capital late at night from Guinea suffering from kidney failure.
	A friend who visited him had later died under suspicious circumstances, too.
	It wasn't renal disease, they then realised. The 70-year-old man had Ebola and all three of the relatives who brought him to the clinic that night had all since been admitted to an Ebola treatment center back home in Guinea, too.
	On Friday, Malian health authorities went to disinfect the mosque where the 70-year-old's body was prepared for burial -- nearly three weeks ago.
	Already some are criticizing the Malian government for being too slow to react when health authorities had announced his death as a ..

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