BEIJING - CHINA on Tuesday denied a research report's contention that a China-based computer spy ring stole sensitive information from thousands of hard drives worldwide, calling the accusation a lie meant to feed anxiety over Beijing's growing influence.

In the government's first reaction to the report, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the conclusions were symptoms of a 'Cold War virus' that causes people overseas to 'occasionally be overcome by China-threat seizures.'

BHUBANESWAR (India) - EIGHT people were killed and more than 100 injured on Tuesday when a violent tornado ripped through several villages in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, officials said.

The twister tore through the coastal district of Kendrapara, 110 kilometres east of the state capital Bhubaneswar, destroying more than 300 homes.

BEIJING - A TIBETAN Buddhist monk who called for protests against Chinese authorities in the country's southwest has been found dead after a police chase, an exiled monk said on Tuesday.