PARIS - A FRENCH investment manager who ploughed 1.5 billion euros (S$3.05 billion) into Bernard Madoff's fraud-hit scheme committed suicide in his New York office on Tuesday, a friend of the victim said.

Thierry de la Villehuchet, 65, was the co-founder of Access International, a company that raised funds on European markets to invest with Madoff, the former pillar of Wall Street now accused of running a multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme.

LONDON - THE Queen will use her annual Christmas Day message to talk about the concern people are feeling over the economic downturn.

With unemployment rising and figures showing Britain heading into a recession, the Queen will say this year's celebrations will be overshadowed for some by fears about the future. She will also highlight worries caused by conflict in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

BETHLEHEM (West Bank) - THOUSANDS of Christian pilgrims gathered in Bethlehem's Manger Square on Wednesday to celebrate Christmas under the protection of security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

About 500 security men arrived from the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Jericho to provide security for the holiday. Similar deployments have taken place across the West Bank over the past year with US backing.

ISLAMABAD - PAKISTAN'S parliament called on India on Wednesday to respond positively to Pakistani offers of cooperation in investigating the Mumbai attacks and condemned 'war hype' between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Tension has been simmering between Pakistan and India since 179 people were killed in last month's attacks in India's financial hub that India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.