PRAGUE - THE Czech Republic has suspended the issuing of new visas for Vietnamese until the end of the year because of criminality in the Vietnamese community, a newspaper reported.
BAGHDAD - IRAQ said on Tuesday that it will hold long-awaited provincial elections on Jan 31, a step forward for US-backed efforts to promote national reconciliation even though a key northern area will not participate in the vote.
LONDON - THE head of the BBC admitted Tuesday the corporation made a 'very serious editorial lapse' in allowing a lewd phone prank by two star presenters to be broadcast.
Director-General Mark Thompson was being questioned by lawmakers after a furore over telephone messages left by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand for veteran actor Andrew Sachs which were subsequently aired on Brand's radio show.
VALENCIA - PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama vowed to strengthen Washington's ties with its allies in a message read out on Tuesday at a Nato Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Spain.
'I intend to work closely with the incoming Nato Parliamentary Assembly president, US Congressman John Tanner, on strengthening relationships with our allies and addressing global challenges together,' the message said.
