WASHINGTON - AN AMERICAN woman who held the record for being the world's oldest person for over a year died on Wednesday at the ripe old age of 115 years, 220 days, the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group said.
IN THE GULF OF ADEN - CREWMEN helped by European navies evaded Somali pirates hijacking their ship after jumping overboard in the Gulf of Aden on Friday as the deadline ticked down for a Saudi tanker held to ransom.
The latest attack brought to 18 the number of ships currently held by Somali pirates despite their shrinking room for manouevre as foreign warships stepped up their patrols in a bid to contain a scourge threatening world trade.
BRUSSELS/LONDON - EUROPEAN drug companies are delaying or blocking the entry of cheaper generic medicines, pushing up bills for taxpayers and reducing the incentive for innovation, a hard-hitting EU report said on Friday.
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said preliminary results of a year-long probe showed competition in the pharmaceuticals industry did not work as well as it should.
