Bush lifts ban on offshore drilling

Washington President Bush lifted a White House ban on offshore drilling in an attempt to rein in soaring energy prices, a move criticised by the Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Mr Bush urged the Democrat-controlled Congress, which has its own ban that expires on September 30, to expand oil and gas drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf and open up the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge to exploration. (Reuters)

US troops in war games near border

Kiev US troops began military exercises near the Russian border in Ukraine yesterday and were poised to launch them in Georgia, amid tense relations between Moscow and Washington.

A ceremony inaugurating the Sea Breeze2008 Nato exercise was held off the Black Sea coast of Ukraine, a Ukrainian Defence Ministry spokes-woman said, against antiNato protests and a hostile reaction from officials in Russia. The US-Georgia exercises will be held less than 60 miles from the Russian border.

The exercises “will increase political and military tensions in Europe as a whole”, Sergei Mironov, the Speaker of the Upper House of the Russian parliament, said. (AFP)

Job seekers die in stampede

Enugu Stampedes during a recruitment drive by the Nigerian immigration service killed at least 30 job seekers and injured scores more as unemployed youths rushed at locked gates, officials said yesterday.

Recruitment by state agencies attracts thousands of university and college graduates in Nigeria, many of whom have been unemployed for years and see a government job as the only sure way to guarantee their future. (Reuters)

Lasers blind partygoers

Moscow Dozens of partygoers were left partially blind after a laser show at the Aquamarine Open Air Festival near Moscow burnt their retinas. About 30 people were treated in hospital two days after the event. (Reuters)

British pair cause crackdown

Dubai Authorities in Dubai are cracking down on topless sunbathing, nudity and other indecent behaviour after police detained a British man and woman for allegedly having sex on the beach. Police have arrested 79 people. Apart from beach patrols by undercover and uniformed police, the city has also embarked on a public awareness campaign to remind tourists that they are in a Muslim country. (AP)

Team rescued from melting ice

Moscow Twenty Russian scientists and their two dogs have been rescued by ship from an Arctic ice floe that has melted and shrunk from 4 miles to 600m in length since they set up camp on it in September last year. (AFP)

Women are held over sex contest

Athens Nine foreign women were charged with prostitution after being arrested on the Greek holiday island of Zakynthos over an alleged competition that involved oral sex and was filmed for the internet, police said. (Reuters)

Wedding ban on holiday isles

Athens A Greek Catholic bishop has banned tourist marriages in Aegean destinations including Santorini and Crete. “Weddings with a view” offered by travel agents risked too much commercialisation, said Bishop Frangiskos. (AFP)

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