Israel’s heritage list worries Unesco

Israel’s plan to rehabilitate religious sites in the occupied West Bank raises concern in the United Nations’ culture and education body, Unesco.

Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said he intended to include the Ibrahimi Mosque, also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs (photo, from aljazeera.net), and several other contentious sites in the West Bank in a $107m heritage investment programme.

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No third term for Uribe

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe (photo, from aljazeera.net) won’t seek a third mandate. The country’s constitutional court has rejected a referendum to allow the president to seek re-election after eight years in office.

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Alabama : Professor charged with killing three colleagues

A shooting at a southern US university left three people dead and a biology professor denied a job promotion has been charged with murder.

After opening fire at a faculty meeting, Amy Bishop (photo, from bbc.co.uk) was apprehended outside a science building at the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus.

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Nato-led offensive against Taliban

The biggest offensive in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001 has been launched, and Nato-led forces say they are making good progress. (photo, from aljazeera.net)

More than 15,000 US, UK and Afghan troops swept into the Helmand districts of Marjah and Nad Ali among clashes, in a bid to secure government control.

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Female president elected in Costa Rica

With 47 per cent of the vote, Laura Chinchilla, the ruling party candidate became the first female president of Costa Rica.

As votes were way ahead of her rivals and above the 40 per cent needed to avoid a run-off, Chincilla declared victory early on Monday.

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Pro-Moscow candidate to win Ukraine presidential election

Ukrainian electoral officials said Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Moscow candidate (photo, from aljazeera.net), will win a narrow victory in the presidential election.

With more than 98% of votes counted, Mr Yanukovych had a 2.7% lead over his rival, PM Yulia Tymoshenko, media said.

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Pluto caught blushing by Hubble

On the edge of our solar system, dwarf planet Pluto is becoming increasingly red, said Nasa scientists.(photo, from bbc.co.uk)

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Romania agreed to be part of new US defence shield

Romanian president said his country has agreed to host missile interceptors as part of a new US defence shield. (photo, from bbc.co.uk)

The plan was approved by the defence council and still needs parliamentary approval, said president Traian Basescu.

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