Briefly World

Poland votes for new President

WARSAW: Poles were choosing a new president Sunday more than two months after their leader was killed in a plane crash,and his surviving twin brother faces an uphill battle in defeating the favourite candidate. The contest centers around Parliament Speaker Bronislaw Komorowski,the acting president,and Jaroslaw Kaczynski,the identical twin of the late president. Eight other candidates are in the running. If no candidate reaches 50 per cent,the two top contenders will compete in a runoff July 4.

Qaeda to Obama: You are no longer popular

CAIRO: Al-Qaedas American-born spokesman has repeated the terror groups conditions for peace with America,calling on President Barack Obama to withdraw his troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and end support for Israel. In a video posted on militant websites Sunday,Adam Gadahn said the Democrats loss in January of the Massachusetts Senate seat underlined Obama8217;s falling popularity. Gadahn told Obama: Youre no longer the popular man you once were,a year ago or so.

132 killed in massive floods in China

BEIJING: Major rivers burst their banks in southern China,triggering massive floods that have killed 132 people and forced 860,000 to flee their homes,the government said Sunday. With dozens missing and more storms forecast,the death toll was expected to rise. More than 10 million people have been affected since torrential rains began June 13,the Ministry of Water Resources

said in a news release.

Mining magnate in missing plane

YAOUNDE: Australian mining magnate Ken Talbot and five other senior figures from the iron ore miner Sundance Resources Ltd were aboard a company aircraft that disappeared in Africa,the company said on Sunday. The plane carrying Talbot,one of Australias richest men,disappeared on Saturday on a flight from the Cameroon capital Yaounde to Yangadou in Congo Republic.

Shakira obsessed with chocolate

LONDON: Columbian pop star Shakira says she is so obsessed by chocolate that she constantly dreamed of the sugary treat while she was on a diet recently. The 33-year-old pop star admits she only realised how strong her cravings for chocolates were when she woke up tearful after dreaming of it while dieting to get in shape for a music video,Contactmusic reported. I love chocolate. Im addicted to it. Do you know when I realised that? Shortly before we started shooting the video for She Wolf, Shakira said. I needed a whole month to get back into shape. I danced,worked out and had to stick to a strict diet. For the first time in my life I was dreaming of chocolate and cake and always woke up with tears in my eyes.

Jude Law voted hottest film father

LONDON: Jude Laws character in 2006 film The Holiday has been voted the Hottest Film Father,beating the likes of other on-screen dads like Will Smith,Bruce Willis and George Clooney. In a survey conducted by the company Lovefilm to mark Fathers Day,1500 of its members voted for their most desirable movie dads,with Laws paternal portrayal as widower Graham in the romantic comedy earning him top position and 16 per cent of votes,reported Femalefirst online. Will Smiths character Chris Gardner from The Pursuit of Happyness grabs the second slot.