1. WikiLeaks founder wanted

    WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would challenge a Swedish prosecutor’s* “bizarre*” request for an international arrest warrant*, his lawyer said at the weekend.

    Sweden’s criminal police issued an international arrest warrant for Assange, wanted on suspicion of rape and sexual molestation*, police said on Saturday.

    Assange has strongly denied the charges and hinted that they could be part of a “smear* campaign” against his whistleblower* Web site for publishing classified* U.S. documents on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    2. Ex-president sued

    The former French President Jacques Chirac is being sued for manslaughter* by the families of French naval contractors killed by a bomb in Pakistan eight years ago.

    The civil suit, which includes a second charge of endangering life, also targets former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

    3. Royal wedding

    Thirty years after the fairy-tale nuptial* with the unhappy ending, Britain will finally have another big royal wedding: Prince William — second in line to the throne — will marry the lovely commoner who may someday become queen.

    Prince William and Kate Middleton bubbled with joy last Tuesday evening in their first public appearance since the palace announced their engagement after more than eight years of dating. Their wedding will be next spring or summer.

    4. Japan minister quits

    Japan’s justice minister resigned on Monday over comments that made light of his duty to respond to questioning in parliament, a blow to the ruling Democratic party as it struggles to keep Japan’s fragile* economic recovery alive.

    Minoru Yanagida said on November 14 that as justice minister he only needed to remember two comments when facing questions from lawmakers: “I do not comment on specific cases,” and “We are dealing with the matter appropriately based on law and evidence.”

    5. NZ mine explosion

    Efforts to rescue 29 men trapped in a New Zealand coal mine faced more agonizing* delays on Sunday, as authorities began drilling a new shaft* to test air quality because toxic* gases made it too dangerous for rescue teams to enter.

    There has been no contact with the miners since an explosion ripped through the coal mine on the rugged west coast of New Zealand’s South Island on Friday afternoon, with authorities saying they would not enter until the air quality improved.

    6. Engine replacement

    The world’s fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft will need to replace around 40 Rolls-Royce engines to ensure safety after one such engine broke apart in flight this month, Australia’s Qantas said on Thursday.

    That would represent about half of all Rolls-Royce engines now in service on A380 aircraft, the world’s largest passenger plane with a list price of around US$350 million each.

    7. Bieber wins 4 AMAs

    Justin Bieber’s first American Music Awards was perfection.

    The 16-year-old teen singer on Sunday night captured every award he was nominated for, including the top award of the night, favorite artist. He beat a list that featured veterans Eminem and Usher, as well as Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

    Bieber became the youngest person to win the trophy. Bieber also won favorite pop/rock album, favorite pop/rock male, and the show’s breakthrough artist award. (SD-Agencies)