Twist in the tale -- Jeffrey Archer gives up attempt for mayorship
Conservative politician and best-selling author Jeffrey Archer has exited politics ignominiously for the third and, what appears to be, the last time.

America is sorry for `suicide' claim
Mounting Egyptian indignation over United States claims that last month's EgyptAir crash may have been caused by a pilot suicide forced US officials to eat humble pie in Washington late on Friday.

NRI donates $ 1mn for US millennium celebrations
Multi-millionaire Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Vinod Gupta has donated one million dollars to enable the US capital hold a glittering celebration on December 31 to usher in the new millennium.

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  Attack on Sri Lankan church claims 38 lives
  21 Algerians die in violence upsurge
  Mahathir set to win Indonesian elections
  Periscope on Pakistan
  China to get Macao from Portugal after 443 years
  Cherie Blair bemoans cost of power-dressing
  You may not know what to call a # but everybody knows the @ sign today
  Vatican `secretly' armed Croatia, SA court told
  Taiwan renews requests for US ships, missiles
  China faces wary people on WTO deal
  Flight test of first Chinese spacecraft successful
  At a glance
  Australia on the verge of deal with EU
  Coffee body cautious over Brazilian crop damage
  Kenya coffee output to overshoot target
  Indonesia sees bountiful coffee crop
  Iran, Iraq, Egypt potential markets for gold -- WGC
  Indonesia's diesel-tainted palm oil stalls exports
  Gold firms must adapt to free market -- China
  Anglo-ZCCM deal set to be signed by December 31
  Vienna to host Opec meet if Caracas summit delayed
  Hurricane forces Alcoa shut alumina refinery
  Brent futures steadily higher, gas oil positive
  GM food opens door for mini laboratories
  Asia awaits Indian soybean price war result
  Ukraine sees higher next year sugar crop
  Colombia may import coffee for first time
  EU could `go long way' on farming in new round
  German politicians unite against Mannesmann bid
  Hindujas plan spiritual parks, film with Michael Jackson