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Iraqi President Jalal Talabani greeted US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Baghdad, Sunday April 20, 2008.

Putin denies extramarital affair

While Putin denied the rumours, he seemed to delight in projecting a new image to the world as a lady's man.
Putin 55, divorced his wife, Lyudmila, two months ago and planned to marry Alina Kabayeva, 24, a former champion rhythmic gymnast.
Kabayeva, who won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Games, is now a member of the lower house of Russia's parliament from the pro-Kremlin party.

Soeharto's Health 50-50

The health of former Indonesian President Soeharto who was warded at Pertamina hospital in South Jakarta last Friday got worse on Tuesday. He was rushed to the hospital after suffering from anemia and low blood pressure due to heart, lung and kidney problems.

On sunday, doctors gave him a 50-50 chance of survival and gathered his family to warn them to be prepared for the worse.

Saddam's Anniversary

Security forces in Iraq have been placed on alert on the first anniversary of the execution of former President Saddam Hussein.

Saddam Hussein loyalists gathered at the graveside on Sunday for the first anniversary of his execution. Dozens of Sunni Arab tribal leaders, clerics and students stood at Saddam's burial site in his birthplace of Awja in central Iraq, and read verses from the Quran.

Personally Welcome

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia welcome Heads of States who recently performed the Hajj. The King welcome them personally at his palace. The welcoming ceremony was held on 11 Zulhijjah 1428/December 21, 2007. Among them was the Paramount Ruler of Malaysia.

Ex-UN Boss

Kurt Waldheim, a former United Nations secretary-general, died on Thursday aged 88. He had served a decade as UN secretary-general after a career in Austria's diplomatic service dating back to 1945.

From Russia with .....

Russia and Saudi Arabia have come to be natural partners as far as world security is concern as what President Vladimir Putin of Russia said in Munich that ,Nobody feels secure anymore because nobody can hide behind international law.Both countries are world's top oil producers as such they share a common objective of ensuring global energy security for both producing and consuming nations.The two countries immediate security concern now is the growing arms race under way by the immediate neighbours.
King Abdullah decorated President Putin with the King Abdul Aziz medal, the Kingdom's highest civilian award.