Sydney - Australians were shocked to learn Tuesday that the Navy ships that protect their shores were taking most of the southern hemisphere summer off so sailors could holiday with their families.

"It's about getting a culture in place that's about working smarter not harder, and I think we owe that to our people," Navy Chief Vice Admiral Russ Crane told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Having all hands off deck over December and January has incensed opposition Liberal Party defence spokesman David Johnson.

Manila  - Philippine share prices plunged 3.42 per cent on Tuesday on news of massive job cuts and more economies falling into recession due to the global slump.

The 30-share composite index of the Philippine Stock Exchange lost 66.40 points to close at 1,873.60, from Monday's finish of 1,940.00.

A total of 751.83 million shares worth 1.20 billion pesos (24.48 million dollars) were traded.

Losers led gainers 85 to 8, while 26 issues were unchanged.

Traders said investor sentiments were dampened by reports that Citigroup, the second largest US bank, cut 52,000 jobs in a bid to save itself.

Tokyo  - A House of Councillors panel on Tuesday postponed deliberations on a bill to extend a counterterrorism refuelling mission that Japan is conducting in the Indian Ocean as the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) boycotted a vote.

Because deliberations on other bills were also postponed, the parliamentary session might be prolonged past November 30, when it was scheduled to adjourn.

Manila  - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was caught off guard on Tuesday when her press secretary prayed for a possible extension of her term beyond 2010 as lawmakers debated on an impeachment complaint against her.

Arroyo and her cabinet often start their meetings with a prayer, which is led by different officials.

But the prayer by Press Secretary Jesus Dureza shocked Arroyo for touching on a sensitive political issue, with many critics warning of alleged plans for the president to hold on to power beyond the end of her term in 2010.

"We pray for the president, that she may have forbearance, good health and tolerance to lead this nation until 2010, and who knows, perhaps even beyond," Dureza said.

Washington, Nov 18 : Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has confirmed that she will be replacing Tom Cruise in the spy flick ‘Edwin A. Salt’.

While on an interview with BBC Radio, the stunner said, "I''m working on a film called Salt. And it''s with [Bone Collector director] Phillip Noyce. And that''s it."

Peshawar, Nov 18: After Pakistan’s Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan province, Peshawar, the NWFP capital, too has become an off-limit area for foreign journalists working in the country. This was demonstrated by Friday’s incident wherein a couple of armed Taliban men made an unsuccessful bid to kidnap Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai, reported the Daily Times.

The scribe is presently recuperating in a hospital with multiple bullet wounds in various parts of his body.