London, Jan 14: When it comes to workplace and relationships, brunettes are more successful than blondes, according to a British survey.

San Jose, Costa Rica - The Costa Rican government is seeking international aid in the wake of last week's devastating earthquake, news reports said Tuesday.

According to Costa Rican authorities, the death toll in the 6.2-magnitude quake has risen to 20 and damage has been estimated at around 100 million dollars.

Eight bridges, 7 power lines, 61 villages and 26 roads were badly damaged in the earthquake, officials said.

Islamabad  - Eighteen people were killed when a passenger van plunged into a deep ravine in north-west Pakistan, media reports said Wednesday.

The bus carrying 18 passengers and the driver fell 100 metres off the mountain road in the Dankoo area in Buner district of North West Frontier Province on Tuesday night.

According to the Urdu-language Aaj TV news, the only survivor was an eight-year-old boy who suffered minor injuries.

Bad weather was the main cause of the accident, the report quoted police as saying.

New Delhi, Jan 14: Animal welfare organizations will celebrate `Animal Welfare Fortnight' from today across the country.

This is being celebrated to create awareness among the masses about the humane treatment of animals and also for prevention of unnecessary pain and suffering to them.

It will also generate a feeling of love and compassion for the speechless animals.

Acharya Omswaroop, a member of Animal Welfare Board of India will lead the rally in four states to cover 18 days awareness programmes.

Wellington  - When Australian Akshay Miranda, 22, was buried with his brother under a collapsing ice shelf on a New Zealand glacier, he had the keys of the family's rental car his pocket.

Akshay's body remains trapped under tonnes of ice at the Fox Glacier, but the rental company is billing his parents, Ronnie and Winnie Miranda of Melbourne, hundreds of dollars for a new transponder key and towing the car 418 kilometres back to its base in Christchurch.

"Nobody will do it for free," company director Edwin Chan told reporters Wednesday. "We feel for them."

But he added: "If there are things that are going to cost the company, we have no choice but to recover the costs."

Melbourne, Jan 13: The Police Commissioner of Grenada is so offended by tourists wearing skimpy Speedos on the streets that he is threatening to put them in jail.

He is enforcing an indecent exposure law banning swimsuits away from the beach.

Police commissioner James Clarkson will impose a warning to dress appropriately and then a fine of 270 dollars if the law is flouted.

Clarkson said cruise ships usually inform passengers of the correct way to dress when in town, but "from time to time, there is the one or two who take their chances."

He has also taken a swipe at ''baggy pants that expose underwear which fuels low morality in the country.