Berlin - Germany's Federal Constitutional Court began deliberating Tuesday on the legality of planned reforms to the European Union contained in the controversial Lisbon Treaty.

Critics of the treaty - which has already been rejected once by voters in Ireland - argue that it transfers too many responsibilities to the EU, thus reducing Germany's sovereignty.

The petitioners include Peter Gauweiler, a maverick federal deputy in Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU), and former EU parliamentarian Franz Ludwig Graf von Stauffenberg, also of the CSU.

Tehran- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran would be ready to talk to the new US administration of President Barack Obama but some fundamental changes were needed to make the talks fruitful.

"We are ready for talks, but these talks should be held in an atmosphere of equality and justice," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in Tehran on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

Washington, Feb 10 : With Valentine''s Day come sweet indulgences, but a University of Michigan researcher says that extravagances like chocolate, wine and romance can turn out to be really good for your heart, if taken in moderation.

Dr. Steven F. Bolling, professor of cardiac surgery at the U-M medical school, says that tart cherries, grapes and wine have components that can lower blood pressure and protect heart muscle.

A glass of wine and massage can do wonders for lowering stress and anxiety, the researcher adds.

Vienna - The price for oil produced by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose to 43.85 dollars Monday, as the cartel's chairman indicated that production might be slashed further.

One barrel (159 litres) of OPEC-produced crude climbed 0.55 dollars Monday, the 12-member organization announced Tuesday.

Given current low prices, OPEC would consider cutting output at its next meeting in mid-March, OPEC Chairman Abdalla Salem El-Badri said Monday in London, according to media reports.

Washington, Feb 10 : In order to reduce the number of unattended accident cases, a team led by an Indian-origin scientist has developed a new wireless system called SAVE that can automatically call for help and reduce deaths on the roads.

Debopam Acharya in the Department of Computer Sciences, at Georgia Southern University, in Statesboro, Georgia, and colleagues are developing the wireless Java-enabled automobile accident reporting system.

SAVE, Sun-java-based Automatic VEhicular accident reporting system, could determine the nature of an accident, and automatically call emergency medical services for possible action.

Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has tried to ease British irritation over comments he made regarding Prime Minister Gordon Brown's strategy for fighting the economic crisis, Sarkozy's office said.

"The Elysee Palace has contacted Downing Street to assure Prime Minister Brown that President Sarkozy deplored the manner in which his comments on the British economy were reported in Britain," Sarkozy's office said in a statement.