London, January 7 : Mount Everest has earned a nomination to be one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, according to organisers.

The highest mountain on Earth will compete with other 260 contenders short-listed from 222 countries including other famous mountain peaks, lakes and attractions such as Niagara Falls and Lake Superior between Canada and the United States.

The New Seven Wonders campaign, which had collected 441 nominations online since it began the selection process in 2007, has invited to votes to be cast until July 7, reports the Telegraph.

Beijing - Ailing Bank of America Corp sold a 2.8-billion-dollar share of China Construction Bank Corp, the Chinese bank confirmed Wednesday, expressing understanding for the move, owing to the US lender's difficult financial situation.

China Construction Bank said Bank of America's sale of 5.62 billion shares, or 12-per-cent stake, of its holdings in China's second-largest bank after Industrial & Commerical Bank of China was "normal market behaviour."

The US lender now holds 16.6 per cent of China Construction Bank, whose shares plunged almost 6 per cent at the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Washington, Jan 7 : The conservatorship overseeing Britney Spears'' personal and financial affairs was officially made permanent on January 5 (09), when court papers were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The agreement filed in the court places the singer's finances under the permanent control of her father Jamie Spears and attorney Andrew Wallet, with her personal affairs being placed solely under her father, reports Contactmusic.

Court papers state that the singer "is substantially unable to manage . her financial resources or to resist fraud or undue influence."

Bangkok - Thai shares lost 2.15 per cent in value Wednesday on profit-taking

Washington, Jan 7 : Rapper Jay Z has announced plans for special one-off c

Barcelona - Journalist and author Maruja Torres, 65, has been awarded the Nadal Prize, Spain's oldest literature award, media reported Wednesday.

The prize was awarded for the 65th time overnight in Barcelona.

Torres won the prize for her novel Esperadme en el Cielo (Wait for Me in Heaven), in which the protagonist meets old friends, Manolo and Terenci, in heaven.

The two represent Torres' friends, the late Spanish writers Manuel Vazquez Montalban and Terenci Moix.

The novel was described as a bittersweet tribute to friendship.