Manila  - A Philippine human rights organization on Tuesday decried unabated political killings and other attacks against leftist activists in the country despite the government's assurances to end the atrocities.

In its annual human rights report, Karapatan said the government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had failed to fulfill its promises to the international community that it would protect human rights in the country.

Amsterdam  - A young Dutch politician and founder of a group of former Muslims is due to present a 15-minute film criticizing Islam at a secret location on Tuesday.

Ehsan Jami, city council member for his one-man-party in Leidschendam-Voorburg near The Hague, is depicted in the English- language film as interviewing the prophet Mohammed who is played by an actor who remains unrecognizable.

Iranian-born Jami, 23, who announced that heresy and women's rights are central themes in the interview, says the production is not an anti-Islam film.

The film showing was set for a secret location for journalists only.

Jami has been living under heavy security protection since August 4, 2007.

New Delhi, Dec 9 : Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who turned 62 today, is not celebrating her birthday as a mark of tribute to the victims of Mumbai terror attacks.

Home Minister P Chidambaram and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi were among the first who met her and wished her.

Last week, the party had said that Sonia Gandhi would not celebrate her birthday, and asked workers not to visit her.

Party workers, who visited their president''s residence to greet her, celebrated the ocassion silently.

Yangon  - Myanmar's military regime has taken initial steps towards opening an embassy in oil-rich Kuwait as a part of its policy of enhancing diplomatic relations with the Middle East, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

A high-ranking delegation from the Myanmar Foreign Ministry, led by Deputy Minister Maung Myint, recently visited Kuwait for preliminary discussions on the reciprocal opening of embassies in both countries, according to Yangon-based diplomatic sources.

Myanmar established diplomatic ties with Kuwait on December 16, 1998. Kuwait was the 73rd country to establish diplomatic ties with Myanmar, once known as Burma, since the country won independence from Britain in 1948.

Tokyo  - Japanese stocks rose Tuesday despite a revised government estimate outlining an annualized third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) decline of 1.8 per cent.

Driven up by gains on Wall Street and a rally in commodities, the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average closed up 66.82 points, or 0.8 per cent, to 8,395.87.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues rose 5.86 points, or 0.72 per cent to 817.94.

On currency markets at midday (0300 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 92.75-80 yen, compared to Monday's 5 pm quote of 93.01-03 yen.

Los Angeles  - Dwyane Wade was good until the very last drop.

Wade poured in 41 points, including the game-sealing free throws with 6.1 seconds, carrying the Miami Heat to its season-high fourth straight victory, 100-96 over the pesky Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night.

"It's winning time," Wade said. "This is a good Charlotte Bobcats team. They're just like us, they play until the very end."

Wade entered the home contest with a league-best 28.4 scoring average and padded it, with his 14th career game of 40 or more points, including three this season.

Mario Chalmers scored 15 points and Shawn Marion added 13 for Miami (12-9) which matched its longest streak since March 2006.