Moscow/Tbilisi - The government of Georgia sees room for restoring diplomatic relations with Russia despite the war the two nations fought in August, says Georgia's new foreign minister, according to a Russian newspaper.

"We are open to negotiations," said Grigol Vasadze, quoted in the Monday edition of Kommersant, a Moscow daily.

Commentators say Vasadze's appointment is a positive sign for relations between Russia and Georgia. Vasadze lived in Russia for 30 years and still holds Russian citizenship.

Nairobi - All warring parties in Somalia have committed war crimes against civilians including rape, murder and the use of people as human shields, a human rights' body said Monday.

"The combatants in Somalia have inflicted more harm on civilians than on each other," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

A bloody insurgency began in the Horn of Africa nation early 2007 after Ethiopian forces helped kick out the Islamic Courts' Union (ICU) - a hardline Islamist regime that was in power for six months.

Stuttgart - Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has called for Markus Babbel to be given a chance as coach of the Bundesliga club even without the German football federation's coaching badge.

The former Germany international defender Babbel has led Stuttgart to wins in both matches since succeeding the sacked Armin Veh a fortnight ago. Babbel, who was an assistant to Veh, has initially been made interim coach.

On Saturday he comes up against Bayern Munich, one of his former clubs, in the last day of the Bundesliga season before the winter break.

Brussels - The European Union is increasing its aid to Pakistan to 50 million euros (63 million dollars) over the next three years, the bloc's external affairs commissioner, Benita Ferrero- Waldner, said Monday.

The money is to be directed at boosting EU programmes in the field of education, trade and farming in Pakistan's north-west, a tribal area bordering Afghanistan.

"The border area is very important," Ferrero-Waldner said, noting that educational programmes were particularly important in a destitute part of the country that is also a breeding-ground for terrorists.

New York, December 8 : Singer Barbra Streisand ‘embraced’ George Bush as she was presented with the Kennedy Center Honor by the US President– whom she had once called “an alien sent here to destroy the Earth.”

The two-time Academy Award-winner, who had blamed Bush for stealing the 2000 election and mishandling the Iraq war, was said to be “genuinely touched by the nation''s top artsy accolade.”

The Kennedy Center Honoree for 2008 had been greeted by the former Governor of Texas before the show at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center at Pennsylvania Avenue.

Washington, Dec 8 : Actor Noah Wyle has revealed that George Clooney is his true friend, because he paid his rent in his struggling days.

Wyle admitted that he blew the money he made on the pilot of medical drama E. R. on a trip to Europe with Clooney and co-star Eriq LaSalle, and was left almost penniless.

It was then that the ‘Ocean Eleven’ actor paid his rent for months, until Wyle found himself work.

"George covered me for a few months until the pay cheques started coming in. The first cheque I wrote after I got paid was to pay George back,” Contactmusic quoted Wyle, as saying.