Athens - Age seems to have become a problem for Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero, whose impressive form was not enough to grant him a spot in Marcello Lippi's squad as the world champions Wednesday visit Greece for a friendly in Athens.

Lippi decided to leave home the 34-year-old striker despite the three memorable goals he scored as Juve beat giants Real Madrid in two Champions League games.

For Del Piero's millions of fans worldwide, however, it may be hard to criticize Lippi for preferring other players to an icon who will be almost 36 in 2010, when the Azzurri are set to defend their World Cup title in South Africa.

Colombo  – Government troops captured key rebel-held areas in northern Sri Lanka on Monday as security forces intensified ground and airstrikes after taking control of a strategic coastal town in the region, military officials said.

Troops controlled of a strategic junction on a main highway to the northern part of the country Monday and a coastal village in the north- eastern side of the country, the army said.

Brussels - The European Commission and China agreed Monday to beef up controls on potentially dangerous Chinese products and foods exported to the European Union.

The deal follows a major scandal involving contaminated milk powder that left at least four infants dead and 53,000 others hospitalized in China.

China will now be obliged to inform the European Union about what it is doing to track down dangerous goods.

In return, Chinese officials will be given access to the EU's Rapid Alert System for Feed and Food (RASFF), where controlling authorities can exchange information about what measures are being taken to ensure food safety.

London, Nov 17 : Jordan aka Katie Price has confirmed that her marriage to pop star Peter Andre is rock solid, insisting their relationship is in fact stronger than ever.

Jordan revealed that she has what it takes to her keep her man wanting for more.

“He’s a man and he will always want more sex than he gets. Pete might not get it often . . . but when he does it’s worth it,” The Sun quoted Price, as saying.

Melbourne, Nov 17 : A political party called Australian Sex Party is all set to be launched on November 20th at Melbourne Sexpo in Australia.

The political party, which follows sensible policies, with a strong desire to make sexuality and discussions about it less touchy subjects, chose the name as it stands out from the traditional ballot paper line-up.

Australian Sex Party’s slogan is “we''re serious about sex”, and its convenor Fiona Patten, who is also the chief executive of the Eros Association, is confident it will gain the
500 members required to register and contest state Upper House and Senate seats.

London, Nov 17 : A Russian billionaire, who is very proud of his wife''s beauty, decided to share it with the world by printing a book of erotic photographs of her.

Sergei Rodionov, a banker, was so taken by the pictures of his wife Olga in her different erotic poses that he decided to publish a book of photographs on her, entitled ‘The Book of Olga’.

French photographer Bettina Rheims, whose previous assignments included Jacques Chirac’s official portrait, took the pictures of 34-year-old Olga in a variety of erotic poses, with most of them totally in the nude.

“He loves the photographic art,” Times Online quoted Olga as saying.