Sofia - Officials in Sofia ordered checks on buildings Sunday after two small earthquakes jolted the Bulgarian capital overnight, causing minor damage but no casualties. 

Some 2,000 worried residents called an emergency number for advice after the quakes measuring 4 and 3.5 on the Richter scale struck on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. 

The capital lies in an area at risk from earth tremors. Many buildings in the city have been converted to restaurants and business premises in recent years, raising fears about their safety. 

Baghdad - The Iraqi cabinet on Sunday unanimously approved the final version of a security pact with the United States, al- Jazeera network reported. 

The pact, known as the Status of Forces Agreement, would establish a legal basis for the presence of US soldiers in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at end of this year. 

The draft agreement includes 31 articles and calls for US troops to pull out of Iraqi cities by June 2009 and from the entire country by the end of 2011. 

Islamabad, Nov 16 : Following the recent kidnappings of Japanese and Canadian journalists and threatening phone calls to a local TV journalist, Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Sherry Rehman has said that journalists’ safety was important for the country’s government.

She assured journalists of government’s support in the face of threats from extremists. 

“The safety and security of journalists is an important priority with the government, as we are committed to a media environment free from a culture of threats and intimidation,” the Daily Times quoted Sherry as saying in a press release.

Peshawar, Nov 16 : Security forces in Pakistan have been unsuccessful in finding clues about the kidnapped Afghan and Iranian diplomats, besides a host of foreign nationals in the country.

Security personnel raided various parts of the city and its surroundings to recover the kidnapped Iranian diplomat Hashmatullah Attarzadeh. A few people were also arrested and quizzed but no clue was found, The News quoted sources as saying.

According to the paper, there was tremendous pressure on the police and other law-enforcement agencies to take early steps for the recovery of the third secretary and commercial attache of the Iranian Consulate in Peshawar. 

Washington, Nov 16 : Children who change school at the elementary levels often tend to show a dip in academic performance. Researchers suggest that a supportive teacher can help child make a smooth transition in the changing environment.

The study conducted by researchers at Western Washington University and the University of Washington showed that how moving during the elementary school years may contribute to disengagement with school just before the significant changes of adolescence.

They found that a supportive teacher can encourages other students to accept newcomers and help them adapt the new environment.

London, Nov 16 : Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s mantra for success is ‘do what you love’.