New York  - US software giant Microsoft could become the default internet search provider on Verizon Wireless mobile phones as both companies move closer to an agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

The deal involves a revenue-sharing model between Microsoft and Verizon from advertisements shown in response to internet searches made on cellphones. This would guarantee Verizon payments of approximately 550 million dollars to 650 million dollars over five years, the report said.

Nairobi/Khartoum  - Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Wednesday announced an immediate ceasefire in the conflict-ridden western province of Darfur.

"I hereby announce our immediate unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and warring factions provided that an effective monitoring mechanism be put into action and be observed by all involved parties," the Sudan Tribune quoted al-Bashir as saying.

Washington  - The US Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to eliminate restrictions on the Navy's sonar use in training exercises off the California coast.

The 5-4 decision by the high court was a blow to environmental groups who argued the practice harms sea life and causes some species of whales to beach themselves.

The Supreme Court determined the restrictions hamper the Navy's ability to detect increasingly sophisticated enemy submarines that could threaten the fleet, but offered no opinion on the damage the sonar could inflict on marine mammal life.

Berlin - German premium-car rivals BMW and Daimler are mulling plans to combine more of their parts purchasing operations, including industrial buying in China and the United States, a news report said Wednesday.

Together, the two companies can exert heavy pressure on supplier companies to obtain lower prices for components.

In its Thursday issue, the newspaper Handelsblatt was to quote BMW chief purchasing officer Herbert Diess saying, "we are talking about bundling our purchasing activities in certain markets such as China and the United States."

New York - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday opened a two-day conference on religion and peace, with its president launching yet another attack against rich countries for morally bankrupting the rest of the world.

Kings, presidents and delegations from 70 countries attended the debate on how to use the values of religions and cultures to bridge misunderstandings, mostly between east and west, in order to help solve political and armed conflicts.

Zagreb - A village football team from third division, which have been awarding goal scorers with live lambs, was defeated on Wednesday by mighty Dinamo Zagreb in a quarter final match of Croatian national cup.

Dinamo Zagreb beat Zagora 2:1 in the first match of the quarter finals and practically secured its place in the semi final matches.

Zagora became well known in Croatia after their decision to award goalscorers with live lambs.