Tehran - Tehran is waiting for US president-elect Barack Obama to put into practice his "Yes We Can" slogan, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said in a press briefing Monday.

The spokesman said that Tehran would reply favourably to any change of policy by Washington towards Iran.

For the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution, an Iranian president sent a congratulation message to his American counterpart on his success in the presidential race.

Melbourne, Nov 10 : Mad Max star Mel Gibson is all set to play the part of a Los Angeles cop in his new flick ‘Edge Of Darkness’.

This will be the first time since his conviction for a road rage and DUI incident in 2006 that Gibson is returning to the showbiz stage, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The movie, which is set in Boston, is on familiar territory for the actor, who plays homicide detective Tom Craven investigating the death of his activist daughter.

Gibson is eager to go back to work, as he has signed up for two more related roles.

Washington, Nov 10 : English rocker Sir Paul McCartney has revealed that he would like to sing for Michelle Obama.

The former ‘Beatles’ legend is so ecstatic with Barack Obama’s victory that he has nothing but praises for the U. S. President-elect.

“I think sincerely he is the man for the job. I think it is a legendary occasion and I wish him the very best,” People magazine quoted McCartney as telling Britain''s Sky News backstage at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

Dublin - Czech President Vaclav Klaus was due to meet Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on an official state visit to Ireland Monday.

Klaus and Cowen would discuss the Czech Republic's upcoming presidency of the European Union, the global financial crisis and the Lisbon Treaty, a statement from Cowen's office in Dublin said.

The Czech Republic assumes the EU presidency on January 1. Prague has been a vocal opponent of the Lisbon Treaty aimed at streamlining the 27-member bloc's decision-making process, which Ireland rejected in a popular vote in June.

Klaus was due to meet Irish President Mary McAleese Monday morning and visit tourist sites in Dublin and the south-western city of Cork on Tuesday and Wednesday.

London, Nov 10 : A new study has shown that many of the world’s deep-sea octopuses evolved from a common ancestor that still exists in the icy waters of the Southern Ocean.

According to a report by BBC News, the findings form part of a decade-long global research programme known as the first Census of Marine Life (CoML), set to be completed in late 2010.

The project, which began back in 2000, involves more than 2,000 scientists from 82 nations.

Colombo  – The Sri Lankan government has rejected an offer by Tamil rebels for a ceasefire in the northern part of the country where fighting continues as troops push forward to recapture rebel-held areas, a local newspaper said Monday.

The government's Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that Tamil rebels would have to comply with the conditions set by the government to lay down arms and surrender to resume talks.