Washington, Nov 5: A new genetic research has suggested that the extinction of the native rat species of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean in 1908, was caused by a pathogen carried by Eurasian black rats.

The pathogen was unleashed when Eurasian black rats jumped ship onto the island at the turn of the 20th century, causing extermination of two endemic species, namely Rattus macleari and R. nativitatis.

This study is the first to demonstrate extinction in a mammal because of disease, supporting the hypothesis proposed a decade ago that “hyperdisease conditions”—unusually rapid mortality from which a species never recovers—can lead to extinction.

Copenhagen - Danish brewer Carlsberg's third-quarter operating profit increased, the group said Wednesday but noted that beer sales in expanding markets in Russia and Eastern Europe were impacted by bad weather in the quarter.

The quarter's operating profit before special items was 3.05 billion kroner (525 million dollars), compared to 2.07 billion kroner for the corresponding business period in
2007.

Turnover in the quarter surged from 12.4 billion to 18.44 billion kroner year-on-year, while net profit was up from 1.3 billion to 1.4 billion kroner.

Bangkok  - The secretary-general of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday welcomed the election of Barack Obama as a leader more inclined to work with the world.

"I congratulate the people of the US for electing a president who is ready to work with the world," said ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan. "ASEAN is ready to cooperate with the new administration."

Johannesburg - Former South African president Nelson Mandela said Wednesday Barack Obama's election to the White House was a triumph for hope.

In a letter of congratulation to the president-elect, Mandela, 90, said: "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."

Hamburg - Tottenham Hotspur hope to carry their rising Premier League form into the UEFA Cup on Thursday while Aston Villa seek a second win and Manchester City seek a good start into the competition.

Spurs were humbled 2-0 at Udinese in their opening group D match two weeks ago but now hope to rise from last place with a victory against Dinamo Zagreb.

City, who were idle on the first group match day, are at home as well, against Dutch side Twente Enschede in group A. Villa visit Slavia Prague after defeating former winners Ajax Amsterdam in their group F opener.

London, Nov 5: Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding has finally opened up about her terrifying car crash last week, insisting that it was the “worst week of her life”.

The 26-year-old star emerged unharmed following a head-on collision with a double-decker bus.

“I had a nark on. I was moving house, we had the builders in and my mum was down to visit,” the Mirror quoted her, as saying.

“I jumped into the Range Rover and because I’m only just getting used to the new roads around my house, drove up a one-way street.

“Unfortunately, there was a bus hurtling down the other way. It rammed my car into these bollards on the side of the road.