Beijing - Asian and European leaders began a second day of talks on Saturday with a focus on measures to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The 16 Asian and 27 European leaders at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) planned to call for new climate change goals through 2012 to be agreed by the end of next year, according to a draft summit statement.

Los Angeles - The moribund Los Angeles River seems to mark a line of indifference. Shops on Cesar Chavez Avenue emit odors of goats' heads, gizzards and tongues, but the scent of the upcoming US presidential election cannot be easily perceived.

East LA has its own rhythm, different from the rest of LA and, indeed, from the rest of the country.

An estimated 96 per cent of the residents have Latino roots. The daily Los Angeles Times once wrote that East LA is to Mexican- Americans what Harlem is to African Americans.

Nairobi - US Presidential hopeful Barack Obama's stern face stares out from the back of a rickety Matatu - a commuter minibus - as it swerves through traffic in Kenyan capital Nairobi, the slogan "The Real Change" plastered alongside the image.

By the side of the road a workman digs a trench, his "Obama 08" cap shading his eyes from the sun, while in a nearby bar, patrons chug down Senator beer, a cheap brew that has been nicknamed Obama beer.

Washington - The United States officially endorsed the NATO membership of Croatia and Albania, with President George W Bush on Friday signing an agreement already ratified by Congress.

The White House signing ceremony attended by the Croatian and Albanian ambassadors and other dignitaries followed a meeting between Bush and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

The accession of the two countries was approved at a NATO summit in July and requires the approval of all 26 existing members.

Vogue India’s bridal November issue will have ex-spice girl Victoria Beckham wearing traditional Indian bridal attire - an Abu-Sandeep sari! Indian fans will surely be delighted to see Victoria step into exquisite bridal wear.

Washington - The United States has imposed sanctions on 13 companies accused of aiding the weapons programmes of North Korea, Iran or Syria, the State Department said Friday.