Johannesburg - The number of deaths from a new Lassa-type virus has risen to four in South Africa, doctors confirmed to state radio Wednesday.

London, Oct 29 : Former British premier Tony Blair, who is said to be the highest paid speaker in the world, is learnt to have amassed a wealth of 12 million pounds over the past one year since vacating 10 Downing Street.

This is more than six times of the income he earned during his prime ministership.

Islamabad, Oct 29 : Around 100 people were kil

Ramallah/Tel Aviv - Israeli soldiers shot dead an elderly Palestinian Wednesday morning in the village of Yamoun, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, Voice of Palestine Radio reported.

It said the soldiers entered the village and surprised Muhammad Abahreh, who emerged from his house to check on a commotion he heard outside. According to his family, Abahreh used a torch and discovered the noise was made by the soldiers, who opened fire at him.

The radio said Abahreh, in his late 60s, was shot in the abdomen and left to bleed for two hours until the soldiers ended their patrol and allowed a Palestinian ambulance to pick him up.

Copenhagen - Low-cost Danish airline Sterling Airlines announced Wednesday it was to file for bankruptcy and has grounded all flights stranding thousands of passengers.

In a statement on its website, the airline cited that it had been impacted by the global financial recession that started in the autumn of 2007 and led to a "stagnation in the market."

The carrier also cited "significant fuel cost increases" as a factor that contributed to its problems, as well the global credit crunch that impacted its main shareholders in Iceland.

The Sterling statement said that passengers who had bought tickets online would not be refunded and would have to seek alternative flights home.

Buenos Aires - Former Argentine football superstar Diego Maradona has been named coach of the country's national team despite a lack of experience as trainer at a time when Argentina has struggled in World Cup qualifiers.

"Now the real work begins," Maradona said.

His appointment followed a meeting Tuesday that Maradona and former national coach Carlos Bilardo held with Argentine football federation President Julio Grondona.