Sydney, Apr 14 : Bitter melon may not seem a very appetising name, but experts say that this vegetable may help protect the world''s population from malnutrition and disease.

Dr. Dyno Keatinge, the head of a not-for-profit research institute which uses horticulture to fight poverty and malnutrition, says that Bitter melon is rich in vitamins and offers protection against diabetes.

"It''s not a sweet vegetable, and that''s why I like it in salad and a whole range of things," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him as saying.

Melbourne, Apr 14 : IBM worldwide has begun cost cuts in order to battle the effects of the global financial crisis and will scrap office amenities such as tea and coffee, and even company-funded home internet access.

From May 1, IBM will cease to reimburse Internet access for staff working from home. Direct pay corporate managed and contracted home Internet services will also be scrapped.

"IBM will cease the reimbursement of home internet access for employees," The Australian quoted the company, as saying in an email to staff.

Melbourne, Apr 14 : IBM worldwide has begun cost cuts in order to battle the effects of the global financial crisis and will scrap office amenities such as tea and coffee, and even company-funded home internet access.

From May 1, IBM will cease to reimburse Internet access for staff working from home. Direct pay corporate managed and contracted home Internet services will also be scrapped.

"IBM will cease the reimbursement of home internet access for employees," The Australian quoted the company, as saying in an email to staff.

London, Apr 14 : Queen of pop Madonna sacked her nanny just because she didn’t know French.

Australian nanny Angela Jacobsen was on holiday in Thailand when she was sacked by the ‘Material Girl’.

The 29-year-old had formed a close bond with “amazing” Madonna’s adopted son David Banda, who is enrolled at a French school in New York and insists she misses him a lot.

“I miss him so very much. He meant the world to me,” the Daily Star quoted Jacobsen as saying.

Canberra, Apr 14 : More than 100 Tamil protesters have converged on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Canberra residence, demanding that Australia play a greater role in ending the violence in Sri Lanka.

The protesters want Australia to use diplomatic channels to push for a permanent ceasefire in the conflict between Sri Lankan government forces and the Tamil rebels.

There are about 150 protesters just metres from the walls surrounding the Lodge, including three men who began a hunger strike on Friday, with up to 100 more expected to arrive soon.

Sydney - Australia