China flu outbreak

Beijing, Nov. 4 (Reuters): China and Vietnam reported major bird flu outbreaks in poultry today.

the fourth outbreak in a month, nearly 9,000 chickens had died and 369,000 domestic birds culled within a three-km radius in the northeast province of Liaoning, China, an official at the agriculture ministry said.

Qaida threat

Dubai (Reuters): Al Qaida’s military wing in Iraq renewed its threat to kill foreign envoys in Baghdad on Friday, a day after it said it would kill two Moroccan embassy hostages.

Ethiopia raids

Addis Ababa (Reuters): Gunfire echoed sporadically around Addis Ababa for a fourth day on Friday as reports emerged that unrest had spread beyond the capital.

Hollywood lift

Los Angeles (AFP): The 82-year-old Hollywood sign perched high above Los Angeles will get a facelift, officials said. The giant letters spelling out the word will undergo a little restoration and some cleaning, followed by several weeks of painting for the first time in 10 years.