N Korea rocket

Seoul, Dec. 23 (Reuters): North Korea’s rocket launch this month showed it has likely developed technology to fire a warhead more than 10,000km, South Korean military officials said today.

North Korea said the December 12 launch put a weather satellite in orbit but critics say it was aimed at nurturing the kind of technology needed to mount a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile. The country is banned from testing missile or nuclear technology under UN sanctions.

Syria

Beirut (Reuters): International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi arrived at Beirut airport on Sunday and will head to Syrian capital Damascus by car, airport sources said. He is expected to meet President Bashar al-Assad on Monday.

Tube death

Berlin (Reuters): A 65-year-old man thought to be sleeping while sitting upright on a Berlin underground train as it criss-crossed the German capital was actually dead, police said on Sunday. A police spokesperson said: “There are no indications of foul play.”

Adele brand

London (PTI): Singer Adele has trademarked her name in order to prevent it from being used as a brand name for perfumes or jewellery.

Yemen assault

Sanaa (Reuters): The Yemeni army has launched an assault using tanks and rockets on tribesmen blocking repairs to the country’s main oil export pipeline, tribal sources said.