Top Stories - AFP

KIEV (AFP) - The situation with deliveries of Russian gas to Europe "changed very dramatically" overnight and is "getting worse," a top member of a European Union delegation in Kiev said on Tuesday.

GOMA, DR Congo (AFP) - One of Congo's main rebel military chiefs denied that Laurent Nkunda, head of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP), had been toppled by a dissident group.

NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said the Mumbai attacks had the support of "some official agencies" in Pakistan, in his strongest accusation yet against the neighbouring country.

QUITO (AFP) - A team of Ecuadoran and Italian researchers have discovered a unique species of pink land iguanas living on the Galapagos Islands, the scientist who wrote the report told AFP.

FRANKFURT (AFP) - The German luxury sportscar maker Porsche has taken over Volkswagen, the biggest European car manufacturer, after purchasing more than 50 percent of VW shares, Porsche said late on Monday.

TOKYO, (AFP) - Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday that it would suspend production at all of its domestic plants for 11 days between February and March in response to a slump in sales.

BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) - Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic said preparations for his title defence were still on track despite a first-round loss Tuesday at the Brisbane International.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AFP) - All-Star Vince Carter scored 29 points and Yi Jianlian added 22 as the New Jersey Nets rallied for a 98-90 National Basketball Association victory over Sacramento.

NASSAU, Bahamas (AFP) - Officials in the Bahamas who conducted an autopsy on Jett Travolta said the 16-year-old son of actor John Travolta died here last week of a "seizure," and that his body showed no signs of head trauma.

GAZA CITY (AFP) - The heaviest fighting of Israel's war on Hamas raged in Gaza's main city early on Tuesday as the Israeli government fended off appeals to stop the death toll from mounting further.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US president-elect Barack Obama has chosen former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to head the Central Intelligence Agency, a Democratic Party official told AFP Monday.

NEW DELHI (AFP) - India on Monday handed to Pakistan what it said was evidence linking the country to the Islamic militants who attacked Mumbai in November, India's foreign minister announced.

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Apple's iconic chief executive Steve Jobs, dogged by speculation about his health, announced on Monday that he is being treated for a "hormone imbalance" but will remain head of the company.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Milky Way, the Earth's home galaxy, is spinning much faster and has a mass 50 percent larger than previously believed, raising the probability of a collision with another galaxy, according to a report out Monday.

BERLIN (AFP) - Germany's ruling coalition has reached agreement on a 50-billion-euro (70-billion-dollar) economic stimulus plan over the next two years, representatives said after talks on Monday.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President-elect Barack Obama Monday demanded bold action on his near 800 billion dollar stimulus plan, warning Congress would wreak more dramatic damage on the US economy if it fails to act swiftly.

PERTH (AFP) - Cagey veteran Dominik Hrbaty conjured an upset 3-0 win for the Slovak Republic over defending champions the United States in the mixed teams Hopman Cup here Monday.

JACOBACCI, Argentina (AFP) - Spanish Volkswagen driver and former world rally champion Carlos Sainz and compatriot Mara Coma are setting the pace after the opening three stages of the Dakar Rally - although Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW) pipped Sainz to Monday's special.

NASSAU, Bahamas (AFP) - Officials in the Bahamas on Monday conducted an autopsy on Jett Travolta, the teenage son of actor John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, who died here last week during a family holiday, police said.

GAZA CITY (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks battled Hamas fighters in Gaza on Sunday as the death toll from the offensive to end militant rocket attacks passed 510.

PARIS (AFP) - Israel's tank and troop assault on the Gaza Strip provoked cries of alarm worldwide Sunday, but Israel won heavyweight US backing and moves for an immediate ceasefire foundered at the United Nations.

BAGHDAD (AFP) - A female suicide bomber blew herself up near a Shiite holy shrine in north Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 35 people including women, children and Iranian pilgrims, a security official said.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President-elect Barack Obama, starting his new life in Washington, faced Sunday the first major embarrassment over his cabinet lineup as his choice for commerce secretary was forced to pull out.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Leading South Africa's anti-apartheid activist Helen Suzman who died on New Year's Day was on Sunday buried in a private Jewish ceremony attended by top politicians and close friends in Johannesburg.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia on Sunday asked the European Union to provide monitoring of Ukraine's gas transit system and accused Ukraine of stealing gas bound for Europe, as Kiev levelled its own charges.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democrats in Congress hope to approve a massive economic stimulus plan backed by president-elect Barack Obama by early February, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said on Sunday.

LONDON (AFP) - Premier League champions Manchester United and fellow top four side Aston Villa both made it through to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

MIAMI (AFP) - Baltimore's fearsome defense denied Miami another chapter in their storybook National Football League season Sunday as the Ravens defeated the Dolphins 27-9 in a National Football League playoff game.