INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS

Game taken off-line after complains
 CAIRO – An influential Islamic group branded an online video game depicting religious figures fighting each other as offensive to Muslims and Christians and successfully demanded yesterday that it be taken off-line.

Game taken off-line after complains
CAIRO – An influential Islamic group branded an online video game depicting religious figures fighting each other as offensive to Muslims and Christians and successfully demanded yesterday that it be taken off-line.

Swine flu’s ground zero?
LA GLORIA – Residents in this community of 3 000 believe their town is ground zero for the swine flu epidemic, even if health officials aren’t saying so.

Somali gunmen release 2 aid workers
MOGADISHU – Gunmen released two European aid workers yesterday after holding them for nearly 10 days in southwestern Somalia.

EU slams Sri Lanka snub to Sweden
LUXEMBOURG – The European Union yesterday lashed out at Sri Lanka’s decision to deny a visa to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, describing the move as a ‘grave mistake’ and warning Colombo of repercussions.

Sydney power outage hits Fashion Week
SYDNEY – Australian Fashion Week ground to a halt, workers had to be evacuated and people were trapped in lifts after a power failure in central Sydney.

Pope hears victims in quake zone
L’AQUILA – Pope Benedict comforted survivors of Italy’s earthquake Tuesday and asked God to heed the ‘silent cry’ of its victims rising from the earth.

Charles discusses environment with pope
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI and Prince Charles discussed their mutual concern for the environment as the heir to the British throne brought his campaign to fight climate change to the Vatican on Monday.

4 arrested at Madagascar’s concourt
ANTANANARIVO – The head of security at Madagascar’s constitutional court and three others have been arrested and are accused of spreading unrest in the capital, according to a member of a national investigative commission.