Brigadier General Larry Nicholson demonstrated the more open approach he wants to see among the new US troops sent to southern Afghanistan by going shopping for melons. Nicholson, commander of the 4,000 Marines deployed on Thursday in the mainly Taliban-held Helmand River valley, headed to Garmsir district centre to visit a bazaar selling fruit, vegetables and meat.
US Marine commander out shopping in Afghanistan

Brigadier General Larry Nicholson demonstrated the more open approach he wants to see among the new US troops sent to southern Afghanistan by going shopping for melons. Nicholson, commander of the 4,000 Marines deployed on Thursday in the mainly Taliban-held Helmand River valley, headed to Garmsir district centre to visit a bazaar selling fruit, vegetables and meat.

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AFP

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 6:29 PM GMT

A man walks past a mannequin wearing fashion made of banana fibre mixed with indigenous Filipino fabric by Dita Sandico Ong of the Philippines on display at "thekey.to" sustainable fashion trade fair, in Berlin July 2, 2009. Goodbye "fashionista" brands, where neither the price nor the planet counts. The recession has made recycled "recessionista chic" a hit at Berlin Fashion Week.Goodbye "fashionista" brands, where neither the price nor the planet counts. The recession has made recycled "recessionista chic" a hit at Berlin Fashion Week -- some of it even organic and free trade. "When I started six years ago, no one wanted to hear about 'rubbish textiles'," Liza Arico -- who describes herself as Franco-Argentine-Brazilian -- creator of the Customisee par (Customised by) label, told AFP.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 7:31 PM GMT

A tourist sits on the statue of Don Quijote's companion Sancho Panza (R), in Madrid's Spain square (Plaza de Espana) in 2005. The economic crisis means that Spanish hotels will have more domestic than foreign tourists this summer for the first time in decades.The economic crisis means that Spanish hotels will have more domestic than foreign tourists this summer for the first time in decades, an industry official predicted Friday. In the 1980s an estimated 70 percent of tourists were foreigners, Roman Estalella, head of the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation, told the Europa Press news agency.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 6:35 PM GMT

A model presents a creation by French designer Christian Lacroix during the autumn/winter 2009 ready-to-wear collection show in Paris, in March 2009. The haute couture shows for next autumn-winter open next week in a sombre mood, with the fate of the house of Christian Lacroix hanging in the balance since it went into administration in May.The haute couture shows for next autumn-winter open next week in a sombre mood, with the fate of the house of Christian Lacroix hanging in the balance since it went into administration in May. Despite its critical acclaim and popularity with fashion editors, it has struggled financially and looks set to become the first big name victim of the global recession in the luxury sector.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 9:02 PM GMT

Windskaters make a demonstration show in 2004 at the Uyuni salt flat, 500 km south of La Paz. For years, the Salar de Uyuni has been a remote but popular tourist draw in southern Bolivia: the world's highest salt desert, whose blinding white expanse stretches to the horizon.For years, the Salar de Uyuni has been a remote but popular tourist draw in southern Bolivia: the world's highest salt desert, whose blinding white expanse stretches to the horizon. Now, though, the backpackers and locals who depend on their trade fear this spectacular and vast landscape will soon be threatened by multinational mining companies.

Agence France-Presse - 7/3/2009 7:46 PM GMT

A woman smokes a cigarette. Dutch bar owners won a new victory in their fight against a smoking ban on their premises when an appeal court cleared two of them of breaking the law and quashed a 1,200 euro fine.Dutch bar owners won a new victory in their fight against a smoking ban on their premises when an appeal court cleared two of them of breaking the law and quashed a 1,200 euro fine. "The law contains no formal obligation for landlords of cafes, restaurants and hotels without staff to implement a smoking ban," the appeal court at Leeuwarden in the northern Netherlands said in a statement.

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This undated handout photo released by the Korean Central News Agency in January shows a missile-firing drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea. North Korea test-fired three missiles on the eve of American Independence Day celebrations, South Korea's defence ministry said, further stoking tensions amid an international nuclear standoff.
NKorea test-fires three missiles: SKorea ministry

North Korea test-fired three missiles on the eve of American Independence Day celebrations, South Korea's defence ministry said, further stoking tensions amid an international nuclear standoff. The firing of the missiles, reported to have a range of up to 500 kilometres (312 miles), follow a series of missile launches earlier this week by the isolated Stalinist state.

Agence France-Presse - 7/4/2009 3:58 AM GMT

Latest Entertainment News

A video released on Thursday shows Michael Jackson vigorously practicing a song-and-dance routine days before his death, supporting accounts he had been in good health. FOOTAGE HANDOUT AEG LIVE. Duration: 01:43
Jackson fans told to stay away as tickets up for grabs

Fans heading to Los Angeles for Michael Jackson's memorial extravaganza were urged to stay away as organizers said tickets for the event would be allocated by an online lottery. Pop icon Jackson's sudden death on June 25 sparked a worldwide outpouring of grief and hundreds of thousands of devotees are expected to descend on Los Angeles for Tuesday's memorial at the Staples Center.

Agence France-Presse - 7/4/2009 2:45 AM GMT

Latest Sports News

Venus Williams jubilates after winning against Russia's Dinara Safina after their semi final match on Day 10 at the 2009 Wimbledon tennis championships at the All England Club, on July 2. Venus and Serena Williams clash in a fourth all-sister Wimbledon final on Saturday determined to prove that their domination of the event is not a backward step for the sport's future welfare.
Wimbledon at mercy of Williams sisters

Venus and Serena Williams clash in a fourth all-sister Wimbledon final on Saturday determined to prove that their domination of the event is not a backward step for the sport's future welfare. Despite 128 players starting out in the first round last week, the two Americans are once again left to contest the final for the second successive year and for the eighth time in a Grand Slam final.

Agence France-Presse - 7/4/2009 3:53 AM GMT

Latest Regional News

UN chief Ban Ki-moon says the head of Myanmar's junta had stalled on his request to see Aung San Suu Kyi, seen here in 1999, leaving his mission to seek the democracy icon's release at risk of ending in failure.
Myanmar junta blocks UN chief from meeting Suu Kyi

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply disappointed" after the chief of Myanmar's military junta on Saturday refused to let him meet pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Ban announced the regime's decision after holding a second meeting with reclusive military supremo Than Shwe in the bunker-like capital Naypyidaw on the second and final day of his visit to the country.

Agence France-Presse - 7/4/2009 5:16 AM GMT

Latest Celebrity Gossip

Blur bassist Alex James admits his four children don't know what he does for a living.
Alex James' confused kids

Alex James' children think he is a conductor. The musician - who took part in UK TV show 'Maestro' last year, where celebrities had to learn how to conduct an orchestra - admits his four kids have no idea about his success as a bass player.

Bang - 7/4/2009 7:00 AM GMT

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