Northern Ireland's main Protestant party, the Ulster Unionists, on Saturday backed leader David Trimble and voted in favour of sticking with the province's stalled peace process. In a tense vote in a Belfast concert hall, the Ulster Unionist Council (UUC) supported Trimble against hardliners who had urged the council to reject the landmark 1998 Good Friday agreement for peace in the British province. Northern Ireland's Roman Catholic republicans want the province reunited with the Irish Republic to the south, while Protestant loyalists want it to remain part of Britain.
■ United Kingdom
Woman top millionaires list
A new study shows that divorce, inheritance and sexual equality in schools have helped Britain's women overtake the men in terms of numbers of millionaires, London's Sunday Times said. The report to be published this week by research company Datamonitor -- based on information from tax collectors, banks and other financial institutions -- showed that there are now 299,300 female millionaires in Britain compared with 271,700 male. The number of women millionaires in Britain has been steadily rising on the back of social trends, especially equal treatment for sons and daughters in inheritance and the climbing divorce rate, The Sunday Times said.
■ Germany
Dogs protest treatment
More than 3,000 dogs were paraded through central Berlin in a demonstration by owners for more rights and public tolerance. A number of the dogs in the parade that snarled traffic throughout the center of the German capital were wearing costumes. Speakers at the second annual "Fiffi Parade" called on the local government to set aside larger areas where dogs can roam free without leashes. "We need pro-dog rules and not anti-dog laws," said Gisela Duellberg, one of the organizers.
■ Germany
Al-Qaeda investigation ends
Prosecutors said Saturday they have closed an investigation into a Syrian-born German businessman who was suspected of links to the Hamburg-based al-Qaeda cell that carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the US. The investigation against Abdel-Mateen Tatari for suspected membership or support of a terrorist group was closed at the end of June, said Frauke Scheuten, a spokeswoman for federal prosecutors. Tatari has said he and his family knew members of the Sept. 11 cell, including lead hijacker Mohamed Atta, but insisted they never had any hint of terror plots.
■ Colombia
President to probe claims
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said Saturday his office would investigate lawmakers' claims that former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt might soon be freed by her left-wing rebel captors. Uribe spoke after two Colombian lawmakers claimed Friday that Betancourt, is set to be freed shortly by FARC rebels who want her to push for a hostage-rebel prisoner exchange. "I am going to investigate the root of your curiosity, but I have no news," Uribe said when questioned by reporters about the lawmakers' claims. Betancourt, is a French diplomat and has also become a cause celebre in France, which in June sent a military plane to Brazil in an apparent abortive rescue mission.
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