Michelle Obama named as Worlds most powerful woman

The US First Lady rose 39 places and deposed Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor in the rankings compiled by Forbes, the business magazine, which praised her formidable combination of style and political nous.
A fashion icon and an athletic mother of two, she’s Jacqueline Kennedy with a law degree from Harvard and street sense from Chicago’s South Side, the magazine said, adding that Mrs Obama has made the office of First Lady her own.
Since her husband’s election, Mrs Obama has embarked upon several campaigns of her own, including women’s rights and improved school nutrition.France’s First Lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, managed only 35th place in the list, which singled out her ability to brush off concerns about her past indiscretions with typical French aplomb.Ms Bruni-Sarkozy is, in fact, Italian, although she will doubtless be flattered by the magazine’s description. She once remarked that the gaffe-prone behaviour of Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, made her pleased to have become French.The Queen was 41st one place higher than her 2009 ranking thanks to her address to the United Nations, which raised her profile in the US. Only three other Britons are included: Cynthia Carroll, chief executive of mining company Anglo American, at number 14; Marjorie Scardino chief executive of Pearson PLC, at 63; and Angela Ahrednts, chief executive of Burberry, at 97. The celebrities on the list include heads of state and first ladies, bankers and cultural icons, CEOs and entrepreneurial athletes. Renowned talk show queen Oprah Winfrey takes the third place. Young pop idols Lady Gaga and Beyonce Knowles occupy the 7th and 9th places.

Plane with Australians, other foreigners ”missing”

YAOUNDE: Cameroon”s communications ministry on Sunday confirmed that a flight with 11 people on board — six Australians, two French, two Britons and an American — has been missing since Saturday.

Denmark reopens airspace for flights above 35,500 ft

COPENHAGEN: Danish authorities reopened airspace to flights above 35,500 feet (10,670 metres) Monday, but said restrictions on flights below the limit would remain in place until 02:00 am (0000 GMT).

“In line with the latest weather forecasts, Danish airspace is reopening to flights at a height above 35,500 feet,” the national air authority Naviair said in a statement on its website.

“However the airspace will remain closed to flights below 35,500 feet” until 2:00 am, it added, and all Danish airports will remain close until at least the same time as well.

UK to send warships to get stranded Britons

LONDON: Prime Minister Gordon Brown says Britain is sending Royal Navy warships to rescue Britons stranded by the volcanic ash cloud.

Brown says the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ocean will be sent across the English Channel. A third ship may also be deployed. He says Britain is speaking with Spanish authorities to see whether Britons stranded overseas could be flown there and then taken home by boat or bus.

Air space in countries including Britain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands _ home to Europe”s largest airports have been closed for days, stranding millions of people.

Iran releases five Britons: Radio

TEHRAN: Iran has released five Britons who had been detained in the Gulf after their yacht apparently strayed into Iranian waters, state radio said on Wednesday.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki late on Tuesday and called for formal consular access to the men and their speedy release. They were detained on Nov. 25.

“After getting necessary guarantees, Iran released the five,” state radio said. It gave no further details.

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Iran releases five Britons: Radio was first posted on December 2, 2009 at 1:28 pm.