Around the world: Children among dead as birthday party boat sinks

Fifteen people, including five children, were reported missing and feared dead in southern Vietnam after a double-decker tour boat capsized amid strong winds during a child's birthday party.

Several people, including two Chinese passengers, managed to swim to safety following yesterday evening's incident, said Le Van Hieu, chief of Binh Nham village in Binh Duong province. He said a family was having the party while cruising the Saigon River. The boat was only about 100 yards away from the terminal when it went down.

A Vietnamese businessman was reportedly throwing the birthday party for his three-year-old son. The reports said the father managed to survive, but that nine family members - including his wife and two children - were still missing.

"There are almost no chances for their survival," Mr Hieu said.

Authorities suspect that strong winds and heavy rains may have caused the boat to capsize, he said.

Hundreds of soldiers and police have been mobilised for a search-and-rescue operation. They have located the sunken boat and were expected to pull it from the water today.

Arnie's cartoon is Terminated

The animated series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a superhero has been put on hold. The companies behind The Governator have stopped working on the show following revelations he fathered a child out of wedlock more than a decade ago.

Moon rock sale arrest

A WOMAN who tried to sell a rare hunk of moon rock for $1.7 million was detained when her prospective customer turned out to be an undercover Nasa investigator, officials said.

It is illegal to sell moon rocks in the US, where they are considered to be national treasures.

Ex-IMF chief out of prison

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been released from a New York City jail.

The former head of the International Monetary Fund posted $1 million cash and a $5m bond as bail.

The city Department of Correction said in a statement that he was no longer on Rikers Island.

He was released into the custody of the security company that will be monitoring his house arrest.

Strauss-Kahn has been accused of trying to rape a maid at a Manhattan hotel.

China calls for attacks on pirates

China's military is urging land attacks on Somali pirate strongholds in a bold call signalling the armed forces' growing assertiveness.

General Chen Bingde told reporters in Washington he believes land bases must be attacked in order for counter-piracy campaigns to be effective.

15 killed as Nato tanker explodes

Pakistan: A tanker carrying oil for Nato forces in Afghanistan exploded in north- western Pakistan as people were apparently trying to take some of its fuel.At least 15 people died in the explosion.

Chile: Tens of thousands of people massed in the centre of Chile's capital, Santiago, for new protests against the government's plan to dam two wild rivers located in the country's southern Patagonia region.