World News: American customs official shot dead on duty in Mexico

AN American immigration and customs enforcement agent was killed and another wounded while driving through northern Mexico, in a rare attack on US officials in a country which is fighting powerful drug cartels.

Homeland security secretary Janet Napolitano said one agent was critically wounded in the attack yesterday and died from his injuries. The second agent was shot in the arm and leg and remains in a stable condition.

The dead agent was named as Jaime Zapata, who was on assignment from the office in Laredo, Texas, where he served on the human smuggling and trafficking unit as well as the border enforcement security task force. The injured agent was not identified.

"I'm deeply saddened by the news that earlier today, two US special agents assigned to the ICE attache office in Mexico City, were shot while driving between Mexico City and Monterrey by unknown assailants," she said.

US and Mexican officials said they were working closely together to find those responsible.

"Any act of violence against our personnel is an attack against all those who serve our nation," Ms Napolitano said.

PM vows to fight corruption

India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, defended his government today against a string of corruption scandals, saying he would punish anyone involved.

There have been claims of shady deals for mobile licences and faulty preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

Mob attack on journalist

A senior CBS correspondent is recovering in hospital in the US after she was beaten and sexually assaulted by a mob while covering the Egyptian protests, the network said.

It said the attack occurred on Friday in Cairo's packed Tahrir Square after President Hosni Mubarak stepped down. Ms Logan became separated from her crew and was rescued by women and soldiers.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said 52 journalists were assaulted during the protests.

Goldfish magic trick slammed

Animal activists in China say a magic trick that showed goldfish swimming in sync for the Lunar New Year is abusive.

Hundreds of millions watched the magic trick during a China Central Television gala. Some Chinese worried that magnets were implanted in the fish or that they were controlled by electric current.

Whaling on hold in Japan

AN official in Japan says the government has temporarily suspended annual Antarctic whaling after repeated disruptions by a conservationist group.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been chasing the Japanese whaling fleet for weeks.

Protesters in Bahrain urge more action

Bahrain: Protesters occupying a central square in the capital are calling for a third day of rallies to demand sweeping political reforms from the Gulf nation's rulers.

Thousands of demonstrators spent the night in a makeshift tent city in Manama's landmark Pearl Square.

Australia: A second cyclone in two weeks has knocked down trees and power lines in the main northern city of Darwin.