World News: France braced for terrorist attack in wake of veils ban

France is on alert for possible terrorism after intelligence suggested that attackers might target a public gathering place, with one lead pointing to a female suicide bomber, a counter-terrorism official said.

The official said authorities were bracing for a possible attack last Thursday. Nothing unusual happened that day in France, but authorities are not letting their guard down, the official said.

The scare came as five French workers and two African colleagues were kidnapped in Niger, part of the African turf of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. On September 14, there was a false bomb alert at the Eiffel Tower.

Last week, the Senate voted to ban burka-style Islamic veils in France. That prompted warnings by al-Qaida's Maghreb group.

Interior minister Brice Hortefeux said: "The terrorist threat is real, and today our vigilance, therefore, is reinforced."

Speaking during a visit to the Seine-et-Marne region, east of Paris, he did not elaborate on the additional security measures being taken.

Despite the warnings, Mr Hortefeux said France had not raised its terror alert level to the highest ranking.

Actress faces return to prison

Judges in the US have issued an arrest warrant for actress Lindsay Lohan, who has admitted failing a drugs test just weeks after being freed from jail.

The 24-year-old star could be sent back to prison for 30 days if she is found to have breached her probation.

N Korea set for new leader

North Korea's ruling party will hold its first conference in a generation on September 28, state media reports say, amid speculation that leader Kim Jong-il is about to name his successor.

Mr Kim's third son, Kim Jong-un, is widely expected to become the next leader.

Games head slams village

The head of the Commonwealth Games has expressed concerns over the living conditions of the athletes in Delhi.Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell said the condition of the athletes village had "shocked the majority (of delegates]".

Mr Fennell's comments came after a number of countries have reportedly objected to the living conditions in the athletes village.

The Games are being held next month.

Antiques turn up in PM's office

More than 600 antiquities have been returned to the Iraqi National Museum after they were found in boxes in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office.

Antiquities minister Qahtan al-Jubouri blamed "inappropriate handover procedures" for their disappearance.

Nine Nato members die in copter crash

Afghanistan: Nine members of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force have been killed in a helicopter crash in the south.

One Nato soldier, an Afghan soldier and a US civilian were also injured. The nationalities of the Nato personnel are not known.

Sweden: Thousands have staged a protest in Stockholm against the election to parliament of 20 members of far-right party the Sweden Democrats.