World news: Two Britons among dead as earthquake toll rises to 113

THE death toll in the New Zealand earthquake has risen to 113, with two Britons confirmed to be among the victims and another two confirmed among the missing.

British chef Gregory Tobin, 25, from Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, died when the quake tore apart Christchurch on South Island earlier this week.

The identity of the other British victim has not yet been confirmed.

British High Commission spokesman Chris Harrington said two more British men are among the missing.

He said: "They got on a certain bus, which was crushed by falling masonry."

Mr Harrington added that an injured Briton, who is in Christchurch Hospital after suffering a fractured skull, broken clavicle and broken ribs, is expected to make a full recovery.

Mr Tobin, who attended Tadcaster Grammar School, had been on a round the world trip and was believed to have been working temporarily at a garage in Christchurch.

Some 228 people are still missing after the 6.3-magnitude quake and hopes of pulling anyone else out of the rubble alive have diminished. Officials said the death toll is likely to rise.

Kenny poised to win in Ireland

Polls have opened in Ireland in a national election dominated by debate on how to rebuild an economy brought low by the collapse of a property boom.

Opinion polls suggest the vote will usher in a new government led by the opposition Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

US in talks on sanctions

The United States has held talks this week with democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi about US assistance to Burma, currently restricted because of sanctions.

A US State Department official said the US Embassy also was engaging with the Burmese authorities.

Four killed in tanker attack

Militants in Pakistan attacked tankers bringing fuel to Nato and US forces in Afghanistan today, killing four people and causing a massive night-time blaze.

A group of around 15 militants armed with rockets and guns stormed a roadside terminal on the outskirts of the north-western city of Peshawar.

At least 12 tankers were set ablaze in the attack, said police officer Liaquat Ali Khan.

The dead men were drivers or their assistants, he said.

Airbus misses it on contract

The US Air Force has awarded a $35 billion r contract to build the next generation of air refuelling tankers to Boeing, scuppering the hopes of European bidder Airbus.

The decision is certain to be welcome news in Washington state and Kansas, where much of the work will be done.Croatia: Protesters in Croatia have clashed with police as about 1000 young people marched on government headquarters demanding prime minister Jadranka Kosor step down over corruption allegations.

United States: Actress Sharon Stone has obtained a restraining order against a man who was found in her home earlier this month, claiming it had been given to him by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.