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Dylan Thomas Prize Longlist 2008

Ross Raisin, God’s Own Country Read

Rowling and Pullman back revolt

BEST-SELLING authors JK Rowling and Philip Pullman are leading a revolt against plans for publishers to state at which age children should be allowed to read individual books. Read

Drunk burglar chats until police arrive

AN apparently drunk burglar chatted with his victim long enough for officers to arrive and arrest him, US authorities said today. Read

Three injured in bull running

A PACKED running of the bulls in Pamplona has left one person gored and two slightly injured, the government of Spain’s northern Navarra region said today. Read

Cubans told to prepare for realistic communism

PRESIDENT Raul Castro warned Cubans to prepare for a “realistic” brand of Communism that was economically viable and did away with excessive state subsidies designed to promote equality on the island. Read

Talks stop after South Koren is shot in the north

THE death of a South Korean tourist shot by a North Korean soldier while visiting the Communist nation overshadowed efforts by Seoul’s new president to reach out and rekindle stalled reconciliation talks. Read

No new capabilities for Iran

IRAN'S missile test demonstrated no new capabilities, according to a national security website and a US official familiar with the intelligence, and may not have included one of the longer-range missiles it claimed were among those launched. Read

Security firm is still charging for hostage Welshmen

A SECURITY company employing two Welshmen held hostage in Iraq has profited from their 14-month incarceration. Read

Toe eating dog put down

An Illinois woman says her beloved miniature dachshund gnawed off her right big toe while she was asleep. Read

Obama to refine withdrawal policy on Iraq trip

Barack Obama, seeking to appeal to centrist voters in stops in traditionally Republican territory, said his upcoming trip to Iraq would help him refine his policy on troop withdrawals. Read

Eight police officers shot dead in Afghanistan

Gunmen have killed eight police officers at a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan. Read

Irishman shot seven times by US police

Relatives of an Irishman killed by police in the US state of Oregon viewed the body and said he was shot at least seven times. Read

Bomb injures 50 in Belarus capital

MORE than 50 people were injured today when a bomb went off at an outdoor concert in the Belarus capital, Minsk. Officials blamed “hooligans”. Read

Chinese re-open talks with Dalai Lama

Chinese state media said Beijing will hold a new round of talks with representatives of the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in July. Read

Bear mauls teen girl

A 14-year-old girl riding in a mountain bike race has been attacked in the dark of night by a bear and severely injured, but she was able to make a brief 911 call that eventually resulted in her rescue. Read

Demo leaves 16 hurt

A military shooting demonstration in southeast France today left 16 people wounded, including children, when real bullets were used instead of blank ones, officials said. Read

Pomp belies desperation in Zimbabwe

The pomp with which Robert Mugabe was sworn in for a sixth term in Zimbabwe today belies desperation, said opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Read

Oil price rises again

Oil rose above USD141 a barrel in Asia today as expectations of a weaker dollar spurred investors to seek refuge in dollar-denominated oil futures as a hedge against inflation. Read

Obama and McCain clash over flood prevention

The flood-ravaged communities of the Midwest became a new battleground in the presidential election as Democrat Barack Obama criticised Republican John McCain for opposing federal spending on flood prevention programmes, attacks Mr McCain’s campaign called typical partisan politics. Read

Premier will quit if he loses confidence vote

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said today he would resign if a no-confidence vote went against him in Parliament, but lashed out at protesters surrounding his office in an effort to force him out. Read