e Yugoslavia

Washington  - The economic and political clout of the United States will decline by 2025, the spread of nuclear weapons and cyber- terrorism will emerge as the most potent global threats, and new wars are likely to be fought over water and food scarcity.

Taipei  - Taiwan, still reeling from its defeat at the hands of China at the Beijing Olympics, is aiming to advance to the top eight at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, a baseball official said Friday.

Prora, Germany  - The windows are either broken or boarded up, the roof is leaking and the plaster is crumbling from the walls. But the monumental steel and concrete structure planned as a Nazi-era holiday complex has survived otherwise unscathed.

Lima  - The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) on Thursday called on the region’s leaders to resist the “potential reactionary measures of protectionism and draconian regulation.”

Washington  - Astronauts from the space shuttle Endeavour on Thursday completed a second spacewalk on their construction mission to the International Space Station, which was marking its 10th anniversary.

Paris  - Former French presidential candidate Segolene Royal beat out two other candidates in Thursday’s election to head the Socialist Party but fell short of gaining a winning majority, French media reported early Friday.

Wellington  - The New Zealand economy, already technically in a recession, suffered a further blow Friday when dairy farmers were warned to brace themselves for a 700-million-New-Zealand-dollar (about 364 million US dollars) cut in their projected income.

Los Angeles  - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he is ready to take a job at the White House if president-elect Barack Obama feels he can be of service.

Los Angeles  - Sales at Dell Inc dropped 3 per cent in the quarter, but the company said Thursday that it increased its earnings per share by cutting jobs.

London  - Aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce said Thursday it would cut up to 2,000 jobs worldwide as a result of the current economic “uncertainties.”