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Los Angeles  - Slumdog Millionaire, the year’s underdog candidate for Oscar glory, continued its unlikely run Monday when it was named as one of the Producers Guild of America’s nominees for the year’s best movie.

Washington - Democrat Al Franken has won the US Senate seat for Minnesota, the state’s election canvassing board said Monday.

London  - A second-half goal from Carlos Villanueva helped Blackburn Rovers reach the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win Monday at non-league Blyth Spartans.

New York  - Major US stock indices were off Monday amid growing worries about corporate profits in the coming months.

Los Angeles  - Tired of being bullied, the Memphis Grizzlies came out of hibernation and put a bear hug on the Dallas Mavericks’ dominance.

Gaza/Tel Aviv - Israel launched airstrikes on some 30 targets of Hamas overnight, pressing on with its air campaign against the radical Islamic movement Monday, two days after it widened its Gaza offensive and sent in also ground troops.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy was due to travel to the Middle East Monday for talks in Cairo, [...]

Taipei - Taiwan stocks opened the New Year on Monday by gaining more than 2 per cent, on the government’s economics stimulus plan, improved Taiwan-China ties and US and European stock gains.
The TAIEX benchmark index gained 107.09 points, or 2.33 per cent, to close at 4,698.31.

Washington - US president-elect Barack Obama’s plan to jump-start the US economy will include 300 billion dollars in tax cuts, the New York Times reported Monday as Obama prepared to meet with congressional leaders to discuss his plans.

Guatemala City - A mudslide killed at least 22 people in northern Guatemala, and disaster prevention officials feared the death toll could increase Monday.
At least 15 survivors were rescued from the avalanche, which covered more than one kilometre of the road in the western part of Alta Verapaz department, 200 kilometres from the Guatemala City.

Bangkok - Thailand’s leading spas, hit by the decline in tourist arrivals this peak season, are offering 50 per cent discounts to clients until February 28, media reports said Monday.