Everest climber skips summit, rescues friend

The Associated Press | Friday May 25, 2012, Istanbul

Nadav Ben-Yehuda, who was climbing with a Sherpa guide, came across Aydin Irmak near the summit last weekend. In that chaotic period, four climbers died on their way down from the summit amid a traffic jam of more than 200 people who were rushing to reach the world's highest peak as the weather deteriorated.

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Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal: Reports

Agence France-Presse | Friday May 25, 2012, Vatican City

According to Il Foglio newspaper and ANSA news agency, the detained man is none other than the pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele, a member of the small team which works daily in Pope Benedict XVI's apartments.The Italian daily said he is likely to be used by the Vatican as "a handy scapegoat" for several others suspected of being involved in leaking documents, some of which ended up in a new book on the tiny state published a week ago.

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Astronauts snare Spacex Dragon Capsule - NASA

Reuters | Friday May 25, 2012, Cape Canaveral, Florida

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon cargo ship on Friday, the first privately owned vehicle to reach the orbital outpost. Using the station's 58-foot long (17.7-meter) robotic crane, NASA astronaut Don Pettit snared Dragon at 9:56 am EDT (1356 GMT) as the two spacecraft soared 250 miles (400 km) over northwest Australia at 17,500 mph.

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Priest apologises for unholy language on Facebook

The Associated Press | Friday May 25, 2012, London

A British priest has apologised for some unholy language on his Facebook page, his bishop says.Canon Paul Shackerley, Vicar of the Minster Church of St. George in Doncaster in northern England, raised eyebrows by using the f--- word and remarking that "alas, I have religion tomorrow" in some Saturday evening postings.

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Capsule set for historic space station arrival

The Associated Press | Friday May 25, 2012, Cape Canaveral

The privately bankrolled Dragon capsule approached the International Space Station for a historic docking today after sailing through a practice rendezvous the day before. The unmanned SpaceX Dragon was on track to deliver a half-ton of supplies and become the first commercial vessel to visit the space station. The achievement previously was reserved for a small, elite group of government agencies.

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California's sparkling beach named America's best

The Associated Press | Friday May 25, 2012, Coronado, California

Like a Hollywood star, Coronado's 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand. That's one of the reasons why Coronado - flanked by the iconic hotel featured in Marilyn Monroe's 1958 film "Some Like It Hot" - has been named the No 1 beach in the United States in the 2012 survey by "Dr. Beach" professor Stephen P Leatherman of Florida International University.

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Hollande defends French exit from Afghanistan

Agence France-Presse | Friday May 25, 2012, Nijrab Base

President Francois Hollande visited Afghanistan on Friday to defend France's imminent departure from the war, telling troops that it would be coordinated closely with Afghan and NATO allies.

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Asia's richest man says, his son will eventually head business empire

Agence France-Presse | Friday May 25, 2012, Hong Kong

Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing on Friday confirmed that his eldest son will eventually control his business empire, but the 83-year-old tycoon dismissed suggestions that he is about to retire.Eldest son Victor Li has long been expected to take over Cheung Kong Group and Hutchison Whampoa after his father steps aside, so Li's comments to reporters after a shareholders' meeting came as no surprise.

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Police bravery award for NRI builder

Press Trust of India | Friday May 25, 2012, London

Sukhwinder Singh, a London-based NRI builder who was stabbed to death while he was confronting two muggers who had snatched a woman's bag in London in 2010, has been given a police public bravery award posthumously.The ACPO Police Public Bravery Awards were presented in Manchester to honour the outstanding acts of courage.

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Seven killed in gun attack on bus in Pakistan's Sindh district

Press Trust of India | Friday May 25, 2012

At least seven people were shot dead and three others injured when unidentified gunmen attacked a packed passenger bus in Pakistan's southern Sindh province today. The gunmen fired indiscriminately at the passengers while the vehicle was travelling along the National Highway in Nawabshah area of Sindh, DIG Sanaullah Abbasi told the media.

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