2 hostages freed

GHAZNI – The Taliban yesterday freed two South Korean hostages in Afghanistan who were handed over to an Afghan tribal chief, the chief said.

“I have received them,” said tribal elder Haji Zahir, who has been involved in negotiations with the Taliban about the hostages. Sierra Leone counting votes * FREETOWN – Sierra Leone is counting votes from its first elections since UN peacekeepers left two years ago and early results show a run-off might be needed to choose the new president.Jeopardy creator dies * LOS ANGELES – Merv Griffin, the former talk-show host who became a Hollywood billionaire by investing in real estate and creating the popular game shows ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’, has died of prostate cancer at age 82.Political blow * BEIJING – Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin suffered a political blow when his son and the party security chief were left out of running for seats in Communist Party’s elite Central Committee, sources with ties to leadership said.Speak to Hamas * LONDON – Britain’s refusal to speak to the Islamist group Hamas is counterproductive, a parliamentary committee has said, and efforts should be made to form a new unity Palestinian government in the West Bank and Gaza.Nampa-ReutersSierra Leone counting votes * FREETOWN – Sierra Leone is counting votes from its first elections since UN peacekeepers left two years ago and early results show a run-off might be needed to choose the new president.Jeopardy creator dies * LOS ANGELES – Merv Griffin, the former talk-show host who became a Hollywood billionaire by investing in real estate and creating the popular game shows ‘Jeopardy!’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’, has died of prostate cancer at age 82.Political blow * BEIJING – Former Chinese president Jiang Zemin suffered a political blow when his son and the party security chief were left out of running for seats in Communist Party’s elite Central Committee, sources with ties to leadership said.Speak to Hamas * LONDON – Britain’s refusal to speak to the Islamist group Hamas is counterproductive, a parliamentary committee has said, and efforts should be made to form a new unity Palestinian government in the West Bank and Gaza.Nampa-Reuters