In Brief Daredevil dies

ST PETERSBURG – Daredevil Evel Knievel, who dodged death in spectacular motorcycle leaps and crashes in a life full of showmanship, died on Friday at age 69, according to his lawyer and a message on his Web site.

Standoff * TEHRAN – Iran remained defiant in the standoff over its nuclear programme after the latest talks with the European Union ended in failure and world powers agreed to step up moves for further sanctions. Face-off * HONG KONG – Two of Hong Kong’s most prominent women politicians faced off in a by-election seen as a key test for the democracy promised when Britain handed the city back to China 10 years ago.Diplomacy * BEIJING – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hailed a summit with Japan as ‘another step forward’ in warming ties, but the mood was tempered by lingering tension over competing claims to offshore energy fields.Nampa-AFPFace-off * HONG KONG – Two of Hong Kong’s most prominent women politicians faced off in a by-election seen as a key test for the democracy promised when Britain handed the city back to China 10 years ago.Diplomacy * BEIJING – Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao hailed a summit with Japan as ‘another step forward’ in warming ties, but the mood was tempered by lingering tension over competing claims to offshore energy fields.Nampa-AFP