MEXICO: More than 40 persons are feared drowned after a ferry sank off the coast of Haiti yesterday. The Christ Vivant capsized and sank during a storm on its way from the capital Port-au-Prince to the island of La Gonave, the US Coast Guard in Florida said. More than 50 persons were on board. Six survived and 16 bodies were found. The rest are missing.`Mad cow' bloodDUBLIN: Nearly 270 people in Ireland have received blood from a British donor who turned out to be infected with the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease virus, the human form of ``mad cow'' disease, the Irish Health Ministry said.NATO forceBRUSSELS: NATO foreign ministers will formally agree to maintain a peacekeeping force in Bosnia-Herzegovina beyond the present deadline of June 28 for the end of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force. Meanwhile, President Bill Clinton will travel to Bosnia next week.Tigers mauledCOLOMBO: Sri Lankan troops killed at least seven Tamil Tigher militants during a battle in northern region. Troops opened fire at LTTE groups near Kanakarayankulam town yesterday and later pounded rebel positions with mortars.SA nuke plantJOHANNESBURG: South Africa's Atomic Energy Commission sold a nuclear technology plant to China without the knowledge of top government and foreign affairs officials, a report said.US-Iran talksTEHRAN: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called for a dialogue with the American people yesterday, sending a message that his moderate government may be ready to repair relations with the country.Israel deadlineJERUSALEM: The US has agreed to allow Israel a further postponement in finalising its proposal for the handover of West Bank territory to the Palestinians, the Ma'ariv daily reported. Netanyahu is under severe pressure to minimise any pullback.
