UNITED States Sudan envoy Andrew Natsios has arrived in Khartoum for a trip expected to take him to the troubled region of Darfur. Sudanese officials say they welcome his visit if it leads to clearer support for African Union peacekeepers in Darfur and the lifting of US sanctions. But this seems unlikely as the US wants UN peacekeepers to end what it calls genocide.

Two million people have fled their homes in Darfur and at least 200,000 have died.

Floods hit China and Thailand

THE worst flooding for over a decade has hit Thailand while thousands of hectares of farmland has been inundated in China. More than two million people in 46 of Thailand's 76 provinces are affected.

Massacre memorial razed

A MONUMENT near Paris commemorating the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks has been destroyed just two days after France's parliament passed a bill that would make it a crime to deny the genocide. A local member of the Armenian church said the heavy bronze sculpture was wrenched off its pedestal late Friday night or early yesterday morning.

Turkey denies accusations that some 1.5 million Armenians perished in a systematic genocide during World War One. It has protested against Thursday's vote, which establishes a oneyear prison term and 45,000 fine for anyone denying the massacres.

South Africa to seize white land

THE South African government has issued new orders to seize land from a small number of white farmers who were not willing to settle apartheid-era land disputes with dispossessed blacks.

Agriculture minister Lulu Xingwana said her department would only hold price negotiations for six months. If talks failed, officials would take steps to seize the land. South Africa has promised to put a third of commercial farming in black hands by 2014, but only 4% belongs to the black majority.

Hindus convert to new faith

THOUSANDS of people attended ceremonies in India at which hundreds of low-caste Hindus (Dalits) converted to Buddhism and Christianity. The events are part of a protest against the caste system.

By converting, Dalits, once known as Untouchables, can escape prejudice and discrimination.