Happy Jess is a real life survivor

JESS Fletcher said she was surprised and happy to be nominatedfor outstanding bravery.

None could disagree with the nomination when they hear the 21-year-old's inspiring story -- a story of refusing to give up in theface of a overwhelming difficulties.

Jess, from St Clears, was involved in a car crash in December2008 and suffer a traumatic brain injury.

She spent several weeks in a coma in intensive care and herparents were told there was little chance she would recover.

In nominating her for this award, Jayne Davies takes up the storyand said Jess began a long and painful rehabilitation.

"Jess hung on and against the odds started her …

Palestinian Interior Minister Resigns

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Monday accepted the resignation of his interior minister following a new wave of factional fighting in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

Interior Minister Hani Kawasmeh had offered his resignation two weeks ago to protest the deteriorating security situation in Gaza. But Haniyeh had tried to persuade Kawasmeh to stay on.

After a new wave of fighting left six people dead, Haniyeh on Monday accepted the resignation, said two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak to the media. Kawasmeh recently offered a security plan aimed at bringing law and order to Gaza, …

AB InBev sticks to Belgium as HQ

The head of the Anheuser-Busch InBev beer giant said Tuesday the global headquarters will stay in Belgium instead of moving to the United States, a choice of the power of tradition over the power of markets.

InBev's $52 billion takeover of Anheuser-Busch last year raised fears in Belgium a centuries old tradition would die if the headquarters moved to the United States, the biggest market for the world's biggest brewer.

After the annual shareholders meeting Tuesday, CEO Carlos Brito said the logic to stay in Leuven close to Brussels was based on heritage and the appeal of such traditions that spawned iconic beers like Stella Artois.

"Our …

Nation/World BRIEFINGS

SECRECY ENDING: The woman who accused William Kennedy Smith of rapenow wants to be identified. Her stepfather said it's her way ofputting the situation behind her. Story on Page 3. GRAND FINALE: Mikhail S. Gorbachev requested a final Sovietparliament meeting to legislate an end to the Soviet Union andtransfer of power to the new commonwealth. Russian Vice PresidentAlexander V. Rutskoi, meanwhile, called Boris N. Yeltsin'sadministration a mix of incompetence and political ambition. Storieson Pages 6 and 40. DOUBLE TROUBLE: Massive layoffs announced by General Motors,combined with a grim warning from the usually cautious FederalReserve chairman, underscored how apparently …

'Panda' climbs to top of international box office

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After three weeks in release, "Kung Fu Panda 2" has finally kicked and chopped its way to the top of the international box-office charts with a weekend total of $56.5 million in 45 territories. The kid-friendly animated film has benefited from the booming 3-D overseas marketplace and its global appeal is evident, having earned over $330 million worldwide.

Big news as "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" becomes Disney's biggest international release ever with $695.9 million in revenue after a month in theaters. A fourth weekend total of $41.1 million in 46 territories lands the 3-D pirate epic in second place and propels it to a massive worldwide total of …

Bush to Call New Russian President

The United States said Monday it expects Russia's next president, Dmitry Medvedev, and his promised prime minister, current President Vladimir Putin, to be guided by the Russian constitution in the way they run the government.

Meanwhile, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said President Bush looks forward to working with Medvedev after he replaces Putin and expects to talk with the president-elect in coming days.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey was asked whether the United States expects Putin to be the power behind the throne after Medvedev publicly assumes power.

"I expect that President Medvedev will be president of Russia (and) …

Over-50s in line for share of pounds3m

Groups for the over-50s in the North-east still have time to dipinto a pounds3 million pot of Big Lottery Fund cash.

Organisations have until August 24 to apply to the Primetimeinitiative.

The scheme aims to help Scotland's over-50s get together to keephealthy and active.

The Big Lottery Fund and BBC Scotland are to give …