World Briefs

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FINLAND- Finland’s ex-president Martti Ahtisaari won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to build a lasting peace from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Middle East. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it honored Ahtisaari for his efforts taking place for more than three decades to resolve international conflicts. Ahtisaari, 71, was selected by the committee to return its focus to traditional peace work.

CAMBODIA- A Cambodian couple married for 40 years decided to separate and literally split their assets. The husband cut their house into two. The split house can be seen in Prey Veng, the southern province of Cambodia. The couple would not talk to newspapers, but the village chief told a reporter that the husband was angry because the wife wouldn’t tend to him when he was ill.

AFGHANISTAN-The situation in Afghanistan is worse since the U.S. led the invasion in 2001 and the country is in danger of a “downward spiral” into violence and chaos, according to an intelligence report draft. The National Intelligence Estimate, using 16 intelligence agencies, say that Afghanistan’s deterioration has accelerated alarmingly in the past two months. The Bush administration said privately that Afghanistan is now the single most pressing security threat in the fight against terrorism.