NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

US/ NASA SATELLITES ON SIDES OF THE SUN: Two US spacecraft have moved either side of the Sun to establish observing positions that should return remarkable new information about our star. Launched in 2006, the Stereo satellites have gradually been drifting apart, one in front of the Earth in its orbit, the other lagging behind. Yesterda, Nasa said the spacecraft had arrived at points that put the Sun directly between them. It will give solar physicists the first 360-degree view of our star.The mission is studying the Sun's great explosive events that hurl billions of tons of charged particles at Earth, events that can disrupt power grids and satellites. Stereo is short for Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory.

US/ AMTRAK PROPOSES NY/NJ RAIL TUNNEL PROJECT: Amtrak is proposing a $13.5 billion project that will include building 2 commuter rail tunnels from New Jersey to New York by 2020, replacing a $9.7 billion project that New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie killed. The Gateway project would allow New Jersey Transit and Amtrak to add 13 and 8 trains per hour, respectively, at peak times into New York. Amtrak would spend $50 million on preliminary engineering and design work and take the lead in finding other funding sources. Possible contributors include the states of New York and New Jersey; New Jersey Transit, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as well as private investors.

US/ AOL TO BUY HUFFINGTON POST: In a bid to make itself relevant again, struggling Internet pioneer AOL announced late Sunday that it would buy the Huffington Post, the well-known news and opinion site, for $315 million in cash and stock. As part of the deal, Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington, pictured above, will oversee a new group responsible for bringing together all editorial content from both companies including news, technology, music and local media websites. The deal, which was signed Sunday with approval from the boards of both companies, is something of a gamble for AOL, which is looking to reignite growth in advertising revenue.

US SPORTS/ PACKERS DEFEAT STEEELERS TO WIN SUPER BOWL: The Green Bay Packers won their 4th Super Bowl with a thrilling 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh, Steelers last night in Dallas, Texas. Aaron Rodgers threw 2 touchdowns and Nick Collins returned an interception to give the Packers an 18-point lead shortly before half-time. 2 Steeler touchdowns reduced the lead to 4 but Green Bay pulled ahead when Greg Jennings scored again. Mike Wallace caught a 25-yard pass to bring Pittsburgh within 3 points but the comeback was not to be. The Steelers have won 6 previous Super Bowls. With the Green Bay win, the Vince Lombardi Trophy now returns to the city for the 1st time in 14 years.

WORLD/ FIRE DESTROYS RIO'S SAMBA CITY: A large fire has destroyed Samba City, a part of Rio de Janeiro where costumes and floats for the city's famed carnival are being made. The disaster occurred just about a month before this year's carnival was set to begin on March 4. "We are heartbroken," said the president of the League of Samba Schools. "Everything was practically ready for the carnival." He said he was not certain workers would be able to rebuild everything that was lost before the popular event. The most affected group appeared to be Grande Rio, which said it lost almost the entire contents of its parade: 8 floats and 3000 embroidered costumes. An estimated 500,000 to 700,000 foreign tourists attended the festivities last year. Although Rio's carnival is by far the most famous worldwide, the festivities in fact take place right across Brazil, effectively shutting up business in this country of 195 million people. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

WORLD/ PERTH BUSHFIRES CONTINUE TO RAGE: Bushfires that continue to rage on the outskirts of Perth in Western Australia have destroyed more than 60 homes. Firefighters are battling blazes to the east and north of the city, with the area declared a natural disaster zone. High flames are being whipped up by winds of up to 70km/h. Hundreds of people have left their homes. The blazes come exactly 2 years after 173 people died in bushfires that swept through the southern state of Victoria, causing widespread devastation. Thus far, there have been no reports of deaths of major injuries in the Perth fires

WORLD/ EGYPT UNREST CONTINUES: Attempts to return Egypt to normality after 2 weeks of deadly anti-government protests have suffered a number of setbacks.While banks have reopened, schools and the stock exchange remain closed, and protesters have prevented the re-opening of a major government building. The Egyptian cabinet has announced a 15% rise in public-sector salaries and pensions, effective from April. But the protesters continue to occupy Cairo's Tahrir Square. They say they will only leave when President Hosni Mubarak stands down.

WORLD/ SOUTH SUDAN BACKS INDEPENDENCE: Southern Sudan voted overwhelmingly for independence, election officials confirmed today. They said nearly 99% of the voters in January's referendum were in favour of dividing Africa's biggest country. Earlier, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir again said he would accept the outcome of the vote. The poll was agreed as part of a 2005 peace agreement ending more than two decades of civil war between the south and north Sudan. The formal declaration of independence will be made on July 9, 2011, 6 years after the peace deal, which led to the referendum, took effect.

WORLD SPORTS/ 2022 QATER WORLD CUP TO BE HELD IN THE SUMMER: The President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, has given the strongest indication yet that the 2022 Qatar World Cup will be held in the summer, not the winter. Blatter previously said that he expected the finals to be staged in January because of the country's climate. The tournament traditionally takes place in June and July but temperatures in Qatar in those months can top 40C. Howver, over the weekend, Blatter told the BBC:   "I think for the time being the matter is on ice. Everything is settled for summer". He explained that a delegation from Qatar had visited Fifa headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and indicated that the World Cup would be played in the summer months. "Everything is settled now for summer and all the 64 matches will be played in the territory of Qatar," said Blatter.