short takes

Xi, Putin to discuss on IS
AFP, BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders will discuss the threat the Islamic State group poses in Afghanistan at a Eurasian security summit in Russia this week, a Chinese official said
 yesterday.
Xi travels to the Russian city of Ufa for a summit on Thursday and Friday of leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Dalai Lama turns 80
AFP, ANAHEIM:  Fellow Nobel Peace laureates joined thousands of followers of the Dalai Lama on Sunday to celebrate the Tibetan spiritual leader's 80th birthday, kicking off a three-day honorary bash in California.
A string of minor celebrities also paid tribute to the crimson-robed 14th Dalai Lama ahead of his birthday Monday, although protesters also gathered outside the event south of Los Angeles.
"He always says he is just a simple Buddhist monk," said anti-landmines campaigner Jodi Williams, who won the Nobel Peace prize in 1997, who sang a snippet of Happy Birthday to him.
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short takes

Xi, Putin to discuss on IS AFP, BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders will discuss the threat the Islamic State group poses in Afghanistan at a Eurasian security summit in Russia this week, a Chinese official said yesterday. Xi travels to the Russian city of Ufa for a summit on Thursday and Friday of leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Dalai Lama turns 80 AFP, ANAHEIM: Fellow Nobel Peace laureates joined thousands of followers of the Dalai Lama on Sunday to celebrate the Tibetan spiritual leaders 80th birthday, kicking off a three-day honorary bash in California. A string of minor celebrities also paid tribute to the crimson-robed 14th Dalai Lama ahead of his birthday Monday, although protesters also gathered outside the event south of Los Angeles. He always says he is just a simple Buddhist monk, said anti-landmines campaigner Jodi Williams, who won the Nobel Peace prize in 1997, who sang a snippet of Happy Birthday to him. .