A lingering kiss....

LONDON: A lingering kiss between Britain's Prince Andrew and his estranged wife Sarah 'Fergie' Ferguson fanned hopes today of a royal reconciliation, reports Reuter.

The couple, who went their separate ways a year ago were pictured saying a long goodbye after a holiday with their two daughters on the royal estate of Balmoralin. Scotland.

"It was a full kiss, affectionate rather than passionate. But you would never imagine they were apparently heading for divorce. They looked like the best of friends — at the very least", said one photographer watching through a telephoto lens.

Andrew, 33, and flamehaired Fergie appeared doomed as a couple after pictures of her frolicking topless with an American businessman were published around the world last summer.

But they have been pictured dining together recently and, chatting happily, sparking rumours that their seven-year marriage might yet be saved.

Stowaway survives sub-zero temperatures

MIAMI (Florida): A Colombian boy hid Friday in the wheel well of cargo jet and survived sub-zero temperatures during a three-hour flight from Bogota to Miami, Florida, reports AFP.

Miami Airport employees found an unconscious I3-year Guillermo Rossales when he fell out of the Colombian DC-8 after the 1,600 kilometer (1.000 miles) Hight.

They said he was rolled up tn a ball and covered with frost after the flight in sub-freezing temperatures.

"He should have died. The wheel coming up could have crushed him, there's lack of oxygen at that altitude." said airplane mechanic Richard Ungerer.

But the boy was fine after a checkup at Pan American Hospital, said George Waldroup, a spokesman for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which Is holding the boy.

Waldroup said Rosales survived because the plane's wheel well was pressurized.

Several years ago a Colombian stowaway was found dead after a similar attempt.

He was just imitating

BANGKOK: A 13-year-old Imitating a cartoon battle on television accidentally shot dead his cousin in the rural central Thai province of Phltsanulok, The Nation newspaper said on Tuesday, reports Reuter.

The boy, whose name was withheld by police, was watching a Japanese cartoon called "Dragon Ball” when he ran to get hts father's shotgun, the paper quoted him as telling police.

He pointed it at his cousin and younger brother, both eight. Nothing happened the first time he pulled the trigger but the second time, the gun went off and hts cousin fell dead.

To avoid public criticism

TOKYO: The family of Masako Owada, who next month marries Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, refused to accept de livery of three gold-plated chests made by an over-zealous furniture maker. Kyodo News Agency reported on Tuesday, says Reuter.

The Owadas ordered a set of chests made of plain paulownla wood, but the maker decided to plate them in gold as a wedding present. Kyodo said.

The chests form part of a Japanese traditional gift from the father to the bride to keep her ki-monos. Each gold-plated chest is worth about 10 million yen (dollar 94,000).

A photograph of the chests was printed In Japanese newspapers on Tuesday. The Owada family apparently decided not to outcry against extravagance.