The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched Tuesday a multi-million dollar appeal for an AIDS treatment programme in five African countries. The IFCR is seeking 21 million Swiss francs (13 million euros, 21 million dollars) for a three-year programme in Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea and Nigeria.

Will Smith, Johnny Depp and Eddie Murphy were the best paid Hollywood actors in the past year, according to Forbes magazine's special issue "Entertainment All Stars." Smith, 39, made 80 million dollars between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2008, thanks to blockbusters like "I Am Legend," "Hancock" and "The Pursuit of Happyness," for which he was nominated for best actor in the 2007 Oscars.

Joe Calzaghe's keenly anticipated meeting with American legend Roy Jones Jr has been postponed after the Welshman suffered a hand injury in training. Calzaghe, unbeaten in 45 fights fought mainly at super-middleweight, had been scheduled to meet 39-year-old Jones - who has held world titles at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight - in a light-heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden, New York, on September 20.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pressed her North Korean counterpart to move rapidly on new nuclear disarmament steps Wednesday but hailed the "good spirit" at unprecedented six-party talks. Rice said she shook hands twice with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-Chun who she met for the first time as she and her negotiating partners gave him a "very tough message" for Pyongyang to meet its obligations.

London-based Internet television service provider Joost said it launched a Chinese service Wednesday with local portal TOM Online to tap the world's largest online market. The company has also set up a joint venture with Hong Kong-listed TOM Group, parent of TOM Online, to bring a full Joost offering to China, Joost said in a statement posted on its website.