Scientists at the University of Corsica said at least four whales that succumbed to the illness had symptoms of

Scientists at the University of Corsica said at least four whales that succumbed to the illness had symptoms of measles, including spots. The French medical journal Research said the whales were discovered between September and November. Paris (AP) - Blue whales in the Mediterranean are dying of a mysterious disease that some researchers suspect may be a strain of measles. "Let's just hope we don't get a rat in the Kremlin," said one Muscovite, queuing outside a kiosk to buy a rubber rat for his son.. The Orthodox Church has made a comeback, and Christmas is now celebrated in Russia on 6 and 7 January. But the secular New Year holiday, with Father Frost and the Snow Maiden who keeps him sober on his gift- giving rounds, is still favourite.The Russians have also adopted the Chinese system of identifying the passing years with a cycle of animals; 1996 is the Year of the Rat.

Russians know they cannot afford to be apathetic in 1996, which will be a political watershed for the country.Politics receded into the background yesterday as Muscovites queued at the last minute to buy fir trees and presents to put under them. President Yeltsin, who has far more power than the assembly, has resisted this, and Viktor Chernomyrdin has remained Prime Minister. But right behind with 51 are the extreme nationalists of Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a presidential candidate who is demanding cabinet places in any government reshuffle. Final results released last week showed that the Communists, who have promised to strengthen state control over the economy and hold a referendum on restoring the Soviet Union, will hold 157 of the 450 seats in the Duma.The government party, Our Home is Russia, will be the second biggest group in parliament with 55 seats.

However, he has said he will wait until February before announcing his final intentions.The pugnacious Mr Yeltsin is likely to be spurred on to fight for a second term by the success of Communists and nationalists in the parliamentary elections on 17 December. Despite this, the 64-year-old Kremlin leader appears to be gearing up to run in presidential elections set for June. It began with fierce fighting in Chechnya, and yesterday security forces were on alert in case of renewed tension in the Caucasian region on the first anniversary of the storming of Grozny by Russian tanks.The conflict, which Mr Yeltsin has called the biggest disappointment of his presidency, took a heavy toll on his health as he suffered two heart attacks last year. Extracts from the New Year speech were broadcast to the nation on television.Last year has not been a good one for Mr Yeltsin.

If we try to abandon it, we will find ourselves in a dead end again. The year 1996 should not become a year of new shocks and reverse movement."The Russian leader returned last week to his Kremlin office from the sanatorium where he had been convalescing after his heart attack in October. HELEN WOMACK Moscow President Boris Yeltsin, fighting to keep his job after the Communists made big gains in parliamentary elections, urged Russians in a New Year message to stay the course of economic reform and not allow the political clock to be turned back in 1996."It is in Russia's national interests to develop democracy, to strengthen law and order and to continue economic reforms," Mr Yeltsin told guests at a New Year reception in the Kremlin "This is the path determined by global development. Dapo Olorunyomi, the editor, said publication would have to be suspended Reuter. Nigeria's critical media go up in flames Lagos - The office of The News, a Nigerian magazine critical of the military government, was set on fire, marking the third attack in two weeks on opposition media. China plans drive against Internet porn Peking - China plans measures to stop the entry of obscene or harmful material into the country through the Internet, the official Xinhua news agency reported AP. On Christmas Day nausea caused by influenza forced the 75-year-old Pope to interrupt his appearance AP.

Algerian militants hunted down in hideout Paris - Algerian security forces surrounded a Muslim fundamentalist hideout in Ain Defla, 80 miles south-west of Algiers, and killed seven rebels after they refused to surrender yesterday. Another five guerrillas were shot dead in a clash in the eastern region of Constantine Reuter. Indian minister escapes deadly ambush Gauhati - Bhumidhar Barman, health minister of the north-west Indian state of Assam, survived an assassination attempt in which 20 separatist guerrillas hurled grenades and fired at his car, killing three guards and a local administrator AP. Pope looks better Vatican City - The Pope (pictured yesterday at his traditional Sunday blessing) appeared in better health, telling followers to live out the last hours of 1995 well, avoiding excessive celebration, and joking that he could not see any fellow Poles in the crowd.