World datelines

NIAMEY — The president of Niger acknowledged Tuesday that a Canadian diplomat who disappeared during a U.N. mission to the West African nation last month was kidnapped by rebels.

His statement marked the first time authorities in Niger have publicly commented on the disappearance of Robert Fowler, the U.N. special envoy to Niger who went missing along with his assistant on Dec. 14.

Norway: Philosopher dies

OSLO — Norwegian philosopher, writer and mountaineer Arne Naess, best known for launching the concept of "deep ecology," has died, his publisher said Tuesday. He was 96.

Naess is credited with creating the deep ecology concept, promoting the idea that Earth as a planet has as much right as its inhabitants, such as humans, to survive and flourish. He cited the 1962 book "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson as a key inspiration.

Austria: Chechen killed

VIENNA — A Chechen who had formally accused the president of Chechnya of participating in kidnappings and torture sessions was fatally shot Tuesday as he walked out of a grocery store in Vienna, Austria, according to his lawyer and family friends.

The shooting appeared to be another politically motivated killing of a Russian citizen who had criticized government conduct.

The slain man, Umar S. Israilov, 27, had been detained as a separatist rebel, then was given amnesty, and briefly became a bodyguard to President Ramzan A. Kadyrov of Chechnya. He ultimately fled Chechnya for Europe.

Brazil: Candidate makeover

BRASILIA — The ruling party's likely contender for Brazil's presidency in 2010 is putting a new face forward — literally, according to local news reports.

Brazil's major newspapers are running before-and-after photos of Dilma Rousseff, the president's chief of staff. They say she apparently underwent cosmetic surgery last month.