NewsDaily: World Headlines

Albania opposition protests to demand vote recount (Reuters)

Benet Koleka — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:24:18 EST

TIRANA, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- Tens of thousands of Albanian opposition Socialist Party supporters launched their latest protest Friday to demand the government either recount the vote in a controversial June 28 election or hold another. ... > read full story

Afghan govt would fall if NATO withdraws: UK minister (Reuters)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:42:24 EST

LONDON, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- The Afghan government would quickly be overthrown if NATO troops pulled out of the country now, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Friday. ... > read full story

New EU president raises fears in aspirant Turkey (Reuters)

Ibon Villelabeitia — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:31:35 EST

ANKARA, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- Herman Van Rompuy's appointment as the first European Union president provoked fears in Turkey that he might hinder Ankara's hopes of joining the bloc, with some media declaring outright that he is anti-Turkish. ... > read full story

U.N. committee slams Iran for post-election crackdown (Reuters)

Louis Charbonneau — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:05:38 EST

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- The U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee condemned Iran on Friday for a violent crackdown on protesters after presidential elections this year that the Iranian opposition says were rigged. ... > read full story

Colombia says will not be provoked by Venezuela (Reuters)

Hugh Bronstein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:38:48 EST

BOGOTA, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- Colombia will not be provoked into armed conflict with Venezuela despite the neighboring country's aggressive rhetoric and its dynamiting of two cross-border pedestrian bridges, Colombia's defense minister said on Friday. ... > read full story

Belgians proud but concerned over Van Rompuy exit (Reuters)

Philip Blenkinsop — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:45:19 EST

BRUSSELS, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- Belgians on Friday mixed pride with trepidation over Herman Van Rompuy's appointment as the first president of the European Union because of the risk of instability after his exit as prime minister. ... > read full story

Britain hit by floods after record rainfall (Reuters)

Nigel Roddis — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:36:11 EST

COCKERMOUTH, England, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- Lifeboats and military helicopters rescued hundreds of people overnight in northern England as torrential rain flooded homes and washed away bridges. ... > read full story

U.S. soldier admits may have driven car in Japan crash (Reuters)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:50:46 EST

TOKYO, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- A U.S. soldier has admitted he may have run over a Japanese man found dead two weeks ago on the southern island of Okinawa, his lawyer said on Friday, in a case that may further strain ties between the two countries. ... > read full story

Transsexual in Italian political scandal found dead (Reuters)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:34:53 EST

ROME, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- A Brazilian transsexual caught up in a scandal which prompted the resignation of a senior Italian politician -- the center-left governor of Lazio region, which includes Rome -- was found burned to death in his home Friday. Police said a body was found after a fire in a basement flat in a neighborhood frequented by transsexual prostitutes. Police believe forensic tests will confirm it to be the remains of a transsexual known only as Brenda. ... > read full story

ElBaradei hopes for Iran fuel deal by end of year (Reuters)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:26:40 EST

BERLIN, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- The chief of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog said on Friday he hoped for an agreement with Iran on an offer to send enriched uranium abroad for further processing before the end of the year. ... > read full story

Masked gunman kills Russian priest at Moscow church (Reuters)

Oleg Shchedrov — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:47:32 EST

MOSCOW, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- A masked gunman entered a church and murdered a Russian Orthodox priest who had received death threats for converting Muslims to Christianity and criticizing Islam, prosecutors and church officials said Friday. ... > read full story

Abbas confirms Palestinian vote to be postponed (Reuters)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:33:55 EST

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said presidential and legislative elections scheduled for January will be postponed, confirming that he has accepted advice not to hold the vote. ... > read full story

U.S. missile strike kills 8 in Pakistan (Reuters)

Alamgir Bitani — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:18:51 EST

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- Eight Islamist militants were killed in a U.S. missile strike in northwest Pakistan on Friday, officials said, after three policemen were killed in a bomb blast. ... > read full story

U.S. seeks release of geologist in China secrets case (Reuters)

Lucy Hornby — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:57:54 EST

BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- The United States is seeking the release of an American citizen detained in Beijing for two years, in a case similar to the detentions of Rio Tinto staff which launched an international debate over China's secrets laws. ... > read full story

At least 4 killed in Saipan shooting: South Korea (Reuters)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:52:05 EST

SEOUL, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- At least four people were shot dead and six South Korean visitors wounded when a gunman fired into a crowd of tourists on the resort island of Saipan, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Friday. ... > read full story

China vows to punish H1N1 death cover-ups (Reuters)

Huang Yan and Lucy Hornby — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:19:09 EST

BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- China has promised severe punishment for officials caught concealing deaths from H1N1 swine flu after a medical expert said suspect cases may have been held back by local governments. ... > read full story

Two dead in suspected U.S. missile strike in Pakistan (Reuters)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:59:52 EST

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- A suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired two missiles at a northwestern Pakistani militant stronghold on Friday, killing two people, the second such attack this week, security and Taliban officials said. ... > read full story

China activists say detained after seeking to meet Obama (Reuters)

Chris Buckley and Lucy Hornby — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:54:34 EST

BEIJING, Nov. 20, 2009 (Reuters) -- Two Chinese rights activists who sought a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama hours before he left Beijing said on Friday they were briefly detained by police, and one said Washington's sway over rights in China had eroded. ... > read full story

Three killed in latest bomb blast in Pakistan city (Reuters)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:53:14 EST

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Nov. 19, 2009 (Reuters) -- Three policemen were killed and six wounded when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Pakistan's volatile city of Peshawar early Friday, police said. ... > read full story

Honduras's de facto leader may step aside for a week (Reuters)

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:57:48 EST

TEGUCIGALPA, Nov. 19, 2009 (Reuters) -- Honduras's de facto leader said he may give up his presidential duties for a week so voters can focus on an election that Washington hopes will help end a five-month-old political crisis. ... > read full story