 BBC News | Thousands of Sadrists protest Iraq-US military pact AFP - BAGHDAD (AFP) - Thousands of Shiite followers of firebrand anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gathered in Baghdad on Friday to protest a security accord that would allow US troops to remain in Iraq until 2011. Iraqi throng protests agreement on US forces Iraqi protesters give Bush boot over agreement for US troops to ... |
 Washington Post | Bush Travels to Peru for Final Pacific Rim Summit Voice of America - By Paula Wolfson US President George Bush is on his way to Peru for his final Pacific Rim summit. VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports this is expected to be Mr. Bush leaves for APEC meeting Asia-Pacific Leaders Worry Ties With US Are Fraying |
 USA Today | Pirates thwarted with MP3 sonic blast AFP - LONDON (AFP) - Gone are the swashbuckling days of repelling pirates with cutlasses -- a British firm is spearheading use of a high-tech "sonic laser" to beat bandits on the high seas. Time to get down to business with pirate scourge off Somalia India navy 'to go after pirates' |
 BBC News | Russia acknowledges financial crisis has hit hard Reuters - By Michael Stott - Analysis MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia had convinced itself -- and the outside world -- that its huge oil wealth and vast foreign exchange reserves made it much less vulnerable than others to the global financial crisis. Unpaid Wages Spur Reminders of 1998; Putin Pledges Help Russian MPs vote to extend presidential term |
 Sky News | US judge orders five Guantánamo detainees freed for lack of evidence Christian Science Monitor - Experts say the ruling is 'a clear warning shot to the government' over Gitmo detention policies. By Arthur Bright In a decision which deals a sharp blow to the White House, a federal judge ordered the release of five men who have been held for more ... Video: Judge Orders Release of 5 Terror Suspects Judge Orders 5 Gitmo Inmates Released |
 WELT ONLINE | DR Congo demands stronger mandate for UN troops AFP - GOMA, DR Congo (AFP) - The Democratic Republic of Congo demanded Friday a stronger mandate for UN peacekeepers in the east of the vast country after the UN Security Council approved an additional 3000 troops. Congo presidents call for even more peacekeepers UN to increase troops in Congo |
 Radio Australia | Sri Lanka troops reach outskirts of Tiger base: military AFP - COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankan security forces have reached the outskirts of the Tamil Tiger political capital in the island's north after months of heavy fighting, the defence ministry said on Friday. Sri Lanka military says it captured rebel airstrip Sri Lanka claims major victory |
 BBC News | Somali police say ambush, kill 17 Islamist rebels Reuters - By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Somali police ambushed and shot dead 17 fighters from the militant al Shabaab insurgent movement on Friday during an attempted attack on a senior official in Mogadishu, a police spokesman said. Somalia gunbattle kills 17 in capital; 6 wounded 15 die in Somalia insurgent attack |
 ABC News | Pakistan army practises shooting drone aircraft International Herald Tribune - By Zeeshan Haider Pakistani soldiers practised shooting at pilotless "drone" aircraft on Friday, the military said a day after the government lodged a protest with the US ambassador over drone missile strikes in Pakistani territory. Pakistani Army Tests Missile Capable of Shooting Down Drones US airstrikes put Pakistan's leaders on defensive |
 Canada.com | IAEA report hardens suspicions against Syria: US AFP - VIENNA (AFP) - The UN atomic watchdog's first report on Syria'a alleged nuclear activities has hardened suspicions that Damascus is building a covert nuclear reactor at a remote desert site, a top US envoy said Friday. Iran nuclear progress irks US Iran cleric calls for fairness from atomic body |
 BBC News | Dalai Lama's envoys say Tibet at crossroads Reuters - By Abhishek Madhukar and Tenzin Pema DHARAMSALA, India (Reuters) - Tibetans voiced frustration on Sunday at a lack of progress in autonomy talks with China, on the eve of a meeting of exiles that could challenge the Dalai Lama's moderate line toward ... Tibetan exiles seek way forward China refuses to budge on Tibet amid talks |
 ABC News | Chavez accused of behaving like 'dictator' ahead of elections Telegraph.co.uk - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been accused of acting like a dictator after banning leading opposition figures from standing in this weekend's elections. Chavez May Lose Ground in State Elections, Then Grab More Power Vietnam, Venezuela ink deals |
 Boston Globe | Mai Mai Fighters Third Piece in Congo’s Violent Puzzle New York Times - The streets of Kirumba, Congo, were the scene of a clash this week involving Mai Mai militias and government forces. By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN GOMA, Congo - Didier Bitaki, a Mai Mai militia leader, stood in his yard on Thursday with two baby-faced soldiers ... Democratic Republic of Congo: motley army is key to lasting peace UN raises DR Congo troop numbers to 20000 |
 AFP | China's shifting student death toll from quake angers parents Los Angeles Times - Officials say 19000 students died in May's 7.9-magnitude quake, then immediately back away from that estimate. By John M. Glionna Reporting from Beijing -- Jiang Xujun felt the stab of his daughter's death all over again today when Chinese officials ... Majority of China earthquake victims still unidentified Translation mix-up brings China quake toll into question |
 Granma International | Africa calls for global awareness of climate change Granma International - ALGIERS, November 20 (PL).—Representatives from African countries agreed here today on the need to reinforce their institutions in order to develop a collective capacity for negotiating and drawing up projects to counteract the effects of climate ... Africans to stick together in climate change talks UN Releases Climate Proposal Ahead Of Schedule |
 BBC News | Legal Affairs: The house that Rajabi built Jerusalem Post - By DAN IZENBERG Nadav Ha'etzni, the lawyer who represented the settlers in the petition over the disputed building in Hebron, fought with a dogged determination - laced with impatience and subdued anger - to persuade the High Court of Justice to ... Jewish pilgrimage stokes tensions in Hebron Jewish settlement in Hebron bans rioting youths |
 Belfast Telegraph | US wary on chances of normal NATO-Russia ties Reuters India - By Mark John BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The United States raised doubts about the prospect of a fast return to normal ties between NATO and Russia after the Georgian war on Friday, despite a European Union move to restart partnership talks with Moscow. Video: Caucasus security talks productive Tagliavini to lead Georgia inquiry |
 China Daily | Blast kills 8 mourners at Pakistani funeral The Associated Press - DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) - Police said a bomb killed eight mourners at the funeral of a Shiite cleric in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, stoking sectarian tension in a region already beset by militant violence. Blast at Funeral Kills 8 in Northwest Pakistan At least 10 die in Pakistan blast |
 Telegraph.co.uk | Editor's Notes: Toward a 'grand bargain' Jerusalem Post - By DAVID HOROVITZ Photo: AP Barack Obama's adviser Dennis Ross this week flatly denied a London Sunday Times report that the president-elect planned to base his Middle East peacemaking efforts on the Saudi-championed 2002 Arab League peace initiative. The 'blogfather' of Iran Barack Obama’s election has raised hopes but the problems are ... |
 BBC News | EU Opens Online Library Voice of America - By Lisa Bryant The European Union has launched a vast online library offering people across the globe access to millions of books, movies and other items from the 27-member block. Europeana Gets 10m Hits In An Hour New European online library is hot! |