Fri 03 July, 2009

North Korea reportedly tests three short-range missiles as concern mounts that a long-range test could be days away.

21:27 SKorea says NKorea fires 3 missiles off east coast (AP)

AP - North Korea fired three missiles off its eastern coast Saturday, South Korea said, in what was likely to be seen as a message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day holiday.

21:27 UN leader presses Burmese junta

UN chief Ban Ki-moon begins a second day of talks with Burma's military leaders as he urges the release of political prisoners.

21:25 VP Biden urges Iraqis to make political progress (AP)

AP - Vice President Joe Biden pressed Iraqi leaders Friday to do more to foster national reconciliation and offered U.S. assistance in achieving that, as concerns grow that a lack of political progress is fueling violence in Iraq.

21:24 Honduras rulers reject OAS call for Zelaya return - Reuters

Los Angeles Times

Honduras rulers reject OAS call for Zelaya return
Reuters
TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras's interim rulers spurned a demand from the Organization of American States on Friday to restore leftist President Manuel Zelaya to power, deepening Central America's worst political crisis in ...
Envoy Seeks Ousted Honduran President's ReturnNew York Times
Amid deadlock, Honduras faces expulsion from OASAFP
Ecuadoran president ready to accompany Zelaya back to HondurasXinhua
Los Angeles Times -Independent -Voice of America
all 11,998 news articles »

21:24 US and Russia square up over missile shield - Financial Times

Telegraph.co.uk

US and Russia square up over missile shield
Financial Times
The US and Russia are digging in for a fight over American plans for missile defence bases in eastern Europe, despite efforts by both sides to create a positive atmosphere before next week's ...
Mr. Obama and Mr. MedvedevNew York Times
Obama to seek climate deal in Moscowguardian.co.uk
Anti-Americanism plays in RussiaLos Angeles Times
Reuters -The Associated Press -Voice of America
all 2,991 news articles »

21:24 Marines seek to cut Afghan insurgent supply lines (AP)

AP - NAWA, Afghanistan U.S. Marines pushed deeper into Taliban areas of southern Afghanistan on Friday, seeking to cut insurgent supply lines and win over local elders on the second day of the biggest U.S. military operation here since the American-led invasion of 2001.

21:22 Iranian cleric: British Embassy staff to be tried (AP)

AP - EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

21:19 NKorea test-fires two missiles: defence ministry (AFP)

AFP - North Korea has test-fired two more missiles on the eve of American Independence Day celebrations, according to South Korea's defence ministry, further stoking tensions amid an international nuclear standoff.

21:18 Honduras rejects OAS appeal to restore president (AP)

AP - Honduras rebuffed a personal appeal from the Americas' top international diplomat Friday, refusing to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya and setting the stage for a dramatic showdown if the ousted leader returns to reclaim power this weekend.

21:10 Honduran court defiant on Zelaya

Honduras' high court rejects a demand by the Organisation of American States to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

20:51 With Palin Leaving, National Spotlight on Alaska Is Likely to Go, Too - New York Times

guardian.co.uk

With Palin Leaving, National Spotlight on Alaska Is Likely to Go, Too
New York Times
The latest on President Obama, the new administration and other news from Washington and around the nation. Join the discussion. Long before she became governor, Sarah Palin startled fellow Republicans when she called out the state's ...
Sarah Palin resigns as Alaska governorAFP
Palin resigns her post as Alaska governorFinancial Times
Alaska Governor Palin to resignBBC News
Washington Post -Los Angeles Times -Kansas City Star
all 1,968 news articles »

20:24 Africa refuses to act on Sudan war crimes warrant (AFP)

AFP - The African Union refused to act on an international war crimes warrant for Sudan's president, at a summit that also yielded a deal on the powers of a new regional Authority.

20:18 Ex-Iranian president seeks to free detainees

Iranians worried about their loved ones detained in the protests that followed the presidential election got the ear of a former president, who wants the detainees released, an Iranian reformist party newspaper reported on Thursday.

20:08 US drone targets militants in missile attack - Financial Times

CTV.ca

US drone targets militants in missile attack
Financial Times
At least 11 suspected islamic militants were killed in a missile attack by US drone aircraft in Pakistan's Waziristan region yesterday, as Pakistan stepped up its offensive against militants in the Afghan border region. ...
Suspected US drone attacks target Pakistan Taliban leaderguardian.co.uk
'Militant deaths' in US drone hitBBC News
15 dead in suspected US missile strike in PakistanThe Associated Press
Aljazeera.net -Daily Times -Los Angeles Times
all 1,268 news articles »

20:08 UN chief urges generals to free Suu Kyi - Financial Times

Times Online

UN chief urges generals to free Suu Kyi
Financial Times
Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary-general, met Burma's powerful army chief yesterday and pressed him to free Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel prize-winning democracy advocate, and other political prisoners before promised ...
UN secretary-general defends his approach to the jobLos Angeles Times
UN chief calls for Burma releasesBBC News
Brown urges Myanmar to halt Suu Kyi trialReuters South Africa
Voice of America -Aljazeera.net -Reuters
all 1,010 news articles »

20:05 Report: North Korea test-fires more missiles

North Korea fired a pair of mid-range missiles toward the Sea of Japan, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported Saturday.

20:01 US Marine commander out shopping in Afghanistan - AFP

BBC News

US Marine commander out shopping in Afghanistan
AFP
GARMSIR, Afghanistan (AFP) — Brigadier General Larry Nicholson demonstrated the more open approach he wants to see among the new US troops sent to southern Afghanistan by going shopping for melons. Nicholson, commander of the 4000 Marines deployed on ...
Failed strategy in Afghanistanguardian.co.uk
UK forces push deep into Taliban territoryTelegraph.co.uk
US Marines fight to expel Taleban from south Helmand as canal seizedTimes Online
The Associated Press -Reuters -Washington Post
all 4,800 news articles »

19:50 (AP)

AP - OAS chief says Honduras' interim government not willing to restore ousted president.

19:21 Mexican elections are referendum on Calderon

Mexican President Felipe Calderon will wake up a lame duck Monday. How lame will depend largely on nationwide midterm elections Sunday.

19:17 North Korea 'tests more missiles' - BBC News

Straits Times

North Korea 'tests more missiles'
BBC News
North Korea has tested three short-range missiles, South Korean media say, as concern mounts in the region that a long-range test could be days away. It test-fired other missiles earlier this week and has incurred fresh UN sanctions since holding a ...
North Korea fires Scud missiles: reportReuters
NKorea test-fires two missiles: defence ministryAFP
S. Korean report: N. Korea test-fires 2 long-range missilesJerusalem Post
CNN International -Telegraph.co.uk -The Associated Press
all 2,744 news articles »

19:06 Madonna plans Jackson tribute at London show: report (AFP)

AFP - Madonna will perform a special tribute to Michael Jackson during her London show on Saturday, at the venue where he was due to stage his farewell shows, she said in a newspaper interview.

18:32 Kenya sets new tribunal deadline

Kenya and the ICC agree a new deadline to set up a special tribunal to try the ringleaders of post-election violence.

18:19 Serbia jails Muslim 'terrorists'

Twelve alleged Serbian Muslim radicals are jailed for up to 13 years for plotting terrorist attacks on an imam and others.

17:36 West meets East

UK teenagers take up Japan's fashion rebellion

17:30 US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,322 (AP)

AP - As of Friday, July 3, 2009, at least 4,322 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

17:13 Alaska Governor Palin to resign

Republican ex-vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin is to quit as Alaska governor amid speculation about a possible presidential bid.

16:47 Russia 'agrees US troop transit'

An Obama administration official says Russia has agreed to let US troops bound for Afghanistan fly through its airspace.

16:45 3 kids among 6 killed in London high-rise fire

Six people were killed, including three children, when a fire broke out in a high-rise apartment building in south London on Friday, officials said. The fire started on the fourth floor, eventually engulfing 12 floors and gutting apartments along the way.

16:28 African Union in rift with court

The African Union halts co-operation with the International Criminal Court over its war-crimes charges against Sudan's leader.

16:20 U.S. and Russia: The Talk Starts Here (Time.com)

Time.com - U.S. and Russia: The Talk Starts Here

15:52 Centre discusses ruling on gay sex - Hindu

BBC News

Centre discusses ruling on gay sex
Hindu
NEW DELHI: The Union government on Friday held a meeting to discuss and analyse the Delhi High Court judgment on decriminalising same gender sex. The meeting was attended by Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Law Minister Veerappa Moily and Health and ...
India gay ruling boosts AIDS fight but stigma lingersReuters India
India media hails gay sex rulingBBC News
Is hc's gay ruling applicable to all states?Times of India
Globe and Mail -The Associated Press -AFP
all 888 news articles »

15:28 'Iran trial' for UK embassy staff

Some of the British embassy staff arrested in Iran for "inciting protests" will be put on trial, a top cleric says.

15:20 Does the E.U.'s Airline Blacklist Make Flying Safer? (Time.com)

Time.com - In the wake of the Yemenia Airways crash that killed 152 on Tuesday, the E.U. considers putting the airline on its safety standards blacklist. But will that keep air travelers safe in the skies?

14:16 France threatens blacklist for Yemenia over crash - AFP

Brisbane Times

France threatens blacklist for Yemenia over crash
AFP
PARIS (AFP) — France warned Yemenia Airways on Friday it must make "very big efforts" to avoid being blacklisted in Europe following the Airbus crash off the Comoros. Facing protests from France's large Comoran community, President Nicolas Sarkozy ...
Comoros Airbus survivor told of her mother's deathTimes Online
Comoros crash survivor returns to family in ParisThe Associated Press
Sole survivor clung to wreckage for 13 hoursInquirer.net
Xinhua -BBC News -Telegraph.co.uk
all 5,960 news articles »

14:13 Marines targeting Taliban in Afghan push

U.S. Marines on Friday continued to lead a major push against militants in southern Afghanistan in an attempt to rout the Taliban from their stronghold in Helmand province, Marine Capt. William Pelletier said.

13:55 Around the horn

So what exactly does the cuckold sign mean?

13:25 Video: Honduran protester bus tires shot out

Honduran soldiers shot out the tires of buses headed for a demonstration in support of ousted President Jose Manuel Zelaya, a video obtained by CNN shows.

13:18 Jackson tickets via internet draw

Tickets for a memorial service for Michael Jackson in Los Angeles will be made available via the internet, organisers reveal.

12:51 Biden's visit to Iraq raises questions about Iraq's future (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - BAGHDAD Vice President Joe Biden's surprise two-day visit this weekend to Iraq was meant to "re-establish contact" with leaders here, but some Iraqis bristled at the messenger more than the message.

11:44 Murray suffers semi-final misery

Britain's long wait for a men's finalist at Wimbledon goes on after Andy Murray loses a nail-biting semi-final against an inspired Andy Roddick in four sets.

11:17 Analysis: Air France crash mystery deepens

If there was ever any question over the importance of finding the black boxes from Air France flight 447 then there is certainly none now.

11:04 Mass arrests

Concern grows over fate of Iranian protesters

11:02 Custody battle

Legal wrangles may lie ahead over Jackson's children

10:46 Canada, U.S. unemployment expected to rise (Reuters)

Reuters - The jobless rate in Canada and the United States will continue to rise, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Friday.

10:41 Danger zone

BBC visits Somalia's radical guerrillas al-Shabab

10:26 Deadly military crash in Pakistan

Up to 26 Pakistani soldiers are feared dead after an army transport helicopter crashes in a tribal region, officials say.

10:10 Putin urges Obama to scrap shield

Russian PM Vladimir Putin urges the US to shelve its missile defence shield, as Barack Obama prepares to visit Moscow.

09:54 Top-ranking British soldier killed in Afghanistan

The commander of a British regiment has become the country's highest ranking soldier to be killed in action since 1982's Falklands War after a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan.

09:46 Month mourning for Comoros crash

The Comoros will mourn the victims of this week's plane crash for 30 days, the president of Indian Ocean nation announces.

08:58 Rai star jailed for abortion bid

Algerian Rai music star Cheb Mami is jailed for five years in France for trying to force his former partner to have an abortion.

08:30 Europe nears gas pipeline accord

Five European governments are due to sign an agreement on 13 July for a major new pipeline from Central Asia.

08:16 Federer eases into seventh final

Roger Federer beats Tommy Haas in straight sets to reach a seventh consecutive Wimbledon final and close in on a record 15th Grand Slam title.

07:09 Zakaria: Iran regime a 'naked dictatorship'

Three leading Iranian reformists who have rejected the results of last month's election questioned the legitimacy of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government Wednesday.

06:40 Demjanjuk cleared to stand trial

The alleged Nazi war criminal John Demjanjuk is declared fit enough to stand trial in Germany.

05:49 Inside Opus Dei

Influential Catholic group lifts veil on its activities

05:26 Australian dinosaur that lived 98M years ago found (AP)

AP - Scientists have confirmed for the first time that Australia was once home to a dinosaur that was big, fast and terrifying, and they've named it like something from an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Meet the Australovenator.

05:23 Gaza girl killed in border clash

A 17-year-old Palestinian girl has been killed in Gaza by Israeli fire in a clash with Palestinian militants near the border.

05:01 Japan rethinks silent hybrid cars

Japan considers adding noise-making devices to quiet hybrid cars to improve safety for blind pedestrians.

03:57 North Korea launches beer advert

North Korea launches television adverts for a beer, in a rare commercial move for the resolutely communist nation.

03:57 Are you worried about swine flu?

The UNs top health official has said the worldwide spread of swine flu is now unstoppable. Are you concerned?

03:23 Gaza girl killed in border clash - BBC News

Times Online

Gaza girl killed in border clash
BBC News
After initial denials, Israeli army officials said the girl was killed by Israeli troops during a clash with Palestinian militants on Thursday. Reports say that two others were injured in the exchange in central Gaza near the Israeli border. ...
Israel mulling easing Gaza embargo, report saysThe Associated Press
Activists Held by Israel for Trying to Break Gaza BlockadeNew York Times
Israel worries over intense 'legal war'Jerusalem Post
Reuters -Ynetnews -AFP
all 2,168 news articles »

01:49 Pakistan's education battleground

A lack of government schools and teachers means more and more children in Pakistan are being taught at madrassas.

01:06 Pakistan: Suspected U.S. drone attack kills 15

A suspected U.S. drone attack killed at least 15 people in northwest Pakistan Friday morning, Pakistani officials said.

Thu 02 July, 2009

22:59 India media hails gay sex ruling

The Indian media welcomes a ruling by a Delhi court decriminalising homosexuality in the country.

22:48 New dinosaurs found in Australia

Three new dinosaur species are found in Queensland, Australia, and named after the Outback song Waltzing Matilda.

21:00 WHO warns swine flu 'unstoppable'