FACTBOX - Japan PM's woes on economy, diplomacy and scandal

FACTBOX - Japan PM's woes on economy, diplomacy and scandal
FEATURE - Decrepit London landmark shows property pain
Iranian protester: 'We are not radicals'
U.S. tightens air screening security
Taliban factions compete for bombing credit
Death toll rises to 75 from Brazilian floods
Saudi-Iran frictions at graves revered by Shiites (AP)
Myanmar chief confirms elections to be held 2010 (AP)
Australia floods declared natural disaster (AFP)
South Korea calls on North to search for war dead
25,000 Britain-trained doctors to leave for India (AFP)
Japan PM vows to pursue more equal ties with US (AFP)
Doc censured and fined
GP suspended three months
Jordan spy among 8 killed at CIA Afghan base: report
Powerful quake strikes near Solomon Islands
Dubai to open world's tallest tower
Chinese firms evade U.S. Iran sanctions - report
South Korea calls on North to search for war dead
Oil touches $80 on US economy, demand optimism (AP)

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 10:55 PM PST

REUTERS - Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama faces a range of hurdles including a fragile economy, a feud with key ally Washington over a U.S. military base, and a political funding scandal.

FEATURE - Decrepit London landmark shows property pain

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 10:55 PM PST

LONDON (Reuters) - A gust of wind howls around Battersea Power Station, an industrial wasteland by the Thames whose coal-fired furnaces were once used by the Bank of England to burn millions of pounds worth of banknotes.

Iranian protester: 'We are not radicals'

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 09:06 PM PST

Since June, he has been among thousands to take to the streets of Tehran in support of reform for his country. He says his wish is simple -- a democratic Iran.

U.S. tightens air screening security

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 08:05 PM PST

The Transportation Security Administration announced Sunday new security measures to be implemented by domestic and international air carriers on flights bound for the United States, effective Monday.

Taliban factions compete for bombing credit

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 07:49 PM PST

It was one of the worst blows ever to America's intelligence community -- a suicide bombing that killed seven CIA officers in Afghanistan.

Death toll rises to 75 from Brazilian floods

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 09:39 PM PST

The death toll rose to 75 Sunday on Brazil's southeast coast after three days of torrential rains unleashed a series of deadly mudslides, an emergency official said.

Saudi-Iran frictions at graves revered by Shiites (AP)

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 10:30 PM PST

AP - At the cemetery where the Prophet Muhammad's family is buried, an Iranian Shiite Muslim pilgrim overcome with emotion was jerked by a Saudi soldier, who barked a sharp order: "Stop crying!"

Myanmar chief confirms elections to be held 2010 (AP)

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 10:42 PM PST

AP - Myanmar's ruling junta chief confirmed Monday that the country's first general elections in two decades will be held this year but gave no date for the balloting, expected to exclude pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Australia floods declared natural disaster (AFP)

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 10:25 PM PST

AFP - Australian authorities declared a natural disaster Monday in a southeastern farming town where raging floodwaters forced the evacuation of hundreds of people.

South Korea calls on North to search for war dead

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 10:19 PM PST

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's president proposed a humanitarian project with rival North Korea on Monday under which the two states would cooperate in repatriating remains of tens of thousands of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War.

25,000 Britain-trained doctors to leave for India (AFP)

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 09:43 PM PST

AFP - Nearly 25,000 British doctors of Indian origin are set to emigrate to India within two to four years, a report said Monday quoting a British medical association.

Japan PM vows to pursue more equal ties with US (AFP)

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 09:42 PM PST

AFP - Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama pledged Monday to pursue more equal relations with the United States as Tokyo seeks to defuse a row with its close ally over where to move an American military base.

Doc censured and fined

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 09:35 PM PST

SINGAPORE Dr Zubin Medora, a general practitioner who was suspended from practice for six months last year, has been further censured by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) and fined S$10,000 (RM24,370) over misrepresentation to a patient that he was a fully trained and accredited specialist

GP suspended three months

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 09:26 PM PST

SINGAPORE A general practitioner, who pleaded guilty to seven charges of improper prescription of sleeping pills to his patients and not keeping proper medical records, has been suspended for three months and fined S$1,000 (RM2,470) by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC).

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 07:58 PM PST

WASHINGTON - The eighth man killed in a suicide bomb attack on a secret CIA base in Afghanistan last week was a captain in the Jordanian spy service known as the General Intelligence Department (GID), The Washington Post reported.

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 03:37 PM PST

HONIARA, Solomon Islands -A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands in the western Pacific on Monday, triggering panic but causing no major tsunami, disaster officials said.

Dubai to open world's tallest tower

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 10:24 PM PST

Emirate hopes latest venture will help it rise above last year's debt difficulties.

Chinese firms evade U.S. Iran sanctions - report

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 09:53 PM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Chinese companies accused of selling missile technology to Iran have managed to get around a U.S. trade ban, with millions of dollars worth of goods from these companies shipped to the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.