FACTBOX - Flashpoint Jerusalem site sacred to religions

FACTBOX - Flashpoint Jerusalem site sacred to religions


FACTBOX - Flashpoint Jerusalem site sacred to religions

Posted: 25 Oct 2009 01:06 AM PDT

The clashes came amid rising tensions in the past weeks over the area known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif or Noble Sanctuary, site of the mosque and the Dome of the Rock, one of Islam's holiest sites.


Q+A - What is Australia's Asia-Pacific idea all about?

Posted: 25 Oct 2009 01:06 AM PDT

HUA HIN, Thailand (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will press his idea of an Asia Pacific community when he meets his Asian counterparts on Sunday.


U.N. experts in Iran to inspect new nuclear site

Posted: 25 Oct 2009 12:36 AM PDT

TEHRAN (Reuters) - U.N. inspectors have arrived in Iran to examine a nuclear site that has heightened Western fears of a covert programme to develop atomic bombs, an accusation the Islamic Republic rejects.


China confident Myanmar will keep peace on its border

Posted: 25 Oct 2009 12:36 AM PDT

HUA HIN, Thailand (Reuters) - China's premier is confident Myanmar will safeguard peace on its border, Chinese state media said on Sunday after violence erupted on the Myanmar side in August that pushed thousands of refugees into China.


Israeli police, Arabs clash near Jerusalem mosque

Posted: 25 Oct 2009 12:07 AM PDT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli police and Arab worshippers clashed near Jerusalem's flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque in the Old City on Sunday and several people were arrested, an Israeli police spokesman and Palestinian officials said.


S.Korea to announce food aid plan for North - Yonhap

Posted: 25 Oct 2009 12:07 AM PDT

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea plans to announce this week a plan to resume humanitarian food aid for the impoverished North Korea, Seoul's Yonhap News reported on Sunday.


S.Korea urges Asia to support new N.Korea proposal

Posted: 25 Oct 2009 12:07 AM PDT

HUA HIN, Thailand, Oct 25 (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak urged Asia-Pacific leaders on Sunday to support a new diplomatic approach to pressuring North Korea into ending its nuclear arms programme in return for massive aid.


S.Korea nuclear power unit resumes operation-Yonhap

Posted: 25 Oct 2009 12:07 AM PDT

SEOUL (Reuters) - A power generation unit at a South Korean nuclear power plant has resumed operations after a one-day shutdown due to technical problems, Yonhap News reported on Sunday.


US declares swine flu 'emergency'

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:03 PM PDT

President Obama has declared H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, in a move to help medical teams handle the outbreak.


Nuclear inspectors arrive in Iran

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:02 PM PDT

International nuclear inspectors have arrived in Iran to visit a secret nuclear plant, which was disclosed by the Iranians last month.


Deadly train collision in Egypt

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:27 PM PDT

At least 25 people have been killed after two passenger trains collided in the Giza district of the Egyptian capital Cairo.


Obama declares swine flu a national emergency

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:35 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama has declared 2009 H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, the White House said on Saturday.


Obama calls Sarkozy, Medvedev on Iran nuclear plan

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:35 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama called Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday to consult on Iran's nuclear program, the White House said.


Taliban threaten Afghan run-off vote, urge boycott

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:35 PM PDT

KABUL (Reuters) - The Taliban called on Afghans on Saturday to boycott next month's presidential election run-off and vowed to disrupt voting in a repeat of their threat to derail the disputed first round.


Fewer Britons calling for Afghanistan troop withdrawal - poll

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:35 PM PDT

By Avril Ormsby


U.S. diplomat meets N.Korean official in New York

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:35 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. diplomat met on Saturday with North Korea's second-ranking official involved in stalled six-country nuclear negotiations, a move that could be a step towards reconvening the talks.


NY Mayor Bloomberg now biggest US political spender

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:35 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent more of his own money in pursuit of public office than any other individual in U.S. history, spending $85 million as of Friday on his latest re-election campaign, the New York Times reported on Saturday.


Winds shift as fire burns Puerto Rican oil depot

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 08:35 PM PDT

SAN JUAN (Reuters) - Firefighters made progress in containing a raging fire at an oil storage depot in Puerto Rico, but shifting winds threatened to bring the toxic smoke closer to populated areas, officials warned on Saturday.


Egyptian passenger trains collide, at least 15 dead

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 08:35 PM PDT

CAIRO (Reuters) - Two Egyptian passenger trains collided on Saturday south of Cairo, killing at least 15 people and leaving passengers trapped in wreckage, security sources said.


President set for re-election as Tunisians vote

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 08:35 PM PDT

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisians vote on Sunday in a election almost certain to hand a new term to President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, the 73-year-old who has run the North African country for over two decades.


US declares swine flu 'emergency'

US declares swine flu 'emergency'


US declares swine flu 'emergency'

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:03 PM PDT

President Obama has declared H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, in a move to help medical teams handle the outbreak.


Nuclear inspectors arrive in Iran

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:02 PM PDT

International nuclear inspectors have arrived in Iran to visit a secret nuclear plant, which was disclosed by the Iranians last month.


Deadly train collision in Egypt

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:27 PM PDT

At least 25 people have been killed after two passenger trains collided in the Giza district of the Egyptian capital Cairo.


Tunisia holds presidential election

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 10:37 PM PDT

Incumbent Ben Ali, who has been in power for 22 years, likely to win fifth term.


Protesters demand UK pullout from Afghanistan

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 08:15 AM PDT

LONDON - Protesters marched through London on Saturday to demand a British military withdrawal from Afghanistan -- among them a serving soldier facing court martial for refusing a second tour of duty there.

Read more...


Tunisia's president likely to get 5th term (AP)

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 10:05 PM PDT

Tunisian walk past electoral posters of three officially approved candidates, from left to right, Ahmed Brahim, Ahmed Inoubli, and Muhamed Bouchiha with President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, at right, in Tunis, Saturday Oct. 2009 at the eve of presidential and legislative elections. Ben Ali, in place since a bloodless palace coup in 1987, seems assured of a landslide victory in Sunday's presidential re-election. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)AP - Tunisia's president was expected to achieve another landslide victory in elections Sunday despite timid measures by authorities to let the nascent opposition have its say.



NFL star Brady follows Beckham's footsteps at Wembley (AFP)

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 10:11 PM PDT

Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is seen from the sidelines during their game against the Denver Broncos on October 11, in Denver, Colorado. Brady's Patriots, Superbowl champions three times this decade, will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in front of an expected crowd of around 65,000 at Wembley this weekend.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Doug Pensinger)AFP - Wembley fans more accustomed to going wild at the sight of David Beckham will get a chance on Sunday to admire the skills of an NFL star often compared to English's football favourite son.



For Zimbabwe's deportees, shame at empty-handed return (AFP)

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:53 PM PDT

Zimbabweans deported from Botswana wait at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) center at the Plumtree border post. The center feeds the deportees and provides them with transport to their homes. A year after Zimbabwe's three main political parties signed a power sharing deal, Zimbabweans are still skipping in search of better lives in neighbouring countries.(AFP/File/Desmond Kwande)AFP - Onias was 16 years old when he ran away from his home in rural Zimbabwe. Schools were shuttered and his village had run out of food. But after his mother died, leaving him an orphan, he set out on his own.



US declares swine flu 'emergency'

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:03 PM PDT

President Obama has declared H1N1 swine flu a national emergency, in a move to help medical teams handle the outbreak.


Nuclear inspectors arrive in Iran

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:02 PM PDT

International nuclear inspectors have arrived in Iran to visit a secret nuclear plant, which was disclosed by the Iranians last month.


Deadly train collision in Egypt

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:27 PM PDT

At least 25 people have been killed after two passenger trains collided in the Giza district of the Egyptian capital Cairo.


Pakistani army takes Taliban chief's hometown (AP)

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:43 PM PDT

A Pakistani soldier aims his RPG during a battle between Pakistani security forces and Taliban in the South Waziristan region in this image taken from a video grab released by the Pakistani military on October 21, 2009. REUTERS/Pakistan Government/Handout via Reuters TVAP - The army claimed Pakistan's Taliban were in disarray after soldiers captured the hometown of the militants' chief Saturday, a strategic prize as the military pushes deeper into an insurgent stronghold along the Afghan border.



Liverpool 'beach ball boy' says sorry (AFP)

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:37 PM PDT

Sunderland's English forward Darren Bent (right) shoots and his shot hits a red beach-ball and deflects into the net for the only goal of the Premier League football match between Sunderland and Liverpool at The Stadium of Light, in Sunderland, north-east England, on October 17. Teenager who caused one of the oddest goals in English football history has come out to apologise.(AFP/File/Andrew Yates)AFP - A teenage Liverpool fan who caused one of the oddest goals in English football history came out of hiding Sunday to apologise profusely for belting a beach ball onto the pitch.



Asian leaders to pledge EU-style bloc (AFP)

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:39 PM PDT

A woman carries goods through a border post that separates China from Vietnam. Asian leaders will pledge to overcome their differences and push towards the formation of an EU-style community as they wrap up an annual summit in Thailand on Sunday.(AFP/Hoang Dinh Nam)AFP - Asian leaders will pledge to overcome their differences and push towards the formation of an EU-style community as they wrap up an annual summit in Thailand on Sunday.



Suicide bomber in car kills Pakistani policeman

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 02:25 PM PDT

ISLAMABAD - A suicide bomber blew up his explosives-filled car on a Pakistani motorway early Sunday, killing a patrol officer, the chief of motorway police said.

Read more...


US, France, Russia pledge support for Iran nuclear deal

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 01:04 PM PDT

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama spoke with his Russian and French counterparts Saturday, rallying support for a deal to end the crisis over Iran's nuclear program, as they urged Tehran to accept the offer.

Read more...


Russia, US aim for nuclear arms

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 11:46 AM PDT

MOSCOW - Russia and the United States hope to have a legally binding document renewing a key agreement on limiting their nuclear arsenals by the beginning of December, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

Read more...


Turkish PM sees 'crisis of confidence' with Kurds

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 09:19 AM PDT

ANKARA - Turkey's efforts to reconcile with its Kurds have been hit by a "crisis of confidence" after freed separatist rebels were given a hero's welcome, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying Saturday.

Read more...


Obama declares swine flu emergency

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 08:21 AM PDT

altWASHINGTON President Barack Obama has declared swine flu a "national emergency," the White House said Saturday, as the United States reels from millions of cases of infection and over 1,000 deaths.

Read more...


Balloon boy's mother admits hoax

Posted: 24 Oct 2009 08:11 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES - The mother of the Colorado boy once feared missing aboard a runaway helium balloon has admitted to investigators that the saga that gripped much of the United States was a hoax, court records showed.

Read more...