Filipinos know little about automated voting - poll

Filipinos know little about automated voting - poll


Filipinos know little about automated voting - poll

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 11:31 PM PST

MANILA (Reuters) - A large majority of Filipinos knows little or nothing about automated elections barely four months before the Philippines uses the system for the first time, an opinion poll issued on Wednesday showed.


Astronauts open shutters on space station viewport

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 11:31 PM PST

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Astronauts ventured outside the International Space Station on Tuesday to put the finishing touches to an observation deck that gives residents a panoramic view of the Earth below.


Kenya PM says confident coalition rift can be solved

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 11:31 PM PST

TOKYO (Reuters) - Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga said on Wednesday he was confident that the main partners of the ruling coalition would find a way to end a rift over graft allegations in east Africa's biggest economy.


Russia says technical issues delay Iran arms deal

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 11:31 PM PST

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian arms export official said on Wednesday the delivery of an air defence system to Iran had been delayed because of technical problems, Interfax news agency reported.


Syria's new dialogue with the US

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:43 PM PST

US President Barack Obama has formally nominated career diplomat Robert Ford as the first American ambassador to Syria in five years.


Spanish PM on economy strategy

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:34 PM PST

Spain's Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, is due to address parliament on the country's economic strategy later.


U.S. warship on schedule in Hong Kong despite China tension

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:31 PM PST

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz sailed into Hong Kong on schedule on Wednesday despite a Chinese pledge to suspend military exchanges with the United States after its announced arms sales to Taiwan.


U.S. carrier arrives in Hong Kong amid China tensions

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 08:05 PM PST

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz sailed into Hong Kong on Wednesday despite a Chinese pledge to suspend military exchanges with the United States after its pledge of arms sales to Taiwan.


Cluster munitions treaty to enter force this year

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 08:05 PM PST

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - An international treaty banning cluster munitions will come into force later this year after the number of countries to register their ratification reached 30 on Tuesday, the United Nations said.


U.S. carrier arrives in Hong Kong amid China tensions

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 07:30 PM PST

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The USS Nimitz sailed into Hong Kong waters on Wednesday despite a Chinese pledge to suspend military exchanges with the United States after its arms sales to Taiwan.


Cluster munitions treaty to enter force this year

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 07:30 PM PST

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - An international treaty banning cluster munitions will come into force later this year after the number of countries to register their ratification reached 30 on Tuesday, the United Nations said.


U.S. to return envoy to Syria after five-year absence

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 06:02 PM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama took a major step toward improving strained ties with Syria on Tuesday, announcing his intention to reappoint a U.S. ambassador to Damascus after a five-year absence.


Bomb explodes outside JP Morgan Athens, none hurt

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 04:43 PM PST

ATHENS (Reuters) - A bomb exploded on Tuesday outside the Athens offices of JP Morgan, the second largest U.S. bank by assets, causing minor damage and no injuries, police and the company said.


U.S. to return envoy to Syria after five-year absence

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 04:43 PM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama took a major step toward improving strained ties with Syria on Tuesday, announcing his intention to reappoint a U.S. ambassador to Damascus after a five-year absence.


Obama steps up nuclear investment for climate fight

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 03:09 PM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama announced $8.3 billion in loan guarantees on Tuesday to build the first U.S. nuclear power plant in nearly three decades, a move designed to help advance climate legislation in Congress.


US turns to nuclear power

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 02:39 PM PST

President Barack Obama has announced more than $8bn (£5bn) of federal loan guarantees to help build the first US nuclear power stations for 30 years.


Taliban chief's capture seen as start, more needed

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 02:42 PM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The capture of the Taliban's top military commander in Pakistan followed months of behind-the-scenes prodding by U.S. officials who saw inaction by Islamabad as a major threat to their Afghan war strategy.


U.S. urges clothing companies to buy Haiti apparel

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 02:42 PM PST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. trade official urged clothing manufacturers and retailers on Tuesday to help rebuild Haiti by importing 1 percent of their apparel production from the earthquake-ravaged country.


Iran says will respond to any new sanctions

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 01:36 PM PST

TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday any country that tried to impose new sanctions on Iran would regret its actions, as the United States and Russia voiced shared concern about Tehran's nuclear program.


Lebanon's Hezbollah warns Israel over future war

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 01:36 PM PST

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Tuesday the powerful Shi'ite guerrilla group would hit Israel's Ben Gurion airport if the Jewish state struck Beirut's international airport in any future war.


Drone attack kills 2 in Pakistan

Drone attack kills 2 in Pakistan


Drone attack kills 2 in Pakistan

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:42 PM PST

A drone attack targeting a suspected militant compound killed two people and wounded three others in Pakistan's northwest Wednesday, officials said.


Syria's new dialogue with the US

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:43 PM PST

US President Barack Obama has formally nominated career diplomat Robert Ford as the first American ambassador to Syria in five years.


Spanish PM on economy strategy

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:34 PM PST

Spain's Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, is due to address parliament on the country's economic strategy later.


Taliban armory: Rocks, potshots and drawings (AP)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:27 PM PST

U.S. Army Capt. Michael Kovalsky of Fords, N.J. , 26, of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Stryker Brigade gestures as he sits in his room of an outpost in the Badula Qulp area, West of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010.   (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)AP - The bullet made a zipping, or fizzing sound. American soldiers, relaxing beside their vehicles and backpacks without body armor or helmets, looked around, bewildered. A moment passed. Then another zip, fizz. And another.



Marines link up in Afghan Taliban stronghold (AP)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 08:45 PM PST

A U.S. Marine from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment  peers out from a hole in a wall of a compound in Marjah in Afghanistan's Helmand province on Tuesday Feb. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)AP - Marines moving by land from the north linked up with U.S. units that have faced nearly constant Taliban attack in the four days since they were dropped by helicopter into this insurgent stronghold in southern Afghanistan.



Sumann goes from potty to podium (Reuters)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:27 PM PST

Reuters - Austria's Christoph Sumann took an unlikely route to his first Olympic silver medal on Tuesday, going straight from the potty to the course before claiming a silver medal in the men's 12.5km pursuit.


Pakistan-based group claims India bombing: report (AFP)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:24 PM PST

Residents from the western Indian city of Pune hold a candle lit peace rally in protest against the terror attack on the landmark eatery the German Bakery. A previously unknown Islamist group that said it had splintered from a larger Pakistan-based outfit has claimed responsibility for the weekend bombing, a newspaper reported Wednesday.(AFP/File/Sajjad Hussain)AFP - A previously unknown Islamist group that said it had splintered from a larger Pakistan-based outfit has claimed responsibility for a weekend attack in India, a newspaper reported Wednesday.



Spanish PM on economy strategy

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:34 PM PST

Spain's Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, is due to address parliament on the country's economic strategy later.


Lady Gaga wins big at the Brits

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:42 PM PST

LONDON – Flamboyant US superstar Lady Gaga has scooped three awards at the 30th anniversary edition of the Brits, and dedicated the night to late fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

The eccentric New Yorker was awarded all three prizes she was nominated for, including best international female solo artist and

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Offensive websites face ban

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:27 PM PST

JAKARTA  –  Indonesia is considering proposals to block Internet sites that are deemed to violate "public decency" and privacy, provoking a barrage of criticism from bloggers and web users.

Fresh from a round of film and book bans, the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is now turning its

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U.S. warship on schedule in Hong Kong despite China tension

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:31 PM PST

HONG KONG (Reuters) - The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz sailed into Hong Kong on schedule on Wednesday despite a Chinese pledge to suspend military exchanges with the United States after its announced arms sales to Taiwan.


Mexico leader trusts Cabinet member who left party (AP)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:59 PM PST

AP - Mexican President Felipe Calderon expressed confidence in his interior minister Tuesday despite the official's sudden decision to quit the ruling party.


India arrests 3 over Mumbai attacks lawyer killing (AFP)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:13 PM PST

An Indian soldier prevents people from approaching the The Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai which were attacked on November 29 2008. Three alleged contract killers have been arrested over the murder of a defence lawyer representing one of three men on trial over the attacks, police said.(AFP/File/Pedro Ugarte)AFP - Three alleged contract killers have been arrested over the murder of a defence lawyer representing one of three men on trial over the 2008 Mumbai attacks, police said.



After Taliban Baradar arrest, does Bin Laden matter? (The Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 11:56 AM PST

The Christian Science Monitor - The arrest of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, second within the Afghanistan Taliban only to the group's leader Mullah Omar, near Karachi about ten days ago was the latest sign of growing intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.


US begins probe into Toyota recalls

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:13 PM PST

Transport watchdog begins investigation into car giant's handling of massive car recall.


China in record US debt sell-off

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:06 PM PST

China offloads $34bn in US debt amid increasing concern over ballooning US deficit.


BNP says migrating Hanson 'welcome': report (AFP)

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 09:57 PM PST

Australian former politician Pauline Hanson speaks to reporters in Sylvannia Waters, close to Sydney. Britain's far-right BNP has welcomed news that the controversial Australian is emigrating and offered her the chance to restart her stalled career, a report said on Wednesday.(AFP/File/Greg Wood)AFP - The far-right BNP has welcomed news that controversial Australian politician Pauline Hanson is emigrating and offered her the chance to restart her stalled career, a report said on Wednesday.



Tensions Rise Over Falkland Islands

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 08:28 PM PST

President Cristina Kirchner issued a decree Tuesday requiring any boat carrying goods to the U.K.'s Falkland, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands to obtain the South American country's approval.


Argentina requires permits for ships heading to Falklands

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 06:54 PM PST

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner signed a decree Tuesday requiring all ships navigating from Argentina to the disputed Falkland Islands to carry a government permit.


Iran official: Clinton 'inconsistent'

Posted: 16 Feb 2010 10:49 PM PST

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's policy on Iran is "dubious, inconsistent, and naive," one of Iran's most influential officials declared Tuesday.