| 20 Aug 08 |
AP - French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited a military chapel in Kabul on Wednesday where the bodies of 10 French soldiers killed in battle lay before they were to be flown home.
AP - British oil company BP PLC said that testing will begin Wednesday on the closed Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which runs through conflict-stricken Georgia, ahead of a move to restart full operations as early as next week.
AFP - Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change said Wednesday it had not consented to the reconvening of parliament, claiming it could jeopardise talks to resolve the country's political crisis.
AP - A convoy of badly needed food aid for beleaguered Georgians rumbled through a Russian checkpoint Wednesday, waved through by soldiers who themselves showed no signs of fulfilling their president's promise of a pullback within two days.
AFP - Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed sadness Wednesday over the killing of 10 French soldiers, saying after talks with his French counterpart that the fight against extremists needed more attention.
 BBC News | Philippines: Peace deal to be renegotiated The Associated Press - KAUSWAGAN, Philippines (AP) - The beleaguered Philippine peace process was thrown into disarray Wednesday, with the government saying a proposed deal with Muslim rebels must be renegotiated after the guerrillas shot or hacked 37 people to death. Philippines: peace deal to be renegotiated Separatist leader calls for stop to hostilities in Philippines |
AP - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Polish counterpart signed a deal Wednesday to build a U.S. missile defense base in Poland, an agreement that prompted an infuriated Russia to warn of a possible attack against the former Soviet satellite.
AP - Sudan's indicted president denied Wednesday that his regime is orchestrating genocide in the troubled western region of Darfur and offered hope for an end to the violence and the dawn of reconciliation by promising free and fair elections next year.
 Sydney Morning Herald | Customers warned after iPods catch fire in Japan Times Online - Consumers were warned about the possibility of their iPods overheating yesterday after Japanese authorities reported three incidents of the devices catching fire. Japan reports scorching Ipods Apple says older iPods have battery problem |
 WELT ONLINE | Mugabe now has support, claims Harare Daily Nation - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe listens during the summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Johannesburg at the weekend. Zimbabwe's MDC Won't Support Any Mugabe-Appointed Cabinet Zimbabwe parliament to reconvene |
 Times Online | US and Poland sign missile shield deal Reuters - WARSAW (Reuters) - The United States and Poland formally signed a deal on Wednesday to station elements of US missile defense on Polish soil, a move rising Russia-West tensions over Moscow's intervention in Georgia. Video: Conflict in Georgia changes Poland's mood Poland, US to Sign Missile Agreement |
 Vancouver Sun | Moscow's NATO envoy says cooperation still on track RIA Novosti - BRUSSELS, August 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia-NATO cooperation is not at risk and it would be wrong to scale down the strategic partnership between Russia and the West amid global instability, Moscow's envoy to the military alliance has said. Russia rejects UN call to pull out of Georgia Dialogue with Russia Is the Only Choice |
Sarkozy vows to keep French troops in Afghanistan guardian.co.uk - Nicolas Sarkozy made a brief visit to Afghanistan today following the French army's worst loss of life by enemy attack in a quarter of a century. Video: Insurgents Launch Brazen Attacks in Afghanistan Sarkozy visits Kabul after French soldiers killed |
 AFP | Malaysian tanker hijacked off Somali coast Radio Australia - A Malaysian tanker has been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden near Somalian waters, the latest in a wave of attacks in the region. The tanker, laden with palm oil, was heading towards Rotterdam from the Indonesian island of Sumatra with a crew including 29 ... Another Pirate Attack Off Somalia UPDATE 1-Pirates seize Malaysia palm oil tanker off Somalia |
 BBC News | US falters on NATO's failure Asia Times Online - By Kaveh L Afrasiabi United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is supposedly a specialist on Russia, yet one would not know that by looking at her triumphal statement that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will defeat Russian aims ... Opinion: USA, EU Must Take Russia Seriously In Europe, as in Asia, Nato leaves a trail of catastrophe |
AP - Lebanon's prime minister traveled to Baghdad on Wednesday in only the third such visit by a top Arab leader since the U.S.-led invasion five and a half years ago.
 BBC News | Former Thai PM to seek asylum in Britain Reuters UK - BANGKOK (Reuters) - Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who skipped bail last week and flew to London, plans to seek political asylum in Britain, his lawyer said on Wednesday. Thaksin takes legal action against PAD Thaksin to seek political asylum in Britain: lawyer |
AP - Twin car bombings rocked a hotel and military headquarters in the Algerian town of Bouira on Wednesday, killing 11 people a day after a suicide bombing in a neighboring region killed 43, official media and witnesses said.
 BBC News | Palestinian reconciliation on agenda of Hamas-Jordan talks Xinhua - GAZA, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A Hamas official on Wednesday said internal Palestinian reconciliation were the main subject of the new talks between his movement and Jordan. Israel shuts Gaza crossings after rocket attack Israel shuts Gaza crossings after rocket attack |
ALGIERS (Reuters) - Two car bombs in Algeria killed at least 11 people on Wednesday, the day after an attack that left 43 dead at a military academy, the Algerian press agency APS said quoting the Interior Ministry.
KABUL (Reuters) - President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday he did not regret sending 700 more troops to Afghanistan this year, after insurgents killed 10 French soldiers, the biggest single loss for foreign forces in Afghan combat since 2001.
VERKHNY ZARAMAG, Russia (Reuters) - A Russian military column crossed from Georgia back into Russia on Wednesday after Western governments raised pressure for a quick and full pullout under an international ceasefire deal.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Five American blogger-activists and a foreign artist have been detained in Beijing as the government intensifies a crackdown on pro-Tibetan protests in the home stretch of the Olympics, rights groups said on Wednesday.
 AFP | Egypt investigates parliament fire International Herald Tribune - AP CAIRO, Egypt: Columns of thin smoke are still rising from the upper house of the Egyptian parliament - more than 18 hours after a fire broke out in the 19th century building. Egypt fireman dies after Senate blaze Egypt's parliament hit by blaze |
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Deadlock between Pakistan's coalition partners over the restoration of deposed judges has raised questions about the survival of the government that forced President Pervez Musharraf's resignation.
 ABC News | Bombings in Algeria Kill 11 New York Times - By STEVEN ERLANGER PARIS - Two car bombs killed at least 11 people and wounded 31 others on Wednesday in the Algerian town of Bouira, a day after a suicide bombing killed 43 people and wounded 45 others in a neighboring region, according to the ... Fresh concern arises over Algerian security after suicide attack 11 dead as car bombs hit Algerian military base, hotel |
 Voice of America | Sudan's president: Darfur genocide 'nonexistent' International Herald Tribune - AP ISTANBUL, Turkey: Sudan's president denies that his regime is orchestrating genocide in the troubled western region of Darfur. Beshir says no Sudanese will ever be tried abroad Turkey urges Sudan to end Darfur suffering |
 BBC News | Musharraf resigns: Pakistanis react BBC News - After Pervez Musharraf resigned as president of Pakistan after nine years in power, Pakistanis reflect on his legacy and their expectations for the future. Zardari backed for Pakistan president Pakistani Parties Clash Over Reinstating Judge |
 The Associated Press | Food aid sent in to suffering Georgian area The Associated Press - IGOETI, Georgia (AP) - A convoy of badly needed food aid for beleaguered Georgians rumbled through a Russian checkpoint Wednesday, waved through by soldiers who themselves showed no signs of fulfilling their president's promise of a pullback within two ... Video: Despite Truce, Prisoners Taken in Georgia Russians transport blindfolded Georgian prisoners |
AP - An 86-year-old man accused of killing a Jewish teenager in Hungary during World War II can be extradited to Hungary to face charges, an Australian judge found Wednesday.
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains left some 50,000 people homeless in India's remote northeast, officials said on Wednesday, warning of more rains in one of the country's most flood-prone regions.
 Wall Street Journal | State Council cannot convene Parliament: Mauritanian top legislator Xinhua - DAKAR, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Messoud Ould Boulkheir, President of Mauritanian National Assembly, said the convening of an extraordinary session of Parliament by the State Council, scheduled for Wednesday, is "juridically invalid," news reaching here said ... Mauritania junta tightens grip on media - critics UNSC condemns military takeover of Mauritanian govt |
TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) - A earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.5 jolted eastern Japan on Wednesday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
 Telegraph.co.uk | Resilient storm Fay could hit Florida a third time Reuters UK - By Jane Sutton MIAMI, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Fay swept into Florida from the Gulf of Mexico and soaked the state on Tuesday while growing strong enough that forecasters said it could become a hurricane before smacking Florida a third time. Video: Fay May Flood Key West Tropical Storm May Strengthen After Crossing Florida (Update3) |
CANBERRA (Reuters) - An alleged World War Two war criminal living in Australia was eligible for extradition to Hungary to face justice, an Australian court ruled on Wednesday.
 Washington Post | Pakistan bombing toll rises to 30: police AFP - PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) - The death toll from a suicide blast in northwest Pakistan has risen to 30 following the deaths of seven more people in hospital overnight, police said Wednesday. Blast highlights Pakistan tensions Cracks in Pakistan coalition day after Musharraf quits |
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Guinness World Records has returned the title of world's tallest man to China's Bao Xishun after Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk refused to be measured under new guidelines.
BEIJING (Reuters) - An earthquake hit southwest China on Wednesday, knocking down houses and forcing around 1,200 people to evacuate from near the site of a devastating quake which killed at least 70,000 people in May, state media said.
 Telegraph.co.uk | Obama Ready to Announce Running Mate New York Times - Senator Barack Obama at a campaign event Monday in Albuquerque. Mr. Obama could announce his choice for running mate as early as Wednesday. Obama to announce running mate Obama To Announce His VP Choice Very Soon |
 GulfNews | Saudi Arabia denies plane in Pakistan Pakistan Dawn - By Syed Rashid Husain RIYADH, Aug 19: Saudi Arabia has denied it has a plane waiting at Islamabad airport to take former President Pervez Musharraf to the kingdom, a press report said on Tuesday amid speculations that Riyadh could offer him asylum. US says will consider any asylum bid by Musharraf Musharraf denies reports of leaving Pakistan |
AP - Paraguay's new president is replacing the nation's police commander four days into the new administration.