World News Headlines - Yahoo! News UK

Putin Vows To Fight For Russia At Mass Rally

2012-02-23T13:28:06Z

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has told a mass rally of his supporters that he will not allow foreign powers to interfere in Russia's internal affairs and predicted victory in an on-going battle for its future.

Afghan soldier kills two NATO troops at protests

2012-02-23T13:24:24Z

KABUL (Reuters) - An Afghan soldier joined protests on Thursday against the burning of copies of the Koran at a NATO base and shot dead two foreign troops, Western military sources said, as the Taliban urged security forces to turn their guns on foreigners. Protests against the burning of copies of Islam's most holy book drew thousands of angry Afghans to the streets, chanting "Death to America!" for the third consecutive day in violence that has killed 11 people and wounded many more. ...

Syrian tanks attack in Homs, world outrage grows

2012-02-23T13:20:16Z

AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian tanks pushed into a rebel stronghold in the battered city of Homs Thursday and U.N. investigators accused President Bashar al-Assad's government of crimes against humanity. Rockets, shells and mortar rounds rained on the Baba Amro district, where armed insurgents are holed up with terrified civilians, for the 20th day in a row, activists said. The Sunni Muslim quarters of Inshaat and Khalidiya also came under fire. Homs-based activist Abu Imad said tanks had entered the Jobar area in the south of Baba Amro. "Explosions are shaking the whole of Homs. ...

Romney clawing his way back in Republican race

2012-02-23T13:17:16Z

MESA, Arizona (Reuters) - Mitt Romney is fighting his way back into the driving seat in the Republican presidential race, putting in a strong debate performance in Arizona and gaining in polls against conservative rival Rick Santorum. An aggressive Romney repeatedly put Santorum on the defensive in a CNN debate on Wednesday and attacked the former U.S. senator and staunch social conservative for supporting big-spending government programs. Romney has also battled his way into a slight lead in a new poll in Michigan, which along with Arizona will hold a primary contest on February 28. ...

Iran talks failure sparks confrontation fears

2012-02-23T13:16:45Z

VIENNA/TEHRAN (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest mission to Iran failed to budge a defiant Tehran over its disputed nuclear programme, sending oil prices to a nine-month high over fears of an increasing risk of confrontation with the West. The United States criticised Iran on Wednesday over the collapse of the International Atomic Energy Agency's talks in Tehran, saying it again showed the Islamic Republic's refusal to abide by international obligations over its nuclear programme. ...

Philippines' Arroyo pleads not guilty to vote fraud

2012-02-23T12:57:24Z

A smiling ex-Philippine president Gloria Arroyo pleaded not guilty Thursday to rigging an election, denouncing the charge that could see her jailed for life as part of a relentless vilification campaign.

Syria Rejects Blame For Journalist Deaths

2012-02-23T12:57:06Z

The Syrian government has denied responsibility for the deaths of the two foreign journalists killed in Homs, as Foreign Secretary William Hague ruled out the possibility of military intervention.

Major fire at Myanmar refugee camp in Thailand

2012-02-23T12:54:40Z

A huge fire swept through a crowded Thai border camp home to thousands of refugees from neighbouring Myanmar on Thursday, destroying hundreds of homes, the authorities said.

Seeking presidency, Putin evokes 1812

2012-02-23T12:51:11Z

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin evoked Russia's historic 1812 victory over Napoleon Bonaparte on Thursday in a patriotic speech to tens of thousands of people intended to show he has real support and counter opposition protests ahead of presidential elections. Addressing his supporters in a Moscow sports stadium, the prime minister recalled some of Russia's finest military victories citing a poem about a decisive 1812 battle against Napoleon and promised to win another key battle: "the battle for Russia's future. ...

Indonesia evacuates foreigners, women from Bali jail

2012-02-23T12:39:31Z

Indonesian authorities on Thursday began evacuating foreigners and women from a jail on the resort island of Bali after rioting inmates retook control triggering a tense stand-off.

US, North Korea hold first talks since Kim's death

2012-02-23T12:37:31Z

A senior US diplomat said Thursday he had held "serious and substantive" talks with North Korea's nuclear envoy in Beijing, the first such contact between the two nations since leader Kim Jong-Il died.

Afghan soldier kills NATO troops amid violent protests

2012-02-23T12:37:24Z

An Afghan soldier shot dead two NATO troops on Thursday as violent anti-US protests over the burning of copies of the Koran swept the country for a third day.

Putin issues battle-cry ahead of Russia polls

2012-02-23T12:35:48Z

Russian strongman Vladimir Putin on Thursday issued a battle-cry to tens of thousands of supporters packing Moscow's largest sports stadium as he predicted victory in next month's presidential election.

Iraq attacks kill 60, raise sectarian fears

2012-02-23T12:30:09Z

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Simultaneous early morning attacks on mostly Shi'ite targets across Iraq killed at least 60 people and wounded dozens on Thursday in one of the bloodiest days of violence since U.S. troops pulled out in mid-December. The attacks that appeared to pitch al Qaeda-linked Sunni Muslim insurgents against Shi'ites raised fears of a return to the widespread sectarian carnage that tore Iraq apart and cost thousands of lives in 2006 and 2007. ...

Iran starts parliamentary election campaign

2012-02-23T12:17:13Z

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's week-long parliamentary election campaign began on Thursday, the official IRNA news agency said, a vote likely to highlight the popularity of the clerical establishment as it stands firm against Western pressure to curb its nuclear work. It is shaping up as a contest among clerical and political conservatives on March 2, the first nationwide vote since the disputed 2009 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that sparked eight months of unrest and a crushing state response. ...

'Qaeda' attacks kill 39, wound over 250 in Iraq

2012-02-23T11:46:47Z

A wave of attacks blamed on Al-Qaeda killed at least 39 people on Thursday, in what Iraq's parliament speaker said was an attempt to derail an Arab League summit planned for the end of March.

MEP Arrested Over European Parliament 'Fraud'

2012-02-23T11:42:09Z

A British MEP has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud the European Parliament.

U.S. envoy calls North Korea talks "substantive"

2012-02-23T11:29:46Z

BEIJING (Reuters) - The U.S. envoy for the North Korean nuclear dispute said talks with Pyongyang's lead negotiator on Thursday were "serious and substantive" and would continue the next day but analysts have said no major breakthrough is expected. The talks in Beijing between U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies and North Korean envoy Kim Kye-gwan are the Obama administration's latest effort to gauge whether Pyongyang's new leadership is willing to curb its nuclear activities and return to disarmament negotiations. ...

Iraq: Dozens Killed In Wave Of Terror Attacks

2012-02-23T11:22:11Z

At least 50 people have been killed and hundreds injured in a wave of apparently co-ordinated shootings and bombings across Iraq.

Syria forces launch 'terrifying' bombardment of Homs

2012-02-23T11:18:00Z

Syrian forces launched a massive bombardment of rebel districts of Homs on Thursday, defying a world outcry over the killing of two Western journalists and a citizen reporter who were among the few to bear witness of the civilian toll.

US Republican rivals clash in crucial TV debate

2012-02-23T10:08:40Z

Surging Republican hopeful Rick Santorum came under sustained fire from US presidential rivals, including struggling frontrunner Mitt Romney, in a fierce debate ahead of key upcoming polls.

Cyclists risk life and limb to beat Jakarta jams

2012-02-23T09:54:54Z

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Traffic in Indonesia's capital snarls so badly during rush hour that even motorbikes face gridlock and to get ahead a group of commuters have taken up an extreme sport: cycling to work. Their logic is simple. It makes more sense to inhale the fumes and risk being flattened by a vehicle than it does to sit in a car or a taxi for hours going nowhere fast. The professionals who belong to the Bike 2 Work club have another motivation: in a city in which cars, motorbikes, taxis, buses and trains are the main transport options, cycling is a cooler alternative. ...

Australian PM calls leadership ballot

2012-02-23T09:52:33Z

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday called a ballot on the leadership of the ruling Labor party, bringing to a head an increasingly bitter and ugly row with her predecessor Kevin Rudd.

Tempers Fray As Romney And Santorum Clash

2012-02-23T09:34:38Z

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum clashed on stage in Arizona during what could be one of the final debates of the Republican nomination battle.

Argentina reels after 50 killed in train crash

2012-02-23T09:26:30Z

Desperate families were searching for loved ones Thursday after a massive train crash in Buenos Aires killed 50 people, injured nearly 700 and left dozens trapped for hours in the wreckage.

Egypt judge sets Mubarak verdict for June 2

2012-02-23T09:16:09Z

The verdict in the landmark murder and corruption trial of ousted Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak has been set for June 2, Judge Ahmed Refaat said on Wednesday.

Crisis in paradise in Maldives' new democracy

2012-02-23T09:07:44Z

MALE (Reuters) - It was an ordinary blue felt pen, and not a bullet, that killed Mohamed Nasheed's term as the first democratically elected president of the Maldives. After rising to acclaim as a champion of democracy and action against climate change, Nasheed is now back on the streets where he led a nearly two-decade campaign to bring full democracy to an archipelago ruled more like a sultanate. ...

Internet Surfers Go Virtual Diving On Oz Reef

2012-02-23T08:58:32Z

Internet surfers are to get the chance to go 'virtual diving' as part of a scientific survey of Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

Tunisia, Egypt Islamists signal bigger religion role

2012-02-23T08:12:03Z

PARIS (Reuters)- After months of reassuring secularist critics, Islamist politicians in Tunisia and Egypt have begun to lay down markers about how Muslim their states should be - and first signs show they want more religion than previously admitted. Islamist parties swept the first free elections in both countries in recent months after campaigns that stressed their readiness to work with the secularists they struggled with in the Arab Spring revolts against decades-long dictatorships. ...

Taliban urge attacks to avenge Koran burning

2012-02-23T07:49:50Z

The Taliban exhorted Afghans Thursday to attack and kill foreign troops to avenge the burning of Korans at a US-run base, but stopped short of cutting off contacts with American officials in Qatar.

Nine-Year-Old Boy Shoots Girl In Classroom

2012-02-23T07:25:01Z

A nine-year-old boy has shot and critically wounded a girl in their classroom in Washington state.

Australian PM Gillard calls for leadership vote

2012-02-23T06:45:52Z

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dared her political rival, former foreign minister Kevin Rudd, to challenge her in a leadership vote next week, hoping to end infighting that threatens to sink the minority government and its reform agenda. Gillard called on Thursday for the vote to be held by ruling-party lawmakers next Monday, gambling that a victory for her would silence Rudd whom she accused of trying to destabilise her unpopular government and regain the top job. ...

Inside The EU's Anti-Piracy Nerve Centre

2012-02-23T06:42:46Z

Counter-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa equate to policing the whole of Europe with just 25 police cars, according to the commander of the military alliance tasked with the job.

Iran protests to UN over Israel 'war game' campaign

2012-02-23T06:42:01Z

Iran accused Israel of assassinating its nuclear scientists as part of a "war game" while it denied any role in attacks on Israeli diplomatic targets in several countries.

US Republican rivals clash in crunch TV debate

2012-02-23T06:22:42Z

Struggling Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney clashed repeatedly with his surging rival Rick Santorum on Wednesday, in a crucial TV debate as the pair battle for frontrunner status.

Indonesia to evacuate foreign inmates from riot jail

2012-02-23T05:50:21Z

Indonesia said Thursday it would evacuate all 60 foreigners as well as female prisoners from a jail on Bali island currently under the control of rioting inmates.

Indonesia to evacuate foreign inmates

2012-02-23T05:15:20Z

Indonesia said Thursday it would evacuate all foreign and female prisoners from a jail on Bali island currently under control of rioting inmates.

Australian PM calls leadership ballot

2012-02-23T04:52:57Z

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday called a ballot on the leadership of the ruling Labor party, bringing to a head an increasingly bitter and ugly row with predecessor Kevin Rudd.

Three US lawmakers sent threatening letters

2012-02-23T03:22:26Z

Several US lawmakers received threatening letters containing a harmless white powder, but the sender warned more missives including a "harmful material" could follow, a Senate official said.

Indonesia forces in stand-off after Bali jail riot

2012-02-23T03:00:17Z

Indonesian forces backed by water cannons and armoured vehicles were locked in a tense stand-off outside a prison on Bali island Thursday after rioting inmates took control for a second night.