World - Top Stories
8 soldiers killed in Thailand's south
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The Thai army says eight soldiers have been killed in an ambush by suspected Muslim insurgents in the south of the country.
Virgin plans biofuel test flight from UK
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British airline Virgin Atlantic says it will launch a flight using biofuel between London's Heathrow and Amsterdam next month.
Indian Hindus seek ban for monk who went overseas
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Conservative Hindu leaders in southern India are seeking to prevent a monk from heading one of the country's most popular temples, saying he has become "impure" because he has travelled overseas.
One dead, 11 feared buried in China landslide: reports
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State media in China reports that a "massive" landslide at a quarry in north China has killed one person and buried up to another 11, with explosives believed trapped in the rubble, hampering rescue work.
Suharto family rejects corruption case settlement offer: lawyer
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The family of ailing Indonesian ex-president Suharto will not pay out any money to settle a civil corruption suit against the 86-year-old, one of their lawyers says.
Pulp Fiction writer charged after fatal crash
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Officials says Oscar-winning Pulp Fiction screenwriter Roger Avary was arrested on Sunday (local time) after a fatal car crash north-west of Los Angeles.
British Council in St Petersburg set to defy ban
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Britain's overseas cultural arm, the British Council, says it is set to reopen its Saint Petersburg office in defiance of a Russian ban.
Nigeria set to sue big tobacco for $45b
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The High Court in Nigeria is set to begin hearing a multi-billion dollar lawsuit brought by the country's Government against three international tobacco companies.
EU didn't foresee biofuel problems, environment chief admits
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The European Union has admitted it failed to foresee problems that would be triggered by its policy to encourage motorists to drive vehicles which run on fuel from plants.
Ex-hostage Rojas regains informal custody of son
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Officials say newly-freed Colombian hostage Clara Rojas has regained informal custody of her three-year-old son Emmanuel, who was born while she was in captivity.
Kenyan opposition chief urges President to 'quit gracefully'
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In a CNN interview Kenyan opposition chief Raila Odinga said he would ask President Mwai Kibaki to "quit gracefully" if they meet face-to-face to end a political crisis in the country.
New S Korea leader ready for summit with North
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South Korea's president-elect says he is willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Il if it would help in ending his reclusive neighbour's nuclear weapons program.
Blanchett wins Golden Globe
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Cate Blanchett has been named best supporting actress at the 65th annual Golden Globe Awards for her role in the biopic of Bob Dylan, I'm Not There.
Top US officer would like Guantanamo shut down
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The top United States military officer has said he would like to see the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay closed because its image has damaged America's international standing.
Deaths of Dutch soldiers in Afghanistan 'probably friendly fire'
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Officials in the Netherlands say two Dutch soldiers killed in Afghanistan at the weekend were probably shot by fellow officers.
Three killed in Gaza air strike
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Three Palestinian militants, including the local head of an armed group, have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a refugee camp of Gaza City, medics and security sources have said.
Antarctica shrinking faster: study
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A study has found the rate at which Antarctica is losing ice due to climate change is accelerating.
Kenyan Oppn claims Ugandan troops deployed in west
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Kenya's Opposition has claimed that Uganda has sent troops to the country's western region at the Government's request ahead of this week's planned protests, an accusation police flatly rejected.
Sarkozy begins three-nation Gulf tour in Saudi Arabia
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy has arrived in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of a three-nation Gulf Arab tour, which will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Italian avalanche kills 3
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An avalanche in northern Italy has killed at least three people and injured six, while another three are still missing.
Brit troops in Afghanistan 'for decades'
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British Defence Secretary Des Browne says British troops could be in Afghanistan for decades.
Iran brands Bush tour 'a failure'
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Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has accused US President George W Bush of trying to harm Iran's relations with its neighbours and dismissed his regional tour as a "failure."
Chinese police break up high-speed train protest
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Police in the Chinese city of Shanghai have broken up a second day of protests against a planned extension to a high-speed train service.
Iran to answer questions over nuclear activity: IAEA
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The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), says Iran has agreed to answer remaining questions about Tehran's past nuclear activity within the next month.
Obama unveils $US75b plan to head off recession
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Amid growing worries about a worsening of the US economy, Democratic US presidential candidate Barack Obama proposed a $US75 billion ($85 billion) economic stimulus plan that includes worker tax credits, a one-time pension supplement and help to homeowners facing foreclosure.
