Yahoo! Canada News: World

Pope speaks of duty to convert others to the faith

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:40:00 GMT

AFP - VATICAN CITY (AFP) - The Roman Catholic Church has the inalienable right and duty to convert any person to Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI said Saturday.

Kuwaitis go to the polls, economy tops agenda

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:40:00 GMT

Reuters - KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwaitis voted in a parliamentary election on Saturday that they hoped would bring in fresh faces able to bury political feuds and push through economic reforms.

China fights to stave off disease amid miracle quake rescues

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:38:00 GMT

AFP - SHIFANG, China (AFP) - China ramped up efforts on Saturday to stave off disease for millions of earthquake victims, as more miracle rescues amid the rubble offered hope in an increasingly desperate battle to save lives.

Lebanese leaders tackle core issues at Qatar talks

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:27:00 GMT

Reuters - DOHA (Reuters) - Lebanon's rival leaders tackled divisive issues at the heart of their political crisis on Saturday at Qatari-mediated talks aimed at pulling their country back from the brink of a new civil war.

Sri Lanka clashes leave 16 Tiger rebels dead: military

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:24:00 GMT

AFP - COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankan ground troops killed at least 16 Tamil Tiger rebels while airforce fighter jets bombed guerrilla targets in the island's north, the defence ministry said on Saturday.

Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan freed 3 months after kidnapping

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:18:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan returned home Saturday three months after he was kidnapped on the main highway through Pakistan's wild border region.

Iran's hardline President Ahmadinejad appoints caretaker interior minister

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:11:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's official IRNA news agency reports that Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has appointed a temporary replacement for outgoing Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi.

Iraqi forces detain 1,000 in al Qaeda push

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:10:00 GMT

Reuters - BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi forces have detained more than 1,000 suspects in an offensive aimed at crushing al Qaeda in northern Iraq, the military commander of the operation said on Saturday.

Bus collides with tractor in eastern China today, killing 14

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:08:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - BEIJING - State media say at least 14 people have died in a collision between a bus and a tractor in eastern China.

Six Kurdish rebels killed in clash with soldiers in eastern Turkey

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:05:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - ISTANBUL, Turkey - Turkey's state-run media say six Kurdish rebels have been killed in a clash with soldiers in eastern Turkey.

Saudi oil output hike would not solve US problems: Bush

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:03:00 GMT

AFP - SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AFP) - US President George W. Bush said on Saturday that a hike in oil output by Saudi Arabia would not solve American energy problems.

Kuwaitis vote for new parliament to break political deadlock

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:02:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - KUWAIT CITY - Voters in Kuwait lined up Saturday to vote in landmark parliamentary elections that could substantially change the legislative body of the tiny, oil-rich Gulf emirate following electoral reforms to reduce corruption and vote buying.

5 computer hackers arrested in Spain, accused of disabling gov't Web pages

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:00:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - MADRID, Spain - Spanish police have arrested five young computer hackers who allegedly disabled Internet pages run by government agencies in the U.S., Latin America and Asia.

Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai postpones return after assassination threat

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:56:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - A Zimbabwe opposition spokesman says threats of assassination have derailed plans for party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to return home.

Israel's police minister to seek leadership of Olmert's party in the future

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:53:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - JERUSALEM - Israel's public security minister says he plans to seek the leadership of embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima Party one day.

Former archbishop of Canterbury asks Iraqi militants to release 5 Britons

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:51:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - LONDON - A former Church of England leader has appealed for militants to release five British civilians kidnapped in Iraq a year ago.

U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi makes surprise visit to Iraq

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:50:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - BAGHDAD - An Iraqi government official says U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has arrived in Baghdad for a surprise visit.

Bush says Saudi oil boost is a start, but doesn't solve U.S. problem

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:47:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt - U.S. President George W. Bush said Saturday that the Saudis' modest increase in oil production is "something but it doesn't solve our problem" of soaring gas prices.

Thousands flee Chinese village near epicentre due to flood worries

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:44:00 GMT

The Canadian Press - BEICHUAN, China - Thousands of Chinese earthquake victims fled areas near the epicentre Saturday, fearful of floods from rivers blocked by landslides.

Taliban release Pakistan envoy after fighters freed

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:40:00 GMT

Reuters - ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Taliban militants freed a kidnapped Pakistani ambassador on Saturday after the release of more than 40 Taliban fighters in recent days, a senior security official said.

Marathon runner Radcliffe 'upbeat' despite hip injury

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:30:00 GMT

AFP - LONDON (AFP) - World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe said she remains "upbeat and positive" about being ready for the Beijing Olympics despite having developed a hip injury.

Assassination fears paralyse Zimbabwe opposition

Sat, 17 May 2008 14:44:00 GMT

AFP - HARARE (AFP) - Fears of an assassination plot against Zimbabwe's opposition leader delayed his long-awaited homecoming on Saturday ahead of an election showdown with veteran President Robert Mugabe on June 27.

Kidnapped Pakistan diplomat back home after end of captivity

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:26:00 GMT

AFP - ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan returned home safely Saturday after being released from his captivity by suspected Taliban militants who held him captive for 96 days, officials said.

Iraq arrests 1,100 in Qaeda crackdown in Mosul

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:18:00 GMT

AFP - MOSUL, Iraq (AFP) - Around 1,100 people have been arrested during the first four days of a government crackdown on Al-Qaeda jihadists in Iraq's main northern city of Mosul, the defence ministry said on Saturday.

Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai delays return over plot-party

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:17:00 GMT

Reuters - HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday postponed his expected return home to contest an election run-off after his party said it had discovered an assassination plot against him.

Israeli PM to be grilled again in corruption probe: reports

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:16:00 GMT

AFP - JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to be questioned again soon by police in connection with a corruption investigation, media reports said on Saturday.

Bush to meet Palestinians in Egypt

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:14:00 GMT

AFP - SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AFP) - US President George W. Bush arrived in Egypt on Saturday for talks with Palestinian leaders amid growing Arab criticsm of his perceived bias towards Israel and of the faltering peace talks.

US Speaker visits Baghdad: spokeswoman

Sat, 17 May 2008 13:00:00 GMT

AFP - BAGHDAD (AFP) - Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, arrived in Baghdad on Saturday for talks with Iraqi and American officials, a US embassy spokeswoman told AFP.

Kuwaitis seek fresh start as they choose new parliament

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:58:00 GMT

AFP - KUWAIT CITY (AFP) - Kuwaitis are voting Saturday to elect a new parliament in this oil-rich Gulf state which has been rocked by political turmoil, with many saying they want change and an end to political feuding.

Tsvangirai delays return due to assassination plot: spokesman

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:56:00 GMT

AFP - JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will not return home on Saturday after his party learned of an assassination plot against him, a party spokesman told AFP.

Iran says mosque bombers planned oil pipeline attack

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:47:00 GMT

Reuters - TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Intelligence Ministry said on Saturday U.S. agents had armed and trained those behind a deadly blast in a mosque last month and that pipelines in the country's oil-rich south were also among the planned targets.

Suicide bomber targets US-backed militia in Iraq

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:38:00 GMT

AFP - BAQUBA, Iraq (AFP) - A woman suicide bomber targeted a US-backed militia office in the central Iraqi town of Baquba, killing one woman and wounding 16, police and hospital sources said Saturday.

Poor nations must repay British climate 'aid': report

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:34:00 GMT

AFP - LONDON (AFP) - Poor countries will have to pay back aid given to them by Britain in an international aid project that was supposed to help them adapt to climate change, The Guardian newspaper said Saturday.

Israelis launch two Gaza raids: Palestinians

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:24:00 GMT

AFP - GAZA CITY (AFP) - Israeli forces launched an incursion into southern Gaza on Saturday, causing some damage, witnesses and the authorities in Rafah said. A second raid was also reported in the north.

Thousands flee as China lake bank feared broken

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:17:00 GMT

Reuters - BEICHUAN, China (Reuters) - Thousands of Chinese fled to the hills on Saturday amid fears a lake formed near the epicenter of this week's earthquake would burst its banks.

Bharti, MTN merger talks could wind up this weekend: report

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:05:00 GMT

AFP - NEW DELHI (AFP) - Merger talks between India's biggest mobile phone services firm, Bharti Airtel, and South Africa's flagship MTN Group could wind up this weekend, a report said on Saturday.

No new poll watchers for Zimbabwe's run-off: state media

Sat, 17 May 2008 12:01:00 GMT

AFP - HARARE (AFP) - Authorities in Zimbabwe have rejected opposition and international calls for additional election observers for the second round of presidential elections due on June 27, state media said on Saturday.

China evacuates thousands on flood fears after quake

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:57:00 GMT

AFP - BEIJING (AFP) - China has started to evacuate more than 2,000 people on fears of floods stretching for 40 kilometres (25 miles) in the wake of a deadly earthquake, state media said Saturday.

Bomb kills Afghan civilian, several rebels dead in air strikes

Sat, 17 May 2008 11:06:00 GMT

AFP - KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) - A bomb fixed to a bicycle killed an Afghan civilian in Kandahar city on Saturday, while strikes by international forces killed at least nine insurgents a day earlier, officials said.

Obama, McCain grow closer on Iraq as election nears

Sat, 17 May 2008 10:58:00 GMT

AFP - WASHINGTON (AFP) - After starting out with radically opposing views, White House hopefuls Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama appear to be moving closer together on Iraq as the election draws nearer.

Myanmar regime 'inhuman' by blocking foreign aid: British PM

Sat, 17 May 2008 10:47:00 GMT

AFP - LONDON (AFP) - Myanmar's military regime is acting inhumanely by continuing to block foreign aid for cyclone victims and should be held accountable, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in an interview Saturday.

OPEC output hike would not affect prices: Iran

Sat, 17 May 2008 10:09:00 GMT

AFP - TEHRAN (AFP) - Major crude oil producer Iran said on Saturday that any output hike by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries as requested by the United States would not affect skyrocketing prices.

Afghan census depends on security

Sat, 17 May 2008 09:59:00 GMT

AFP - KABUL (AFP) - A historic population count due to start in war-ravaged Afghanistan next month is dependent on the security situation, census authorities assessing safety on the ground warned Saturday.

Indian troops kill six rebels in Kashmir

Sat, 17 May 2008 09:42:00 GMT

AFP - SRINAGAR, India (AFP) - Indian troops shoot dead six Islamic militants on Saturday in the second major gunbattle within a week in revolt-hit Kashmir, police said.

Indian premier first to address new Bhutan parliament

Sat, 17 May 2008 09:29:00 GMT

AFP - NEW DELHI (AFP) - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Bhutan itcould "count on India" as he made the first address Saturday by a foreign leader to the parliament of South Asia's newest democracy.