Malaysia News: National, Regional and World News

WORLD UPDATES

Taliban attack U.N. compound in Afghan capital - police

KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban militants launched a coordinated attack on a U.N. compound in the centre of the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Friday setting off explosions and battling the security forces.

Spain's Princess Cristina faces new tax probe charge

MADRID (Reuters) - A Spanish judge has opened an investigation into Princess Cristina's tax returns after an earlier charge of being an accomplice in an embezzlement case against her husband was dropped.

U.S.casts doubt on credibility of Iranian election

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - The United States on Friday called into question the credibility of Iran's presidential election next month, criticising the disqualification of candidates and accusing Tehran of disrupting Internet access.

Kerry says Israelis, Palestinians must make tough decisions

TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israeli and Palestinian leaders must decide soon on whether to revive long-dormant peace negotiations to end their decades-old conflict, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday.

Russia's oldest rights group fights 'foreign agent' tag

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's oldest rights group began a legal battle on Friday to avoid being branded a "foreign agent" under a new law it sees as a tool of repression by President Vladimir Putin.

Italians getting glummer on economy, Letta government

ROME (Reuters) - Italian consumer morale fell unexpectedly in May despite the tax-cutting promises of a new government whose approval ratings are already sliding.

Death toll from Guinea opposition march rises to four

CONAKRY (Reuters) - The official death toll from Thursday's clashes between Guinean opposition protesters and police and government supporters rose to four on Friday, meaning at least 22 people have now been killed in unrest since March.

North Korea says will take 'positive steps' for peace

BEIJING (Reuters) - A North Korean envoy told China's president on Friday that his reclusive country was willing to take "positive actions" to ensure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, as China steps up diplomatic efforts to bring Pyongyang back to talks.

Yemen's main oil pipeline attacked, pumping stopped

SANAA (Reuters) - Attackers blew up Yemen's main oil export pipeline on Friday, halting the flow of crude, the government and industry sources said.

Africa backs Kenya call for Hague court to drop Kenyatta case

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - African nations have backed a request by Kenya for charges of crimes against humanity by its president to be referred back to the east African country, African Union documents show.

Group linked to Algeria gas plant attack claims Niger raids

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - An al Qaeda-linked group that carried out the raid on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria in January has claimed to have participated in Thursday's attacks in Niger.

Korean women scrap meeting Japanese mayor over brothel remarks

OSAKA, Japan (Reuters) - Two elderly South Korean women forced to work in Japanese war-time military brothels cancelled a meeting on Friday with the mayor of the city of Osaka after he refused to withdraw remarks asserting the brothels were "necessary" at the time.

Ugandan leader removes army chief named in succession plot claim

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has removed his head of the military Aronda Nyakairima, and moved him to a civilian position as the minister for internal affairs, a statement from the military said on Friday.

Syria opposition struggles to forge transition plan before talks

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Syria's divided opposition leaders have failed to back a plan by their outgoing leader for President Bashar al-Assad to cede power gradually to end the country's civil war, highlighting the obstacles to international peace talks expected next month.

Suspect in Czech family killings arrested in Washington - police

PRAGUE (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have arrested a man wanted for murdering four members of a family in the Czech Republic, Czech police said on Friday.

Turkey bans alcohol advertising, curbs sales

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey banned alcohol advertising and increased restrictions on alcohol sales on Friday in a move likely to anger secularist Turks who accuse the government of having an Islamic agenda.

Swedish police seek reinforcement after further clashes

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Police in the Swedish capital are to seek reinforcements after youths again set cars ablaze and threw stones at police for a fifth night running, officials said on Friday.

U.S. official hints at renewed Iranian sanctions waiver for India

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has made "tremendous progress" in reducing oil imports from Iran, a senior U.S. government official said on Friday, in a sign the South Asian nation is likely to get a third waiver from sanctions imposed by Washington against Tehran's nuclear programme.

Russia says Syrian government agrees in principle to conference

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday the Syrian government had agreed in principle to attend an international peace conference proposed by Russia and the United States, and criticised what it called attempts to undermine peace efforts.

Magnitude 8.2 earthquake strikes Russian Far East

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck off Russia's eastern coast on Friday, briefly prompting a tsunami scare but causing no casualties or substantial damage, Russian emergency authorities said.

Magnitude 5.7 quake strikes Northern California

(Reuters) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Northern California on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Obama seeks end to perpetual U.S. 'war on terror'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twelve years after the "war on terror" began, President Barack Obama wants to pull the United States back from some of the most controversial aspects of its global fight against Islamist militants.

Korean "grannies" cancel meet with Osaka mayor over war brothel remarks

OSAKA, Japan (Reuters) - Two elderly South Korean women forced to work in Japanese wartime military brothels abruptly cancelled a meeting with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto after he refused to withdraw remarks asserting the brothel system was "necessary" at the time.

Venezuela prosecutor to open probe over leaked recording

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's prosecutor's office said on Thursday it would open an investigation into in a recording the opposition says features a top government ally accusing the deputy head of the ruling Socialist Party of corruption and conspiring against the new president.

Canadian businessman goes on trial in Cuba for corruption

HAVANA (Reuters) - A Cuban court on Thursday wrapped up the first day of testimony in the graft trial of a Canadian businessman whose prosecution is part of a corruption crackdown that has shaken the country's foreign business community.

Obama shifts U.S. from 'perpetual war-footing,' limits drone strikes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday shifted the United States away from a "boundless global war on terror," restricting deadly drone strikes abroad and signalling that America's long struggle against al Qaeda will one day end.

Repatriating detainees to Yemen key to closing Guantanamo

WASHINGTON/MIAMI (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's pledge on Thursday to lift a ban on transfers of detainees to Yemen from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, addresses one of the core obstacles to clearing out the detention camp.

One dead, about 10 injured in Guinea opposition protest

CONAKRY (Reuters) - One person was killed and about were 10 injured when security forces and supporters of Guinea's president clashed with protesters marching in the capital on Thursday against planned legislative elections.

Islamists kill 21 in suicide attacks in Niger

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Islamist suicide bombers struck an army barracks and a French-run uranium mine in Niger on Thursday, officials said, killing 21 people and wounding dozens more in attacks that showed militant violence spreading in West Africa.

In deeply religious Oklahoma, prayer brings solace after tornado

MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - In deeply religious Moore, Oklahoma, God and prayer are frequently mentioned as sources of strength for residents reeling from the fourth damaging tornado in 15 years.

Polish PM wants early party leadership election - media

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wants to bring forward an election for the leadership for his party so he can face down rivals emboldened by the worsening state of the economy, local media said on Thursday.

In Indonesia, football is kicked around by political parties

JAKARTA (Reuters) - As monsoon rains swept the stadium, the chanting grew louder. "Indonesia! Indonesia!"

Stores shut, schools close amid curfew by Rio drug dealers

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro ordered shops closed in one of its biggest slums early Thursday, defying efforts to restore order to the city's vast shantytowns and renewing safety concerns in Brazil as it prepares to host the World Cup and Olympics.

IMF's Lagarde questioned over French arbitration case

PARIS (Reuters) - IMF chief Christine Lagarde was questioned in court by French magistrates on Thursday over her role in a 285-million-euro (242 million pounds) arbitration payment made to a supporter of former president Nicolas Sarkozy.

Congo has chance for peace, U.N. ready to enforce - Ban

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Eastern Congo has the best chance in years to secure a lasting peace but the United Nations stands ready to pacify the region by force if need be, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday.

Violence in Russia's North Caucasus kills four

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Police killed two suspected Islamic militants on Thursday after one of them threw a grenade at a group of officers and two others died in a separate shootout in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region, Interfax reported.

One dead, around 10 injured in Guinea opposition protest

CONAKRY (Reuters) - One person was killed and around 10 injured when security forces and supporters of Guinea's president clashed with protesters marching in the capital on Thursday against planned legislative elections.

U.N. aid chief says Sudanese rebels obstructing aid deal

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese insurgents are obstructing a deal to deliver much-needed aid into areas under their control in two Sudanese states where almost a million people have been forced from their homes, the U.N. aid chief said on Thursday.

Kenya seeks African help to drop Hague charges against Kenyatta

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Kenya has asked other African countries to urge the International Criminal Court (ICC) to drop crimes-against-humanity charges against its new president and his deputy, according to an African Union document seen on Thursday.

South Sudan says war crimes court persecutes Africans

JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir said on Thursday his country would never become a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying it appeared to be preoccupied with prosecuting African leaders.

Kerry meets Israelis, Palestinians in bid to revive talks

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials on Thursday and acknowledged there was considerable scepticism that the two sides would resume peace negotiations.

EU probes ally of Kosovo PM, ambassador for war crimes

PRISTINA (Reuters) - European Union police said on Thursday they had arrested five people, including a wartime ally of Kosovo's prime minister, and were investigating the ambassador to Albania on suspicion of war crimes during Kosovo's 1998-99 conflict.

Magnitude 7.4 quake strikes in sea off Tonga - USGS

LONDON (Reuters) - A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck in the sea 177 (285 km) miles southwest of Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa, the U.S. Geological Survey reported on Thursday.

Italy's Berlusconi in tax fraud scheme as PM, judges say

MILAN (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was involved in a tax fraud scheme while he was head of government, a Milan court said in a document released on Thursday explaining its earlier decision to uphold his four-year conviction.

Around 10 injured in Guinea opposition protest - hospital source

CONAKRY (Reuters) - Ten people were injured when security forces and supporters of Guinea President Alpha Conde clashed with protesters marching in the capital against planned legislative elections on Thursday, a hospital source said.

Kenyan police clear truckers blocking east Africa's main trade route

MOMBASA (Reuters) - Kenyan police cleared the only highway from the Indian Ocean port city of Mombasa to the capital Nairobi on Thursday, two days after striking truck drivers blocked it and threatened to choke the main trade artery in east Africa.

Hundreds mourn Oklahoma tornado victim, schoolgirl who liked to sing

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Hundreds of people gathered in stormy weather on Thursday to mourn a 9-year-old girl who loved to sing, dance and paint, as funerals began for 24 victims of a massive tornado that obliterated whole sections of Moore, Oklahoma.

Sudan, South Sudan vow to keep oil flowing, differ on pumping problem

KHARTOUM/ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Sudan and South Sudan's oil ministers on Thursday vowed to continue cross-border oil flows but gave contradictionary opinions whether a technical problem at a pumping station which had cut output had been fixed.

Boy Scouts of America set to vote on gay youth ban

GRAPEVINE, Texas (Reuters) - The Boy Scouts of America will vote on Thursday on a proposal to remove its ban on openly gay scouts that has been in place throughout the organization's 103-year history.

EU slips up with olive oil ban, reverses course

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has torn up new rules on how restaurants should serve olive oil less than a week after unveiling them, following widespread ridicule and accusations of unwanted interference.

News Breaks

Friday, May 24, 2013

Across the Causeway