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Monday, December 12, 2011 8:32 PM PST

Today's Reuters World News Headlines - Yahoo! News: Yet another school bus crash sparks fury in China Canada first nation to pull out of Kyoto protocol Papua New Guinea awakes to two prime ministers, calls for calm Brazil's Lula is beating cancer, doctors say China school bus crash kills at least 15 children: report U.N. rights chief Pillay says Syria toll over 5,000 Syria death toll now exceeds 5,000: U.N. rights chief More than 9 million in Sahel face food crisis: Oxfam Mexico's navy captures Zetas leader "El Lucky" Obama says U.S. will be loyal partner for Iraq Ouattara coalition leads in Ivorian poll count U.N. rights chief Pillay says Syria toll over 5,000 Explosion rips through Syria gas pipeline: witness Newsmaker: Gambia's Bensouda to counter ICC critics Brazil's Lula is beating cancer, doctors say Syria votes amid violence, activists say polls a sham Spanish and Italian aid workers appear in video German minister says 5,000 now killed in Syria Bullets sent to Italy justice minister, Rome mayor Congo's Kabila rejects poll doubters, says no crisis Libyans protest in Benghazi against new leaders Tunisia installs former dissident as president Two Putin-era Russians seek liberal mantle Fighting flares in tribal dispute south of Tripoli French accusations put Syria's allies in spotlight Parcel bomb sent to Greek embassy in Paris Italy starts strikes against Monti's austerity Chavez launches cash giveaway for poor Venezuela kids Strong Russia is chant of Putin fans at rally Russian demonstrations "positive sign": White House Russia still considering euro zone help via IMF: ambassador Monti to take on slackers, politicians in bureaucracy reform Monti to take on slackers, politicians in bureaucracy Spain royals to reveal budget after corruption case NATO-backed Afghan militia scheme seen expanded U.N. tries to bolster Yemen peace, Qaeda inmates in jail Iran army declines comment on MP's Hormuz exercise remarks Villager dies in custody as China cracks down on land protests Iranians blame "unplanned" UK embassy raid on rage NATO to end Iraqi training mission when U.S. troops go home Yet another school bus crash sparks fury in China Mon,12 Dec 2011 07:19 PM PST Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 15 children were killed when a school bus crashed in China's eastern province of Jiangsu, state media said on Tuesday, the latest in a string of traffic accidents that has triggered public fury across the country. The bus fell into a ditch as it veered off the road to avoid a pedicab, the official Xinhua news agency said. At least eight children were injured in the accident, which happened after school on Monday. Xinhua had conflicting accounts on the number of children on board the bus but all reports suggested the bus was not overloaded. ... Full Story Top Canada first nation to pull out of Kyoto protocol Mon,12 Dec 2011 06:27 PM PST Reuters - OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada on Monday became the first country to announce it would withdraw from the Kyoto protocol on climate change, dealing a symbolic blow to the already troubled global treaty. Environment Minister Peter Kent broke the news on his return from talks in Durban, where countries agreed to extend Kyoto for five years and hammer out a new deal forcing all big polluters for the first time to limit greenhouse gas emissions. ... Full Story Top Papua New Guinea awakes to two prime ministers, calls for calm Mon,12 Dec 2011 06:23 PM PST Reuters - s PORT MORESBY (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea was in a political deadlock on Tuesday with two prime ministers claiming the right to govern the resource-rich South Pacific nation, prompting calls for calm in the capital Port Moresby. PNG's Supreme Court on Monday night ruled the government led by Peter O'Neill illegal and ordered Sir Michael Somare, toppled while receiving medical treatment in Singapore, be reinstated as prime minister. ... Full Story Top Brazil's Lula is beating cancer, doctors say Mon,12 Dec 2011 05:41 PM PST Reuters - SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A 75 percent reduction in the size of a tumor in former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's throat has surprised his doctors and could put the popular showman back on the active political roster as early as March. The medical team treating Lula at the Hospital Sirio-Libanes said they were "impressed" with his recovery, as the 66-year-old former union boss started his third and final round of chemotheropy on Monday. ... Full Story Top China school bus crash kills at least 15 children: report Mon,12 Dec 2011 05:26 PM PST Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 15 children were killed when a school bus crashed in China's eastern province of Jiangsu, state media said on Tuesday, the latest in a string of traffic accidents that has drawn public ire across the country. The bus fell into a ditch following a failed attempt to veer off the road to avoid a pedicab, Xinhua news agency said. At least eight children were injured in the accident, which happened in the early evening on Monday. Xinhua had conflicting accounts on the number of children on board the bus but all reports suggested the bus was not overloaded. ... Full Story Top U.N. rights chief Pillay says Syria toll over 5,000 Mon,12 Dec 2011 04:38 PM PST Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The death toll in Syria's nine-month crackdown on an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has now passed 5,000, United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay told the Security Council on Monday. The figure represents a sharp increase over the more than 4,000 that she cited just 10 days ago. "Today I have reported that the figure exceeds 5,000," Pillay told reporters after briefing the council in closed session on what she called the "intolerable situation" in Syria. ... Full Story Top Syria death toll now exceeds 5,000: U.N. rights chief Mon,12 Dec 2011 04:16 PM PST Reuters - AMMAN (Reuters) - More than 5,000 people have been killed in nine months of unrest in Syria, the U.N. human rights chief said, as an insurgency begins to overshadow what had been mostly peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad. The latest figure reported to the U.N. Security Council by Navi Pillay is 1,000 higher than the one she announced just 10 days ago. The toll includes civilians, army defectors and those executed for refusing to shoot civilians, but not soldiers and other security personnel killed by opposition forces, she said. ... Full Story Top More than 9 million in Sahel face food crisis: Oxfam Mon,12 Dec 2011 03:49 PM PST Reuters - DAKAR (Reuters) - More than nine million people in five countries in Africa's Sahel region face food crisis next year, following low rainfall, poor harvests, high food prices and a drop in remittances from migrants, aid agency Oxfam said on Monday. People in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad, are at particularly high risk, with national food reserves dangerously low and prices of some key cereals as much as 40 percent higher than the five-year average. ... Full Story Top Mexico's navy captures Zetas leader "El Lucky" Mon,12 Dec 2011 03:38 PM PST Reuters - MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's navy captured a leader of the Zetas drug cartel, Raul Fernandez, President Felipe Calderon said on Monday via his Twitter account. Fernandez, who is also known as "El Lucky" (The Lucky One), had a bounty of 15 million pesos ($1.09 million) on his head, operated in the Gulf state of Veracruz as well as the central state of Puebla and Oaxaca state in the south, Calderon said. ... Full Story Top Obama says U.S. will be loyal partner for Iraq Mon,12 Dec 2011 03:37 PM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With Iranian influence and Syria's instability looming over Iraq as U.S. troops pack up to go, President Barack Obama assured Baghdad on Monday the United States would remain a strong partner beyond the withdrawal. The removal of almost all U.S. forces from Iraq by December 31 has created uncertainty at a time when the region remains roiled by the Arab Spring, and amid fear that a bloody anti-government revolt in Syria could spread sectarian strife into neighboring Iraq. ... Full Story Top Ouattara coalition leads in Ivorian poll count Mon,12 Dec 2011 03:29 PM PST Reuters - ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara's ruling coalition led in partial results from Sunday's legislative election, according to a small sample of preliminary results released on Monday. Ouattara's ruling coalition appears set for a landslide win based on voting patterns during the first round of last year's presidential polls. A sweeping win in the West African state's first parliamentary poll in a decade would strengthen Ouattara's hand governing a country fresh from a power-struggle that killed more than 3,000 people. ... Full Story Top U.N. rights chief Pillay says Syria toll over 5,000 Mon,12 Dec 2011 03:04 PM PST Reuters - UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay told the Security Council on Monday the death toll in Syria's nine-month crackdown on protesters had now risen to over 5,000. The figure compares with more than 4,000 that she cited just 10 days ago. "Today I have reported that the figure exceeds 5,000," Pillay told reporters after briefing the 15-nation council on the situation in Syria. ... Full Story Top Explosion rips through Syria gas pipeline: witness Mon,12 Dec 2011 02:25 PM PST Reuters - AMMAN (Reuters) - An explosion ripped through a gas pipeline near the town of Rastan in the central Syrian province of Homs and flames were seen rising from the site, a witness said on Monday, the second reported blast at an energy pipeline in Homs in a week. The region has been the focus a crackdown by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad on a pro-democracy protest movement, and increased fighting has been reported in the area between the army and insurgents in the last few weeks. ... Full Story Top Newsmaker: Gambia's Bensouda to counter ICC critics Mon,12 Dec 2011 02:22 PM PST Reuters - DAKAR (Reuters) - Fatou Bensouda, the first African to be named as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has little time for accusations that the Hague-based court has harbored bias against Africa during its nine-year history. The fact that all 14 of the court's current cases are from Africa is not evidence the ICC is unfairly targeting people on the continent, but on the contrary, proves it is working hard to protect them from their persecutors, she argues. "All of the victims in our cases in Africa are African victims. They are not from another continent. ... Full Story Top Brazil's Lula is beating cancer, doctors say Mon,12 Dec 2011 02:11 PM PST Reuters - SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Doctors in charge of throat cancer treatment for former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called his response to chemotherapy "impressive" and said the tumor in his larynx had shrunk by 75 percent in size. The popular Lula is undergoing his third and final round of chemotherapy on Monday, which will be followed by radiation therapy in the coming months, finishing in February. Doctors on the team treating the former president at the Hospital Sirio-Libanes said they were "impressed". ... Full Story Top Syria votes amid violence, activists say polls a sham Mon,12 Dec 2011 01:41 PM PST Reuters - BEIRUT (Reuters) - Prime Minister Adel Safar urged Syrians to vote in local elections on Monday to save the nation from "conspiracies against us" but activists struggling to oust President Bashar-al Assad rejected the ballot as irrelevant at a time of violent unrest. As voting began, security forces battled pro-opposition army defectors in clashes that are starting to eclipse the campaign of peaceful street protest that began the uprising against Assad nine months ago, raising fears that Syria is drifting into civil war. ... Full Story Top Spanish and Italian aid workers appear in video Mon,12 Dec 2011 01:40 PM PST Reuters - MADRID (Reuters) - Two Spanish aid workers and an Italian kidnapped from a Sahrawi refugee camp in western Algeria have been shown on a video recording, the first time pictures of the three have been since they were captured in October, Spain's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The government said it had informed the families of Ainhoa Fernandez de Rincon, who was working for a group supporting refugees from the disputed territory of Western Sahara, and Enric Gonyalons, who was working with the Basque non-profit group Mundubat. ... Full Story Top German minister says 5,000 now killed in Syria Mon,12 Dec 2011 01:04 PM PST Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Monday he understood 5,000 people had now been killed in Syria's crackdown on a nine-month-old uprising - a higher figure than other recent estimates. Westerwelle was speaking after talks in New York with U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay, but did not specifically say she had cited that figure. Shortly afterwards, Pillay was quoted by a diplomat present as telling a closed meeting of the U.N. Security Council that the death toll probably exceeded 5,000, not including deaths among the military or security forces. ... Full Story Top Bullets sent to Italy justice minister, Rome mayor Mon,12 Dec 2011 12:24 PM PST Reuters - ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Justice Minister Paola Severino has been sent a letter containing a bullet and a threatening message, her spokesman said on Monday, days after a mail bomb exploded at a tax collection office in Rome, injuring an official. Two bullets and a message were also sent in a separate package to Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno, officials said. Police anti-sabotage specialists found the two almost identical envelopes at a mail sorting office before they arrived at their destinations. Prime Minister Mario Monti released a statement expressing his concern about the threats. ... Full Story Top Congo's Kabila rejects poll doubters, says no crisis Mon,12 Dec 2011 11:46 AM PST Reuters - KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila on Monday conceded "mistakes" had been made in last month's election which returned him to power, but rejected mounting criticism that the results lacked credibility. A leader of Congo's highly-influential Catholic Church said the results handing Kabila victory over challenger Etienne Tshisekedi in the November 28 vote "do not conform to the truth." The U.S.-based Carter Center, which monitors polls around the world, said on Saturday the results "lack credibility. ... Full Story Top Libyans protest in Benghazi against new leaders Mon,12 Dec 2011 11:19 AM PST Reuters - TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Monday to show their frustration with leaders who came to power after Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown. In the biggest demonstration in Benghazi since the revolt against Gaddafi started in the city, between 20,000 and 30,000 protesters filled the central Shajara square and nearby Abdel Nasser Street, a witness told Reuters. ... Full Story Top Tunisia installs former dissident as president Mon,12 Dec 2011 11:09 AM PST Reuters - TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia on Monday installed as its new president a former dissident who was imprisoned and then exiled for opposing former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, a new landmark in the country's post-revolutionary transition to democracy. Members of the constitutional assembly, Tunisia's interim parliament, voted to elect Moncef Marzouki as president, the second most powerful role after the prime minister. Marzouki, 66, is respected by many Tunisians for his implacable opposition to the autocratic Ben Ali. ... Full Story Top Two Putin-era Russians seek liberal mantle Mon,12 Dec 2011 11:05 AM PST Reuters - MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's former finance chief and one of its richest tycoons put themselves forward as candidates to unite liberal and middle-class voters who vented frustration with Vladimir Putin's political dominance by taking to the streets in protest. Alexei Kudrin, a longtime Putin ally forced out as finance minister in September, said he wanted to help create a liberal party to fill a void exposed by Russia's December 4 parliamentary vote, which set off mass protests over alleged fraud. ... Full Story Top Fighting flares in tribal dispute south of Tripoli Mon,12 Dec 2011 10:13 AM PST Reuters - WAMIS, Libya (Reuters) - Rival militias in an area south-west of the Libyan capital exchanged heavy gunfire on Monday after a dispute flared up between them that local residents said had killed at least four people. The conflict, rooted in an old tribal rivalry, is one of the hundreds of faultlines running through Libyan society that have left the new rulers struggling to hold the country together since the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. ... Full Story Top French accusations put Syria's allies in spotlight Mon,12 Dec 2011 09:46 AM PST Reuters - BEIRUT (Reuters) - France says it believes Syria was behind an attack on U.N. peacekeepers in south Lebanon. While Paris has no proof, Damascus has plenty of armed supporters who might try to destabilize Lebanon to divert attention from its own turmoil. Foreign Minister Alain Juppe blamed Syria on Sunday, singling out its powerful Lebanese ally Hezbollah which holds sway in southern Lebanon where five French soldiers were wounded in an explosion that wrecked their patrol vehicle last week. ... Full Story Top Parcel bomb sent to Greek embassy in Paris Mon,12 Dec 2011 09:12 AM PST Reuters - PARIS (Reuters) - An anonymous parcel containing explosives and apparently mailed from Italy was found and safely disposed of at the Greek embassy in Paris on Monday, in an incident that coincided with a flurry of letter bombs and threats in Rome. French bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the package, which was discovered in the morning and was treated as suspicious because no sender's details were displayed, a spokesman at the Greek embassy said. "We saw that it was suspicious because there was no sender identified," the spokesman said. ... Full Story Top Italy starts strikes against Monti's austerity Mon,12 Dec 2011 09:10 AM PST Reuters - ROME (Reuters) - Italy began a week of strikes by the three biggest labor unions against Prime Minister Mario Monti's 33-billion-euro austerity package, which the government may soften slightly to meet some of their demands. Port, highway, and haulage personnel stopped work for three hours and metal workers -- including those at carmaker Fiat -- put down their tools for eight hours. Printing press operators stopped for a full shift and most newspapers won't publish on Tuesday. Public transport strikes will be held on Dec 15-16. ... Full Story Top Chavez launches cash giveaway for poor Venezuela kids Mon,12 Dec 2011 08:24 AM PST Reuters - CARACAS (Reuters) - President Hugo Chavez launched on Monday a program to provide $100 a month to poor Venezuelan children in the latest of a plethora of social "missions" that have underpinned his popularity. Chavez, who seeks re-election in 2012, says such measures show the tangible benefit of socialist rule in the South American OPEC member nation. But critics argue it is a pre-election ploy masking broader economic failure. ... Full Story Top Strong Russia is chant of Putin fans at rally Mon,12 Dec 2011 08:23 AM PST Reuters - MOSCOW (Reuters) - Putin, stability and strength - three words united the few thousand demonstrators who staged a choreographed, if muted, answer on Monday to protests demanding Russia's rulers resign. Hundreds of people, many draped in the red, white and blue national flag, vowed they would not stand idly by if any opposition party tried to throw the country into turmoil again. ... Full Story Top Russian demonstrations "positive sign": White House Mon,12 Dec 2011 08:20 AM PST Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Demonstrations staged in Moscow and across Russia over the weekend were a good sign for democracy in that country because the Russian government allowed them to go ahead, the White House said on Monday. "The demonstrations that occurred in Moscow and in many other Russian cities last Saturday represent a very positive sign to all those who support the democratic process," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters. "Russian government authorities allowed the demonstrations to take place, and refrained from interfering in them," he said. ... Full Story Top Russia still considering euro zone help via IMF: ambassador Mon,12 Dec 2011 08:18 AM PST Reuters - BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Russia's ambassador to the European Union said his country was considering providing funds via the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help tackle the euro-zone debt crisis. "We are considering this option," Vladimir Chizhov told reporters Monday. "I was asked whether Russia would be prepared to donate directly to the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). That is impossible of course because it is an entity that is in an offshore zone... But the IMF is different. ... Full Story Top Monti to take on slackers, politicians in bureaucracy reform Mon,12 Dec 2011 08:11 AM PST Reuters - ROME (Reuters) - Recent retiree Susanna did all her personal errands on the government's clock, like the rest of her colleagues in Italy's state sector. Some picked their kids up from daycare, some met lovers for daytime trysts. Susanna did her grocery shopping. "There were five entrances and exits, and everyone -- from the president to the department manager to the general staff -- would come in one door and walk out another," said the 63-year-old, who retired two years ago after 38 years in government. ... Full Story Top Monti to take on slackers, politicians in bureaucracy Mon,12 Dec 2011 08:03 AM PST Reuters - ROME (Reuters) - Recent retiree Susanna did all her personal errands on the government's clock, like the rest of her colleagues in Italy's state sector. Some picked their kids up from daycare, some met lovers for daytime trysts. Susanna did her grocery shopping. "There were five entrances and exits, and everyone -- from the president to the department manager to the general staff -- would come in one door and walk out another," said the 63-year-old, who retired two years ago after 38 years in government. ... Full Story Top Spain royals to reveal budget after corruption case Mon,12 Dec 2011 07:54 AM PST Reuters - MADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish royal family will disclose details of its annual spending budget for the first time, a spokesman said Monday, following a corruption probe linked to the king's son-in-law. Inaki Urdangarin, the husband of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia's youngest daughter Cristina, is under investigation as part of an inquiry into the alleged misuse of public money given to the non-profit Noos Institute he presided over in Mallorca. Urdangarin's lawyer denied any wrongdoing by his client. "He is concerned. I would say sorrowful is the word and maybe also indignant. ... Full Story Top NATO-backed Afghan militia scheme seen expanded Mon,12 Dec 2011 07:10 AM PST Reuters - KABUL (Reuters) - A controversial scheme that pays and arms Afghans to defend their villages in areas with a strong insurgent presence is likely to be expanded and extended, a senior officer from the NATO-led coalition fighting in Afghanistan has said. The Afghan Local Police (ALP) were a flagship project of General David Petraeus, who stepped down as commander of foreign forces in Afghanistan earlier this year, but have been criticized by human rights groups. Petraeus described them as one of the most critical planks of a stepped-up push for security. ... Full Story Top U.N. tries to bolster Yemen peace, Qaeda inmates in jail Mon,12 Dec 2011 06:59 AM PST Reuters - ADEN (Reuters) - The U.N. envoy behind a Yemen power transfer deal to end months of protest called on Monday for southern separatists and northern Shi'ite rebels to be included as a fragile peace appeared to be holding in the capital Sanaa. The comments came during a visit to the southern port city of Aden, where at least 16 prisoners, including al Qaeda members, tunneled out on Monday in a setback to efforts to rein in Islamist militants. ... Full Story Top Iran army declines comment on MP's Hormuz exercise remarks Mon,12 Dec 2011 06:51 AM PST Reuters - TEHRAN (Reuters) - A member of the Iranian parliament's National Security Committee said on Monday that the military was set to practice its ability to close the Gulf to shipping at the narrow Strait of Hormuz, the most important oil transit channel in the world, but there was no official confirmation. The legislator, Parviz Sarvari, told the student news agency ISNA: "Soon we will hold a military maneuver on how to close the Strait of Hormuz. If the world wants to make the region insecure, we will make the world insecure. ... Full Story Top Villager dies in custody as China cracks down on land protests Mon,12 Dec 2011 06:42 AM PST Reuters - HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - A man accused of taking part in a riot over land grabs in a southern Chinese village has died in police custody, threatening to fan tension in a small pocket of export-dependent Guangdong province that has become a source of persistent unrest. The man died as riot police moved to quell a longstanding dispute in Wukan village on the coast of the booming province and economic powerhouse, where commercial and industrial development has consumed swathes of rice paddies. ... Full Story Top Iranians blame "unplanned" UK embassy raid on rage Mon,12 Dec 2011 06:16 AM PST Reuters - TEHRAN (Reuters) - The storming of the British embassy in Tehran last month was not a planned attack but the result of an explosion of anger at London's meddling in Iranian affairs, a group that claimed responsibility for the incident said on Monday. Three men who looked in their 20s said they were among the attackers of the British embassy compounds in Tehran on November 29 but expressed no remorse over their acts, which further increased Iran's international isolation. ... Full Story Top NATO to end Iraqi training mission when U.S. troops go home Mon,12 Dec 2011 06:12 AM PST Reuters - BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO will end its seven-year troop training mission in Iraq at the end of the month, the alliance said on Monday, a move that will coincide with withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. The decision follows President Barack Obama's announcement in October that U.S. troops would go home at year-end after talks to keep thousands there as trainers fell apart over immunity of U.S. forces from prosecution in local courts, which Washington had set as a precondition. ... Full Story Top

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