Wednesday, December 30, 2009

World News Briefs -- December 30, 2009 (Eveing Edition)



Detroit Terror Attack: Hesitation Over X-Ray Scanners Risking Lives -- The Telegraph

Ministers have been accused of putting lives at risk by failing to order X-ray style body scanners at British airports despite fears that al-Qaeda is planning a wave of syringe bomb attacks on planes.


The scanners, which could have thwarted the attack by the Detroit bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, are already in use in countries including America and Germany, and yesterday the Netherlands and Nigeria announced they would follow suit.

But the Government said it had “no immediate plans” to deploy them, leading to accusations that ministers had been “caught napping”.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Anbar bombings raise fears of renewed Iraqi violence.

Peter Moore freed after US deal to hand over Iraqi insurgent.

As standoff with Iran continues, U.S. prepares targeted sanctions.

Thousands of Iranians rally in support of government, call for Mousavi's death. Iran police vow to crush protesters with no mercy.

Iran denies secret deal to import Kazakh uranium.

Hamas still undecided on Schalit deal. The woman in the way of a Palestinian prisoner deal.

ASIA

Laos says no need to fear for Hmong deportees.

Afghanistan suicide bombing kills 8 American civilians.

North Korea pilfering nuclear reactor site: report.

Britain blasted as 'powerless' over China execution row.

West Australia fires raze dozens of homes.

AFRICA

Bomb plot arrest highlight Nigeria's Islamist militancy.

Nigeria gets 'illegal' new chief justice.

Pirates hijack British tanker in sea ‘safety’ zone.

Sudan MPs pass key referendum law.

Pirates hijack British tanker in sea ‘safety’ zone.

Lockheed to sell 24 F-16 fighter jets to Egypt.

Death toll from Nigeria clashes climbs to 70.

EUROPE

Dutch airport to use full-body scan for U.S. flights.

Putin trumpets first Russia population growth since 1995.

Putin seeks to slap curbs on inflow of 'hot money'.

Panel rejects French carbon tax. Sarkozy scrambles to salvage carbon tax.

Ukraine front-runner questions democratic reforms.

AMERICAS

Colombia says coca crop eradication down in 2009.

Obama quietly changes U.S. immigration policy.

Lula on screen: Brazil's President as superhero.

Mexico drugs boss Beltran Leyva's death scene 'altered'.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Former Guantanamo detainees fuel growing al-Qaeda cell.

Obama blames "systemic failures" for plane attack. Obama: Iintelligence community' blew air bomber tip.

Likely casualty of air plot: Obama's Guantanamo plans.

Dutch to use full body scanners for US flights.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Japan unveils new plan for growth.

French public debt hits record.

Japan Airlines shares fall 24% to hit a new record low.

China's PetroChina invests in Canada oil sands.

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