Italy convicts former CIA agents in rendition trial
MILAN/ROME (Reuters) - An Italian judge sentenced 23 Americans to up to eight years in prison on Wednesday for the abduction of a Muslim cleric, in a symbolic condemnation of the CIA "rendition" flights used by the former U.S. government.

Italian court sentences US agents in abduction case
A Milan court Wednesday sentenced 23 US citizens, most of them believed to work for the CIA, to multi-year prison terms for the kidnapping of a Muslim cleric six years ago in a controversial rendition case.

US 'disappointed' at Italian verdict on CIA kidnap
The United States said it was "disappointed" with the convictions in Italy on Wednesday of 23 Americans most of whom were CIA agents for the 2003 kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric from a Milan street.

CIA agents jailed over cleric kidnap
A judge in Italy has sentenced 23 American CIA agents and two Italian secret agents to jail over the kidnapping of a Muslim cleric in 2003.

Italy convicts 23 US agents in CIA kidnapping trial
An Italian judge on Wednesday convicted 23 US and two Italian secret agents for the CIA's kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric in 2003 under the covert "extraordinary rendition" programme.

CIA agents guilty of Italy kidnap
An Italian judge convicts 23 Americans and two Italian secret agents over the CIA kidnap of an Egyptian cleric in 2003.

Italy Convicts 23 Americans for C.I.A. Renditions
The Americans were tried in absentia for the seizure of a Muslim cleric from the streets of Milan over six years ago.

Italian court sentences 23 CIA agents over rendition flight
An Italian court sentenced 23 former CIA agents to up to eight years in prison today for their role in the abduction of an Egyptian terrorist suspect in the first trial over extraordinary renditions.

Italy convicts 'U.S. agents' in CIA kidnap trial
An Italian court convicts 24 suspected CIA agents for the seizing of a suspected terrorist in Milan, a practice rights groups call "extraordinary rendition."

Italian judge convicts 23 in CIA kidnap case
MILAN (AP) -- An Italian judge on Wednesday convicted 23 Americans of the 2003 kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric on a Milan street, in a landmark case involving the CIA's extraordinary rendition program in the war on terrorism. Citing diplomatic immunity, Judge Oscar Magi told the Milan courtroom Wednesday that he was acquitting three other Americans. Former Milan CIA station chief, Robert Seldon Lady, received the stiffest sentence, eight years in prison. The other 22 convicted American defendants each received a five-year sentence. The Americans, all but one identified by prosecutors as CIA agents, were tried in absentia. Their lawyers ... Email

Welsh soldier among five killed
One of five soldiers killed in an attack by an Afghan police officer was a Royal Military Policeman from Pembrokeshire.

UK names 5 troops killed in Afghan shooting
Five British soldiers have been shot and killed in an attack in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, the British Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.

Betrayed: Murder of five of five British soldiers casts doubt on Afghanistan strategy
As a rogue member of the Afghan police force is hunted debate has intensified over future of the British mission in Afghanistan.

Bloody betrayal raises fresh doubts about Britain's campaign in Afghanistan
The killing of five British soldiers by an Afghan policeman raised fresh doubts yesterday about Britains mission in Helmand.

Afghan cop kills 5 soldiers
London, Nov. 4 (Reuters): An Afghan policeman killed five British soldiers at a checkpoint in Afghanistan and the Taliban said he was one of their fighters who had infiltrated the force.

Taliban behind UK soldier deaths
British and Afghan troops are hunting for a rogue Afghan policeman who shot dead five British soldiers and injured another six.

5 British soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Five British soldiers were killed in a shooting in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, Britains Defence Ministry said.

Afghan Police Officer Kills Five British Soldiers
The attack in Afghanistans Helmand province was committed by a rogue policeman, a British official said.

Afghan policeman kills five British soldiers
LONDON (Reuters) - An Afghan policeman killed five British soldiers at a checkpoint in Afghanistan and the Taliban said he was one of their fighters who had infiltrated the force.

Afghan 'policeman' shoots dead five British soldiers
Five British soldiers have been killed in a single incident in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, after an Afghan policeman they were training opened fire on the forces, the Ministry of Defence in London said Wednesday.

Israel Claims Iran Weapons Intercept
Commandoes seize a ship that Israel says was carrying Iranian weapons to Hizballah, but fears that a lot more are getting through

Hezbollah denies link to arms ship seized by Israel
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrilla group denied on Thursday any connection with a shipment of weapons that Israel said it had intercepted on the high seas.

Hezbollah Denies Links to Ship Seized by Israel
Hezbollah is denying any links to a ship carrying hundreds of tons of weapons that Israel says was bound for the Iranian-backed guerrilla group.

Iran and Syria deny arms claims
Iran and Syria deny Israeli claims that a ship seized in the Mediterranean was carrying weapons for Hezbollah militants.

Israel seizes weapons-smuggling ship off coast
Israeli naval commandoes Wednesday seized a cargo ship smuggling weapons from Iran to the Hezbollah guerrilla group in Lebanon, the military said.

Israel navy seizes ship carrying weapons for Hezbollah
Israel's navy commandos seized a ship carrying over 60 tonnes of weapons including missiles and rockets from Iran for Syria with the consignment probably meant for the Hezbollah guerillas.

Israeli commandos seize ship 'carrying arms to Hezbollah'
Israeli special forces have intercepted a cargo ship carrying hundreds of tonnes of weapons which military officials said were being delivered from Iran to Hezbollah, its ally in Lebanon.

Israeli Navy Captures Arms Shipment
Officials say a cargo ship captured off Cyprus was carrying weapons for Hezbollah but offered no proof.

Video: UN to evacuate hundreds of staff from Afghanistan
The UN is to relocate about 600 of its 1,100 employees in Afghanistan for safety reasons after a deadly attack in Kabul

U.N. evacuates hundreds of staff from Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Thursday it would temporarily evacuate hundreds of its international staff from Afghanistan due to deteriorating security, a sharp blow for Western efforts to stabilize the country.

UN to pull staff out of Afghanistan
The United Nations is to pull its non-essential foreign staff out of Afghanistan after a deadly Taliban attack on a guesthouse for UN workers, a spokesman said today.

UN pulls 600 staff out of Afghanistan following attack
The United Nations is pulling out at least 600 international staff from Afghanistan amid concerns about further Taliban attacks after five workers were killed in their guesthouse last week.

U.N. to Move Staff From Afghanistan
About 600 of its foreign staff members would temporarily move from the country following an attack last week.

UN relocating about 600 staff after Afghan attack
UN is temporarily relocating more than half of its international staff in Afghanistan following last week's deadly attack.

UN to pull 600 staff from Afghanistan
The UN in Afghanistan is pulling out hundreds of its staff because of deteriorating security.

U.N. Relocating 600 Staff After Deadly Afghan Attack
The United Nations said Thursday that it is temporarily relocating more than half its staff in Afghanistan following last week's deadly Taliban attack against U.N. workers.

Reddys snub CM, refuse to meet him
Reddys want Yeddyurappa to step down from the post of Chief Minister.

Reddy brothers snub Yeddyurappa, refuse to meet him
The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts to resolve the political crisis in Karnataka hit a roadblock Thursday with the dissident Reddy brothers, who are also ministers, snubbing Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa's overtures and refusing to meet him.

Dissidents refuse to meet Yeddyurappa
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party dissidents on Thursday rebuffed Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's efforts to reach out to them by refusing to meet him.

Dissidents refuse to meet Yeddyurappa
Karnataka CM Yeddyurappa said on Thursday that he would meet BJP leaders as well as the dissident Reddy brothers. They have refused to meet him.

Yeddu in Delhi; crucial talks with BJP leadership today
Karnataka CM B S Yeddyurappa arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday night for crucial talks with the BJP leadership voicing confidence that he will stay on.

I will go by directive of central leadership: Yeddyurappa
NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has said he was ready to go by the directions of the BJP central leaders to resolve the political crisis in the State. Talking to The Hindu here late on Wednesday ...

Matsui is MVP after World Series win
NEW YORK -- The Yankees christened the first season in their new ballpark the same way they opened their old stadium in 1923: with a World Series championship.

Matsui powers Yankees to World Series victory
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 to win the World Series on Wednesday, the Bronx Bombers ending a nine-year wait for a 27th title with a 4-2 series victory over the defending champions.

Yankees 7, Phillies 3: Back on Top, Yankees Add a 27th Title
The Yankees captured their first title since 2000, humbling the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night in Game 6 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees win World Series as Philadelphia Phillies beaten 73
New York Yankees win World Series for record 27th time after inspired performance from Hideki Matsui in 73 win over Phillies.

Yankees Win 27th World Series Crown
The New York Yankees have won the World Series, beating the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 behind Hideki Matsui's record-tying six RBIs.

Yankees clinch World Series
Hideki Matsui drove in a record-tying six runs to power the New York Yankees past Philadelphia 7-3 and give them a record 27th World Series crown and their first title since 2000.

8 kids drown as boat capsizes in Kerala river
This is the second incident of a boat capsizing in Kerala in the 45 days.

Eight students drown as boat capsizes in Kerala
Seven school students drowned when a boat carrying 35 people capsized in the Chaliyar river near Areekkod in Malappuram district.

Eight students drown in Kerala
Eight schoolchildren were killed in Kerala's Malappuram district on Wednesday in the second boat tragedy in the state in a month, showing the callousness of the authorities in enforcing safety norms.

Kerala: 8 students die in another boat capsize
At least eight students -- six boys and two girls -- are feared dead in yet another boat capsize in Kerala's Malappuram district. Rescue operations are on in full swing.

Death of students condoled
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor R.S. Gavai has expressed grief over the death of eight students in a boat accident in the Chaliyar River in Malappuram district on Wednesday. I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic boat ...

Eight children drown as boat capsizes in Kerala river
Eight schoolchildren were drowned Wednesday in yet another tragedy in Kerala when the boat they were travelling in capsized in Chaliyar river, officials said.

US envoy in rare talks with Suu Kyi, Myanmar PM
The most senior US official to visit Myanmar for a decade and a half met democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and the ruling junta's premier today as Washington seeks a new era of engagement with the regime.

U.S. delegation holds talks with Myanmar's Suu Kyi
YANGON (Reuters) - A top U.S. official held rare talks with Myanmar's detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Wednesday as part of Washington's highest-level visit to the isolated army-ruled country in 14 years.

Aung San Suu Kyi allowed out of house arrest to meet US delegation
Pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi was briefly released from her house arrest in Burma today to meet with a visiting US delegation for talks.

Suu Kyi meets US officials
Journalists have been allowed a rare glimpse of Burma's pro-democracy hero, Aung San Suu Kyi, as she met with senior US officials visiting the country.

US envoy holds rare talks with Suu Kyi, Myanmar PM
The most senior US official to visit Myanmar for a decade and a half held talks with Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday after the ruling junta allowed the detained Nobel laureate to make a rare public appearance.

Iran: New Opposition Battle on U.S. Embassy Siege Day?
Iranian opposition leaders have designated Wednesday's commemoration of the 1979 capture of the U.S. embassy as a day of protest against the regime

Iran police clash with protesters
Police clash with opposition supporters during a rally in the Iranian capital, Tehran, witnesses and state media say.

Iranian Opposition Clash With Police at Rally in Tehran
Iranian security forces beat anti-government protesters with batons Wednesday on the sidelines of state-sanctioned rallies to mark the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover.

Iranian protesters, police clash at embassy rally
UPDATED: TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Opposition protesters returned to the streets of Tehran Wednesday for the first time in nearly two months, clashing with security forces just blocks from a government rally to mark the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover. The scenes of defiant chants, tear gas and baton-wielding police recalled the unrest that followed the disputed presidential elections in June. But the latest marches drew far fewer demonstrators and suggested the relentless pressure by authorities could be taking a toll on the opposition. It also displayed the pinpoint counter strategy of opposition groups: staging rival marches during ... Email

Iran protesters clash with police in Tehran on 30th anniversary of US embassy siege
Iranian security forces are reported to have opened fire on opposition protesters in Tehran on the anniversary of the US embassy siege.

Protesters tear-gassed in bid to hijack Iran's anti-US rally
Violence erupted in Tehran this morning as Iranian security forces clashed with thousands of opposition activists seeking to hijack a state-sponsored rally marking the 30th anniversary of the storming of the US embassy.

Obama loses face in governors' race
US President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party got a political wake-up call when voters chose Republican governors in New Jersey and Virginia in the US version of "by-elections".

Republican wins deal blow to Obama
Republicans inflicted a double blow on President Barack Obamas Democratic Party, winning gubernatorial races in two states that had backed him last year.

Republican Bob McDonnell Wins Va. Gov Race
Republican Bob McDonnell tapped Virginia's independent voters Tuesday to win a landslide election for governor just a year after the state bucked tradition and voted for Barack Obama

Republicans celebrate election victories in double blow to Barack Obama
Republicans are celebrating after winning two elections against Barack Obama's Democratic Party.

Analysis: New Jersey and Virginia tells Obama - we blame you for the economy
The Republican victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections have revealed significant cracks in the coalition that swept Barack Obama into the White House last year, and delivered an ominous warning to the President and Democrats: they now own Americas ailing economy.

Blow for Obama as Republicans win Virginia and New Jersey
Republicans retake governorship of Virginia and oust Democratic governor in New Jersey on day of elections across the US Barack Obama suffered a double blow last night when the Republicans secured stunning victories in the first electoral test since he won the White House a year ago. The Republicans celebrated a comeback that reverses a trend of Democratic victories stretching back to 2005, winning the governorship of Virginia, the state where Obama's victory last year in the presidential race was one of the high points of his campaign. But the surprise of the night was their ousting of the incumbent Democratic governor in New Jersey, traditionally a Democratic bastion. Although Democratic officials insisted the elections had not been a referendum on Obama's presidency, any lingering Democratic euphoria from his win last year has now disappeared. Exit polls showed widespread unhappiness with the continuing weakness of the economy, in particular job shortages, and, to a much lesser exte