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european stocks closed lower wednesday as sentiment turned increasingly cautious on the outlook for the economy and the banks after monday 's euphoric response to a us government bailout of two key us mortgage finance firms . | european stocks close lower |
an israeli military helicopter with a two-man crew crashed near the northern town of afula and burst into flames on wednesday , army radio said . | military helicopter crashes in israel |
manet 's `` olympia , '' titian 's `` venus delighting herself with love and music '' and goya 's `` la maja UNK '' are to hang with other illustrious nudes alongside picasso 's very own in an unprecedented exhibition next month on `` painting learning from painting . | major paris exhibit to show how picasso learned from old masters |
british prime minister gordon brown denied wednesday favoring either barack obama or john mccain in the us presidential race , despite writing an article in which he appeared to back the democrats . | british pm denies backing obama in magazine article |
britain pledged ## million pounds -lrb- ### million dollars , ## million euros -rrb- wednesday to help bangladesh fight the effects of climate change , as the low - lying south asian nation made a plea for billions of dollars in aid . | britain pledges climate change aid for at-risk bangladesh |
the white house disagreed wednesday with opec 's plans to cut oil output by half a million barrels a day , saying `` we would like to see more oil on the market , not less . | us disagrees with opec output cut |
a front group for al-qaeda in iraq hit out at the country 's largest sunni arab parliamentary faction on wednesday over a government offensive against jihadists north of baghdad . | qaeda front group hits out at iraq sunni party |
russian president dmitry medvedev moved to calm investors wednesday as the benchmark rts stock market index fell #.# percent wednesday , capping a ##-percent fall since the start of the year . | medvedev moves to calm markets as stocks fall further |
us roman catholic bishops on wednesday charged that immigration raids on us workplaces break up families and disrupt communities , without addressing the flawed us immigration system . | us catholic bishops UNK us immigration raids |
the white house on wednesday expressed guarded optimism about the future of north korean nuclear disablement efforts amid reports that north korean leader kim jong-il may be seriously ill . | us hopeful of nkorea progress despite kim health reports |
particle physicists were jubilant on wednesday after the long-awaited startup of a UNK designed to expose secrets of the cosmos passed its first tests with flying colors . | flawless start for world 's UNK particle collider |
an israeli military helicopter crashed near the northern town of afula on wednesday , army radio said . | military helicopter crashes in israel |
seven men accused of being part of a cell that allegedly plotted to bring down transatlantic airliners will face a retrial , after a jury failed to reach verdicts this week , british prosecutors said wednesday . | retrial ordered in britain over alleged transatlantic bomb plot |
a moroccan rights organization called wednesday for `` the immediate release '' of blogger mohamed UNK , jailed this week for two years for showing disrespect to the king . | moroccan rights group calls for blogger 's release |
the us defense department has canceled a ## billion-dollar competition for a new air refueling tanker , leaving the politically charged decision to a new president . | timeline of disputed us tanker contract |
at least ## people were killed in a massive rockslide that crushed dozens of homes in a cairo slum over the weekend , a security official said on wednesday , with the toll expected to rise further . | cairo rockslide toll climbs to ## |
chad 's rebel leader and a prominent human rights lawyer blamed president idriss deby itno for the world bank 's decision to stop financing an oil pipeline deal , accusing him wednesday of stealing the money to pay for war . | chad 's president blamed for world bank pipeline pullout |
archaeologists are a step closer to fully unravelling a ##-year mystery surrounding the discovery of broken early bronze age marble objects on a greek island , project sources said on wednesday . | archaeologists shed light on greek bronze age marbles mystery |
the white house race plumbed new toxic depths wednesday as barack obama raged against john mccain for stooping to `` lies and phony outrage '' in response to the democrat 's mocking talk of `` lipstick on a pig . | obama accuses mccain of lying over lipstick smear |
the white house on wednesday welcomed `` positive '' comments from north korea 's number two leader on six-country efforts to end the secretive stalinist country 's nuclear weapons programs . | us hails positive nkorea number two 's comments on nuclear deal |
russia ruled out wednesday allowing eu observers into the georgian regions of south ossetia and abkhazia , contradicting claims by french president nicolas sarkozy over the mission . | russia eu at odds over georgia peace deal |
the euro , UNK by prospects of recession in the eurozone , fell to #.#### dollars in late afternoon trade wednesday , its lowest reading since october # , #### . | euro falls to ##-month low of #.#### dollars |
french president nicolas sarkozy and his wife carla bruni will welcome pope benedict xvi at the airport when he arrives in france on friday for his first visit , the presidency said . | sarkozy first lady carla to greet pope in paris |
european stock markets closed lower on wednesday , with london 's ftse ### index down #.## percent at #,###.## points . | european stock markets close lower |
us pop art giant jeff koons took the chateau of versailles by storm on wednesday , ruffling the stately pomp of the french royal court with his riotous , larger-than-life artwork . | jeff koons ruffles versailles with eye-popping art show |
president george w. bush declared an emergency in texas wednesday and state authorities began ordering evacuations as deadly hurricane ike churned in the gulf of mexico toward the us state . | texas girds for the worst as deadly ike closes in |
seven members of an alleged cell accused of plotting to bring down transatlantic airliners will face a re-trial , after a jury failed to reach verdicts earlier this week , prosecutors said wednesday . | retrial ordered in britain over transatlantic bomb plot |
a top russian general threatened wednesday to target planned american missile shield sites in poland and the czech republic with ballistic missiles amid icy us-russia relations over georgia . | russia threatens to target us sites in europe |
the war crimes court for the former yugoslavia granted a temporary release wednesday to UNK president milan milutinovic for medical reasons , a court statement said . | hague tribunal releases milutinovic for medical reasons |
the white house on wednesday said it disagreed with opec 's plans to cut oil output by half a million barrels a day , saying it wants to see more oil come to market , not less . | us disagrees with opec output cut |
in villages in western georgia russian soldiers are packing up to leave , rolling up barbed wire and removing equipment , but the process is anything but fast , residents said wednesday . | russian soldiers pack bags in western georgia |
john mccain decried barack obama 's use of the term `` lipstick on a pig '' as a sexist smear against his republican running mate sarah palin , a controversy dismissed wednesday by the democratic nominee as `` phony and foolish . | obama mccain trade barbs over allegations of lipstick smear |
the united states will provide ## million dollars in aid to help storm-ravaged haiti recover from deadly tropical storms , white house spokeswoman dana perino said wednesday . | us to give ## million dollars in aid to storm-hit haiti |
pakistan 's defense minister wednesday told the head of the german air force that civilian deaths from missile strikes by afghanistan-based forces could damage cooperation in the `` war on terror . | pakistan defense chief warns about civilian deaths |
us stocks pared early gains wednesday as the market mulled struggling investment giant lehman brothers ' plans to sell assets to shore up its finances . | us stocks pare gains after lehman unveils assets sale |
israel has recently foiled at least two attacks against its citizens abroad with the help of foreign security services , defense minister ehud barak said on wednesday . | israel says it foiled attacks abroad |
the european union wants to boost its ties with oil-rich nigeria , its key partner on the continent , a top brussels official said on wednesday . | eu seeks to deepen ties with nigeria |
oil prices fell below ### dollars a barrel on wednesday after the us government revealed that stockpiles of distillates had fallen less than expected last week in the aftermath of hurricane gustav . | oil prices drop after us inventory data |
armenia has signed a deal to supply electricity to turkey , energy minister armen UNK said wednesday , in the first tangible sign of a thaw in relations since an historic weekend visit by the turkish president . | armenia signs power supply deal with turkey after gul visit |
georgia accused russian soldiers of violating a fragile truce on wednesday by killing a georgian policeman , as a major crack appeared in the eu-brokered ceasefire over the remit of eu observers . | georgia accuses russia of breaking truce |
the zimbabwe has licensed some shops to sell goods in foreign currency as it grapples with a burgeoning black market in basic commodities , a senior official said on wednesday . | zimbabwe licences shops to trade with foreign currency |
kuwait said on wednesday it was considering alternatives to its widely criticised employee sponsor system after violent protests by foreign workers demanding better conditions . | kuwait mulls change in sponsor system after labor unrest |
turkish cypriot leader mehmet ali talat expressed hope wednesday that talks to unite the divided island of cyprus would be wrapped up by year 's end and a solution found by june next year . | turkish cypriot leader hopes for deal before eu elections in june |
a paris court refused wednesday to extradite to georgia an opposition activist and former defense minister convicted of corruption , his lawyer said . | france rejects extradition for georgian opposition activist |
ailing investment bank lehman brothers announced wednesday a series of asset sales to shore up its finances as it posted an estimated #.# billion-dollar quarterly loss . | lehman bros to sell off assets after #.# bln dlr loss |
the european commission said wednesday it was seeking information from the belgian authorities over complaints that french-speakers are discriminated against over public housing . | eu probes complaints about housing discrimination in belgium |
world food programme chief josette sheeran urged the european union wednesday to show bold leadership and unblock a billion euros in aid to help poor countries confront the global food crisis . | food program chief urges eu to be bold on farm aid |
republican vice presidential pick sarah palin thursday refused to rule out war with russia should georgia eventually join nato and then be invaded by moscow 's troops . | palin does not rule out war with russia |
republican vice presidential pick sarah palin vowed thursday she would not `` blink '' in pursuit of america 's `` righteous '' war in iraq and insisted she was ready to step in as president if needed . | palin will not blink in america 's righteous cause |
zimbabwe 's political rivals clinched a powersharing agreement late thursday ending an ongoing political crisis in the southern african country . | key dates in zimbabwe 's crisis |
argentina on thursday blasted the united states for accusations made during a miami trial that a suitcase filled with ###,### dollars stopped at buenos aires airport was an illicit campaign gift to president cristina kirchner from venezuela . | argentina fumes over us accusations in suitcase trial |
un chief ban ki-moon hailed the power-sharing deal reached by the zimbabwean government and its opposition in harare thursday and voiced hope it would pave the way for durable peace and recovery . | un chief hails power-sharing deal in zimbabwe |
the united states on thursday ordered the expulsion of bolivia 's envoy to washington after bolivian president evo morales ordered the us ambassador to la paz to leave the country . | us expels bolivian ambassador after bolivia boots us envoy |
republican vice presidential pick sarah palin insisted in her first major television interview on thursday she was ready to step in as us president if necessary . | palin insists she is ready to be president |
zimbabwe 's political rivals reached a power-sharing deal thursday in a bid to end a bitter crisis after marathon talks that centred on how much authority president robert mugabe would cede . | zimbabwe rivals clinch long-awaited power-sharing deal |
lehman brothers shares plunged further thursday as fears intensified about the survival of the troubled wall street investment giant . | lehman shares slide further as survival prospects dim |
us ambassador philip goldberg has up to ## hours to leave bolivia , the government of leftist president evo morales said thursday . | us ambassador given up to ## hours to leave bolivia |
sarah palin is rejuvenating her republican running mate john mccain in three of the battleground states likely to decide his showdown with democrat barack obama , new polls showed thursday . | mccain basks in palin power in key swing states |
spain 's constitutional court ruled thursday that a plan by authorities in the separatist-minded basque country to hold a referendum next month on the political future of the region is illegal . | spain 's constitutional court blocks basque referendum |
us insurance giant aig and four of its former senior executives agreed to pay ### million dollars to settle claims stemming from charges of fraud , the investors ' law firm said thursday . | aig four ex-executives settle lawsuit for ### mln dlrs |
britain 's queen elizabeth ii was mistakenly sent #,### pints of beer when one of her royal residences was confused with a nearby pub , it emerged thursday . | UNK queen mistakenly sent #,### pints of beer |
white house rivals john mccain and barack obama made a dramatic show of unity thursday with a visit to ground zero on the emotional seventh anniversary of the #\/## terrorist attacks . | white house rivals bury hatchet at ground zero |
spain 's constitutional court ruled thursday that a plan by authorities in the separatist-minded basque country to hold a referendum next month on the political future of the region is illegal . | spain 's constitutional court blocks basque referendum |
in the latest sign of bollywood 's expanding reach , one of the industry 's biggest stars opened a new acting school in london on thursday that will tutor aspiring actors who hope to break into indian film . | bollywood legend opens acting school in london |
the dollar shook off a weak report on the us trade deficit and held generally steady thursday as investors sought safety in the greenback from market turmoil . | dollar resilient after trade report ; euro weakens |
roads and bridges leading from the us gulf coast were jammed thursday as hundreds of thousands fled in a mandatory evacuation of parts of houston , as deadly hurricane ike bore down on the texas metropolis . | thousands forced to flee houston as deadly ike advances |
zimbabwe 's political rivals reached a power-sharing deal thursday in a bid to end a bitter crisis after marathon negotiations that centred on how much power president robert mugabe would cede . | zimbabwe rivals clinch long-awaited power-sharing deal |
afghan president hamid karzai thursday welcomed a new us `` war on terror '' focus on pakistan 's border areas as more deadly violence underscored rampant militancy seven years after the #\/## attacks . | afghanistan welcomes war on terror shift on #\/## anniversary |
lehman brothers shares plunged further thursday as fears intensified about the survival of the troubled wall street investment giant . | lehman shares slide further as survival prospects dim |
rescuers evacuated dozens of truck drivers from the channel tunnel on thursday after an explosion and fire on a freight shuttle injured ## people and forced the closure of the undersea link , officials said . | fierce fire forces channel tunnel evacuation ## injured |
spain 's constitutional court thursday blocked a plan by authorities in the separatist-minded basque country to hold a referendum next month on the political future of the region , a court source said . | spain 's constitutional court blocks basque referendum |
us stocks staged a late rebound thursday as the market bounced off lows , shaking off fears about the financial sector and a battle for survival by investment giant lehman brothers . | wall street higher shakes off fears on lehman brothers |
the continued overfishing of bluefin tuna in the mediterranean is a `` disgrace '' and all fishing of the species in the region must be suspended immediately , a panel said thursday . | experts call for halt to bluefin tuna fishing in mediterranean |
white house rivals john mccain and barack obama paid homage at ground zero together thursday on the seventh anniversary of the #\/## terrorist attacks . | white house rivals visit ground zero |
spanish king juan carlos and prime minister jose luis rodriguez zapatero attended a memorial service thursday for the ### victims of last month 's spanair jet crash , spain 's worst air accident in ## years . | spain holds memorial service for plane accident victims |
a us air force plane left new zealand for antarctica early friday on a key mission that could pave the way for year-round flights to the bottom of the world . | us air force attempts antarctica night-vision flight |
ireland 's national sail training yacht foundered off the northwestern coast of france thursday , forcing its ## crew to take to UNK , french maritime officials said . | crew rescued as irish tall ship founders off france |
white house rivals john mccain and barack obama visited ground zero together on thursday to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the #\/## terrorist attacks . | white house rivals visit ground zero |
former president bill clinton said thursday barack obama would win november 's election `` handily '' as he prepared to bring his vaunted campaign skills to bear on behalf of his heir as democratic leader . | bill clinton to join campaign predicts handy obama win |
spain 's supreme court thursday blocked a plan by authorities in the separatist - minded basque country to hold a referendum next month on the political future of the region , a court source said . | spain 's supreme court blocks basque referendum |
us stocks staged a late rebound thursday as the market bounced off lows , shaking off fears about the financial sector and investment giant lehman brothers 's battle for survival . | wall street higher shakes off fears on lehman brothers |
barack obama , the democratic candidate for the white house , arrived thursday at ground zero in new york where he was due to pay homage to the dead along with his republican rival john mccain . | obama arrives at ground zero |
russia condemned thursday the `` unfriendly '' stance of ukraine over the war in georgia and its treatment of ethnic russians , fuelling tensions in what is feared could be the region 's next flashpoint . | russia slams unfriendly ukraine |
oil prices tumbled thursday as the dollar rallied and demand worries outweighed a powerful hurricane ike barreling through the UNK gulf of mexico . | oil prices drop as dollar firms demand jitters persist |
spain 's supreme court thursday blocked a plan by authorities in the separatist - minded basque country to hold a referendum in october on the political future of the region , a court source said . | spain 's supreme court blocks basque referendum |
zimbabwe 's opposition leader morgan tsvangirai thursday said there was a `` deal '' on power-sharing to end a ruinous political crisis as he emerged from a meeting with president robert mugabe . | zimbabwe rivals clinch long-awaited power sharing deal |
deadly clashes in bolivia thursday stoked fears of further widespread unrest and possibly even civil war , amid a furor over the expulsion of the us ambassador to the country . | fresh violence in bolivia stokes civil war fears |
russian troops labored thursday over a tentative pull-out from georgia as moscow vowed to strengthen its military after last month 's war and turned its diplomatic fire on ukraine . | russia turns diplomatic fire on ukraine |
john mccain and barack obama observed a brief truce thursday in the rancorous white house race , joining ground zero ceremonies for the seventh anniversary of the #\/## terrorist attacks . | political truce marks tearful #\/## anniversary |
rival cypriot leaders began talks on thursday on how to share power in a future unified state , their first substantive negotiations in a bid to end the mediterranean island 's ##-year division . | cyprus rivals begin key phase of peace talks |
sure to irk us evangelicals , muslims and hasidic jews alike , satirist bill maher aims to subvert what he claims is mankind 's biggest threat : organized religion . | us satirist maher takes on organized religion |
the official death toll from moscow 's military operation in georgia was thursday revised to ## soldiers , five less than previously announced . | russia lowers official death toll from georgia conflict |
a global forum on migration began thursday in spain and was set to call on european nations to ratify a #### un convention on the rights of migrants , organisers said . | europe urged to ratify un charter on migrants rights |
the gulf of mexico , where hurricane ike churned thursday , is a hub of the us petroleum industry where a quarter of us crude oil is produced and ## percent of refinery capacity is concentrated . | gulf of mexico hub of us oil industry |
a `` tsunami '' of films premiering this week at the toronto film festival explore mankind 's destruction of the environment and efforts around the world to save it , organizers said thursday . | filmmakers in toronto focus lens on environmental issues |
eu foreign ministers are set to beef up sanctions against zimbabwe next week , frustrated by the lack of political progress there , european diplomats said thursday . | eu ministers set to broaden zimbabwe sanctions |
the gulf of mexico , where hurricane ike churned thursday , is a hub of the us petroleum industry where a quarter of us crude oil is produced and ## percent of refinery capacity is concentrated . | gulf of mexico hub of us oil industry |
twelve socialist opposition activists jailed on charges of inciting unrest in yemen were freed on thursday after being pardoned by president ali abdullah saleh , official and opposition sources said . | yemen frees socialist activists jailed over unrest |
rival cypriot leaders began talks on thursday on how to share power in a future unified state , their first UNK negotiations in a bid to end the mediterranean island 's ##-year division . | cyprus rivals begin key phase of peace talks |
archaeologists in greece have unearthed more than #,### ancient graves and tombs during excavation work for a new metro in the northern city of salonika , the culture ministry said on thursday . | over #,### ancient graves found in greek metro dig |