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British Q3 GDP drop revised to smaller contraction
Official figures show that the British economy shrank less than previously estimated in the third quarter -- suggesting the grip of recession is easing. (AP, 4:51 a.m.)
Comatose for 23 years, Belgian feels reborn
Helped by a therapist, Rom Houben's outstretched finger tapped with surprising speed on a computer touchscreen, spelling out how he felt "alone, lonely, frustrated" in the 23 years he was trapped inside a paralyzed body. (Associated Press Writer, 4:41 a.m.)
German consumer confidence down
Consumer confidence in Germany, Europe's largest economy, fell for the second month in a row amid fears of rising unemployment and a drop in income expectations, a closely-watched survey by the GfK market research group showed Wednesday. (AP, 3:35 a.m.)
Bomb cuts Iraqi oil pipeline deliveries to Turkey
An Iraqi official says a bomb has damaged a pipeline exporting crude to Turkey, temporarily cutting deliveries. (AP, 2:15 a.m.)
Walesa sues Polish president over comments
A Warsaw court yesterday began hearing a lawsuit filed by Lech Walesa in which the Solidarity founder is demanding damages from Polish President Lech Kaczynski for having called Walesa a communist-era agent. (Associated Press, 11/24/09)
Italian police capture escaped Mafia boss
A convicted Mafia boss who got out of jail by faking paralysis and anorexia has been arrested at a restaurant after more than two months on the run, police in Sicily said yesterday. (Associated Press, 11/24/09)
Hope (and skepticism) as man’s 23-year coma ends
With a caretaker holding his hand, a Belgian man who was diagnosed as comatose for 23 years typed out a message yesterday that he felt reborn after decades of loneliness and frustration. (Associated Press, 2:24 a.m.)
Big powers preparing Iran resolution, diplomats say
Six world powers have readied a resolution critical of Iran’s nuclear program, diplomats said yesterday, as Tehran suggested it was still ready to discuss a UN-backed plan meant to delay the Islamic Republic’s ability to make a nuclear weapon. (Associated Press, 11/24/09)
British open investigation into Iraq war
A long-awaited inquiry into Britain’s role in the Iraq war began yesterday and immediately homed in on the question that seems set to dominate its work: whether the former prime minister, Tony Blair, and his government were drawn into the conflict - over the objections of Britain’s defense and foreign policy establishment - by an eagerness to please the United States. (New York Times, 1:09 a.m.)
NIreland: 2 charged with attack on police
Two suspected Irish Republican Army dissidents have been charged with attempting to kill an off-duty police officer near the province's border with the Republic of Ireland last week, police said Tuesday. (AP, 11/24/09)
Comatose for 23 years, Belgian feels reborn
Helped by a therapist, Rom Houben's outstretched finger tapped with surprising speed on a computer touchscreen, spelling out how he felt "alone, lonely, frustrated" in the 23 years he was trapped inside a paralyzed body. (Associated Press Writer, 11/24/09)
Russia revises gas deal with strggling Ukraine
Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday revised their natural gas deal to lower the amount Kiev must buy next year, according to state-controlled monopoly Gazprom. (AP, 11/24/09)
UK official: Obama's delay hurts our Afghan case
British defense secretary Bob Ainsworth says the United States' delay in deciding how many reinforcements to send to Afghanistan has harmed his country's ability to rally public support for the war. (AP, 11/24/09)
Mullen leads US in arms control talks with Russia
President Barack Obama's top military adviser attended the latest talks with Russia to replace an expiring Cold War-era arms control agreement, the U.S. said Tuesday. (AP, 11/24/09)
Diplomats: Big powers prepare Iran resolution
Six world powers have readied a resolution critical of Iran's nuclear program, diplomats said Tuesday, as Tehran pushed forward its own alternatives to a U.N.-backed plan aimed at preventing it from developing nuclear weapons. (Associated Press Writer, 11/24/09)
Italy police nab 'paralyzed' Mafia boss on the run
A convicted Mafia boss who got out of jail by faking paralysis and anorexia has been arrested at a restaurant after more than two months on the run, police in Sicily said Tuesday. (AP, 11/24/09)
Finland's jobless rate hits 8.2 pct in Oct
Finland's unemployment rate jumped to 8.2 percent last month, the highest October rate in six years, the government statistics agency said Tuesday. (AP, 11/24/09)
Russian key interest rate cut half point to 9 pct
Russia's Central Bank has lowered its key interest rate by half a percentage point to 9 percent, the ninth cut since April as the economy struggles through the downturn. (AP, 11/24/09)
Medvedev orders probe into lawyer's prison death
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday ordered a high-level probe into the recent prison death of a lawyer who fought for greater transparency in Russian business. (Associated Press Writer, 11/24/09)
Bank of England keeps options open for recovery
The Bank of England warned Tuesday that the British economy still faces "profound challenges," fueling speculation that the central bank may not yet be done with boosting the money supply via asset purchases. (AP Business Writer, 11/24/09)
Prostitute claims Berlusconi offered help with inn
The prostitute at the center of Premier Silvio Berlusconi's sex scandal claims in a new book that she slept with him on the understanding he would help her set up a countryside inn but she got "nothing" in return. (AP, 11/24/09)
Daimler signs Russia truck deals with Kamaz
German car and truck maker Daimler AG said Tuesday it has signed two joint-venture agreements with Kamaz Inc. that will expand its presence in the Russian truck market for an investment of about euro10 million ($15 million). (AP Business Writer, 11/24/09)
UK to hold public inquiry into alleged Iraq abuse
Britain's defense ministry says it will formally order a public inquiry this week into the alleged abuse and killing of Iraqi civilians by British soldiers. (AP, 11/24/09)
Sudanese woman praised for fighting pants law
France's foreign minister has praised the courage of a journalist who has led a fight against a law in Sudan allowing for women to be flogged for wearing pants. (AP, 11/24/09)
UK mortgage lending recovering slowly
The number of mortgages approved for home purchases in Britain stood at its highest level in more than a year as the housing market showed more signs of a gradual recovery, according to lending data released Tuesday. (AP, 11/24/09)
UK regulator fines Nomura over inadequate controls
Britain's financial services watchdog has fined Nomura International PLC 1.75 million pounds ($2.9 million) for "widespread systems and controls failings" at its international equity derivates business. (AP, 11/24/09)
EU: US should spell out long-term climate goal
The United States should be ready to spell out its long-term vision for reducing carbon emissions over the next two decades, not just until 2020, the European Union said Tuesday. (Associated Press Writers, 11/24/09)
Gruner + Jahr sells Russia ops to Springer
German publisher Gruner + Jahr said Tuesday that it is selling its Russian operations to Axel Springer AG after concluding that it would need to make too many expensive acquisitions to gain a leading market position. (AP, 11/24/09)
Walesa takes Poland's president to court
A Warsaw court on Tuesday began hearing a lawsuit filed by Lech Walesa in which the Solidarity founder is demanding damages from Polish President Lech Kaczynski for having called Walesa a communist-era agent. (AP, 11/24/09)