News in brief

Russian gas flow through Ukraine to Europe halted (Reuters)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:08:03 +0000

Reuters - Russian gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine shut down completely on Wednesday, leaving growing numbers of European Union member states without Russian fuel in freezing mid-winter temperatures.

Written from Reuters.

UN wants probe of school shelling that killed 40 (AP)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:07:51 +0000

AP - The United Nations agency dealing with Palestinian refugees says it’s certain that Hamas militants were not using its school to attack Israeli troops.

Written from AP.

Israel ground war drives up civilian casualties (AP)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:07:07 +0000

AP - The rising civilian death toll in Israel’s campaign in Gaza highlights the pitfalls of Israel’s powerful army using lethal force against often invisible Hamas guerrillas taking cover among civilians.

Written from AP.

Mumbai attackers ordered by phone to kill: documents (AFP)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:05:11 +0000

AFP - Militants who attacked Mumbai were urged to kill their hostages in cold blood and fight to the death in the name of Islam, according to transcripts of intercepted telephone calls made public Wednesday.

Written from AFP.

Suspected shark sighting as mourners remember Australian victim (AFP)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:36:45 +0000

AFP - A large shark was reportedly spotted Wednesday near to where a beach memorial was being held for an Australian swimmer killed by one of the predators, an official said.

Written from AFP.

CES 2009: the Brits are coming

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:28:14 +0000

If it’s a bloodbath, I can’t see many bodies. Contrary to one of my blogs yesterday, Vegas is busy. So busy, in fact, that my colleague Rupert Neate took hours to find a spare hotel room.

The Consumer Electronics Show is certainly scaled back on recent years, but the number of exhibitors is down just 8 per cent on last year with 2,700 companies showing up. As Gary Shapiro, the chief executive of the Consumer Electronics association told me, “8pc down is the new 8pc up”. His neologi…

Written from AFP.

In Ukraine dispute, Russia cuts gas supplies to Europe (The Christian Science Monitor)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:00:00 +0000

The Christian Science Monitor - Europeans suddenly saw gas supplies shrink Tuesday as Russia raised the stakes in its gas war with Ukraine by slashing deliveries through the main export pipeline.

Written from The Christian Science Monitor.

US coalition says 32 militants killed in Afghanistan (AFP)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:46:13 +0000

AFP - Coalition soldiers killed 32 armed insurgents in a major operation against Taliban fighters east of the Afghan capital Kabul, the US military said Wednesday.

Written from AFP.

Ukraine: Russia stops sending gas to Europe (AP)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:42:07 +0000

AP - Ukrainian officials said Wednesday that Russia had cut off all gas supplies through pipelines crossing Ukrainian territory, the latest move in a devastating pricing dispute between the two neighbors that has already left a number of countries without gas.

Written from AP.

Humid weather brings out Australia’s deadly funnel web (AFP)

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:26:06 +0000

AFP - One of the world’s most venomous spiders, Australia’s funnel-web, is enjoying the summer so much it appears to have brought forward its annual mating ritual, according to an expert.

Written from AFP.