WIUM NewsRoom

NATO takes command of Afghan army, police training

(2009-11-21) KABUL (Reuters) - NATO took command of the training of the Afghan army and police on Saturday to consolidate efforts on building an effective security force, a vital precondition for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

Iran to hold war games to protect atom plants (2009-11-21) TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will begin large-scale air defense war games on Sunday to help protect its nuclear facilities against any attack, a senior commander said.

China mine explosion kills 31, traps 78

(2009-11-21) BEIJING (Reuters) - At least 31 miners were killed and 78 remain trapped 500 meters (yards) underground following a gas blast at a mine in China, state media said on Saturday.

Rwanda genocide survivors may boycott U.N. court

(2009-11-21) KIGALI (Reuters) - Survivor groups from Rwanda's 1994 genocide say they may stop sending witnesses to the U.N. tribunal in Tanzania, in protest at the court's recent acquittals of two genocide suspects.

Putin announces more aid as Russia exits crisis (2009-11-21) ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin pledged on Saturday to widen Russia's anti-crisis aid package with a car scrappage scheme and mortgage support to jolt the economy out of the worst recession in 15 years.

Honduras de facto leader says will step aside

(2009-11-21) TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Honduras's post-coup de facto leader said on Friday he would give up his presidential duties for a week, a step Washington welcomed as a way to help ease a five-month-old political crisis.

Suspected militants blow themselves up in Pakistan (2009-11-21) MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) - Three suspected Taliban militants blew themselves up on Saturday as police chased them in Pakistani Kashmir, police said.

Madagascar leaders to meet on unity government deadlock

(2009-11-21) ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) - Madagascar's political leaders will meet next week to break the deadlock over the make-up of a unity government called for in power-sharing deal, one of the country's two co-president said on Saturday.

Russia's Medvedev raps ruling party over elections

(2009-11-21) ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday criticized regional officials in Russia's ruling party for failing to ensure fully democratic local elections last month.

Italy arrests Pakistanis suspected of Mumbai links (2009-11-21) MILAN (Reuters) - Italian anti-terrorist police have arrested two Pakistanis suspected of helping to finance the Islamic militant group responsible for the attacks on Mumbai in November 2008, that killed 166 people.