January 05 News international

Thursday 05 January, 2012.

TOP STORY EU decision on Iran embargo could be by month-end: France A decision on a European embargo on Iranian oil could be taken at an EU foreign ministers' meeting on 30th January in Brussels, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has said. HEADLINES 53 dead as Iraq bombs hit Shiites  A spate of attacks against Shiite pilgrims and neighbourhoods in Iraq killed at least 53 people on Thursday as the country grapples with a weeks-long political row that has stoked sectarian tensions. 25 dead, about 100 missing in Philippine landslide  At least 25 people were killed and about 100 others missing in the southern Philippines on Thursday after a landslide struck a community of gold prospectors. Obama defies Republicans recess appointments  US President Obama has defied Republican lawmakers when he bypassed Congress and invoked presidential recess appointment authority to install former Ohio attorney general Richard Cordray to head the newly formed consumer agency. Pakistani Taliban kill 15 kidnapped security men: Spokesman Taliban militants in Pakistan on Thursday said they had killed 15 security personnel who were taken hostage last month when rebels stormed a fort near South Waziristan tribal region. AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH ASIA WEST ASIA

OTHER TOP STORIES N Korea ridicules Japan's frequent change of leadership Musharraf to meet Saudi King before planned return to Pak Strengthening democracy, modernisation of UN top priority: Ban US to support any peace process led by Afghanistan Iranian threat shows its weak position: WH  Requirements of Arab League protocol not been met: US