NZ HERALD - Billionaire mayor grapples with Wall St protest, Nov 06, 2011

"It would seem that Mayor Michael Bloomberg would be a natural foe for protesters now in their seventh week on Wall Street's footstep.
He is not only the 1 per cent, he was named the 30th richest person on the planet, according to Forbes magazine. He is a man who has used his fortune to achieve vast political influence. A former trader and CEO who ardently defends the big banks against those who would blame the institutions for the nation's economic woes."

ABC News, Australia - Australian filmmaker Sarah Watt dies, Nov 06, 2011

"Australian director and animator Sarah Watt has died of cancer aged 53.

Watt is survived by her husband, actor William McInnes, and their two children Clem and Stella.
The family published a tribute in The Age newspaper, saying she "died peacefully at home filled with the love she gave to those who adored her - her family".
"A life of courage humour, intelligence, generosity, honesty and grace.
She is best known for her feature films Look Both Ways, and My Year Without Sex, which combined her distinctive animation style with live action film." Watt was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and secondary bone cancer in 2009.
Film reviewer Marc Fennel was among those paying tribute.

Her death prompted an outpouring of grief on the social media service Twitter.

     

CNN News - Europe and Greece: The worst-case scenarios, Nov 05, 2011

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The immediate threat in Greece has passed. But the crisis is far from over.
The Greeks could decide that they've had enough of Germany and France telling them to cut their retirement benefits, make people work longer hours and raise taxes. They could simply say they want out."

CBS News - Are Beyonce and Jay-Z having a girl?, Nov 05, 2011

"(CBS) Kelly Rowland may have accidentally spilled the beans about the gender of Beyonce and Jay-Z's baby.

The high-powered music couple haven't revealed whether they're having a girl or a boy, but Rowland slipped during an interview this week with Us Weekly.
Pictures: Celebrity baby bumps
Pictures: Beyonce
While chatting with the magazine at the Cosmopolitan Awards in London Thursday night, Rowland used the words "her" and "she" while talking about the pair's unborn baby.
When asked what gift she'll bring to the baby shower, Rowland said, "I don't know," adding, "I think her dad [Jay-Z] is gonna give her everything anyways, all I can give her is love."
"I think she'll be very well behaved," Rowland said about the baby. "Her parents will make sure of that."
Beyonce is due in February."

CBS News - At least 67 dead in north Nigeria sect attacks, Nov 05, 2011

"(AP) LAGOS, Nigeria - Residents fearfully left their homes Saturday to bury their dead in northeast Nigeria following a series of coordinated attacks that killed at least 67 people and left a new police headquarters in ruins, government offices burned and symbols of state power destroyed.
A radical Muslim sect known locally as Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks in Borno and Yobe states, with the worst damage done in and around the city of Damaturu. The group also promised to continue its bloody sectarian fight against Nigeria's weak central government, with residents nervously moving through empty streets, waiting for the next attack."

REUTERS - Huge asteroid headed for close encounter with Earth, Nov 05, 2011

 

(Reuters) - A huge asteroid will pass closer to Earth than the moon Tuesday, giving scientists a rare chance for study without having to go through the time and expense of launching a probe, officials said.
Earth's close encounter with Asteroid 2005 YU 55 will occur at 6:28 p.m. EST (2328 GMT) Tuesday, as the space rock sails about 201,000 miles from the planet.
"It is the first time since 1976 that an object of this size has passed this closely to the Earth. It gives us a great -- and rare -- chance to study a near-Earth object like this," astronomer Scott Fisher, a program director with the National Science Foundation, said Thursday during a Web chat with reporters
.

REUTERS - Syrian tanks kill five in besieged Homs: activists, Nov 05, 2011

"(Reuters) - Tank fire killed at least five civilians and wounded dozens in the besieged Syrian city of Homs on Saturday, activists and residents said, casting doubt on whether an Arab League plan can end months of bloodshed triggered by a popular uprising.
In Cairo, the Arab League chief said the organization was seriously concerned by ongoing violence and appealed to Damascus to abide by steps agreed with Arab states to protect civilians and set Syria on the course of dialogue.
"The failure of the Arab solution would lead to catastrophic results for the situation in Syria and the region as a whole," Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby said in a statement.
The deaths in Homs, on the eve of the main Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha, brought to at least 82 the number of civilians reported killed in Homs since Tuesday by troops trying to crush protests against President Bashar al-Assad and an emerging armed uprising."

REUTERS - Northeast Nigeria militant attacks kill at least 65, Nov 05, 2011

"(Reuters) - At least 65 people were killed in a spate of coordinated gun and bomb attacks in the northeast Nigerian city of Damaturu on Friday, an aid agency said, and witnesses said dozens of bodies were piling up in morgues in the now almost deserted city.
Gunmen raided the city and nearby village of Potiskum, both in northeastern Yobe state, on Friday evening, and engaged in several hours of running gunbattles with security forces, witnesses said.
Militants bombed churches, mosques and police stations.
Though no one has claimed responsibility, the Boko Haram Islamist sect has been behind previous such attacks.
"This place was like a war zone last night. There is no single policeman on the street now, the attacks destroyed mosques and churches, I have seen many injured persons in the hospital," said local Damaturu artisan Benard Ogbeifun."

REUTERS - Greek parties bicker over coalition to save the nation, Nov 05, 2011

"(Reuters) - Prime Minister George Papandreou launched his campaign on Saturday for a coalition to save Greece from bankruptcy, but rival parties showed little willingness to cooperate in tackling the nation's economic, political and social crisis.
Papandreou said negotiations would start soon to form a broad-based government, tasked with ensuring parliament backs a euro zone bailout vital to keeping Greece afloat and preventing its crisis from bringing down much bigger economies."

NEWS.CN -Thai flood death toll reaches 446, 2 missing, Nov 05, 2011

" A total of 446 people were confirmed dead and two people were missing in the floods that have inundated the upper part of the country for almost three months, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Saturday.
Four more people were confirmed dead on Thursday in central province of Ayutthaya.
Central province of Nakhon Sawan has the highest death toll of 61 people, following by central province of Ayutthaya with 53 people killed."

ABC News, Australia - Union mulls Fiji travel boycott after arrests, Nov 05, 2011

"Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed the arrest of Felix Anthony, the second leader of the Fijian Trades Union Congress (FTUC) to be arrested in as many weeks.
FTUC president Daniel Urai was arrested last week. The Federal Government says neither man has been charged.
It says it is keeping a close eye on Fijian authorities, who it says are targeting and intimidating trade unionists and other political opponents.
But ACTU president Ged Kearney is calling for stronger action against the regime.
"We are considering actually as a movement asking Australians to consider other places in t he Pacific to go for their holidays rather than Fiji," she said."

NZ HERALD - Six dead as flooding hits Italy, Nov 05, 2011

"Torrential rains lashed Genoa and Italy's western coastline again yesterday, triggering flash floods that killed at least six people as raging water uprooted trees and swept cars and furniture through the streets."

THE GUARDIAN - Global recession grows closer as G20 summit fails, Nov 05, 2011

"Cameron tells eurozone member states to solve their own problems. Link to this video
A world recession has drawn closer after a fractious G20 summit failed to agree fresh financial help for distressed countries and debt-ridden Italy was forced to agree to the International Monetary Fund monitoring its austerity programme.
Financial markets fell sharply after the two days of talks in Cannes broke up in disarray, amid concerns that Italy will now replace Greece at the centre of Europe's deepening debt crisis."

LA TIMES - Greek Premier Papandreou ekes out victory in confidence vote, Nov 05, 2011

"By Anthee Carassava and Henry Chu, Los Angeles Times
November 4, 2011, 8:45 p.m.
Reporting from Athens and London— Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will keep his job, for the moment.
Papandreou squeaked through a confidence vote in Parliament early Saturday, but only by indicating he would step down if necessary to allow formation of a unity government that would carry out Europe's latest plan to combat a raging debt crisis."

REUTERS - Magnitude 6.0 earthqake hits Chile: USGS, Nov 05, 2011

 "(Reuters) - A powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit northern Chile at 0713 GMT on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The temblor was centered 20 miles west northwest of Antofagasta, Chile, at a depth of 30.8 miles, USGS reported.
(Washington World Desk)"

REUTERS - Colombians celebrate killing of FARC rebel leader, Nov 05, 2011

"(Reuters) - Colombians rejoiced at the killing of top FARC rebel leader Alfonso Cano and hoped the biggest blow yet against Latin America's longest insurgency could herald an end to nearly five decades of war."