 Oil-rich Gulf state Kuwait is embroiled in an unprecedented constitutional crisis pitting two branches of the ruling Sabah family against each other. The cabinet has asked parliament to support the removal of Emir Sheikh Saad al-Abdullah on health grounds. Supporters of the sheikh have responded by asking for his swearing-in to be held before MPs can convene. But the move was rejected by the speaker, and parliament will decide the emir's fate in a vote on Tuesday. Constitutionally, when requested by the cabinet, Kuwait's parliament must vote by a two-thirds majority for an ailing emir to be removed. If the new emir is voted out of office, it would be the first time a Kuwaiti ruler is removed by parliament. Sheikh Saad, 76, has played little part in public life for several years, despite being crown prince to Emir Sheikh Jaber, who also suffered poor health. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk
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Editor - 11:47:00 01-23-06
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 Canadians elect a new parliament |
Canadians have begun casting votes in a general election with opinion polls pointing to a likely Conservative win for the first time in 12 years. The second election in 18 months was triggered when Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin lost a confidence vote. Conservative leader Stephen Harper has pledged to cut taxes and tackle violent crime and corruption. Polling stations in Newfoundland were first to open as the election unfolded across Canada's six time zones. Two last-minute opinion suggested the Conservatives would be 10 points ahead of the Liberals - at 37% to 27% - but they also indicated the party would not secure an outright majority in the 308-seat house. Correspondents say that although the Canadian economy is buoyant, the Liberals have struggled to shake off accusations of corruption. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4638258.stm
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Editor - 11:04:00 01-23-06
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| Ford to slash up to 30,000 jobs |
Carmaker Ford is closing 14 North American plants with the loss of 25-30,000 jobs as it attempts to revive its business there. The cuts, representing nearly a quarter of its North American workforce, come as Ford faces tough competition from Asian rivals such as Toyota and Nissan. It wants to reduce costs in its North American business by $6bn by 2010. The closure of 14 plants there will slash its annual car production by 1.2 million units, or 26%, by 2008. Last year Ford's share of the US car market slumped to 17.4%, the lowest it has been since the late 1920's. Earlier on Monday, Ford said that net income had risen by 19% in the last three months of 2005, topping market forecasts. However, the figure was helped by the proceeds from the sale of the Hertz rental car business. For the full year, Ford's North American vehicle operations lost $1.6bn before taxes. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4639034.stm
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Editor - 11:01:00 01-23-06
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| UK diplomats in Moscow spying row |
Russia's state security service, the FSB, has accused British diplomats of spying in Moscow. It backed claims made in a Russian TV report which showed footage of what it said was British agents retrieving data from a fake rock planted on a street. The programme also said a UK diplomat made regular payments to Russian non-governmental organisations. The UK Foreign Office said it was "concerned and surprised", and denied any improper conduct with Russian NGOs. Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed FSB spokesman as saying that "everything that was shown [in the programme] was true and based on our information". The programme said four officials from the UK embassy and one Russian citizen, allegedly recruited by the British secret service, downloaded classified data from a transmitter in the rock onto palm-top computers. According to the programme, the Russian citizen was later arrested. Hidden camera footage appears to show individuals walking up to the rock. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4638136.stm
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Editor - 10:57:00 01-23-06
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| Case of brain-damaged girl gets independent review |
Saying "errors in judgment were made," Gov. Mitt Romney on Monday announced an independent investigation into the state's handling of the case of a brain-damaged 11-year-old girl at the center of a right-to-die battle. Haleigh Poutre was allegedly beaten into a coma last year by her adoptive mother and stepfather, who fought the state's efforts to disconnect the girl from her life support. The state's highest court granted the state permission last week to disconnect her from her ventilator and feeding tube. But the next day, the Department of Social Services revealed her condition had improved and was breathing on her own. Romney, a Republican who is considering a run for president in 2008, said he will establish a panel to review the girl's entire 10-year case log with the Department of Social Services. ...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-23-lifesupportstruggle_x.htm?csp=34
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Editor - 10:54:00 01-23-06
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| Ford owners not told of ways to reduce fuel-tank fire risk |
North Carolina (CNN) -- The parents of three sisters burned to death in a rear-end crash are asking Ford Motor Co. to install the same gas tank protective devices in regular models as it did for its police cars.Tara Parker, 29, Mysti Poplin, 24, and Megan Howell, 16, died two years ago inside a Lincoln Town Car limousine that burst into flames after it was caught in a traffic jam and hit from behind by a speeding pick-up truck in Greensboro, North Carolina.Ford settled out-of-court with the families last week, days before their lawsuit was to be heard. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.In 2002, after a dozen police officers had died in fiery rear-end crashes over a decade's time, Ford created rubber and plastic shields to cover sharp parts around the fuel tank of the Crown Victoria police car to help prevent punctures and fires....
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/23/ford.fires/index.html?section=cnn_us
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Editor - 10:53:00 01-23-06
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