World News

LONDON (AFP) - A long-awaited public inquiry into Britain's role in the Iraq war opens Tuesday, with former civil servants first to appear in hearings set to climax with Tony Blair taking the stand.

LONDON (AFP) - Britain's defence minister will this week announce details of an inquiry into the alleged torture and murder of Iraqi detainees by British troops, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

BRUSSELS - For 23 torturous years, Rom Houben says he lay trapped in his paralyzed body, aware of what was going on around him but unable to tell anyone or even cry out.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduran President Manuel Zelaya said Monday the United States has weakened efforts to reverse the coup that ousted him, while a U.S. envoy says his country has clearly opposed the ouster and will examine upcoming elections closely for fairness.

BRASILIA, Brazil - The world must engage and not isolate Iran in the push for Middle East peace, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday, and Iranian leaders should negotiate with Western nations for a solution to concerns over its nuclear program.

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina's president says Israel and the United States should do more to push for peace in the Middle East.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama honored a group of women Monday who have confronted Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and said they had defied a dictator.

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The world's first permanent war crimes court opens its second trial on Tuesday when two Congolese warlords face charges they ordered subordinates to attack civilians, rape women and enlist child soldiers.

NAIROBI, Kenya - The bullet hit mother and son as they walked through Somalia's capital. She felt a sharp pain in her palm. Then she saw her 8-year-old: The bullet tore through his cheekbones, nose and mouth. Blood gushed down to his waist.

SANAA (AFP) - A Japanese engineer freed after nine days held hostage by tribesmen near the Yemeni capital Sanaa voiced his relief at his release and said he just wanted to see his wife and take a shower.

WASHINGTON - The White House braced for a tough sell of President Barack Obama's long-awaited decision on whether to commit tens of thousands of new U.S. forces to the stalemated war in Afghanistan, even as the president met Monday with top advisers for possibly the last major deliberations before an announcement.

DENVER - Newmont Mining has agreed to sell a 14 percent stake in an Indonesian gold mine for $494 million, ending a years-long dispute with the Indonesian government over how the mining company should sell shares as required under its contract to operate in the country.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - Some Canadian provinces have stopped using a particular batch of the H1N1 flu vaccine after six people experienced severe allergic reactions, the country's health agency said on Monday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Canadian attorney behind what U.S. prosecutors describe as the largest insider trading scheme in Canadian history was denied entry to the United States and could not be sentenced on Monday.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian retail sales grew twice as much as expected in September as consumers ramped up spending on a wide range of goods, suggesting the economy grew at a healthy clip in the month.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Ships in the south Pacific Ocean have been alerted that groups of icebergs believed to have split off Antarctic ice shelves are drifting north toward New Zealand, officials said Tuesday.

BEIJING - China will send two giant pandas to an Australian zoo this Friday as part of a joint research program.

MELBOURNE, Australia - A kangaroo startled by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, pinning the pet underwater and slashing the owner in the abdomen with its hind legs. The Australian, Chris Rickard, was in stable condition Monday after the attack, which ended when the 49-year-old elbowed the kangaroo in the throat.

MONTREAL - A Canadian woman on sick leave for depression said Monday she would fight an insurance company's decision to cut her benefits after her agent found photos on Facebook of her vacationing, at a bar and at a party.

SYDNEY (AFP) - More than 100, and possibly hundreds, of Antarctic icebergs are floating towards New Zealand in a rare event which has prompted a shipping warning, officials said on Monday.

MELBOURNE, Australia - A kangaroo startled by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, pinning the pet underwater and slashing the owner in the abdomen with its hind legs. The Australian, Chris Rickard, was in stable condition Monday after the attack, which ended when the 49-year-old elbowed the kangaroo in the throat.