Daily News Items Here Please :newsflash

[Canada Joe]

Fresh efforts to seal Gaza border



Egypt has started choking off supplies to its border zone with Gaza in an attempt to discourage Palestinians from pouring into the area, reports say.

The people of Gaza have been crossing freely into Egypt for a sixth day after militants destroyed the border wall.
Security forces have been powerless to prevent the flow of people stocking up on food and fuel supplies amid an Israeli blockade.

[DJ]

Hillary Wins Florida Dems but the Best News is Rudy Guliani is OUT OF THE RACE.

Bye Bye Ahole!

[Canada Joe]

McCain wins key Florida primary



John McCain has beaten Mitt Romney by a slim margin in Florida, a key battle for Republicans seeking to run for president in November.
Only two-thirds of the vote has been counted but Mr Romney has conceded.
Hillary Clinton claimed victory in the Democratic vote, although it is a largely symbolic contest.

[Canada Joe]

UN fails to agree Gaza statement



The UN Security Council has abandoned its attempt to agree a statement on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip following a blockade by Israel.
Israel tightened its embargo after a sharp rise in rocket attacks from the Palestinian territory on its southern towns, leading to acute shortages.
The UN statement, which must be agreed by all 15 members of the council, would have called for an end to hostilities.
But Libya wanted language more critical of Israel than the US would accept.

[Canada Joe]

Giuliani quits White House race



Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has pulled out of the Republican race for the White House after disappointing primary results in Florida.
Mr Giuliani announced in California he was giving his support to Arizona Senator John McCain.

Earlier on Wednesday, Democrat John Edwards left the race, without backing any of his rivals, after failing to win a single party nomination contest.

[Canada Joe]

US rates cut to avoid recession



The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates for the second time in nine days as it tries to keep the US economy from entering a recession.
The central bank lowered rates to 3% from 3.5% after a two-day meeting.
Last week, the Fed slashed the cost of borrowing by the largest amount in 25 years in a shock move to calm tumbling global stock markets.
The Fed is hoping the cuts will cushion the US economy from the worst effects of the credit crunch and housing slump.

[Canada Joe]

Egypt reseals Gaza border breach



Egyptian troops have sealed the border with the Gaza Strip, ending 10 days of freedom of movement for Palestinians.
The troops are still allowing Palestinians and Egyptians to return home, but have stopped allowing any new cross-border movement..

[Canada Joe]

Senior al-Qaeda commander killed



A senior al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, Abu Laith al-Libi, has been killed, Western counter-terrorism officials have told the BBC.

[Canada Joe]

Iraq market bombs toll nears 100



The death toll from two Baghdad market bombs allegedly carried by mentally disabled women and set off remotely has risen to nearly 100, say officials.

[Canada Joe]

Yahoo bid 'should get approval'

.....

With US politicians due to meet later this week to discuss Microsoft's offer for Yahoo, analysts ultimately expect any deal to secure regulatory approval.
As Yahoo's board mulls Microsoft's $44.6bn (£22.4bn) takeover proposal, a key congressional committee said it will scrutinise the bid on 8 February.

[Canada Joe]

Anti-war grouping supports Obama



A leading anti-war movement in the United States has opted to back Barack Obama for the presidency.
MoveOn.org claims to have 3.2 million members, and said it would start a campaign immediately to persuade them to support the senator from Illinois.

[Canada Joe]

Poland 'agrees' to host US shield



Poland and the US have reached an agreement in principle to install a controversial American missile defence system on Polish soil.
In return for hosting part of the shield, the US has said it will help bolster Poland's air defences.

[Canada Joe]

Spears' father takes over estate



Singer Britney Spears has had control of her estate and her own welfare taken from her, under order of a court.
The pop star and her assets have been placed under the "conservatorship" of her father, James Spears.
Ms Spears was admitted to a psychiatric hospital on Thursday, after a highly publicised descent into drink, drugs and personal problems.

[Canada Joe]

Rare suicide bombing hits Israel



A suicide bomber has killed a woman in the southern Israeli town of Dimona, the first such attack in over a year.
Israeli police said a second suicide attacker was shot dead before he was able to detonate his explosives belt.

[Canada Joe]

Google troubled by Microsoft move



Google has said it finds Microsoft's $44.6bn (£22.65bn) bid to buy rival Yahoo "troubling" and wants regulators to scrutinise the proposed deal.

In a blog, Google said the tie-up could unfairly limit the ability of consumers to freely access competitors' email and instant messaging services.

[Canada Joe]

US rivals in Super Tuesday push



US presidential rivals are facing a day of frenzied campaigning in a final bid for votes on Super Tuesday, when 24 states hold nominating contests.

Republican John McCain appears to have a clear lead in the national polls over his main challenger, Mitt Romney.
But the Democratic race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is tight.

[Canada Joe]

US Super Tuesday votes under way
Super Tuesday - when some 24 states vote on who they will back for the Democratic and Republican nomination - is one of the key milestones in the race to the White House.

Use our map to find out more about the races and what is at stake in each of the Super Tuesday states. Click on other states to find out more about how the race will shape up as the year progresses.

[Canada Joe]

Britney's manager 'drugged star'



Britney Spears' manager has been banned from going near her after the troubled star's mother took out a restraining order in a Los Angeles court
Lynne Spears claimed Sam Lutfi, 33, drugged her daughter, cut off her phone lines and called her an "unfit mother". In a six-page declaration, she said Mr Lutfi "moved into Britney's home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances".

[Canada Joe]

US rivals fight on after key day

How close are the would-be US presidential candidates to securing their party's nomination?

[Canada Joe]

'Al-Qaeda boys' in training video



US and Iraqi forces have issued video footage which they say shows children under the age of 11 being armed and trained by al-Qaeda.
The US military said five tapes had been found when coalition forces raided suspected al-Qaeda hideouts north of Baghdad in December.

[Canada Joe]

Nato 'at risk over Afghanistan'



US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has warned the future of Nato is at risk due to differences over Afghanistan and that it may become a two-tier alliance.
Mr Gates said that without more sharing of the burden of counter-insurgency in Afghanistan, the willingness of those engaged in combat would disappear.

[Canada Joe]

West warned over Afghan failure



Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has said the failure of Nato's mission in Afghanistan could result in terror attacks in Western countries.
The alliance's mission in Afghanistan is not failing, but big challenges remain, Mr de Hoop Scheffer added.

[Canada Joe]

Nato dismisses Afghanistan crisis



Nato defence ministers have dismissed talk of a crisis over its operation in Afghanistan, saying the alliance was making good progress in the country.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said he was encouraged by what he had heard from European states about upping their contributions at talks in Lithuania.

[Canada Joe]

French parliament backs EU treaty



France's parliament has voted to adopt the EU reform treaty, three years after a French No dealt a fatal blow to the European Constitution.
MPs approved the law by a margin of 336-52 and the upper house, the Senate, later also approved the vote.

[Canada Joe]

Putin vows 'arms race' response



Russia's President Vladimir Putin says the world is engaged in a new arms race and Nato is failing to accommodate Russia's concerns.
In a state council address, Mr Putin condemned Nato's expansion and the US plan to include Poland and the Czech Republic in a missile defence shield.
"It is already clear that a new phase in the arms race is unfolding in the world," Mr Putin said.