News from WN Network

Sauli Niinisto wins Finnish Presidential Elections 2012-02-06
Zeenews

Helsinki: A former finance minister won Finland’s Presidential Election on Sunday and will become the country’s first conservative head of state in five decades. Sauli Niinisto took 63 percent of the votes, compared to 37 percent for his rival, Greens candidate Pekka Haavisto, official results...

photo: AP / Roni Rekomaa

Priyanka Gandhi: Rahul Gandhi 'not focussed' on PM job 2012-02-06
BBC News

Priyanka Gandhi, Congress party's star campaigner in Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, says brother Rahul is not focussed on becoming PM. He is working to "bring in positive change in the state and not for his reputation", she told reporters. The country had an "extremely good prime minister"...

photo: AP

Syrian army 'steps up Homs offensive' 2012-02-06
Al Jazeera

The Syrian army has stepped up its attacks on opposition fighters in Homs, activists and witnesses have said, a day after a UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the bloodshed in Syria was blocked by Russia and China. Video received by Al Jazeera from opposition activists on...

photo: AP

Australian floods force thousands from their homes 2012-02-06
The Guardian

* One dead in flooding, thousands evacuated * Coal industry largely unaffected by floods * Flooding causes damage to agriculture, property By Rebekah Kebede PERTH, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Thousands of Australians were forced from their homes on Monday because of floods that have risen to record levels in...

photo: AP / Tertius Pickard

China defends Syria veto in People's Daily article 2012-02-06
The Guardian

State paper denies giving 'free rein' to Bashar al-Assad's crackdown and points to UN mandate 'abused' in Libya by Nato Chinese UN ambassador Li Baodong vetoes the security council resolution calling for Bashar al-Assad to resign as president of Syria. Photograph: Xinhua...

photo: UN / Paulo Filgueiras

New York Giants win Super Bowl over New England Patriots 2012-02-06
The Daily Telegraph Australia

FOR the second time in five seasons, Eli Manning led the New York Giants to Super Bowl success over the New England Patriots, nabbing a second MVP award in the process. Manning directed a nine-play, 88-yard drive that set up running back Ahmad Bradshaw for the game-winning touchdown with a minute to...

photo: AP / David J. Phillip

It’s risky to attack Iran: Obama 2012-02-06
Zeenews

Washington: US President Barack Obama said on Sunday there were important risks to consider before any military strike against Iran and made clear he does not want to see more conflict in the oil-producing Gulf region. In a television interview, Obama also said he did not believe Tehran had the...

photo: AP / Haraz N. Ghanbari

Obama says he deserves re-election, job's not done 2012-02-06
The Guardian

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he deserves re-election, despite the nation's economic troubles. Obama said in a pre-Super Bowl interview on NBC that his administration is creating more than 250,000 jobs a month, the most since 2005, and a reversal from the 750,000 jobs the economy was...

photo: Public Domain / White House

Afghan civilians carry cost of war as death toll rises 2012-02-06
The Independent

Civilian deaths undermine support both in Afghanistan and the United States for the US-led war, and are one of the biggest causes of friction between President Hamid Karzai and the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). Bombs planted on roads, and increasingly deadly suicide...

photo: AP / Abdul Khaliq

Saif Gaddafi's trial could begin within weeks, says NTC 2012-02-06
The Independent

Fawzi Abdelali said yesterday that the trial will begin "within weeks, or months". The trial, which will focus on Saif's role as key member of the previous regime in Libya, could eventually see the former friend of many in the British establishment facing a death sentence. It could...

photo: AP / Imed Lamloum, Pool