World datelines

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 21, 2007 | by Compiled

Canada

TORONTO -- Commercial seal hunters off the eastern coast of Canada faced food and fuel shortages Friday as their vessels remained stuck in dense ice. An easing of the wind Friday morning allowed 10 vessels to make it into port, but Brian Penny, a spokesman for the Canadian coast guard, said the other 90 boats probably would stay immobilized at least another day.

Colombia

BOGOTA -- Al Gore withdrew from an environmental conference in Miami on Friday to avoid appearing with the Colombian president, who is facing the most serious accusations yet that he aided far-right death squads. Gore's office said the former vice president did not want to appear at an event with President Alvaro Uribe until "this very serious chapter in history is brought to a close."

Germany

BERLIN -- U.S. diplomatic buildings in Germany have increased their security in response to a "heightened threat," and the U.S. Embassy warned Americans in the country to take precautions, officials said Friday. German officials also said they have stepped up security outside U.S. bases, but left any specific danger unclear.

Indonesia

JAKARTA -- Thousands of workers at a huge U.S.-owned copper and gold mine are on a sit-down strike demanding a greater role in management, which they say is discriminating against tribespeople in remote Papua province. Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., based in Phoenix, has been plagued for years by allegations of human rights abuses and environmental damage at its open-pit mine.

Mexico

MEXICO CITY -- Days before Mexico City lawmakers are expected to legalize abortion in the capital, Pope Benedict XVI weighed in on the issue, saying the proposed legislation "threatens the lives of unborn children." In a letter to the Mexican Bishop's Conference released Friday, the pope said Jesus Christ compels followers to "protect and defend with firm decision" the right to life.

MONTERREY -- The U.S. State Department warned Americans this week of ongoing drug violence in several parts of Mexico, including states along the Texas border. In the past month, at least three bodies have been found in the Monterrey area with messages accusing Nuevo Leon state authorities of favoring rival cartel groups and warning of reprisals against them and their families, authorities said.

Russia

MOSCOW -- One of Russia's leading medical schools has advised its many foreign students to stay in their dormitories for three days, fearing they could be attacked by neo-Nazis and skinheads marking the anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birth, which fell on Friday. The warning was issued by the almost 250-year-old IM Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy, which suspended classes for its 1,940 foreign students.

South Korea

SEOUL -- North Korea restated its commitment to a landmark nuclear disarmament deal Friday, saying it would invite U.N. atomic inspectors and discuss shutting down its bomb-making atomic reactor as soon as it confirmed the release of its funds frozen in a banking dispute. The statement appeared aimed at quelling concern that the unpredictable regime may be dragging its feet after missing an April 14 deadline to shut down the reactor.

United Nations

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Friday for an immediate end to fighting in Somalia and talks between rival clans to end 16 years of violence and instability. Three days of fighting this week between Islamic insurgents and Ethiopian troops have killed at least 113 civilians, a Somali human rights group said Friday.