A round-up of today's world news stories in brief
Recount in 10% of ballots from Afghan poll
KABUL – Ballots from about a tenth of Afghanistan’s polling stations are to be recounted after evidence surfaced of widespread fraud, possibly forcing President Hamid Karzai to face another round of voting.
News of the recount came as a bitter split emerged inside the international community yesterday over how to deal with the election debacle. The split led to the abrupt departure of the top US official in the United Nations mission, Peter Galbraith, who had pushed for a more aggressive response to vote- rigging than that pursued by the Norwegian head of the mission, Kai Eide.
After a meeting in Brussels of European foreign ministers, German minister Frank- Walter Steinmeier said: “It is important that the elected president is recognised and respected by the entire population of Afghanistan.” – (Guardian service)
US intelligence costs $75bn a year
WASHINGTON – Intelligence activities across the US government and military cost $75 billion (€51 billion) a year, the nation’s top intelligence official said yesterday, disclosing a number long shrouded in secrecy.
Dennis Blair, US director of national intelligence, cited the figure as part of a four-year strategic blueprint for the huge 200,000-person intelligence community.
In an unclassified version of the blueprint released by Mr Blair’s office, intelligence agencies singled out as threats Iran’s nuclear programme, North Korea’s “erratic behaviour”, and insurgencies fuelled by militant groups, though Mr Blair cited gains against al-Qaeda.
He also cited challenges from China’s military modernisation and from efforts by Russia to reassert its power. –(Reuters)
Russia ‘dangerous’ for journalists
MOSCOW – By isolating and harassing its media critics, the Kremlin has helped Russia to become the world’s third most dangerous country for journalists, with 17 killed there since 2000, according to a press watchdog.
“Russia is a more dangerous place for journalists now than it was during the Cold War,” the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said in a report.
President Dmitry Medvedev has pledged to get to the bottom of unsolved press murders, but the report lists three journalists killed since he came to power last year. – (Reuters)
Norwegian PM claims victory
OSLO – Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg has declared victory for the centre-left in a tight election and has pledged to maintain his economic policy course and start coalition talks.
With 99.9 per cent of votes counted, Mr Stoltenbergs coalition holds a slim but unassailable majority over the centre-right opposition.
Voters apparently credited him with steering his oil- producing country through the global downturn. – (Reuters)