Hourly News updated 10:00 2011/10/28

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At least a dozen people are dead, after twin bombings in Baghdad.

45 others have been hurt in the blasts.

The second blast was timed to go off as emergency crews were converging³ on the scene to help the injured.

 

 

UN ends no-fly zone authorization⁴ in Libya; Nato chief promises to end operations by 31st

The U.N. Security Council has voted unanimously to end its 7 month long no-fly zone over Libya, as well the mandate⁵ authorizing⁶ NATO operations.

It comes despite a request from Libya's interim⁷ government for the Security Council to hold off on a final decision.

French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud.

"I repeat it, it's the end of a stage. It's a stage I think that we have, with the United Nations and the country which have risked the life of their soldiers, I think it's a stage that we have to be particularly proud of it."

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, welcomed the decision, although says that she is still "very concerned" about the approach of Libya's new government to human rights.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has confirmed that NATO will conclude its operations in Libya by the end of this month.

 

 

Suspected spy returns to Israel after released by Egypt

US-Israeli citizen Ilan Grapel has arrived in Tel Aviv after being freed by Egypt as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Israel.

Grapel, who was detained in June on spying charges was accompanied by Israeli officials on his flight from Cairo.

Last week Israel released the first batch⁸ of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli soldier.

Grapel says he was treated well in Egypt.

"Despite the circumstances and the turmoil⁹ going on in Egypt, I have to also thank the Egyptian authorities that treated me respectfully, according to the tenets of their religion. Made sure that I was fed well, respected me and made sure that no one harmed me in any way."

Grapel had been held by the militant¹⁰ group, Hamas, which controls Gaza, since 2006.

 

 

World rushes to send aid to Turkey

More than 30 countries are now in the process of sending tents, prefabricated housing and containers to quake-stricken Turkey.

Israel has sent its first plane carrying pre-built housing to Ankara, with another three expected in the coming days.

"Tonight as you can see, the first plane is leaving for Ankara, we hope in the next few days, many more planes will be joining. We also intend to send a ship with many more housing units, warm clothes, beds, sheets."

The Turkish government says it's only going to deliver tents to those whose homes are deemed unsafe..

Meanwhile, rescuers have pulled a young man alive from the rubble¹¹ four days after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Turkey.

So far over 530 people have been confirmed dead from the disaster, with over 23-hundred others listed as injured.

Thousands more have been left homeless.

 

 

Residents flee Bangkok

In Thailand's capital of Bangkok, people are still desperately¹² trying to escape the fatal flooding.

Floodwaters are now moving toward the inner parts of the city.

With a 5-day national holiday now taking place in Thailand, officials are urging people in Bangkok to travel to other places in the country to avoid the flooding..

However, despite the rising floodwaters, some are choosing to stay to protect their homes and businesses.

So far, Thailand's worst flooding in over half a century has killed more than 370 people and forced the evacuation of over 100-thousand from their homes.

 

 

Coal mine accident leaves seven dead, 11 missing

7 miners are dead with 11 others remaining missing, following a gas explosion at a coal mine in Henan.

The blast ripped through the mine in the city of Jiaozuo.

The search for the 11 missing miners is hampered¹³ by high level of gas in the mine.

Ventilation machines are now in place to try to clear the gas.

 

 

Vice¹⁴ Premier¹⁵ promotes trade with South Korea

Chinese vice Premier Li Keqiang has now concluded his 2-day visit to South Korea.

Li Keqiang's visit to South Korea has included meetings with business leaders in Seoul where he suggests the two sides can expand their cooperation in green industries, as well as explore new modes for investment.

China and South Korea have already decided¹⁶ to double their currency swaps¹⁷ to 56 billion U.S. dollars.

China is South Korea's largest trading partner, and a key destination for investment.

 

 

HP to keep PC business

Tech giant Hewlett-Packard has announced that it's going to keep itself in the PC business.

HP's board of directors had been mulling the possibility of divesting¹⁸ itself out of the personal computer business.

However, the company's new CEO has decided to backtrack on her predecessor’s initial suggestion.

Meg Whitman was installed as HP's new CEO, shortly after former CEO Leo Apotheker revealed that Hewlett-Packard was considering getting out of the PC business altogether.

That news sent HP shares plunging¹⁹ some 20-percent the day after the revelation.

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