World Highlights
o Flood warnings covered much of the northeastern US yesterday after a week of unrelenting rain that has forced people to flee their water-filled homes and caused airlines to delay flights. Flooding swamped streets in northern New Jersey, drenching...
o Flood warnings covered much of the northeastern US yesterday after a week of unrelenting rain that has forced people to flee their water-filled homes and caused airlines to delay flights. Flooding swamped streets in northern New Jersey, drenching basements of stores and residences, while rains hampered relief work in New Hampshire where flooding has killed seven people and left at least 18 families homeless. Nearly 12 inches of rain has fallen in New York City's Central Park since October 7, when the showers began across much of the Northeast.
o A British court ruled that the UK government acted properly when it forced rail operator Railtrack out of business in 2001, dismissing a £157-million compensation claim by thousands of shareholders. The High Court found the government not guilty of acting in bad faith prior to Railtrack's slide into administration, and said suggestions a former Cabinet minister lied over the matter were not enough to uphold the claim.
o US President George W. Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, appeared before a federal grand jury for a fourth time yesteday as prosecutors neared a decision on whether to bring charges over leaking a covert CIA operative's name. Mr Rove, the most powerful and controversial political strategist in Washington, made no comment as he entered the federal courthouse to begin his testimony, hoping to convince grand jurors that he did nothing illegal. He had no comment when he left at 1.15 p.m. (1715 GMT).
o Dutch police arrested seven people in anti-terror raids yesterday on suspicion of plotting attacks against politicians and government buildings. The sound of shots or explosions was heard in The Hague, the seat of the Dutch government, during raids there but it was not clear what caused it or whether anyone was hurt.
o The US and France increased pressure on Iran yesterday to return to negotiations over its suspected nuclear arms programmes and made new threats to refer Tehran to the UN Security Council. "We hope the Iranians will return to the table... but one thing that is very clear is the Security Council is an option," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a news conference after talks in Paris with French leaders.