World News Briefs -- April 22, 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the wind energy production facility, Trinity Structural Towers Manufacturing Plant, during an Earth Day visit in Newton, Iowa, April 22, 2009. REUTERS/Larry Downing. (UNITED STATES POLITICS ENERGY IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE). Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Tensions rise in Iraq's Mosul amid Kurdish boycott.

Clinton: diplomacy on Iran could lead to sanctions.

Ex-Iranian Guards chief to run for president.

Barack Obama invites Middle East leaders to White House.

Kurdish activists charged in Turkey with rebel links.

ASIA

Maoist rebels threaten to derail Indian elections.

Deep blue lakes become Afghanistan's first park.

Japan suffers trade deficit in FY08;1st since '80.

Rare Koreas talks last 22 minutes.

UN condemns military rule in Fiji.

AFRICA

Big turnout in South African elections. Voters queue at dawn in South Africa elections.

Mali: kidnappers release 4 foreign hostages.

Kenyan sect violence 'kills 24'.

South Sudan clashes death toll rises to 250.

EUROPE

Dutch parliament agrees to block all dialogue with Hamas. The U.K. adopts a policy to talk to Hamas.

Thousands pour into Georgian capital to protest.

Communist victory confirmed in Moldova poll recount.

Russians die in Chechnya ambush.

U.K. Economy to shrink fastest since WWII.

Euro zone to tell G7 economy may be at bottom: source.

AMERICAS

Castro says Obama misunderstood Raul Castro’s comments on ties.

Opposition leader seeks asylum in Peru after fleeing Venezuela. More news here. Venezuela orders arrest of opposition politician.

Ireland: Bolivia must explain its killings of trio.

Canada chides U.S. for remarks on 9/11 plotters.

Wider drug war threatens Colombian Indians.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Swedish man set up militant camp: U.S. prosecutor.

U.K. Anti-terror case to be reviewed.

German Muslim converts accused of holy war bomb plots.

ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL CRISIS

US needs rest of world economy to recover: Geithner.

GE exec says economic crisis resetting capitalism.

IMF World Economic Outlook: it's bad.

'Deeper' recession ahead says IMF.