Daily International News 11.17.11

Daily International News
November 17, 2011

Northeast Asia
Japan
Japan bans rice grown near crippled nuke plant [AP]
Koreas
Obama: US will act vs NKorea nuke proliferation [AP]
Food aid intended for N. Koreans to be offered to third countries [Yonhap]
U.N. envoy on N. Korean human rights to visit S. Korea next week [Yonhap] 
North Korea to get $100 million annually for Russian gas transit [Ria Novosti]
Benetton Ad shows Kim Jong-Il, Lee Myung-bak kissing [Ads of the World]
China
China’s central authorities congratulate success of first space docking mission [Xinhua]
UC Berkeley reveals plan for engineering center in China [NYT]
7 Tibetans arrested for illegally crossing into Nepal [Kyodo]

Southeast Asia/Pacific
A look at the top issues at Southeast Asia meeting [AP]
Closer US-Australia security ties irk China [Al Jazeera]
Suu Kyi party likely to register for Myanmar polls [AP]
ASEAN agrees to let Myanmar lead bloc [Al Jazeera]
Thais angry over flood handling [Al Jazeera]
Clinton sees flood evacuees on quick Thailand trip [AP]
Philippine’s Arroyo calls off medical trip [Al Jazeera]

South/Central Asia
Pakistani ambassador offers resignation [WaPo]
Afghanistan: Rockets ‘aimed at Kabul elders meeting’ [BBC]
India minister says rural jobs funds spent on toys [BBC]

Middle East
Arab League offers Syria a reprieve as deaths mount [NYT]
Raids in Syria as pressure mounts on Assad [Al Jazeera]
Ford to return to Syria [POLITICO]
Russia compares Syria violence to ‘civil war’ [Al Jazeera]
China ‘highly concerned’ about crisis in Syria [AP]
Protesters storm Kuwaiti parliament [BBC]
Barak tries damage control after ‘Iran sympathy gaffe’ [Al Jazeera]
U.N. nuclear chief says “must alert world” about Iran [Reuters]

Africa
Regional leaders seek to step up war on Somalia rebels [Reuters]
Al Shabaab vow to defeat Kenya after Mogadishu attacks [Mail & Guardian]
U.N. court convicts former Rwandan mayor of genocide [Reuters]

Europe
Italy Premier Appoints Emergency Government [WSJ]
Protesters clash with police in Athens [Al Jazeera]
Spain’s borrowing costs hit 14-year high [BBC]
Vatican pledges legal action against Benetton [AP]

Americas
Mexican police reveal cross-border drugs tunnel, seize 17 tonnes marijuana [Guardian]
Noriega one step closer to extradition [Al Jazeera]
Brazil 2010 census shows changing race balance [BBC]

Domestic
Obama’s ‘lazy America’ remark catches fire [POLITICO]
U.S. to Review Cases Seeking Deportations [NYT]
Congress Deficit-Cut Panel Members Hardening Positions as Deadline Nears [Bloomberg]
Protesters and officers clash near Wall Street [NYT]
CA Prop. 8 gay marriage decision due today from California Supreme Court [LA Times]
Chu presents strong defense of Solyndra loan guarantee [WaPo]
Gingrich Defends Payments From Freddie Mac as He Gets Increased Scrutiny [Bloomberg]
Herman Cain ducks Cuba questions [POLITICO]
Christie clowns about 2012 run [POLITICO]