A former environment minister who criticized the conservative prime minister for modeling himself after President Bush won leadership of Canada’s Liberal Party on Saturday. Stephane Dion pledged to unseat Prime Minister Stephen Harper after he scored a surprise defeat of the party front-runner, Michael Ignatieff. Dion was part of the team of Liberals under former Prime Minister Jean Chretien who opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and turned down Washington’s request to join.
Philippines: Typhoon death toll
Rescuers scouring mountain villages buried under mud and boulders loosened by a powerful typhoon discovered more bodies Saturday, raising the death total to more than 300, with another 300 missing. Officials fear the number of those killed by Typhoon Durian will rise as rescue operations continue in devastated villages on the slopes of the Mayon volcano, 210 miles southeast of Manila in the northern Philippines.
Iran: Americans to be fingerprinted
Iran has enacted a law requiring American citizens visiting the country to be fingerprinted upon arrival, an official said Saturday. Conservatives drafted the law in retaliation for the U.S. requirement that Iranian visitors be fingerprinted. The U.S. measure, which also applies to nationals of other countries, was implemented after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The United States and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since 1979.
Australia: Shark attacks body surfer
A shark ripped off part of a 15-year-old tourist’s leg Saturday as he swam at a beach in Australia’s remote southwest, officials said. Zak Golebiowski, from South Australia state, was attacked as he bodysurfed with a brother and a friend about 40 yards offshore at Wharton Beach, police said. The teen’s right leg was severed above the knee and his left leg badly mauled, but family members and witnesses on the beach managed to stem the bleeding until an ambulance arrived, police said.
From Herald news services
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