World

US presidential candidates jostled for the mantle of change as more bad economic news threatened to deepen dissatisfaction with the state of the nation.

HAVANA (Reuters) - Hurricane Ike barrelled toward Cuba as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm on Sunday and was forecast to sweep into the central Gulf of Mexico as a large and powerful storm echoing Hurricane Gustav.

LONDON (AFP) - People should cut their consumption of meat to help combat climate change, a top United Nations expert told a British Sunday newspaper.

KHOST, Afghanistan (AFP) - Afghan and international troops raided a militant compound in eastern Afghanistan and killed more than 10 suspected rebels, the US-led coalition said Sunday.

CERNOBBIO, Italy (AFP) - US Vice President Dick Cheney accused Russia of using "brutality" and seeking Soviet-style dominance through the Georgia conflict but Russia's leader insisted that the war has changed the world map.

ISLAMABAD, Sept 7, 2008 (AFP) - Asif Ali Zardari is expected to be sworn in as Pakistan's president Monday, capping a remarkable rise from jail, exile and his wife Benazir Bhutto's assassination just nine months ago, an official said.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's armed forces will begin three days of war games on Monday involving anti-aircraft defense systems, Iranian media said on Sunday.

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli President Shimon Peres said Sunday he opposes a military strike on Iran and prefers the use of international economic sanctions to persuade Tehran to halt its nuclear enrichment programme.

SYDNEY (AFP) - Government in resource-rich Western Australia state, the driver of the national economy, remained on a knife-edge Sunday after no political party secured a majority in elections, officials said.

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is optimistic that French President Nicolas Sarkozy will on Monday make progress in his discussions with Russia about a peace plan with Georgia.

BANGKOK, Sept 7, 2008 (AFP) - Thailand's embattled prime minister Samak Sundaravej told the nation Sunday he was confident there would be no military coup, despite weeks of street protests calling for his resignation.

Asif Ali Zardari is expected to be sworn in as Pakistan's president on Monday, capping a rise from jail, exile and his wife Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

More than 500 people died in Haiti as aid trickled in to residents who have not eaten in days since the latest in a battery of storms lashed their country.