Dodd says Congress must address financial reform (Reuters)

Reuters – Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd said on Tuesday that Congress should not adjourn for its two-week Easter recess on March 26 without addressing financial reform.

Housing construction drops 5.9 pct in February (AP)

AP – Housing construction fell in February as winter blizzards held down activity in the Northeast and South. The decline highlighted the challenges facing builders as they struggle to emerge from the worst housing slump in decades.

Thai protests turn bloody — but not violent (AFP)

AFP – Protesters spilled their own blood at the gates of Thailand’s government headquarters Tuesday in a colourful act of political theatre designed to propel their fugitive hero back to power.

Magnitude-4.4 earthquake shakes Southern Calif. (AP)

AP – An earthquake east of downtown Los Angeles rippled across Southern California before dawn Tuesday, jolting millions of people awake and putting first-responders on alert.

Protesters splash blood outside Thai PM’s office (Reuters)

Reuters – Anti-government protesters poured bottles of their own blood outside the Thai prime minister’s office on Tuesday, a “sacrifice for democracy” after demands for elections were rejected.

Pope confirms 2010 UK visit dates

Pope Benedict XVI has confirmed the dates of a visit to the UK this year.

The pontiff will visit the country from 16 to 19 September, in what will be the first papal UK visit since that of John Paul II in 1982.

The Pope will start his trip in Edinburgh, where he will be received by the Queen at Holyrood House.

He will beatify 19th Century theologian Cardinal John Henry Newman, visit the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace and pray at Westminster Abbey.

The prayers will be said alongside other church leaders.

Relations between the Christian Churches will be a theme of the visit, as will relations between the major faiths.

The Pope will travel to Coventry for the beatification of Cardinal Newman.

Other elements of the visit will include a public Mass in Glasgow, a prayer vigil in London and an event focusing on education.

‘Compassionate society’

The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, said Catholics were delighted with the "historic invitation" to the Pope.

The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales added: "We are confident that the presence and message of Pope Benedict will encourage everyone to aspire again to a vision of life in our society marked by mutual trust, compassion and truth.

"The great Christian tradition of faith and life, which has so shaped our culture, has so much more to offer.

"This gentle yet profound teacher of his faith will encourage and strengthen all who receive his words."

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Iraq progress still “fragile”: Petraeus (Reuters)

Reuters – Iraq’s progress remains fragile and could still be reversed, despite decreased violence, successful national elections in March and other advances, U.S. General David Petraeus said on Tuesday.

Afghanistan confirms blanket pardon for war crimes (Reuters)

Reuters – Afghanistan confirmed for the first time publicly on Tuesday that it had enacted into law a blanket pardon for war crimes and human rights abuse carried out before 2001.

UK ambassador protests after TV hoax uses footage of him

The British ambassador to Georgia has complained about footage of him used in a TV hoax about a Russian invasion.

There was panic in Georgia on Saturday after a TV report that Russian tanks had invaded the capital and the country’s president was dead.

It included footage of ambassador Denis Keefe, which was edited to make it look like he was talking about the invasion.

Mr Keefe has asked the TV station to make it clear he knew nothing about the "irresponsible" programme.

The TV station – pro-government Imedi TV – said the aim had been to show how events might unfold if the president were killed. It later apologised.

Networks overwhelmed

It used archive footage of the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia and imagined how opposition figures might seize power after an assassination of President Mikhail Saakashvili.

But many Georgians believed it to be a real news report – mobile phone networks were overwhelmed with calls and many people rushed on to the streets.

Mr Keefe, footage of whom was included in the report, has complained about the programme on the British Embassy in Georgia’s website.

"I consider Imedi TV’s misuse of this footage to be a discourtesy to me as ambassador of the United Kingdom in Georgia"

Denis Keefe

Georgians question un-reality TV

He said the use of archive footage of him speaking about "real events completely unrelated to the subject of the programme was deeply misleading".

He also complained that there had been a suggestion that the president of Georgia and the British prime minister had spoken about the "non-existent events described".

"I wish to make clear that neither I, nor the UK government had any involvement in or foreknowledge of an irresponsible programme that unnecessarily caused deep concern amongst the Georgian public," Mr Keefe said.

"I consider Imedi TV’s misuse of this footage to be a discourtesy to me as ambassador of the United Kingdom in Georgia, reflecting badly on Georgia’s reputation for responsible and independent media."

He urged the station to "make clear as soon as possible, on air… that this footage was not genuine and that it was used without my consent or knowledge".

The head of the holding company that owns Imedi TV, George Arveladze, has said he was sorry for the distress that the TV report had caused – 18 months after Russian tanks came within 45km (28 miles) of the Georgian capital.

The report has been seen by some as a swipe at the Georgian opposition politicians who recently travelled to Moscow to meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Winter storms hit housing starts (Reuters)

Reuters – Housing starts fell last month as winter storms in some parts of the country disrupted home building, while a drop in import prices pointed to muted inflation pressures.