World News in brief for October 24, 2012

Oct 24 2012 By Cheryl Mullin

MIDDLE EAST: Gaza militants pummelled Israel with dozens of rockets and mortars and Israeli airstrikes killed two Palestinians in a sharp escalation of violence following a landmark visit to the coastal territory by the leader of Qatar.

Hostilities have been simmering for weeks, but erupted into barrages from Gaza immediately after the Qatari ruler left the territory.

AMERICA: The son of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has apologised to Barack Obama for saying in a radio interview that he was tempted to “take a swing” at the US president for criticising his father during a debate.

Tagg Romney walked up on stage with other family members after yesterday’s third presidential debate in Florida, where cameras showed him shaking hands and exchanging words with Mr Obama.

AMERICA: A spokeswoman for Mitt Romney said today the US presidential hopeful disagreed with comments made by Indiana Republican senate candidate Richard Mourdock about rape and pregnancy.

During a debate in New Albany, Indiana, Mr Mourdock said when a woman became pregnant during a rape “that’s something God intended”.

SYRIA: The Syrian government and some rebel leaders have agreed to a ceasefire during the forthcoming Muslim four-day holiday.

The UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi said Syrian president Bashar Assad will issue a statement on accepting a truce. The

EUROPE: Microsoft has been formally accused of failing to comply with a binding agreement to give customers a choice among internet browsers.

In 2009, the European Commission said it suspected the software giant of using its dominant market position to foist its internet Explorer browser on users.

AMERICA: A paraplegic man who says he was stranded in the New Mexico desert without his wheelchair dragged himself four miles down a dirt road for three days before a motorist stopped to help him.

Tattered and dirty, Ricky Gilmore’s jeans told part of the story and his body the rest – the skin on his left leg and buttocks shredded, a wrist sprained and his kidneys in bad shape from going without food and water.

BELGIUM: Ford is to close one of its main European factories in Belgium with the loss of more than 9,000 jobs.

Exactly half a century after construction on the Genk plant started, Ford told a management council there that production was winding down since slumping European sales has forced a restructuring.