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Friday, November 21, 2014

BC-AP--Europe News Digest, AP

by  Associated Press BC-AP--Europe News Digest, AP Associated Press - 21 November 2014 07:12-05:00 TOP STORIES FROM EUROPE AT 1200 GMT TURKEY-US RELATIONS ISTANBUL— U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is heading to Turkey, the latest in a parade of U.S. officials trying to push Turkey to step up its role in the international coalition's fight against Islamic State extremists. His visit comes after weeks of public bickering between the two NATO allies. By Deb Riechmann. SENT: 890 words. With Turkey-US-Q&A, upcoming. EUROPE-ECONOMY FRANKFURT, Germany — European Central Bank head Mario Draghi says the eurozone's chief monetary authority is willing to "step up the pressure" and increase its efforts to stimulate the struggling economy. The comments fed market expectations for more central bank action, sending the euro lower and stocks higher. By David Mchugh. SENT: 430 words, photos. IRAN-NUCLEAR TALKS VIENNA — With talks on Iran's nuclear program stalled four days before a deadline for agreement, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry embarked on a crucial round of diplomacy on Friday, meeting first with Iran's foreign minister and then his British and French counterparts. Expectations are growing that the Monday deadline for a full deal will be missed because of differences on how much Iran needs to reduce the size and scope of key nuclear programs. Both the Iranians and the six world powers negotiating with them must soon decide whether to go beyond Monday or adjourn to a later date. They may also opt to end negotiations, but that is unlikely. By George Jahn and Matthew Lee. SENT: 300 words, photos. Developing. POLAND-LOCAL ELECTIONS WARSAW, Poland — Poland's Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz says there will be no repeat of last Sunday's local elections despite complaints about the continuing delay in official returns due to a computer glitch. Some politicians and right-wing groups are calling for a rerun and question the credibility of the returns that are trickling in as counts by hand are being done in many places. By Monika Scislowska. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING 250 words by 1300 GMT. NETHERLANDS-BIRD FLU AMSTERDAM — Dutch authorities say a new case of bird flu has been confirmed at a chicken farm in the town of Kamperveen, the third infection detected in the country this week. Friday's case was at a farm in Kamperveen, roughly a hundred kilometers (60 miles) distant from the previous two infections. The Economic Affairs Ministry said the farm's 10,000 chickens will be slaughtered following the same protocols used in the previous two cases. SENT: 130 words. EUROPE-EBOLA BERLIN — A Cuban doctor who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone has arrived in Switzerland for treatment and was able to walk off the transport plane. Felix Baez Sarria arrived on a flight overnight and was transported in a specially outfitted ambulance with a police escort to Geneva University Hospital. By David Rising. SENT: 300 words, photos. GREECE-PRISON UPRISING ATHENS, Greece — Prisoners and authorities say some inmates of Greece's only penitentiary hospital have gone on a rampage, smashing parts of the facility's ground floor. Local media said the rioting began after a visitor was detained for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs. The hospital is part of the Korydallos penitentiary complex, the nation's largest. SENT: 130 words. GERMANY-HITLER-PAINTING BERLIN — A 100-year-old watercolor of Munich's old city hall is expected to fetch at least 50,000 euros ($60,000) at auction this weekend, not so much for its artistic value as for the signature in the bottom left corner: A. Hitler. Nuremberg's Weidler auction house says the painting is one some 2,000 painted by Adolf Hitler and is thought to be from about 1914, when he was struggling to make a living as an artist, almost two decades before rising to power as the Nazi dictator. By David Rising. SENT: 300 words, photos. BRITAIN-CHRISTMAS AD LONDON — Artillery booms. A trench comes into view. Soldiers huddle into their overcoats for warmth. The scene is the unlikely backdrop for a holiday commercial that has many Britons reaching for hankies — and others demanding it be pulled from the air. The 3-minute, 40-second mini-movie from the Sainsbury's grocery chain depicts the 1914 Christmas Truce, when soldiers stopped killing each other for a few hours to celebrate the holiday together in no man's land. By Danica Kirka. SENT: 950 words, photos. News Topics: General news, Flu, Poultry farming, International relations, Government and politics, Central banking, Local elections, Infectious diseases, Diseases and conditions, Health, Livestock farming, Agriculture, Industries, Business, Banking and credit, Financial services, Elections People, Places and Companies: Joe Biden, Mario Draghi, John Kerry, Ewa Kopacz, Netherlands, Poland, Europe, United States, Greece, Iran, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, Middle East Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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