A world news roundup

UNITED STATES

Ford Posts an Unexpected Profit of $997 Million - While its crosstown rivals in Detroit stumbled through bankruptcy this summer, the Ford Motor Company pressed its advantage, and delivered surprising news on Monday that its cost-cutting efforts and improving sales helped it earn nearly $1 billion in the third quarter – New York Times

Democrats' concerns over abortion may imperil health bill - While House leaders are moving toward a vote on health-care legislation by the end of the week, enough Democrats are threatening to oppose the measure over the issue of abortion to create a question about its passage. House leaders were still negotiating Monday with the bloc of Democrats concerned about abortion provisions in the legislation, saying that they could lead to public funding of the procedure – Washington Post

Karzai is wild card for U.S. strategy - The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan has proposed a strategy that would require an effective Afghan government to deliver services, support military operations and represent a viable political alternative to the Taliban insurgency. But Karzai's victory leaves in place a mercurial leader who has crossed administration officials in the past and whose record raises doubts about his willingness to take the steps necessary to reform his government – Washington Post

Conservatives emboldened by moves in New York election - The triumph of conservative forces over the Republican Party establishment in upstate New York has emboldened like-minded activists around the country, and it could drive the GOP sharply to the right as it lines up candidates for the 2010 midterm congressional elections – Los Angeles Times

In mixing soccer and politics, score one for Argentine government - Until this season, Argentina's ardent soccer fans needed cable to see premier league games on TV and pay-per-view. Then, in a move analysts call shrewdly populist, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's government helped push Argentina's soccer association to sever its long-term contract with the country's biggest media group and broadcast free all games on a state-run station – Washington Post story that also appeared on page one of The Miami Herald

CANADA

B.C. doctors overwhelmed by H1N1 patients even before expected peak - B.C. doctors are swamped by patients with flu symptoms, but the swine flu pandemic has not yet reached its peak, according to provincial health officer Perry Kendall – The Vancouver Sun

No business like flu business - While thousands of Canadians line up for H1N1 vaccinations and people around the world worry about the spread of the virus, the pandemic is proving to be a financial windfall for many big corporations. – Toronto Globe and Mail

Trace explosives found on Tamils' ship, clothing, affidavits say - Canadian officials allege trace amounts of explosives were found in a cargo ship that carried 76 Tamil migrants to Canada's West Coast last month, defence attorneys for migrants say – Toronto Globe and Mail

UNITED KINGDOM

David Cameron to tell voters: no vote on Lisbon Treaty - David Cameron is to tell the British people that a Conservative government will not give them a referendum on the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty

London Daily Telegraph

Minister admits: we got it wrong on immigration - The Home Secretary admitted yesterday that the Government had made mistakes in its handling of immigration and had overreacted to the 7/7 bombings in London – London Times

Bonus ban and sell-offs forced on UK banks as price of bailout - Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group are to face new restrictions on bonuses after receiving nearly £40bn more taxpayers' money. While the two banks are being forced to sell off parts of their businesses in return for the state aid under rules imposed by Brussels, the government has also extracted new commitments from the banks – The Guardian, UK

AFRICA

Union protests over ‘excessive wealth’ of some amid poverty - First it was the mines, and now the focus has shifted to the nationalisation of businessman Patrice Motsepe’s massive wealth. The publication of the Sunday Times rich list, which says Motsepe is worth R14,25 billion and diamond tycoon Nicky Oppenheimer R5,36 billion, elicited an outcry from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) yesterday – The Citizen, South Africa