Bomber hits Turkish embassy
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Turkish embassy at The Hague was damaged by a bomb blast Tuesday, news reports said.
A man showed up at the embassy seeking information, and then went into the courtyard, where he detonated the explosives, Sky News reported.
He escaped after a struggle with security staff.
The explosion triggered a fire, which was brought under control quickly.
Early reports said there were no injuries.
African Anglicans irate over gay bishop
DURHAM, N.H., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The elevation of a gay Episcopal priest to bishop has prompted a Kenyan cleric to declare Tuesday, "The Devil has clearly entered our church," reports said.
Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of Kenya made the statement, adding his church will have nothing to do with the Episcopal Church U.S.A., which sanctioned the election of Bishop Gene Robinson in New Hampshire Sunday.
The worldwide opposition was most vocal in Africa, the New York Times said.
In a joint statement, the primates of the Global South, which takes in most of the church in Africa, Asia and the West Indies, said they were appalled by the consecration, and would not recognize Robinson's ministry.
The primates, who account for 50 million of the 77 million members of the Anglican Communion, said: "We are appalled that the authorities within the Episcopal Church of the U.S. have ignored the heartfelt plea of the Communion not to proceed with the consecration of Gene Robinson."
9th mad cow case found in Japan
TOKYO, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Japanese government has confirmed finding a ninth cow infected with mad cow disease, the Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday.
A slaughtered 21-month-old cow in the southern Hiroshima region was diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare release said.
Japan's beef industry was badly hit after the first case emerged in September 2001. The deadly disease leads to brain-wasting, and can be transferred to humans if contaminated beef is eaten.
There has been no BSE-linked death report in Japan so far.
The Fukuyama city government incinerated the internal organs of the Holstein and temporarily shut down the facility where the animal was slaughtered.
The cow was the youngest diagnosed with the disease, breaking the record set last month when a 24-month-old cow was found infected.
The source of the outbreak has yet to be determined, the report said.
EU overlooks German, French deficits
BRUSSELS, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The 15-country European Union has decided to waive its own rules about budgetary deficits and won't sanction France and Germany, reports said Tuesday.
Finance ministers met Monday in Brussels to discuss whether to start enforcement proceedings against France for allowing its budget deficit to swell above EU-mandated levels, the International Herald-Tribune said.
The main question was whether France should be pushed to make further cuts, which in 2004 will exceed 3 percent of the size of its economy for the third consecutive year.
Only the Netherlands and Austria spoke in favor of sanctioning the two countries, the report said.
The tolerance is based in part on the fact countries benefit from the German economy. Bridges and roads in Ireland, Spain and Greece are financed with German money, the report said.
Meanwhile, France, facing an economic slowdown, has been defiant about keeping political promises to stoke a recovery through tax cuts and additional spending.
