World News: Singapore Airlines grounds three A380s in wake of tests

Singapore Airlines grounded three of its A380 superjumbos today after tests uncovered problems with the planes' Rolls-Royce engines.

The move came less than a week after an engine on a Qantas A380 exploded shortly after take-off.

Tests revealed oil stains in three engines on three of the airline's A380s, Singapore Airlines said in a statement. The planes, in Melbourne, Sydney and London, would be flown to Singapore, where they would be fitted with new engines.

"We apologise to our customers for flight disruptions that may result and we seek their understanding," said airline spokesman Nicholas Ionides.

Last week, Qantas grounded its fleet of A380s - the world's newest and largest airliner - after one of the aircraft's Rolls-Royce engines burst during a flight from Singapore to Sydney. The explosion showered debris over Indonesia's Batam island. The plane made a safe emergency landing in Singapore.

On Monday, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said tests had uncovered oil leaks in the turbine area of three engines on three A380s. All six of the Australian airline's A380s remained grounded today.

Iran to fight for women's role

Iran, which still carries out death sentences by stoning for adultery, will face opposition for a previously uncontested seat on the board of the new United Nations agency to promote equality for women.

Iran had been uncontested until East Timor announced its candidacy.

New EU report backs Iceland

Iceland says a European Union progress report has found that it meets all political and economic criteria for membership.

The report marks the latest stage in the island country's effort to join the European Union, a process jump-started by Iceland's disastrous financial meltdown.

Obama's plea to Indonesia

US president Barack Obama has told Indonesia - the nation that was his boyhood home - that American relations with the Islamic world were still frayed, but he urged all sides to look beyond "suspicion and mistrust" to forge common ground against terrorism.

On a visit to Indonesia, Mr Obama said: "I have made it clear that America is not and never will be at war with Islam.

"Those who want to build must not cede ground to terrorists who seek to destroy."

Lifetime accolade for De Niro

Robert De Niro will be honoured with the Cecil B DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at next year's Golden Globe Awards. He will receive the honour on January 16, actor Kevin Spacey announced yesterday.

De Niro has previously won one Golden Globe for Raging Bull.

OXFAM protesters wearing the masks of G20 leaders demonstrate against world poverty ahead of the G20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea. Cholera cases confirmed in Haiti capital

Haiti: Health workers fear a surge of cholera cases in the shanty towns of the capital as suspected cases pile up and a laboratory confirmed cases that originated in the city.

Medics reported seeing more than 200 city residents with severe symptoms.

United States: The CIA's former top officer and others will not face any charges for destroying videotapes that showed waterboarding of terror suspects.