CURRENT NEWS ITEM: GEORGIA, SOUTH OSSETIA SPAR OVER GUNFIRE ACCUSATIONS

TOP - 50 RELEVANT BREAKING NEWS

1. SOUTH OSSETIA: Russian probe accuses Georgia of genocide

   Russian prosecutors investigating the country's August war with Georgia claim they have found evidence that Tbilisi committed genocide against the people of South Ossetia during the conflict.

2. Russia will not forget Ukraine's actions during Georgia's aggression in South Ossetia – Medvedev

   Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said Russia is unlikely to forget the assistance Ukraine gave to Georgia during the aggression in South Ossetia.

3. Georgia says Russia deploying troops in S.Ossetia

   TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia said on Thursday that Russia had deployed 2,000 extra troops in South Ossetia in the past week and was preparing to stir up more trouble in the breakaway territory.

4. Georgia accused of Ossetia war crimes

   The BBC has discovered evidence that Georgia may have committed war crimes in attacks on its breakaway region of South Ossetia in August.

5. Yekhanurov says Moscow gives weapons to South Ossetia 'for nothing'

6. Explosion kills 2 Georgian police near South Ossetia

   EU monitors called the attack an unacceptable breach of the cease-fire that ended the Georgia-Russia war.

7. South Ossetian forces start Georgia village pullout

   TBILISI (Reuters) - South Ossetian forces began on Saturday pulling out of the Georgian village of Perevi on the border of the breakaway territory, a police official said.

8. Russian drone crashes in South Ossetia, Georgians say

   An unmanned Russian spy plane crashed and exploded Monday near the separatist Georgian region of South Ossetia, killing two soldiers and wounding eight, Georgian officials said.

9. GEORGIA: 'Gunfire' near convoy carrying Georgian and Polish presidents

   Shots were heard near a convoy carrying the Georgian and Polish presidents as it approached the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgian officials said. Both Russia and South Ossetia have denied involvement in the incident.

10. Georgia, South Carolina census takers needed

    The 2010 census is still more than a year away, but the U.S. Census Bureau is looking to hire thousands of people in north Georgia to become census takers

11. Robert Simmons: Belarus' recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will have negative impact on relations with NATO

    NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Deputy Assistant Secretary General Robert Simmons thinks recognition of Caucasian republics by Belarus would have a negative impact on NATO-Belarus relations.

12. Representatives of unrecognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia came to session of union parliament

    Heads of parliaments of unrecognized republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia cane to a session of the Belarus-Russia "parliament" held in Minsk today.

13. Belarusian chamber postponed recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia

    The chamber of representatives" has decided to postpone discussion on the subject of South Ossetia and Abkhazia recognition till spring, as "it is not pressing and not simple".

14. Six Months after Caucasus War: South Ossetia Becomes Thorn in Russia's Side

    South Ossetia has been a de facto Russian protectorate since Moscow's victory in the five-day war in Georgia. But the breakaway republic is becoming an embarrassment for the Kremlin, with a corrupt president, disappearing aid money and brewing social unrest.

15. Belarus might recognize independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after New Year

    President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has announced during a working visit to the town of Bereza, Brest Region, that the Belarusian parliament intended to consider an issue of recognition of independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the New Year.

16. Breaking down Georgia and Tennessee

    How the Bulldogs and Vols match up.

17. Georgia tries to get back on track against Vols

    Struggling Tennessee hopes for third win in a row over Bulldogs.

18. Simon Calder: Sycophancy and scorn as the travel trade heads south

    Choosing street names is not the most challenging task on the municipal agenda in Spanish towns and cities. Saints, military heroes and nobility provide plenty of scope, as demonstrated by a sequence of plazas in the middle of Madrid named for San Miguel, Comandante Moreras and Isabel II.

19. Family Travel: 'Where can we self-cater in South Africa?'

    Q. We're hoping to spend February half-term in South Africa with our three children. Finding a suitable accommodation for the five of us often proves tricky, so we're thinking of self-catering. Can you recommend anywhere suitable – comfortable but not too expensive – in Cape Town, and possibly in a game reserve or national park? D Lynes, via email

20. Security agencies from Ukraine, Germany, Georgia share experience in fighting drug criminality

    The security services of Ukraine, Germany and Georgia have exchanged experience in and familiarized themselves with new methods for counteracting transnational organized crime in the field of illegal drug dealing

21. South Africa: UIF Receives Third Unqualified Audit Report

    Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has expressed satisfaction at the performance of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) which has earned an unqualified report from the Auditor General for the third successive year.

22. South Africa: Rapid Lanseria Growth for Kulula Flights

    DESPITE an airline industry slow-down, low-cost carrier kulula.com will double their flights from Lanseria International Airport to Cape Town and Durban.

23. Moscow hopes issues in consular relations with Georgia will be solved soon - diplomat

24. Americans said to have selected arms for Georgia in Ukraine

25. Russian Compliance in Georgia Is Disputed

    European leaders confirmed Friday that Russians had met a deadline to withdraw troops from buffer zones outside South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

26. National Briefing | South: Florida: Schools Head Is Approved

    The Miami-Dade County School Board approved a contract for its new superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, despite protests of unethical selection procedures and accusations of an affair.

27. SEC: Georgia drops Tennessee to 0-3 in conference

    Stafford throws for 310 yards and Moreno rushes for 101 to lead the Bulldogs to a 26-14 win. * at No. 10 Georgia 26, Tennessee 14: Matthew Stafford passed for a career-best 310 yards, Knowshon Moreno ran for 101 yards and the Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1) beat the Volunteers (2-4, 0-3) at Athens. Tennessee is 0-3 in the SEC for the first time in 20 years. The Volunteers netted only one yard on the ground but capitalized on two interceptions thrown by Stafford for their only touchdowns. Georgia freshman kicker Blair Walsh had four field goals. His final one came after a 17-play drive consumed 10:55 in the final quarter.

28. Jacob Zuma of South Africa still a mystery

    The head of the ruling ANC is in line to be the nation's president. Despite his recent efforts, the prospect unsettles those unsure of him. Jacob Zuma has a problem: He scares some people.

29. Global turmoil threatens South Africa effort to create a black middle class

    The government's BEE program seeks to give blacks with few assets ownership in companies. But many of the deals rely on share value. South African government efforts to transfer the country's wealth to black hands through its Black Economic Empowerment policy are being threatened by the global financial crisis.

30. Georgia kicks Vols while they're down

    Walsh's four field goals help Bulldogs send UT to worse SEC start since 1988.

31. 2009 Master Gardener calendars for sale from South Carolina group

    The South Carolina Midlands Master Gardeners Association is selling master gardeners calendars for 2009.

32. Georgia couple tells of nautical romance

    Kathy and Bob Pauly tell a story of being in love with the sea, and the people they meet across the world, and with each other.

33. Page Turner: Oh, for a beaker of the warm south with Felix

    Dusk; a small village just outside Stratford-Upon-Avon. My taxi draws up at the gates of a manor house. "You here for the book launch?" asks the security guard. "Drive down to the gate, follow the lights, lady'll have to walk across the field." I think glumly about my new ballet slippers. "Don't worry,' he smiles at me, "the field's been carpeted."

34. No. 14 Thornton 18, T.F. South 14

    Records: Thornton 7-0, 3-0 SICA East; T.F. South 5-2, 1-1

35. No. 13 Cary-Grove 24, Crystal Lake South 7

    Records: Cary-Grove 6-0, 3-0 Fox Valley Valley; Crystal Lake South 5-2, 2-1

36. No. 2 Wheaton South 45, Wheaton North 14

    Records: Wheaton Warrenville South 7-0, 5-0 DuPage Valley; Wheaton North 4-3, 2-3

37. Fear Amid Hostility in South Africa

    AKASIA, South Africa -- Mohammed Rage lived here among the dusty tents outside the nation's capital for one month. At 48, the Somali shopkeeper was considered an elder among hundreds of immigrants who sought refuge in this government-run encampment after brutal attacks against foreigners spread...