World News: Cameron to pledge support for Turkey's bid to join EU

David Cameron will strongly align himself today with Turkey's ambitions to join the European Union, hailing its potential as a "unifier" between East and West.

On a visit to Ankara, the Prime Minister will say that Turkey has a major role to play in securing international peace and security.

He will dismiss concerns among some in the EU about allowing a Muslim country into the union, praising the country's secular democracy and its support for Nato.

Mr Cameron will use a keynote speech in the Turkish capital to promise to be the "strongest possible advocate" of its ambitions of a seat in Brussels.

Opposition to Turkey's proposed EU membership - whether based on prejudice, protectionism or the view that Turkey must choose between East and West - is "just wrong", he will say.

He is expected to add: "Turkey can be a great unifier, because instead of choosing between East and West, Turkey has chosen both. And it's this opportunity to unite East and West that gives Turkey such an important role."

His stance is at odds with French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela.

21 missing as floods spark landslide

CHINA: A landslide caused by rains in Hanyuan County in the southern province has left 21 people missing today, adding to a growing death toll from China's worst flood season in a decade, which is expected to worsen with heavy rains forecast.

VIETNAM: The remains of 40 communist soldiers killed during a battle in the Vietnam War were reburied in a military cemetery after being unearthed during a search.

Singer set to try for presidency

Singer Wyclef Jean is considering a run for president of Haiti, but has not decided whether to seek a five-year term as leader of the quake-ravaged nation.

There have been rumours for some time that the Haitian-born entertainer might enter the 2010 presidential contest.

Men fined for cow parade

A MALAYSIAN court fined 12 Muslims and sentenced one of them to a week in prison for illegally protesting the construction of a Hindu temple and parading a severed cow's head.

They marched with a cow's head to the central Selangor state chief minister's office last August.

Refugee unit could reopen

Australian opposition leaders discussed reopening a refugee processing centre in Nauru with the South Pacific island nation's foreign minister today, despite allegations of human rights abuses at the facility.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard aims to stem the growing tide of asylum seekers.

She said the facility must be in a country that signed the UN refugee charter. Nauru is not a signatory but said it would sign.

Clown is caught red-handed

A MAN robbed a bank wearing a woman's blond wig, fake breasts and clown trousers, US authorities said.

Pennsylvania police said Dennis Hawkins, 48, was sitting in a car covered in red dye from an exploding packet in a bag of money when he was arrested.