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R/£ World briefs - Dec 30, 2008
December 30, 2008 Edition 1
AU acts against Guinea
Conakry - The African Union yesterday suspended Guinea following last week's bloodless coup, and the country's military junta retired more than 20 generals - including the top military commander - as it consolidated its grip. The young officers who seized power after the death of long-serving President Lansana Conte a week ago have promised to hold elections in 2010.
New crisis hits Thailand
Bangkok - Thousands of supporters of exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra ringed Thailand's parliament yesterday, vowing to remain until the new government dissolves the legislature and calls elections. The demonstrators dared lawmakers to pass through their ranks to deliver a mandated speech outlining the government's key policies. The speech was rescheduled for today.
God's servant
Mumbai - A woman chants in front of the Bhagwan Bhajan Ashram, a Hindu hermitage, at the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan in northern India yesterday. Women are among 15 000 desperately poor Hindu widows who spend their lives as dasis, or servants of God, in the dusty pilgrim town because they have nowhere else to go.
Call for Sunday shopping
Zagreb - Croatian retailers are demanding that the government annul its ban on Sunday shopping, arguing it will lead to the closing of many shops and to job losses. Since the collapse of communism there have been no restrictions on opening hours. The new law was seen as a concession to the Catholic Church, which has campaigned for Sundays to be devoted to family or worship.
Christmas church massacre
Kampala - Attackers hacked to death scores of people - mainly women and children - who sought refuge at a Catholic church in remote eastern Democratic Republic of Congo the day after Christmas, officials and witnesses said yesterday. The Ugandan army and the Lord's Resistance Army accused each other of the massacre. About 190 people were slaughtered at the weekend.
'Rise in killings by US blacks'
Boston - Black American teenagers are killing each other in rising numbers but the troubling trend has been masked by a falling crime rate in the US. According to a study yesterday by Northeastern University, there was a rise of more than 39% in the number of black males aged 14 to 17 killed between 2000 and 2007, and a rise of 34% in that age group who committed homicide.
Saudis warned on racism
Riyadh - Saudi Labour Minister Ghazi al-Gosaibi has warned against growing racism among Saudis towards the millions of foreign workers, mainly domestics. He told ministry officials that the country should treat foreign workers better, protect their rights and not succumb to racism. Media quoted him as saying: "We should not be arrogant or racist towards those who came to serve us in our homes."
Ghana's opposition in lead
Accra - Opposition leader John Atta Mills was leading Ghana's runoff presidential ballot yesterday, according to unofficial results collated by radio and TV stations. Radio Joy FM said Atta Mills had 50,64% of the 8,7-million votes counted by noon. Joy FM gave 49,36% of counted votes to the the ruling party's Nana Akufo-Addo. Results were outstanding from seven constituencies with 340 000 voters.
'Don't hunt killer shark'
Perth - The family of a Western Australian man presumed killed by a shark have urged authorities not to hunt down the beast, saying Brian Guest always had a deep respect for the sea and its hazards. Guest wrote on an angler website in 2004: "I have always had an understanding with my wife that if a shark or sea accident caused my death, then so be it - at least I was doing what I wanted."
New N Korean nuclear snag
Tokyo - North Korea has threatened to stop taking apart its nuclear plant unless Japan provided it with energy aid as part of an international disarmament deal. This is the latest snag in the sputtering deal the North struck with five regional powers and comes after the US called for a halt in energy aid to punish Pyongyang for not agreeing to a system to check claims it made about its atomic programmes.
Drop in cop slayings
Washington - Greater use of bullet-resistant vests and stun guns helped reduce police deaths the US this year, compared with the previous year, two law enforcement support groups have reported. Deaths in the line of duty totalled 140, compared with 181 last year. Gunfire deaths dropped to 41 officers this year, compared with 68 last year. This was the lowest since 1956 when there were 35 killings.
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