Skip to main content

World in Brief: 31.10.14

News stories from around the world

<strong>Iran:</strong> Nuclear industry official Asghar Zarean claimed yesterday that the authorities have foiled a sabotage attempt against tanks used for the transportation of heavy water.

He told the independent Arman daily newspaper that nuclear experts had thwarted the sabotage attempt "in recent weeks" without providing more specific timing.

"Thanks to the full alertness of our colleagues, we were able to detect and defuse the sabotage attempt," said Mr Zarean.

 

<strong>Poland:</strong> Deputy Foreign Minister Rafal Trzaskowski revealed yesterday that prosecutors have questioned film-maker Roman Polanski in respect of a US extradition request over charges of having sex with a child in 1977.

Mr Trzaskowski said that the charges had expired in Poland, providing no grounds for extradition.

The director lives in Paris. As a French citizen, he is immune from removal to the US from where he fled in 1978.

 

 

<strong>Pakistan:</strong> US drone-fired missiles struck a house in Azam Warsak village in the South Waziristan tribal region yesterday, killing two suspected al-Qaida militants.

The house, owned by local citizen Ashraf Mahsud, was occupied by Arab militant, according to Pakistani officials.

Mr Mahsud, who is associated with Uzbek militants operating in other parts of the region, was not at the house at the time, they said.

 

 

<strong>Portugal:</strong> Airline cabin crews for the TAP Portugal carrier launched a two-day strike yesterday, leading to mass flight cancellations and the rerouting of 25,000 passengers onto different airlines.

The workers are demanding better working conditions as the government prepares to sell the state-owned airline.

TAP chief executive Fernando Pinto accused the strikers of committing a "betrayal of passengers."

 

 

 

<strong>Sweden:</strong> Stockholm announced its official recognition yesterday of a Palestinian state, following Malta and Cyprus.

Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said that Sweden had made the decision because Palestine had fulfilled the international law criteria required for such recognition.

"There is a territory, a people and government," she declared, as Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman condemned "a miserable decision that strengthens the extremist elements and Palestinian rejectionism."

 

 

<strong>Palestine:</strong> The UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) confirmed yesterday that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has donated her entire $50,000 (£31,000) award to rebuild a UN school in Gaza.

UNRWA quoted Ms Yousafzai as saying that Palestinian children deserve a quality education and that "without education, there will never be peace."

Dozens of Gaza's UN schools were damaged or destroyed by Israel's warplanes and artillery during its 50-day onslaught against Gaza.

 

<strong>Libya:</strong> Amnesty International accused Libya's rival militias and armed groups yesterday of committing "mounting war crimes" with impunity.

It criticised the groups for having complete disregard for civilian lives, saying that militants have fired Grad rockets and artillery into civilian neighbourhoods.

"Scores of civilians have been abducted by armed groups. In today's Libya the rule of the gun has taken hold," Amnesty said.

 

 

<strong>Turkey:</strong> Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said yesterday that hopes are fading for 18 miners trapped since Tuesday in the flooded Has Sekerler coalmine near the town of Ermenek in Karaman province.

Rescue workers are using huge pipes to pump water from 1,000 feet underground, but the operation is hampered by mud and damage inside the mine.

 

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today