The other world news stories of the day in brief...
Penn charged over row with photographer
Oscar-winner Sean Penn has been charged with two crimes after a run-in with a photographer last year and could face jail if convicted, Los Angeles prosecutors said yesterday.
Penn (49) was charged with misdemeanor battery and vandalism after allegedly kicking a photographer in the leg and breaking his camera last October in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, the city attorneys office said.
The incident was caught on video and shown on celebrity news website TMZ.com.
Penn, who won Oscars for his roles in Mystic River and the 2008 movie Milk, faces a maximum of 18 months behind bars if convicted, city attorneys office spokesman Frank Matelijan said. He is due to make a first court appearance on March 22nd.
Penn has long been an adversary of the paparazzi, and is well-known for his temper. In 1987 he served more than 30 days in jail for assaulting an extra on a film set. – (Reuters)
Berlusconi drafts corruption law
ROME – Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s government, engulfed in a graft scandal over state contracts, drafted a law yesterday to crack down on corruption, but the opposition criticised the move as an electoral ploy.
Mr Berlusconi, who is himself on trial for corruption and tax fraud in two separate cases, announced the surprise package of measures this week as his government struggled to quash a scandal surrounding contracts awarded by the civil protection agency.
With regional elections looming on March 28th-29th, the controversy threatens to dent the conservative leaders hopes for a sweeping victory. – (Reuters)