A roundup of today's other world news in brief
Comedians Henry, French separate
LONDON – British comedians Lenny Henry and Dawn French are to separate after 25 years of marriage, their spokesman said yesterday.
The couple made their decision to split up last October. “The separation is entirely amicable and they fully intend to maintain their close friendship,” the statement said.
“Their priority is to commit to the future joint parenting of their daughter.
The comics, who married in London in 1984 and adopted their daughter Billie in 1991, gave no details about their separation.
– (Reuters)
Sex scandal leads Abbas to sack aide
RAMALLAH– The Palestinian president has sacked his chief of staff following an investigation into allegations that he had sought to exploit his influence for sexual favours, a Palestinian newspaper has reported.
In a letter published by al-Qudsnewspaper yesterday, President Mahmoud Abbas told Rafik al-Husseini that the investigation had cleared him of allegations he had sought to exploit his position for "personal gain".
But it concluded Husseini, who was suspended from his post in February, had committed “personal errors” that should have been avoided, Mr Abbas told Mr Husseini in the letter. – (Reuters)
Floods, landslides kill 79 in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO – The heaviest rains in decades caused floods and landslides that killed at least 79 people in Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil yesterday.
Mudslides swept away shacks in Rio’s hillside slums, turning the city’s main lake and the sea brown after 15 hours of heavy rain.
Morning flights in and out of the city were either cancelled or seriously delayed, and many neighbourhoods were cut off from power and transport. Most victims were killed by at least 180 mudslides set off by the rain, authorities said. A spokesman for Rio’s fire service said at least 40 people had been taken to hospitals, and that they were searching for others reported missing. – (Reuters)
Calabrian Mafia open fire on church
ROME – The Calabrian Mafia, the 'Ndrangheta, opened fire on a church in the small town of Sant'Onofrio in an apparent drive-by shooting, writes Paddy Agnewin Rome.
Police believe that the shooting was a reprisal over the fact that local Bishop Luigi Renzo this year effectively banned the 'Ndrangheta from taking part in the annual Easter procession, the Affruntata(the Encounter).
For many years, the privilege of carrying figures in the procession has been decided by auctions which – surprise, surprise – are always won by the ‘Ndrangheta.
This year, however, Bishop Renzo ruled that the procession carriers should be decided by lot rather than auction, thus incurring the wrath of the local mafia.
Man charged over threats to US senator
WASHINGTON – A Washington state man has been arrested and charged with threatening to kill Democratic senator Patty Murray because of her votes backing healthcare reform legislation, US prosecutors said yesterday.
Charles Wilson (64) was arrested in Selah, Washington, after making profanity-laced threats to hurt and kill Senator Murray in voicemail messages starting around March 22nd, according to an FBI affidavit filed in a US court.
“I hope you realise, there’s a target on your back now,” he said in a March 22nd message.
“Kill the (expletive) senator! Ill donate the lead.” If found guilty, Wilson could face up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine. – (Reuters)
US-born al-Qaeda cleric targeted
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration has authorised operations to capture or kill a US-born Muslim cleric based in Yemen who is described by a key lawmaker as the top terrorist threat to the US, officials said yesterday.
The decision to add Anwar al-Awlaki, of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, to the target list followed a National Security Council review prompted by his status as a US citizen.
Officials said Awlaki threatened the US. “Awlaki is a proven threat,” said a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He’s being targeted.” – (Reuters)