A roundup of today's other world news in brief
Arab League chief visits Gaza Strip
GAZA– Arab League chief Amr Moussa visited Gaza yesterday, the highest Arab official to do so since its seizure by Hamas in 2007, and called for an end to Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Mr Moussa entered Gaza from Egypt, two weeks after Israels deadly interception of a Gaza aid flotilla. “This blockade . . . must be broken and the Arab League decision is very clear in this regard,” Mr Moussa said. – (Reuters)
Gorbachev urges more democracy
MOSCOW– Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has appealed to the Kremlin to make Russia more democratic, saying President Dmitry Medvedev's push to modernise the country would not succeed otherwise.
Mr Gorbachev, author of bold reforms that triggered the collapse of the Soviet Union, said Russia needed a fresh wave of “glasnost” (openness) and “perestroika” (restructuring). – (Reuters)
Call for tax on financial dealings
GLASGOW– The time has come for a tax on financial transactions, Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham said yesterday.
Mr Burnham said such a measure would ensure the banks would be seen as contributing to tackling the country’s budget deficit.
He added that there were times when it appeared as if the Labour government had been “seduced by power, money and glamour”. – (PA)
Philippines bus crash kills 18
MANILA– At least 16 Iranian students and two Filipinos died when a commuter bus fell into a ravine in the Philippines yesterday, police said.
About 30 Iranians were injured when the bus lost its brakes and plunged 30m (100ft) into a ravine in Balanban on Cebu island.
The bus was on its way to a beach resort. – (Reuters)