A round-up of today's other world news stories, in brief ...
Karadzic in not guilty plea to war crimes
THE HAGUE – The tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic for war crimes and genocide charges after he refused to plead.
Dr Karadzic, responding to an amended indictment against him for charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the 1992-95 Bosnian war, rejected all 11 charges against him in front of presiding judge Iain Bonomy.
“Im not going to enter a plea at all. This tribunal does not have the right to try me,” Dr Karadzic said yesterday, raising his voice as he faced the courtroom alone, flanked by two guards. – (Reuters)
Wife of ex-Zambian president jailed
LUSAKA – A Zambian court has jailed the wife of former president Frederick Chiluba for corruption, the latest high-profile figure sentenced in a crackdown on graft that has won favour with donors.
Regina Chiluba was jailed yesterday for 3½ years by a Lusaka magistrate, state radio reported. – (Reuters)
School scarves ban in Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK – Kyrgyzstan, a predominantly Muslim Central Asian state, has banned headscarves from schools to protect children from religious influence, according to an education official.
“We are a secular state,” education ministry official Damira Kudaibergenova said. “Children are coming under a massive attack and we will protect them.” – (Reuters)
Tory MP must repay £10,000
LONDON – Conservative frontbench MP Caroline Spelman has been ordered to repay almost £10,000 (€11,180) she used to pay a nanny with taxpayers’ money after she broke parliamentary rules on expenses.
Ms Spelman faced investigation from parliament’s standards watchdog over payments she made to her part-time constituency secretary for administrative work.
– (Reuters)
Warning over beer and movies
LONDON – Watching films and ads in which alcohol features prominently drives people to immediately reach for the bottle themselves, Dutch researchers say.
An experiment with students showed that volunteers exposed to a film and commercials where alcohol featured prominently drank an average 1½ bottles of beer more during the hour they were watching.
Researchers at Radboud University Nijmegen say if movies contain alcohol use, such portrayals have a direct effect on drinking. – (Reuters)
Jackson's special announcement
LONDON - US pop star Michael Jackson will be in London this week to make a “special announcement”, according to his representatives. Industry sources say it is likely to involve a series of comeback concerts in the city.
Outside Organisation, the music PR company which represents Jackson in Britain, has sent an e-mailed invitation to a press conference at the O2 arena in London, where the concerts are likely to take place, probably later this year.
Jackson and representatives from music promoter AEG Live are expected to attend tomorrow’s event.
– ( Reuters)