A round-up of today's other world news in brief ...
Russian parliamentary aide killed
MOSCOW – An adviser to a deputy speaker of Russia's parliament was found dead yesterday in his Moscow flat with multiple stab wounds, Interfax news agency reported, citing the police.
Police discovered the body of Alexei Belyaev, an adviser to deputy speaker Alexander Babakov, after he failed to appear at work with important documents, Interfax said. It did not say what the documents concerned and gave no further details. – (Reuters)
Driver shot dead after rampage
JERUSALEM – A Palestinian driver crashed his bulldozer into a police car and hit a bus at one of Jerusalem’s busiest intersections yesterday before police and a taxi driver shot him dead.
An open Koran, the Muslim holy book, was found in the driver’s cabin, Niso Shaham, Jerusalem’s deputy police chief, said. A police spokesman said it was a “terrorist” attack.
Israeli police and Palestinian residents identified the driver as Marei Radaydeh, a West Bank construction worker in his mid-20s who lived with his family in the Arab east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina. No Palestinian militant groups have claimed responsibility for the incident. – (Reuters)
3,000-year-old statues found
CAIRO – A team of Egyptian and European archaeologists have discovered two statues of King Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt roughly 3,400 years ago, Egypt’s supreme council for antiquities said yesterday.
Chief Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawaas said the first statue was made of black granite, while the second depicts the king in the shape of a sphinx, a figure with the head of a man and the body of a lion. – (Reuters)
Jackson to play 10 London dates
LONDON – US pop star Michael Jackson announced his comeback yesterday, telling hundreds of screaming fans he would perform in London this summer and calling it his “final curtain call” in the city.
Wearing a military-style black jacket decorated with silver sequins and punching the air, the 50-year-old revealed his plans on a makeshift stage at the 20,000-capacity O2 arena where he will play 10 dates starting on July 8th.
– (Reuters)
Barbara Bush has heart surgery
HOUSTON – Former US first lady Barbara Bush was recovering in hospital yesterday after open heart surgery to replace her aortic valve. The surgery at the methodist hospital in Houston, Texas, lasted about two-and-a-half hours and was scheduled last week after Ms Bush (83) experienced shortness of breath, a family spokesman said. – (Reuters)