A round-up of other world news in brief...
Polish mine blast leaves 12 dead
WARSAW – At least 12 miners were killed yesterday in a methane explosion at a coalmine in southern Poland, the government said.
“The accident was probably caused by a fire ignited by methane gas . . . but we don’t yet know exactly what happened,” Andrzej Bielecki, chief engineer at the Wujek mine, said. “We have halted production, though miners are still working in other safe parts of the mine.” Polish television said 15 people were badly injured. Twenty-nine men managed to get to the surface. – (Reuters)
Democrats move on Kennedy seat
BOSTON – Massachusetts Representatives voted on Thursday in favour of a Bill allowing the governor to name a temporary replacement to fill the late Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat as the battle over healthcare rages. The Bill passed to the 40-seat state Senate yesterday where the the minority Republicans have vowed to use stalling tactics to delay it. – (Reuters)
No tax relief for lap-dancing visits
LONDON – Businesses could be banned from claiming back tax on corporate entertainment visits to lap-dancing clubs, after equalities minister Harriet Harman denounced the practice. Ms Harman is asking chancellor Alistair Darling to remove tax relief on corporate events that exclude female employees and form part of the wider sex industry. – (PA)
Lockerbie bomber launches website
EDINBURGH – Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi launched a website yesterday with the aim of proving his innocence in the 1988 bombing in which 270 people died. The former Libyan agent released information “which he hopes will establish his innocence” on the website, megrahimystory.net, his lawyer Tony Kelly said.
Scotland’s top public prosecutor said she deplored the move. “Mr Megrahi remains convicted of the worst terrorist atrocity in UK history,” Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini said. – (Reuters)
Cyprus tornado causes havoc
NICOSIA – A freak tornado ripped through Cyprus yesterday, injuring at least 11 people and wreaking havoc in the capital Nicosia, police said. The whirlwind, accompanied by hammering rain, tore off rooftops and uprooted trees which smashed into cars.
Parts of the city were blocked by trees, while flying debris smashed windows and factory roofs collapsed.
“It was unbelievable, the damage is huge. Thank God we had no victims,” said Panayiotis Kyprianou, mayor of the Nicosia suburb of Latsia. – (Reuters)