Today's other stories in brief
Singer Michael Jackson was in 'good health'
Michael Jackson was in good health before being given the anaesthetic that killed him, a leaked postmortem report has revealed.
The report, obtained by the Associated Press news agency, shows Jackson was not the sickly skeleton of a man portrayed by some.
It says Jackson’s arms were covered with punctures, his face and neck were scarred and he had tattooed eyebrows and lips.
But overall he was a fairly healthy 50-year-old.
Jackson’s 136lbs were in the acceptable range for a 5ft 9in man and his heart was strong. – (AP)
Blow to plans for Guantánamo Bay
WASHINGTON – In a blow to US president Barack Obama, the House of Representatives yesterday voted to prohibit his administration from transferring detainees from the Guantánamo Bay military prison to the US.
The measure, if it becomes law, would complicate the administration’s plan to empty the controversial prison, which has drawn international condemnation, by January 2010. – (Reuters)
Welsh Labour leader to retire
CARDIFF – Labour began looking for a new leader in Wales yesterday after Rhodri Morgan confirmed he was standing down as first minister after almost a decade in the job.
Having long planned to announce his retirement around the time of his 70th birthday, which he celebrated on Tuesday, Mr Morgan said he would make way for his successor by the end of the year, adding that he was stepping aside before he was pushed out of a job he still loved. – (PA)
Polish PM suspends deputy
WARSAW – Polish prime minister Donald Tusk suspended a senior member of his ruling party yesterday in a dispute over a gambling Bill that threatens to tarnish his government’s reputation.
Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, quoting an anti-graft body, said Zbigniew Chlebowski, head of the parliamentary faction of the centre-right Civic Platform, had had contacts with businessmen trying to water down a Bill that envisaged higher taxes on gambling. – (Reuters)
Pope in plea to Pakistani leader
ROME – Pope Benedict XVI urged Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari yesterday to guarantee protection of minority Christians, who have been the target of violence in the overwhelmingly Islamic country.
Mr Zardari met the pope at the end of a trip to Italy aimed at promoting trade. – (Reuters)
Ex-bishop faces child-porn charge
OTTAWA – A former Canadian bishop who oversaw the settlement of sex abuse allegations against the Catholic Church is facing child-pornography charges.
Bishop Raymond Lahey, from the diocese of Antigonish in Nova Scotia, was returning to Canada on September 15th when border agents at Ottawa airport performed a check of his laptop and seized it for investigation. He subsequently announced last Saturday that he was resigning his post for personal reasons. – (Reuters)
British supreme court sworn in
LONDON – Britain’s supreme court opened yesterday when 11 judges were sworn in at Parliament Square. The day marked the end of a 130-year association between the highest court in the land and the House of Lords.
There had been mounting calls to separate the highest appeal court from the second house of parliament, thereby removing the law lords from the legislature. – (PA)