A round-up of other world news in brief
Man suspected of al-Qaeda links arrested
BERLIN – German police have arrested a man (24) of Turkish origin suspected of preparing explosive devices and posting al-Qaeda propaganda on the internet.
The man, identified as Adnan V, was taken into custody on Thursday, police said. A small amount of explosives and what appeared to be a homemade detonator had been found in searches of an apartment in Offenbach and a business in Frankfurt. – (Reuters)
Student activists held in Iran
TEHRAN – Iranian security forces arrested at least 15 student activists yesterday after a meeting of key members of a pro-reform student movement in Tehran, a reformist website reported.
At least 1,000 people had gathered at Tehran’s Sharif University earlier this week after learning of a visit there by Kamran Daneshjou, who ran the interior ministry’s election headquarters during the disputed presidential poll in June. – (Reuters)
France considers castrating rapists
PARIS – France is considering forcing some sex offenders to undergo chemical castration after a public outcry over the murder of a jogger by a rapist who had recently been released from prison.
French prime minister François Fillon said the government was considering legislation on hormonal treatment for offenders after the abduction and killing of Marie-Christine Hodeau.
Ms Hodeau (42) was snatched on Monday morning while out jogging and later found dead. – ( Guardianservice)
Today’s babies likely to live to 100
LONDON – More than half of babies born in affluent homes today can expect to live to 100 if trends continue, it has been claimed.
Experts made the prediction in a review of the latest research evidence in the Lancet medical journal.
They noted that huge increases in life expectancy, amounting to more than 30 years in most cases, had been seen in most developed countries during the 20th century. – (PA)