Other world news in brief
6.7-magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia
JAKARTA – A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake has shaken Indonesia, the US Geological Survey reported last night, but there were no reports of damage or casualties initially.
The USGS said the quake occurred eight kilometres
(10 miles) north-northwest of Raba, Sumbawa, Indonesia, at a depth of 18km (11.4 miles)/
There was no reported tsunami warning.
An official from Indonesia’s meteorology agency said there had been reports of panic in Mataram, the capital of Lombok, where a strong tremor was felt.
“We haven’t got any reports of damage or injuries. Communications are not cut,” said Hardiatno from Indonesia’s meteorology agency.
Indonesia is situated in an area of intense seismic activity known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire”. – (Reuters)
Sugar rethinking 'czar' advisory role
LONDON – Tycoon Alan Sugar said he might fire himself from his government job after a backlash at comments he made about struggling small businesses.
Sugar was recruited by prime minister Gordon Brown in June to take on a business advisory role, specialising in small and medium-sized companies – a sector particularly badly hit by the recession.
Last week he dismissed businessmen who complained they could not get loans to keep their companies afloat as “moaners” to whom he would not lend money.
Sugar told the Sunday Timesthat following the row, he had second thoughts about his appointment as "enterprise czar". – (Reuters)
84% oppose school crucifix ruling
ROME - Some 84 per cent of Italians oppose a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that crucifixes should be removed from Italian classrooms, according to a poll yesterday.
The poll in the Corriere della Seranewspaper showed 84 per cent of Italians want the crucifixes to stay, 14 per cent said they should be taken down and 2 per cent had no opinion. Those in favour included many who are not practising Catholics.
Italy says it will appeal the ruling, made last Tuesday in Strasbourg, while government leaders from prime minister Silvio Berlusconi on down have said the crucifixes would stay because they are a part of Italy’s Christian culture. – (Reuters)
40 more detainees released in Tehran
TEHRAN – Iran has released a further 40 people detained during an opposition demonstration last week that led to clashes with police, according to state media.
Tehran’s public prosecutors office said yesterday that several other detainees, including some who had expressed regret over taking part in the rally, had been released in recent days, student news agency ISNA and the Fars news agency said.
On Saturday the official agency IRNA said 47 people had been released out of 109 detained for “disturbing public order” during Wednesday’s rally to mark the anniversary of the seizure of the US embassy in 1979. – (Reuters)
Dalai Lama greeted at Indian enclave
TAWANG – Thousands of Buddhist monks and supporters have welcomed Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader to a remote Indian region also claimed by China, a trip that has renewed tensions between the Asian giants.
The Dalai Lama arrived by helicopter yesterday in this remote Buddhist enclave nestled in the icy folds of the eastern Himalayas, where he had passed through after fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
The visit, as well as recent reports of border incursions, has raised tensions between the world’s two most populous nations, whose relations remain hostage to mutual suspicion lingering from a brief 1962 border war. – (Reuters)