Other stories from around the world
Charges dropped against French company in Zuma corruption case
SOUTH AFRICA:South African prosecutors said yesterday they would provisionally withdraw charges against a French arms company connected with the corruption case against ANC leader Jacob Zuma.
"We will have to provisionally withdraw," National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Tlali Tlali was quoted as saying. Mr Tlali said the decision was taken because French company Thint was co-accused with Mr Zuma and a judge had thrown out Mr Zuma's case, saying there had been high-level meddling in it. He said the charges would be dropped at the company's next court appearance. - (Reuters)
Yemen arrests 30 after attack on US embassy
YEMEN:Yemeni authorities have arrested 30 people suspected of belonging to al-Qaeda following an attack on the heavily fortified US embassy in Sanaa, a security source said yesterday.
Two suicide car bombs set off a series of explosions outside the embassy on Wednesday, killing 17 people including six attackers. A group calling itself Islamic Jihad in Yemen claimed responsibility. The group said it belonged to al- Qaeda and threatened attacks on the British and Saudi embassies and on Yemeni officials unless Yemen freed several jailed members. - (Reuters)
Mozart musical score found
FRANCE: A French municipal library has discovered a musical score handwritten by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in its archives, the Nantes town hall said yesterday. The one-page work was until recently thought to be a copy rather than an original. - (Reuters)
20 die after riots in Mexican jail
MEXICO:More than 20 inmates died and several dozen were wounded in riots in an overcrowded prison in the Mexican border city of Tijuana this week, police have said.
Violence first broke out on Sunday during family visiting hours in the La Mesa jail after a prisoner died inside, apparently abused by guards, a human rights inspector said. - (Reuters)
Detentions linked to right-wing plot
TURKEY:Turkey's military said yesterday it had detained five lieutenants and a cadet in what Turkish media said was part of an inquiry into a right-wing group accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
The investigation into the ultra-nationalist group known as Ergenekon has rattled markets and increased political tensions in EU- applicant Turkey earlier this year. - (Reuters)
US soldier jailed over Iraq shooting
GERMANY: A US soldier who admitted involvement in the shooting of detainees in Iraq early last year has been sentenced to seven months in jail and will be dishonourably discharged, the army said.
Specialist Belmor Ramos (23) pleaded guilty at a court martial in Germany to charges of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder. - (Reuters)
Russia fires newest missile
RUSSIA:Russia successfully tested its newest Bulava ballistic missile yesterday, launching it from a nuclear submarine in the White Sea to hit a target in the Far East thousands of miles away, the navy said.- (Reuters)