A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Flight host pleads guilty to mischief
NEW YORK - A former JetBlue flight attendant who made a profanity-filled exit via an airliners emergency chute pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal mischief yesterday.
Steven Slater (38), was ordered to undergo a year-long mental health programme and receive alcohol and substance abuse counselling, the Queens District Attorney’s Office said.
A prison sentence of one to three years is to be withdrawn if Slater complies.
Slater became a celebrity after the incident, which began with a dispute with a passenger. It ended with Slater quitting his job over the loudspeaker system and exiting the aircraft at New York’s JFK airport. – (Reuters)
At least 10 killed in Haiti mudslides
PORT-AU-PRINCE – At least 10 people were killed in flooding and mudslides triggered by three days of torrential rains in Haiti, where vulnerable earthquake survivors were living in sprawling tent camps, authorities said yesterday.
Director of the Civil Protection Office Alta Jean-Baptiste said three other people were still missing in the floods that struck the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the neighbouring town of Carrefour.
“According to weather forecasts available, it will continue to rain tonight. So we have launched an alert to call on residents living in areas at risk to take all precautionary measures,” he said. – (Reuters)
SA unions accept wage hike offer
JOHANNESBURG – South African public sector unions representing about 1.3 million workers have accepted a government wage hike offer, bringing a formal end to a strike that had shut down schools and caused chaos in hospitals, officials said.
“We have a deal. The unions that will sign from today constitute a majority,” Chris Klopper, a spokesman for the Independent Labour Caucus federation, told Reuters yesterday.
The government offered the workers a raise of 7.5 per cent, about double the inflation rate, and 800 rand (€83.40) a month for housing.
Unions had been seeking 8 per cent and 1,000 rand. – (Reuters)
Woman fined £265 for cruelty to cat
LONDON – A British woman who sparked international outrage after CCTV film of her picking up a cat and dumping it in a rubbish bin was posted on the internet was fined £265 pounds (€300) for animal cruelty yesterday.
Mary Bale (45), was banned from keeping animals for five years after admitting causing unnecessary suffering to the cat.
Bale’s home in Coventry, central England, was at one point put under police guard after her actions shocked animal lovers and attracted death threats.
Lola was found unharmed by her owners Darryl Mann and his wife Stephanie, crying for help in the bin about 15 hours later. – (Reuters)