A round-up of today's other world news in brief
Kennedy scion not seeking seat
BOSTON – Joseph P Kennedy II said yesterday he would not seek his late uncle Edward Kennedy’s US Senate seat, which has been held by America’s pre-eminent political family for more than half a century.
Kennedy (56), the oldest son of assassinated Senator Robert F Kennedy, previously served in the US Congress from Massachusetts and now runs Citizens Energy, a non-profit company that provides heating oil to low-income families.
“After much consideration, I have decided that the best way for me to contribute to those causes is by continuing my work at Citizens Energy Corporation,” he said in a statement. Massachusetts will elect Edward Kennedy’s successor on January 19th.
– (Reuters)
Japan seeks 25% cut on 1990 emissions
TOKYO – Japanese prime minister-elect Yukio Hatoyama said yesterday that Japan, the world’s fifth-largest greenhouse gas emitter, will aim for a 25 per cent cut in emissions by 2020 compared with 1990 levels.
He added that the target, more ambitious than the outgoing government’s, was premised on a deal on ambitious goals being agreed by major nations.
Mr Hatoyama, to take office on September 16th after a vote by parliament, made the commitment in a speech to a symposium on climate change. The outgoing government’s 2020 target, announced in June, is equivalent to a cut of 8 per cent below 1990 levels. – (Reuters)
Strike at largest S Africa mine ends
JOHANNESBURG – Workers at Impala Platinum ended a two-week strike at the company’s biggest mine, and South Africa’s miners’ union said yesterday it had agreed in principle to a new pay offer with bigger producer Anglo Platinum.
Concern over a potential sector-wide strike in South Africa’s platinum industry receded further after union negotiators said they had agreed in principle to a wage offer from Anglo Platinum (Angloplat), the world’s number one producer of the white metal, and would recommend the offer to members.
The workers are expected to decide on the deal next Monday. – (Reuters)
Missiles kill five Taliban militants
MIRANSHAH – A suspected US drone fired missiles into a hideout of Taliban militants in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region yesterday, killing five militants, intelligence officials and residents said.
The attack took place near Mir Ali town, a major sanctuary for militants linked to al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan’s tribal lands on the Afghan border. “The militants have cordoned off the area and no one is allowed to go to the site of the attack,” a resident, who did not want to be identified, said.
An intelligence official said the fortress-like house of a tribesman used by militants was targeted. “Five militants were killed and all of them are Uzbeks,” he added.
– (Reuters)
Captured sailors held after release
BOSASSO – Three sailors from the Seychelles held by Somali pirates for seven months were freed on Sunday, only to be arrested by authorities in Puntland and accused of being part of an illegal prisoner swap.
Puntland, the semi-autonomous north of Somalia, said it detained the sailors, along with five Kenyans, an Australian and a Briton, when their two aircraft landed at an airport to refuel before leaving the country.
Puntland said the aircraft had earlier landed at an airstrip near a pirate haven. It said 23 suspected pirates had been handed over to other gunmen and the three sailors had been taken in exchange. – (Reuters)