A round-up of today's world news in brief
Mild criticism from US on Saudi sentence
US - The United States, which wants Saudi Arabia to attend a Middle East conference next week, gave only mild criticism yesterday of a Saudi court's order to double the number of lashes for a gang rape victim.
"This is a part of a judicial procedure overseas in the court of a sovereign country," said state department spokesman Sean McCormack when asked to comment on the case.
"That said, most would find this relatively astonishing that something like this happens," he added. Mr McCormack declined to directly criticise the Saudi government, or the legal system, which has made a series of erratic verdicts in recent months. - (Reuters)
France faces 7th day of strikes
FRANCE - France faces a day of massive demonstrations after striking rail workers voted yesterday to extend their walk-out into a seventh day, ensuring their protest coincides with that of public sector workers and students.
Today's combined protests over government reforms are a major test of President Nicolas Sarkozy's election pledges to overhaul France's economy.
Transport workers' strike over Mr Sarkozy's plan to do away with pension privileges granted to some public sector workers will coincide with a day of protests by postal workers, teachers and others over plans to reduce the number of civil servants. - (Reuters)
Finnish nurses' pay dispute solved
FINLAND - Thousands of Finnish nurses pulled back from resigning en masse yesterday after their union and employers solved a pay dispute that had threatened to paralyse Finland's healthcare system.
The Union of Health and Social Care Professionals and the Local Authority Employers agreed to a proposal for a 22-28 per cent pay rise for nurses over the next four years. - (Reuters)
Security guards arrested in Iraq
MIDDLE EAST - An Iraqi government spokesman said yesterday that Iraqi security forces had arrested 43 people, including two Americans and 31 other foreigners, over a shooting in which a woman was wounded in central Baghdad.
"This is a message to security companies that no one is above the law," said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh Dabbagh. Guards working for an Iraqi-registered security company were escorting a convoy of workers to the airport when they opened fire on civilians, wounding the woman, Mr Dabbagh said. - (Reuters)
Jesuits settle abuse claims in Alaska
US - An agreement by Oregon Jesuits to settle sexual abuse claims in Alaska is the largest ever by a Roman Catholic religious order and one of the few successful settlements against any order, lawyers and victims rights advocates said yesterday.
The $50 million settlement by the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus covers 110 victims in native Alaska villages where priests and volunteer missionaries were assigned by the Oregon Jesuit community. - (Reuters)
Eight-fold rise in US prisoners
US- The number of Americans in prison has risen eight-fold since 1970, with little impact on crime but at great cost to taxpayers and society, researchers said in a report calling for a major justice-system overhaul.
The report released yesterday cites statistics and examples ranging from former vice-presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby to a Florida woman's two-year sentence for throwing a cup of coffee to make its case for reducing the US prison population. - (Reuters)