In short

A roundup of today's other world news in brief

Harman to be prosecuted for driving mishap 

LONDON – One of Britain’s most senior government ministers is to be prosecuted for motoring offences, including using a mobile phone while driving, prosecutors said yesterday.

Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour Party, is accused of driving without due care and attention and using a hand-held phone when she was involved in an incident in Peckham, southeast London, in July.

According to press reports, Ms Harman, a former solicitor general, had crashed into a parked car.

She stopped briefly at the scene but then drove off without leaving details of her insurance company or her car’s registration.

Ms Harman has several previous driving convictions. – (Reuters)

Russia outlaws death penalty 

ST PETERSBURG – Russia’s constitutional court has effectively abolished the death penalty, extending indefinitely a 13-year moratorium on capital punishment.

Russia has not executed a criminal since 1996, although a myriad of contradictory legal decisions has helped to stoke a heated debate about whether to return the punishment for especially barbarous crimes.

Valery Zorkin, the head of the court, announced the decision yesterday after 17 judges deliberated 45 minutes in the building that used to house the tsar’s senate and synod. “I consider that this decision means the abolition of the death penalty,” said court spokeswoman Anna Malysheva. – (Reuters)

Women ‘hosting’ toxins – survey 

LONDON – The average British woman “hosts” 515 chemicals on her body every day, according to a new study.

The poll of 2,016 women by deodorant-maker Bionsen said most of the pollutants are self-inflicted by women who sprayed on deodorant, slapped on body moisturiser and applied lipstick each morning.

The average British woman used body and facial moisturisers, perfumes, deodorants and various other make-up products that left them carrying hundreds of chemicals on their bodies throughout the day, Bionsen said. Moisturisers could contain more than 30 chemicals and perfume up to 400, it added. – (Reuters)

Claim pirates have freed UAE ship 

MOGADISHU – Somali pirates have freed a United Arab Emirates-owned cargo ship, a Somali businessman said yesterday, dismissing suggestions it had been carrying weapons to the anarchic country.

Ali Dheere, the chairman of Mogadishu’s general merchandise traders, said the ship’s release had followed negotiations with businessmen in the anarchic country’s capital.

However, he refused to comment on whether a ransom had been paid and expressed concern it might be seized again. “The negotiation ended last night and the ship was freed today, Mr Dheere said, adding: “We are afraid pirates will recapture it.” – (Reuters)

Journalist claims charges are false 

TUNIS – Tunisian journalist Taoufik Ben Brik has accused the authorities of jailing him for criticising the government, on the first day of his trial on Wednesday on charges of assaulting a woman in the street.

International press freedom groups say he is being prosecuted on trumped- up charges in order to muzzle his criticism of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Officials say he knocked over the woman, kicked her and insulted her.

“I was incarcerated because of my writing . . .

“I am a hostage to President Ben Ali,” the journalist told the judge during a hearing yesterday. –(Reuters)