The other world news stories of the day...
Medvedev resolves to wipe out 'bandits'
MOSCOW – Russian president Dmitry Medvedev resolved yesterday to wipe out “bandits” across Russia’s turbulent, Muslim-dominated southern flank after a suicide bomber killed seven policemen in the Dagestan region this week.
“As far as bandits are concerned . . . They simply need to be eliminated,” Mr Medvedev told the head of the FSB, the successor to the KGB, using a Russian word often synonymous with “militants”, in comments on the Kremlin website.
Russia is fighting an escalating Islamist insurgency in the North Caucasus, particularly in Dagestan, Ingushetia and Chechnya. Mr Medvedev has called the upsurge in violence over recent months the country’s biggest domestic political problem. – (Reuters)
Sarkozy awarded €1 over fraud
PARIS– A French court awarded President Nicolas Sarkozy €1 in damages yesterday after fraudsters took money from his personal account after obtaining his account details.
The Versailles appeals court decided that Mr Sarkozy was eligible to make a civil complaint in the case.
The decision overturned an earlier ruling by a different court which said that because a serving president has legal immunity, Mr Sarkozy’s complaint should be heard at the end of his mandate.
“The appeals court has made a decision. It has declared the head of state eligible to file a civil complaint and therefore awards him, in line with his request, €1 in damages,” an official at the appeals court said. – (Reuters)
Ladbrokes fails to pay 7.78m on snowfall bet
LONDON – Ladbrokes bookmakers have refused to pay out on a £7 million (€7.78m) bet to a man who accurately predicted that snow would fall in 24 locations in the UK on Christmas Day, leaving the punter with just £31 instead, writes Mark Hennessy.
Cliff Bryant, from Southampton, had been encouraged by a teller in his local Ladbrokes office to place two £5 accumulator wagers. Ladbrokes does not dispute this.
The bookmaker, which last night apologised to Mr Bryant, ruled that the bets laid on December 10th were invalid as its rules have long banned accumulator bets on Christmas snow.
The Independent Betting Adjudication Service is investigating, but spokesman Danny Cracknell confirmed Ladbrokes’ rules do state such bets are not accepted.
Immigrants protest in Italy after riots
ROSARNO – Thousands of immigrants protested against racism in a southern Italian town yesterday after a night of rioting sparked by an attack on African farm workers by white youths.
In one of Italy’s worst episodes of racial unrest in years, dozens of Africans in Rosarno smashed car windows and set cars and bins on fire on Thursday. At least one car was attacked with passengers inside – several of whom were injured, police said.
The immigrants clashed with police in riot gear. Police said seven immigrants were arrested. Thirty-two people, including 18 policemen, were injured.
The incidents began after white youths fired air rifles at African immigrants, injuring two of them. – (Reuters)