A round-up of today's other world news in brief ...
US speeds up work on anti- bunker bomb
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon is seeking to speed deployment of an ultra-large “bunker-buster” bomb on the most advanced US bomber as soon as July 2010, the Air Force said yesterday, amid concerns over perceived nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran.
The non-nuclear, 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, which is still being tested, is designed to destroy deeply buried bunkers beyond the reach of existing bombs. – (Reuters)
OJ may be freed during review
OJ Simpson and a former golfing partner could be let out of prison while a US court reviews their convictions for a gunpoint hotel room heist.
Their lawyers say they deserve to go free while they work to prove that they were denied a fair trial.
Cooler weather helps firefighting
LA PALMA – Lower temperatures were yesterday helping firefighters battle two forest fires that have raged on La Palma in the Canary Islands for four days.
One fire in the west of the island has been brought under control while another in the east could be contained shortly, said a spokesman. – (Reuters)
Roma woman killed in attack
BUDAPEST – A Hungarian Roma woman was shot dead and her daughter seriously injured when their house in the eastern village of Kisleta was attacked in the latest of a series of attacks on Roma, police said yesterday.
“Based on investigation at the crime scene and earlier experiences, it is likely that this attack is part of a series of attacks on Roma,” police said. – (Reuters)
Two die in battle with Thai rebels
BANGKOK – Two people were killed and five others injured in a gunfight between troops and separatist rebels in Thailands Muslim south, the army said yesterday.
The incident took place in Narathiwat, bordering Malaysia, where close to 3,500 people have been killed since 2004. – (Reuters)
Pirates free crew of German ship
MOGADISHU – Somali pirates released the German-flagged container vessel Hansa Stavanger on Monday after receiving a ransom, pirates and a maritime official said.
“We are now in Haradheere town. We left the ship after we took the money,” pirate Hassan said by telephone. “I believe it has sailed away.” The pirates said earlier yesterday they had received a $2.7 million ransom for the vessel, seized with 24 crew in April. – (Reuters)
Scots leap to defence of haggis
Haggis-makers in Scotland yesterday leapt to the defence of the dish’s origins after claims the first recipe for the food was published in an English book. Food historian Catherine Brown said she found references to the dish in a book called The English Hus-Wife, dated 1615. But she said the first mention she could find of Scottish haggis was in 1747.
Ms Brown said the book, by Gervase Markham, indicates that haggis was first eaten in England and subsequently popularised by the Scots. – (Reuters)
Hungary objects to Slovakia law
BUDAPEST – Hungary will file a formal complaint to the UN Human Rights Council over neighbouring Slovakias new language law, foreign minister Peter Balazs said yesterday.
The law, signed by Slovak president Ivan Gasparovic last month, stipulates that only Slovak may be used in most public offices and institutions. – (Reuters)