A round-up of other world news in brief
Taliban link to US shooting dismissed
NEW YORK – Claims by a Pakistani militant leader that his group was responsible for shootings in New York are “opportunistic” and there is no evidence to support them, a leading terror expert said.
Prof Paul Wilkinson of the University of St Andrews Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, said it seemed “unlikely” that terrorists were involved in the shootings as the evidence so far seemed to point to a lone gunman with no political message.
Prof Wilkinson was speaking after Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack in Binghamton in New York state that left 14 dead, including the gunman. “My assessment at the moment is that we don’t have any corroborating evidence that would support Mehsud’s claim and that it seems rather unlikely so we should be extremely cautious about the claim,” he said. – (PA)
New Danish prime minister
COPENHAGEN – Finance minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen became Denmark’s prime minister yesterday, replacing his namesake who was appointed Nato chief, and pledged to do his best to guide the country through the global economic crisis.
Both the Conservatives, his junior coalition partner, and the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party, their ally, have given Lokke Rasmussen their backing, enabling him to take over without calling an election. – (Reuters)
‘Boston Globe’ under threat
BOSTON – The New York Times Co has threatened to shut the Boston Globeunless the newspaper's unions agree to $20 million in concessions, the Globe reported on Friday, quoting union leaders.
The union officials said executives from Globeand the Times, which owns the Boston newspaper, made the demands on Thursday morning in a meeting with leaders of the newspaper's 13 unions. "Management told union leaders on Thursday that the Globewill lose $85m in 2009, unless serious cutbacks are made," the Globereport said. – (Reuters)
Zuma charges may be dropped
JOHANNESBURG – South African prosecutors will drop corruption charges against ruling ANC party leader Jacob Zuma, the local Sunday Timesreported. The National Prosecuting Authority is due to announce the fate of Zuma, widely expected to be the country's next president, today.
– (Reuters)