Today's other world news in brief
Georgia crisis talks fail to end stalemate
TBILISI – Georgia’s political turmoil deepened yesterday after talks between the president and opposition leaders failed to end a month- long stalemate coinciding with Nato exercises in the former Soviet republic.
Weeks of protests that flared into violence last week and a brief, bloodless mutiny at a tank base have raised the spectre of wider anti- government unrest in the Caucasus country, a US ally and an important transit route for energy flows to Europe.
A two-hour meeting between Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili and four opposition leaders demanding his resignation ended without result. – (Reuters)
Maoist rebels kill 14 policemen
RAIPUR – Maoist rebels killed 14 policemen in an ambush in a central Indian jungle, the latest in a string of rebel violence that has marred part of India’s general election.
Police said yesterday the rebels triggered blasts and shot at a security convoy that was searching for rebels on an intelligence tip that turned out to be a trap.
“The heavily armed rebels first triggered multiple blasts and then opened indiscriminate fire from hilltops,” a senior police officer said. – (Reuters)
Tower Bridge lift incident injures 6
LONDON – Six people were injured yesterday after a lift at London’s Tower Bridge fell sharply near the end of its descent.
London ambulance service said four men and two women suffered lower leg injuries and were taken to hospital. All were conscious.
The injured included five visitors to the tourist destination and one member of staff. – (Reuters)
Journalist and editor arrested
HARARE – Zimbabwean police have arrested and charged a newspaper editor and a journalist, a move likely to concern western donors who say they will only pour money into the economy when political reforms are implemented.
Vincent Kahiya, editor of the Zimbabwe Independent, and Constantine Chimakure, its news editor, were arrested yesterday over an article that named police and security agents allegedly involved in the abduction of rights activists from prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party, their lawyer said. – (Reuters)
UAE ruling family member detained
ABU DHABI – Abu Dhabi prosecutors have detained a member of the Gulf emirate’s ruling family as they investigate a video that appears to show him torturing an Afghan man, the judicial department said yesterday.
The move, reported by the official Wam news agency, is the first reported investigation of a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. – (Reuters)
Jordan and Peter Andre to separate
LONDON – Katie Price, formerly known as Jordan, and her husband, Peter Andre, are to separate, a statement on behalf of the pair said yesterday.
The couple, who have been married for more than four years, met on the reality television show I’m A Celebrity . . . Get me Out of Here!. – (PA)
160,000 singers break record
HYDERABAD – Thousands of musicians in India joined together in chorus at the weekend to set a new world record for the size of a choir.
At an event to pay tribute to Annamacharya, a south Indian songwriter and composer, 160,000 musicians sang hymns to celebrate the 601st anniversary of his birth. – (AP)