The other world stories of the week...
Reindeer die in hundreds as lake ice cracks
STOCKHOLM – Reindeer crossing a frozen lake above Sweden’s Arctic Circle drowned this week as the ice collapsed beneath them.
The herd of roughly 3,000 reindeer were being moved by their Sami herders when some reindeer at the front suddenly turned back, causing the ice to crack and several hundred to drown. – (Reuters)
Fatal explosion at Russian arsenal
MOSCOW – At least one person was killed and 35 are missing after blasts ripped through a Russian arms depot yesterday. Fire broke out when soldiers attempted to decommission munitions at Arsenal No 31 on the outskirts of Ulyanovsk, a city 800 km southeast of Moscow. – (Reuters)
Gabriel is new leader of SDP
DRESDEN – Germany’s Social Democrats, knocked out of government in September, have elected former environment minister Sigmar Gabriel as their seventh new leader in the last 10 years at a tense SPD party congress. Mr Gabriel won 94 per cent of the vote from delegates. – (Reuters)