A round-up of today's other world news in brief ...
At least 18 drown in smuggler's boat
GENEVA – At least 18 people drowned after a smuggler’s boat carrying 88 people from Somalia to Yemen capsized this week in the Gulf of Aden, the United Nations refugee agency said yesterday.
The boat left on June 11th and sailed for four days before hitting strong winds and taking in water, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said.
Another 29 people are still missing and presumed dead. – (Reuters)
Minister among 24 killed in Somalia
MOGADISHU – Hardline Islamist insurgents killed Somalia’s security minister and at least 24 other people yesterday in the deadliest suicide bomb attack yet in the Horn of Africa nation, officials said.
Security minister Omar Hashi Aden was a key player in the government offensive against Islamist rebels who control much of southern Somalia and want to topple the government and impose a strict version of Islamic law. – (Reuters)
Hillary Clinton breaks elbow
WASHINGTON – US secretary of state Hillary Clinton fell and broke her elbow on Wednesday while en route to the White House but will resume her full duties soon, the state department said. – (Reuters)
Philosopher Dahrendorf dies
LONDON – Philosopher and politician Ralf Dahrendorf, who claimed class was defined by power not wealth, has died of cancer, aged 80.
Dahrendorf, born in Hamburg, took British citizenship in 1988, and served as a politician in both countries and as a European Commissioner.
“Europe has lost one of its most important thinkers and intellectuals,” German chancellor Angela Merkel said in Brussels yesterday. – (Reuters)
Scottish separatist jailed for six years
LONDON – A member of a little-known group of Scottish separatists was jailed for six years yesterday for sending threatening notes and packages to politicians in Scotland.
Adam Busby (34) admitted sending shotgun cartridges and menacing messages to a member of the Scottish parliament and a city council on behalf of the militant organisation, the Scottish National Liberation Army. – (Reuters)
Sugar to continue on ‘Apprentice’
LONDON – Sir Alan Sugar can continue to present his popular reality business show The Apprentice after the BBC said his new role as UK government business adviser would not compromise the publicly funded broadcaster’s impartiality. – (Reuters)